Oh Lordy - what have I done??

[bqf]

I've just bought a 1989 Bentley Turbo R, unseen, from an auction. For £3,600.

Am I about to be ruined? I understand it's just had £4,000 of brake work done, which sounds like a lot - are all the parts catastrophically expensive? I run an E55 AMG as my daily and I thought that was expensive to run!

I look forward to sharing my tales of extreme wallet-lightening with you all!

[bqf]

The auction estimate was £6,000, and it looks clean, has good history, so we will have to see.

Agreed though - if it turns out to be a basket case all is not lost.

[bqf]

touching cloth said:

Bought a 1987 Mulsanne at Auction just before Christmas last year, not a Turbo admittedly but then I paid even less than you did lol at just shy of £3k for mine. Broke down on the way home (nothing more than a fuse as it happens), since then hasn't missed a beat. Just put it in for an MOT (first in my care as it came with one) - a first time pass with 2 minor advisories. I'm sure it will bite me on the bum at some point but for the moment I just love it ... hope you have the same luck as I have

Fingers crossed!! Sounds like you hit lucky there. It's buttons for the cars that they are isn't it!

[bqf]

Balmoral said:

There's at least three of us on here who paid more than that for this years MOT

Thats what I was afraid of!!!

Still, it won't depreciate I suppose

[bqf]

What faults would render them uneconomic to repair??

[bqf]

Bluebottle911 said:

At that price, pretty well anything!

Seriously, you may have just got the bargain of the week for the simple reason that you were brave enough to put up your hand when nobody else had the balls to do so. I hope it goes well for you - just keep your fingers crossed!

It will be fine - everything is repairable, after all

[bqf]

zygalski said:

Let's hope the wipers don't fail.

WIPERS? Eh?

[bqf]

Balmoral said:

I guess 12mpg and the very realistic probability of a £3K hit to your wallet at least once and maybe even twice a year puts people off.

That's not to say that there aren't bargains out there that might cost you very little, other than fuel, if you're lucky.

I've had mine 12 years, and it's seldom given me a year off.

£3,000 a year? TWICE? For what?

[bqf]

Balmoral said:

Just bits & bobs, not much really

I'll survive - my hobby is motor racing so I'm used to enormous, unexpected, crippling bills!!

Money is for spending anyway

[bqf]

Well, I got my Bentley Turbo R home - what can I say.

It's terrific. Absolutely everything works - all the electrics, windows, mirrors, cd radio, aerial, seats, everything. Exterior is superb, with just a couple of stone chips to deal with. Interior great, although it needs a valet, and the lambswool overmats need [dry?] cleaning.

The engine and gearbox feel strong, and didn't miss a beat in pouring rain for my 200 mile journey home - even managed 16mpg(ish) on the way back. Only downside is an intermittent rev counter - doesn't always work???

Bargainsville! The car feels fabulous inside, and I have achieved a lifelong dream in finally owning a car with a Town and Country horn!!!

I'll post up some pics when I have it cleaned etc....feeling v v positive about it at the moment though!

[bqf]

Balmoral said:

It's lulling you into a false sense of security

Ha! I suspect you're right, but I am sure to have fun while this lasts. It's terrific - genuinely magnificent, unlike any other car i have owned. I'm sure it will be worth the money over the long term.......