I met a DeTomaso Pantera owner and he told me "I'd rather buy a car with 100k miles over a low miles car. Because I want a car that's been driven and loved. Making a car sit on display for 30 years is the worst thing you can do to it." Absolutely spot on in my opinion!
Couldn't agree more, seeing a 10 year old car with 50k that has a 'full service history' because they've serviced every 10,000miles is way more discouraging than 150k and well serviced because you know the first one has sat for so long
Having 100k doesn't mean the car was loved, only that it has been driven. For example, you can do significant long-term damage if you don't warm up the car properly; or if you red-line it constantly.
the Rolls smacks of having the sort of owner who has it into the shop whenever he/she is on holiday, for no specific work, just to "give it a good going over, i think there's a service coming up but do whatever you find", and then pays the bill without asking too many questions
im starting to have clients do that. Every 6 months , thorought inspection with oil change and then we scheduled every little things we find. Those people actually save money in the long run because we can plan to bundle up some of the labor "while we're in there" . The simple fact they dont wait til a part fail makes it possible
@@Nordic_Mechanic not only do they save money but they make your life a lot easier. You have clients like that because they trust you not to rip them off.
also, if the car is chauffeur driven, one of the chauffeur's jobs is to keep the car maintained. He may do it himself or have it done, but it gets done.
People who own an older car, of any sort, and complain about maintenance costs, often seem to overlook the depreciation on new vehicles. The reality is that owning _any_ vehicle involves costs - you either pay for maintenance, or you lose money through depreciation. If you continue to own a vehicle you bought new, eventually the annual depreciation will reduce, .... and the maintenance costs increase. It's that simple! :)
@@vw5056 have this discussion with a friend who constantly changes cars when it gets to three years old. Told him just buy something older and chances are be cheaper in the long run. It’s already depreciated and the maintenance differential between old and new is way less than what he’s lost on depreciation.
I drive a 2009 Ford with 165,000 miles and I give it whatever care is needed. My coworkers ask me why don't I buy a new car? Wouldnt it be cheaper to maintain? Pulaski answered that question perfectly. I've owned it since new and it's been nothing but good to me.
@@sparky4878 For some it's easier to see thousands or even tens of thousands evaporate via depreciation than drop hundreds into repairs. People like that are needed to keep car companies in business i guess but they are certainly not financially prudent despite them thinking so because they avoid "money pits."
Although there are some cars that might have common issues new, like the GMs with AFM and DFM. my grandfather's truck broken down at 5k miles, and several other people have had that issue to. and older chevy truck can last a long time, and while little things may break over time, they can be fixed quite affordably. so some newer cars might have higher repair costs as their warranty expires.
@@sparky4878 I'm sure that the people in their newer, blander-looking cars (Asian made - NOT American) will not feel sorry for anyone who breaks down in an older car during a downpour of rain.
Before I watch the video and read the comments my thoughts are older luxury cars are about ride quality, comfort, making the driver feel special. These days car manufacturers seem to think luxury means tech and covering the dash in nasty touch screens. I hate touch screens and digital displays with a passion. They soon look dated. I don’t want to press three sub menus to open a glove box (looking at you Tesla!). Love my old Jag. Wood, leather, proper buttons and not a stupid iPad size centre console in sight. Edit: and before any comments, no it’s never let me down because I take car of my cars.
.....and, Importantly, the "modern screen type controls" are Dangerous! Bet you know exactly how to operate, day and night, without taking your eyes off the road. As in a left hand curve, at 95mph, 2 lanes, you in left lane, passing a truck that is going over the line toward your car. ETC. Saftey matters. A lot. Great post, thanks!
Your my kind a guy , exectly how I think ! I got a 21 year old Rover 75 , rustfree and reliable . Your Jag is probbably faster , but they both share the wood and leather and a great shape .
Fully agree with you re the tech and gadgets. I own two Mercedes Benz: a ‘99 CL500, classic, beautiful and reliable ; an ‘18 S560, tonnes of tech, potential issues. I can’t stand the brand new S class…too much tech and too many screens…it makes it ugly and loses the S class elegance.
