Hi,

I am considering a Silver Shadow or Silver Spur/Sprit as my next car,
and wondered if any owners on here could answer some, Rolls-Royce
newbie questions.

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 was
wondering why this is? As I would have expected the Spur/Sprits to be
higher, as they are newer. So is there some reason why they go for
around the same price? Are they not as good as Shadows? Or is it that
the Shadow is getting more collectable?

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?

At the moment I have a large BMW, and although being a big luxury car,
when you want it to go fast it will. Will I find the same from a Rolls
Royce, or will it be slower?

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

Thanks.

(unit244 (AT) defencecontracts (DOT) org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

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.

In article <1165789553.744034.243060 (AT) j44g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com>,
<unit244 (AT) defencecontracts (DOT) org.uk> wrote:
Probably because the Shadow is a reasonably elegant car while the Spur
downright ugly?

Dunno. Might be the problem with getting spare body parts - they were
largely hand made.

The Shadow accelerates well enough to moderate speeds, but don't expect it
to fly over about 80.

A well maintained one can be reliable, yes. But don't expect BMW prices
for spares.

--
*One of us is thinking about sex... OK, it's me.

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Adrian <toomany2cvs (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

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 #

Yippee <yippee.108 (AT) intuh (DOT) net.invalid> wrote:

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 #

unit244 (AT) defencecontracts (DOT) org.uk wrote:

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 *

In news:1hq73l8.12ao7a81jd6p9tN%steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk,
SteveH <steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk> wittered on forthwith;
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.

Rolls-Royce mass produced?

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.


LOL, do you know me?

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.

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.

unit244 (AT) defencecontracts (DOT) org.uk wrote:
Silver Shadow may have well has been, they're considerably more
plentiful than Austin 3-litres , the bodies were produced by Pressed
Steel...

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.

*snorts*

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

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).

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 *

Ahhhhh no not in white. Never.

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.