Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice

Adrian <toomany2cvs.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:

> (unit244@defencecontracts.org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
> were saying :
>
> > Firstly, I have noticed the (in the UK where I am) that there isn't
> > much difference in the prices of Shadows and Spur/Sprits.
>
> > I have also noticed recently that there are now a few Corniches also
> > around the same price as Shadows, they were always higher priced
> > before, again why is this? Has the general price dropped due to the new
> > Phantom on the market?
>
> Somehow, I can't imagine many people losing much sleep over whether to buy
> a sub £10k Shadow/Spirit or a £260k Phantom.
>
> If you _must_ have a Spirit, at least get a Turbo R.

What he said.

I'd love a Turbo R, but even at current values, I'd struggle to justify
the purchase cost.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

unit244.DeleteThis@defencecontracts.org.uk wrote:

> Finally, can you use a Shadow, Spur, Sprit or Corniche, as an everyday
> driver? Are they reliable, etc? (I am not concerned with MPG)

They're a British, mass produced, car of the 1970s.

And pushing 30.

Do you REALLY think they're going to be reliable?

If you really must - and I suppose from a BMW, a Rolls Royce is about
the only way the nouveau-riché can go - then the pick of the bunch for
reliability, image (though, I'm afraid no-one will know you're loaded
instantly as they would with the Spirit of Ecstacy atop your grille) is
the Bentley Eight - a "sportier" Mulsanne which was actually a little
more basic, with a mesh grille, and aimed at the 40-something market.

It is, I'm afraid, a Bentley and not a Rolls Royce (really, one feels
Shadow/Spirit etc models are worthy of the title "Roller") - but it is
often overlooked, and good value for the sort of car you're looking at.

If you want British ambience, I think the later (mid 90s) Jaguar XJs
offer better VFM.

Richard

--
RichardK - http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/ - retro, music, cars.
2006 Mazda RX8, 1992 Sera Phase III -= Do Not Tempt With New Cars =-
"If the thought of something makes me giggle for more than 15 seconds I
am to assume I am not allowed to do it". * 64 is 128 for email *
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

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Yippee <yippee.108.TakeThisOut@intuh.net.invalid> wrote:

> steve.TakeThisOut@italiancar.co.uk (SteveH) realised it was Mon, 11 Dec 2006
> 19:03:45 +0000 and decided it was time to write:
>
> >I'd love a Turbo R, but even at current values, I'd struggle to justify
> >the purchase cost.
>
> Just the purchase cost? The fuel bills wouldn't bother you then?

Nah, because it would only be a toy. The purists may hang me for it, but
I'd also seriously consider an LPG conversion.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

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 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

In news:1hq73l8.12ao7a81jd6p9tN%steve@italiancar.co.uk,
SteveH <steve.RemoveThis@italiancar.co.uk> wittered on forthwith;
> Adrian <toomany2cvs.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> (unit244@defencecontracts.org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much
>> like they were saying :
>>
>>> Firstly, I have noticed the (in the UK where I am) that there isn't
>>> much difference in the prices of Shadows and Spur/Sprits.
>>
>>> I have also noticed recently that there are now a few Corniches also
>>> around the same price as Shadows, they were always higher priced
>>> before, again why is this? Has the general price dropped due to the
>>> new Phantom on the market?
>>
>> Somehow, I can't imagine many people losing much sleep over whether
>> to buy a sub £10k Shadow/Spirit or a £260k Phantom.
>>
>> If you _must_ have a Spirit, at least get a Turbo R.
>
> What he said.
>
> I'd love a Turbo R, but even at current values, I'd struggle to
> justify the purchase cost.

If anyone is even considering buying a Turbo R then *never* buy a carb one,
EFi is the only way to have one.

I've been in quite a few early to mid 90's Turbo Rs lately as a friend of
mine is paying me to find him a nice one. There aren't that many nice ones
out there for under £15k. There are a lot of dogs out there for £10-15k.

So far I've only actually found one that was worth buying, a 95"N" Turbo R
with re-calibrated active ride. 70k miles, FBSH, owned by old titled gent
from Cheshire, which I could have got for £16500. To make it immaculate
would have cost around £850, and re-calibrating the suspension would have
cost another £250ish provided there were no dodgy spheres or sensors.. That
would have retailed at around £22500 with the work done, so beware of cheap
Bentleys.

Mustard Mitt though, a decent Turbo R is bloody quick and handles remarkably
well.


--
Pete M - Using the Scouse Side of the Force -
<space vacant>
Mercedes 190E Auto
OMF#9

Ok, I admit it, I like Renault 5s.
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

> They're a British, mass produced, car of the 1970s.
>

Rolls-Royce mass produced?