I can't see how those touch-screens are safe. They're not in front of the driver, you have to look across to them as you can't count buttons across with your fingers. Saab used to put the radio in front of the driver for safety so he didn't take his eyes off the road!
Something I tell young people and still do myself. Buy used stuff off of millionaires. They normally take good care of it and aren’t trying to get every possible cent out of it when they sell it. You buy a used car off a guy living in an apartment that car probably represents half of his net worth. He’s not going to let it go cheap. Unless he’s hurting for money in which case he’s probably not maintaining it well.
Not necessarily true. I worked at a German auto repair shop during college. Your average joe spent a lot to maintain. The wealthy customers balked at every service and were tight with their money. Very stingy. This was along Connecticut’s Gold Coast. I worked on many Lexus, Mercedes, BMW.
You are right-I live in MA-the "OLD MONEY" in NE is extremely cheap-their mansiosn fall aprt-they won't spend money to keep them up...and they wear their grandparent's clothes.@@BIMMERZEITT
They have more charisma as well. I bought a W203 Mercedes that wasn’t used for years. The owner bought it in 2002 and parked it in 2004. I picked it up in 2013. It’s a time capsule, it had 9/11 memorabilia stickers on it and some cassette tapes. The car is showroom condition and gets more attention than the newer Mercedes and BMWs I owned.
Those are great cars. I would love to own one some day. But I'm waiting to come across a nice RWD Volvo wagon first. The Benz is a tough 2nd. I have driven one and loved it, actually way more comfortable than the Volvos, but the Volvos have my heart.
@@volvo09 It’s the last of the overbuilt and interesting Mercedes cars in my opinion. It drives the same if not better than modern luxury cars. The only problem I had was since the car was barely driven (it only has 30,000 miles) I basically had to replace all gaskets as they became brittle over time. It was a NY car too which didn’t help.
@@paulsz6194 It did have a few. Mine had parasitic drain that I traced to the seat control module. I think even the W204 was mechanically more reliable despite the interior being badly made.
I had an IROC-Z that I purchases as 2nd owner with 80,000 miles. The car was meticulously maintained by the original owner and when I acquired it it literally never had a day of dirty oil- all filters, plugs, flushes were performed and probably over performed. I eventually got 435,000 miles on the original engine without having to open up the motor aside from changing injectors, intake manifold gasket and the transmission 2Xs... LOL.
I sold my 1991 Isuzu Amigo in 2006, with 189,000 miles to a tenant and it was still going strong when I left Virginia Beach in 2019. I have my mother's 1991 Park Avenue, with 123,500 miles. The car has been meticulously maintained with the proverbial 'open checkbook' and every feature and function operates as designed. We move4d from Virginia Beach to Tucson, making the trip in 53 hours including 'nap stops', getting 29.8 mpg.
I bought a high mileage Volvo a few years back that the previous (and first) owner took meticulous care of it. I sold it after two years (regrettably) to a friend who now has 50k more miles and it’s still flawless.
My brother had a Volvo 960 station wagon in the early/mid 1990s. I drove it a good bit. To this day, in my mind, still the finest car I have ever driven. I’ve driven several new cars since then, but none have surpassed that Volvo 960. Not even close. It was a very substantial car.
Bought a 2007 RR Phantom last year, 5400 miles, temp controlled garage kept under RR cover. What a fantastic automobile, was way over serviced by local RR dealer. Now have 12,000 miles on her, yes have had some maintenance issues taken care of by my local BMW dealership. The mechanic said drive her, not to the store, driver we have, runs better than when purchased, pure joy to drive! CLASSY, thumbs up & pictures taken where ever we go. No regrets, driven daily!
To me part of the problem with modern turbo engines is people not caring. I know someone with a turbo failure, talked about letting it warm up and cool down afterwards and the answer was "but it's a small engine, so that's not as important as on bigger engines". People nowadays buy turbo cars left and right but the education on technology is getting less and less and it reaches more people who don't care.
I think there's a couple of issues with the 1.4T. One, they don't handle lack of oil changes or junk oil. Second, they later added insulation on the oil line. Apparently the engine heat after shutdown would coke the oil and eventually the turbo died of oil starvation.
I let all cars warm up and cool down gently regardless of whether they are turbocharged, supercharged or naturally aspirated. Expansion and contraction of different materials in the engine over many cycles must be a common source of failures. You also want to make sure the oil is flowing well before hitting high RPM or WOT.
@Veikra new turbo engines have systems that allow oil to circulate even when the engine is off to cool the turbo. Poor maintenance & oil change intervals is what kills turbo engines.
We had a RR come through our shop in the mid 80's it was a 76 model. I was amazed at the K.I.S.S. method of engineering. It was very elegant but done to the extreme of excellence in the engine and if well maintained would last 50 or better years. Even the hand crafted bodies, with the many coated lacquer layers, were built for durability. We had to work on a electric window motor. It was built like a starter motor for a V8 . it's a shame what they've become.😢
Most of the work is done by hand on most vehicles, but the quality RR accepts is unlike most manufacturers. They don't use as many machines, and the materials the use are of much higher quality, and they'll accept a lot fewer flaws in things like leather.
Fun fact... If you look at the accumulator for the hydro suspension, you can see a Citroen badge embossed on to the accumulator. This is because Rolls Royce implemented Citroen's 'Hydrolastic' suspension design on a few of their cars.
yes the rear suspension is Citroën this engine dates back to 1970 the one before was not so big but when thay sold them in America thay had to meet emissions and to power the air conditioning if I remember it was 6250 cc but Rev better
@@6rimR3ap3r yep, Hydrolastic is the interconnected rubber cones used on British Leyland products like the ‘classic’ Mini and Allegro. The Citroen system is Hydropneumatic, with the accumulators/spheres etc using the Citroen LHM fluid
@@garychilds1130 6 and three-quarter litres (6.75), same basic engine was used in Bentleys that didn’t use the W12 up until quite recently. That engine dates back to the 1950s
Yup, they licensed the Citroën hydropneumatic technology, and used it at least through the 80s and into the 90s. Citroën themselves used and heavily modified the system from 1955 with the launch of the Citroën DS up until 2017 with the discontinuation of the C5 sedan/estate.
In my old age I now have had a 1981 Rolls Royce Silver Spur with 355,000 + kilometres on it for a couple of years as a "second" car. Naturally aspirated, had a moderately good respray at some time and, with everything fixed when it broke, its a joy. It will never be concourse, but its solid and reliable, more than comfortable, and a dream drive. Parts are reasonably readily available and as an enthusiasts car, parts are not that expensive when compared to modern cars.
Another plus is older Rolls, Jags and other European makes use a GM or Ford automatic transmission. Way more reliable and a whole lot easier and less expensive to repair and maintain.
Thats the only thing on them that doesnt cause issues. Fuel injection issues and the hydroSuspension and brakes share all same fluids. Most overcomplicated insane car on earth.. I love the way they look. But $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to keep running.
@@floridaman7 As someone of the younger generation, I can't stand leather. Damn shit is like setting your seats to bake at 380° on a summer day. I much prefer cloth seats. Though I would prefer something like a Silver Spur over a current Rolls or luxury car. I don't want my car to be all screens.
@@calbob750 The older ones in the UK seem to do a lot of weddings and chauffering stuff, thus paying for their upkeep and being a nice little part-time income for the owner. But I shouldn't imagine they do huge annual mileages or end up being used every day.
I was looking at buying one of these, but then I saw a 1991 Jaguar Sovereign XJ40 that was as well maintained as this car, for much less money. Seriously, an XJ will give you 95% of what a Rolls-Royce is for 10% of the price. Parts are relatively affordable and the interior is almost as nice.
@Yippee Skippy Exactly. Do not know much about Jaguars I'll admit, but I have a friend who used to drive a jaguar xjs with the v12. Great luxury and styling for relatively cheap, but not so great reliability.
@Yippee Skippy You obviously know nothing. I daily drove an XJ40 and X300 for years as my only cars. Never let me down. They are more driver's cars than a floaty SZ body but the Rolls/Bentley's are bigger inside.