> Do you REALLY think they're going to be reliable?
>

Yes. Well, they are not the same as other cars, they are not built down
to a price. They should have been made to a lot higher standard than
anything else.


> If you really must - and I suppose from a BMW, a Rolls Royce is about
> the only way the nouveau-riché can go - then the pick of the bunch for
> reliability, image (though, I'm afraid no-one will know you're loaded
> instantly as they would with the Spirit of Ecstacy atop your grille)
>

LOL, do you know me?

> the Bentley Eight - a "sportier" Mulsanne which was actually a little
> more basic, with a mesh grille, and aimed at the 40-something market.
>

Well, I was thinking the Rolls would be more suitable for everyday, as
the Bentley's engine has been tinkered with and tuned, and therefore
more prone to brake. More to go wrong. Especially, the turbocharged
versions.

Plus, I'm 30 something and the Bentley is not the same image I want.
And I don't like the mesh grille.

> If you want British ambience, I think the later (mid 90s) Jaguar XJs
>

And old Jag? I don't want to look like cockney gangster or an aging
managing director of a small company, the old school business man, die
in the wool Tory, smokes cigars and keeps a bottle of Scotch in his
desk draw, like Mike Baldwin from Coronation Street. Not the image I
want.
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

> Then why on earth to do want the rusty, tired relic all of these
> sterotypes aspire to ideally in white so they can make a bit of cash on the side running it > as a wedding car?
>

Ahhhhh no not in white. Never.

> This is all slightly tongue in cheek, of course - all cars have their
> merits - but I can't see running a Spirit/Shadow being a good move.
>

Well, I would keep my BMW as well. But I want to use the Roller most
days, I don't see the point of having something and keeping it in the
garage.
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

unit244 DeleteThis @defencecontracts.org.uk wrote:
>> They're a British, mass produced, car of the 1970s.
>>
>
> Rolls-Royce mass produced?

Silver Shadow may have well has been, they're considerably more
plentiful than Austin 3-litres , the bodies were produced by Pressed
Steel...

>> Do you REALLY think they're going to be reliable?

> Yes. Well, they are not the same as other cars, they are not built down
> to a price. They should have been made to a lot higher standard than
> anything else.

Should have.

They were trimmed to a higher standard. But the electrical components
are much the same as anything else of the era. The Shadow II is what it
is, and that's WHY they're £5K (or less) these days.

>> If you really must - and I suppose from a BMW, a Rolls Royce is about
>> the only way the nouveau-riché can go - then the pick of the bunch for
>> reliability, image (though, I'm afraid no-one will know you're loaded
>> instantly as they would with the Spirit of Ecstacy atop your grille)

> LOL, do you know me?

*snorts*

> Well, I was thinking the Rolls would be more suitable for everyday, as
> the Bentley's engine has been tinkered with and tuned, and therefore
> more prone to brake. More to go wrong. Especially, the turbocharged
> versions.

It's an iron V8. And the Eight isn't turbocharged.

> Plus, I'm 30 something and the Bentley is not the same image I want.
> And I don't like the mesh grille.

I'm 30 something and if you gave me a Shadow/Spirit free, I'd rapidly
find someone to trade it with for something less obnoxious, like a
gold-plated Hummer or something. (I am serious; if I was given a Rolls
Royce of the 70s/80s free, unless it was a Corniche or Carmargue, I'd
offer it as a swap for the best Citroen CX or even XM I could find).

>> If you want British ambience, I think the later (mid 90s) Jaguar XJs
>>
>
> And old Jag? I don't want to look like cockney gangster or an aging
> managing director of a small company, the old school business man, die
> in the wool Tory, smokes cigars and keeps a bottle of Scotch in his
> desk draw, like Mike Baldwin from Coronation Street. Not the image I
> want.

Then why on earth to do want the rusty, tired relic all of these
sterotypes aspire to; ideally in white so they can make a bit of cash on
the side running it as a wedding car?

This is all slightly tongue in cheek, of course - all cars have their
merits - but I can't see running a Spirit/Shadow being a good move.
Especially at lower end of the budget.

Richard

--
RichardK - http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/ - retro, music, cars.
2006 Mazda RX8, 1992 Sera Phase III -= Do Not Tempt With New Cars =-
"If the thought of something makes me giggle for more than 15 seconds I
am to assume I am not allowed to do it". * 64 is 128 for email *
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

In article <4udphbF17bjtcU1 RemoveThis @mid.individual.net>,
RichardK <atari RemoveThis @NOSPAMbtconnect.com> wrote:
> > Rolls-Royce mass produced?

> Silver Shadow may have well has been, they're considerably more
> plentiful than Austin 3-litres , the bodies were produced by Pressed
> Steel...

All the 'standard' cars have been since WW2.