@@vw5056 my X330 is 27 years old and an everyday car, i`ve run for 9 years , I`ve done quite a bit to it but only because I wanted to and the only thing that failed was the original alternator and a cam position sensor . And everyone admires it when I park up. I paid £999 for it with a private plate on it worth £800 , all in all with with every single item I have bought for it in 9 years its cost £4500 in bills and that including any rot chopped out new rear arches, xk8 wheels, full xj8 light upgrade and 3/4 respray . Aj16 engine is bomb proof. th-cam.com/video/LnocbNsFWD8/w-d-xo.html
It seemed really weird hearing you call the hood a bonnet. (I'm in the UK so expect to hear you guys say hood & trunk etc.) One of my friends works for Rolls Royce and got to bring a Phantom home for the weekend. He was telling me that they pass the car round the workforce, then when it has done so many miles they strip it back down to every nut and bolt so measure the wear on everything and this helps them to improve anything on future models. He works in the woodwork department and you would not believe how precise their work is. Everything has to be within fractions of a millimetre and even the thickness of the wood veneers and lacquer has to be within microscopic boundaries. Even the humidity is measured.
Here in the UK your car is required an M.O.T every year and i used to take an old guys 25yr old BMW to get tested and M.O.T'd. The tester/qualified mechanic specialist would always say that the car was in better condition all throughout than a BMW of 3-5yrs old.
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, I agree that if you maintain a car that was well built to begin with, it will last a long, long time!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
That's 100%, even though some manufacturers will tough through abuse much much better than others (and initial quaulty to begin with) typical American abuses their car no matter what it is. Go buy a toyta of your lazy, it will hold up a little better to abuse!
@@sw7366 excatully if your buying used, dealerships can fake "certified pre-owned, 100 perfect etc etc" its not even worth the paper printed on. Or even worse is private sales... $100-$200 or whatever is going to save your put for a trusted mechanic inspection is worth more than gold!
@@sw7366 1000% on home inspection too... We where able to get closing cost plus 30k off our original offer because once all the furniture was out, this idiot "engineering" did so many half ass DIY "repairs" it wasn't even up to city code. Next house is going to be built from the ground up, never buying an oldish house (1950) again!
Personally, I'd love to find 4 year old cars with 200,000 miles. That's the real sweet spot. Fluids haven't deteriorated. Parts still plentiful. Engine & transmission run at full operating temps. IMHO older cars suffer from plastic decay even if maintained properly.
I have those kinds of cars everyday at work, and weirdly there seems to be very few of them on the market. Whatever the brand, 3-4 y/o cars with lots of miles are common... And very commonly been rolled back by the 2nd owner.
I had a Jetta with 255000 miles. the engine kept on running but everything made of plastic constantly broke down. reluctantly sent it to the junk yard.
The Car Wizards has the coolest walk on TH-cam! I'd love to see a continuous loop video of him just waddling around on his stubby little legs with Pantera's WALK as the background music!
I couldn't agree more Wizard, I'm a tech at a Ford dealer and I only drive vehicles that are 5-7 years old with at least 200000km on them. The 5.0L in my '13 F150 has 270000km on it and it runs perfect, oil is clean and doesn't leak a drop from anywhere. and I can rely on it to start at -35'C even if it's not plugged in.
Despite my dad's decades as a Caddy Man (except for his last car when I convinced him to get an LS 430) one of his favorite buys was his 1964 Electra 225 in that light blue with the chopped off rear vertical fins.
There is a kind of prosperous business man or professional who has "Cadillac money" but doesn't want to project the image of someone who buys the most expensive brands. I'm talking 1950s and 60s here, not the recent decades. They bought those Electra 225s and Olds 98s that were almost Caddies, but. . . My dad, a Jewish New York garment manufacturer wouldn't have been caught dead buying a "Jew Canoe" no matter how much dough he made!
Friend of mine owned a Rolls-Royce shop. He said the biggest problem with these cars is 1) do not get driven enough 2) when they are driven these cars are lucky if the engines run over 2500 - 3000 RPM. 3) They need to be driven at highway speeds for a good "exercise runs" So, run them up, take it for a good cruise along the highways. The car will be very happy.