> >> Do you REALLY think they're going to be reliable?

> > Yes. Well, they are not the same as other cars, they are not built down
> > to a price. They should have been made to a lot higher standard than
> > anything else.

> Should have.

> They were trimmed to a higher standard. But the electrical components
> are much the same as anything else of the era. The Shadow II is what it
> is, and that's WHY they're £5K (or less) these days.

The wire may be the same, but pretty well all the switches etc are
bespoke. Remember Lucas made aerospace stuff as well as shite.

> >> If you really must - and I suppose from a BMW, a Rolls Royce is about
> >> the only way the nouveau-riché can go - then the pick of the bunch for
> >> reliability, image (though, I'm afraid no-one will know you're loaded
> >> instantly as they would with the Spirit of Ecstacy atop your grille)

> > LOL, do you know me?

> *snorts*

> > Well, I was thinking the Rolls would be more suitable for everyday, as
> > the Bentley's engine has been tinkered with and tuned, and therefore
> > more prone to brake. More to go wrong. Especially, the turbocharged
> > versions.

> It's an iron V8. And the Eight isn't turbocharged.

Eh? It's an all ally unit.

--
*Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

Dave Plowman dave RemoveThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <4udphbF17bjtcU1.TakeThisOut@mid.individual.net>,
> RichardK <atari.TakeThisOut@NOSPAMbtconnect.com> wrote:
>>> Rolls-Royce mass produced?
>
>> Silver Shadow may have well has been, they're considerably more
>> plentiful than Austin 3-litres , the bodies were produced by Pressed
>> Steel...
>
> All the 'standard' cars have been since WW2.

Which is, oddly enough, about the same time Rolls Royces ceased to be
interesting to me.

> The wire may be the same, but pretty well all the switches etc are
> bespoke. Remember Lucas made aerospace stuff as well as shite.

And aerospace stuff is checked out more frequently. You know that Shadow
IIs are as rot prone and potentially unreliable as any 1970s British
luxury car...

It's an iron V8. And the Eight isn't turbocharged.
>
> Eh? It's an all ally unit.

Rolls Royce V8? I thought it was iron, but it's alloy, with cast iron
wet liners. Learn something new every day.

Richard

--
RichardK - http://www.dmc12.demon.co.uk/ - retro, music, cars.
2006 Mazda RX8, 1992 Sera Phase III -= Do Not Tempt With New Cars =-
"If the thought of something makes me giggle for more than 15 seconds I
am to assume I am not allowed to do it". * 64 is 128 for email *
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

In article <4uec22F17ncrkU1 DeleteThis @mid.individual.net>,
RichardK <atari DeleteThis @NOSPAMbtconnect.com> wrote:
> Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> > In article <4udphbF17bjtcU1 DeleteThis @mid.individual.net>,
> > RichardK <atari DeleteThis @NOSPAMbtconnect.com> wrote:
> >>> Rolls-Royce mass produced?
> >
> >> Silver Shadow may have well has been, they're considerably more
> >> plentiful than Austin 3-litres , the bodies were produced by
> >> Pressed Steel...
> >
> > All the 'standard' cars have been since WW2.

> Which is, oddly enough, about the same time Rolls Royces ceased to be
> interesting to me.

Maybe, but a pre-war one isn't going to be terribly suitable for daily use
these days.

My favourite Rolls is the Cloud - an elegant design and timeless. I had an
S1 Bentley for many years and wish I still had it.

> > The wire may be the same, but pretty well all the switches etc are
> > bespoke. Remember Lucas made aerospace stuff as well as shite.

> And aerospace stuff is checked out more frequently. You know that Shadow
> IIs are as rot prone and potentially unreliable as any 1970s British
> luxury car...

Or any other comparable car of that era? And especially the Jag you
recommended. They rusted for England. We're talking near 40 years old.
But with the electrics they can be fixed. No surface mount throw it away
stuff.

> It's an iron V8. And the Eight isn't turbocharged.
> >
> > Eh? It's an all ally unit.

> Rolls Royce V8? I thought it was iron, but it's alloy, with cast iron
> wet liners. Learn something new every day.

It's very similar in layout to the Rover V-8. I wouldn't be surprised if
the same engineers were involved with both units at one time.

--
*There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works *

Dave Plowman dave DeleteThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow/Spur/Sprit advice 

Dave Plowman (News) (dave@davenoise.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

>> Rolls Royce V8? I thought it was iron, but it's alloy, with cast iron
>> wet liners. Learn something new every day.

> It's very similar in layout to the Rover V-8. I wouldn't be surprised
> if the same engineers were involved with both units at one time.

Unlikely - IIRC the Royce v8 was British designed and loosely based on a
Chrysler lump, whilst the Rover unit was of course bought in from GM.
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