I think that the engine in the Encore is too small for the size of the vehicle therefore the turbo is overworked to get the thing moving. Basic mechanical engineering tells you if something is overworked it will break.
More like a poorly engineered piece of junk. Probably 1/3rd of the cars in Japan(kei class cars) run a tiny 660c turbocharged 3 cylinder under the hood, that's been a common setup for 20+ years now. On the flip side, semi trucks all have turbochargers that are constantly spooled up, driver with their foot to the floor that run 700,000+ miles between rebuilds.
That Rolls seems like a car it was owned by an enlightened owner. By the looks of the front, the original owner must have installed a 3M Clear Mask on the Front and the Rear View mirrors. That's what I have done to all my cars for 20 years now. Whether it was my 7 series Bimmer or my Traverse they get appliqued. Although it's expensive, I have always received my investment back when I get rid of the cars after 150k miles. After the film removal, the fronts are impeccable. especially here in Florida with Love Bugs and sand/gravel trucks.
The advantage of buying an older luxury or a car with cult following over a regular newer car is the ease of keeping it in the long run. It doesn’t matter how old the car is, there is support from the factory and 3rd parties that offer parts and services so you can keep that car on the road for as long as you want. There is also support from clubs and forums that have documented every single possible issue and solution so you can tackle a repair on your own or bring the information to your mechanic. That is not possible with newer regular throwaway cars that have very poor support from the factory even when they are new and after they are discontinued obtaining some parts becomes impossible, unless you go to salvage yard. Once those cars start to become old, they just get junked and people forget about them.
Is that true? Guy who details my car, says that, everyday vehicles (Honda, Ford, Buick, Toyota, etc.) have the thinnest layers of paint the manufacturers can get away with. I realize a Rolls or Bentley is in another stratosphere, but 20 layers of paint? If so, good on Rolls and Bentley for giving their customers their moneys worth.
@@AldermanFredCDavis Scotty recently said that older cars (2000 & previous) used oil based paint but when the new environmental Nazis took over everything automakers were forced to switch to water base paints which are thinner & less durable.
Absolutely! I’d rather buy a higher mileage car that was maintained correctly then a garage queen that sat for years. My ‘87 911 3.2 did 350.000 km and I wanted to freshen up the engine. The internals of the engine were like new! Buy a car on its condition and not just on a low mileage.
"And the Oscar goes to ... Magic Mike !" .. ha ha, just kidding. Always gives a very succinct explanation of the problem, and how he is fixing it. Well done Michael !
You can find 25 year old RR's for less than $30k, sometimes for as low as $7,000. They have almost no resale value. Be prepared to spend all the money you saved not buying a new one on gas. They only get about 6-8MPG.
90% of my 25 car fleet are all from the 80’s & 90’s. Cadillacs, Mercedes Benz, Toyota’s. They’re all exceptional cars, extremely well maintained and solid. I love them all!
Tip For anyone starting their own shop. Get a security key cabinet to lock customers keys in while the vehicle is waiting to be picked up. Thieves will target businesses to steal vehicles. They cause a distraction while someone sneaks in to steal the keys and anything laying around. Never leave the keys in a vehicle even when you’re working on it unless you first open the window so you can get in when it decides to auto lock itself. Never leave a Ford automatic idling unattended they have a bad habit of wanting to drive off by themselves.
I have an 02 Pontiac Grand Prix with almost 200k on it. Amazingly dependable vehicle. I purchased it solely for the purpose of delivering pizza. My 01 Monte Carlo with less than 100K on it has been a garage clean it's entire life and constantly needs work. It is an amazing vehicle but it has spent too much time sitting.
Lol I bought an '03 Lexus ES with 150K 2 years ago really cheap for gigwork. It now has 210K, and keeps on running with style. Not a spot of rust, or body damage. Only thing wrong is the small tear in the driver seat which hasn't grown in the 2 years I've owned it.
Great video Mr. and Mrs. Wizard!!! Fully agree on buying a well maintained high mileage example of a car. I recently bought a 1995 Corvette 6-speed with 187K miles. Several people told me to run away but once they saw it and drove it they now say it was a great deal. I am only the 3rd owner and it too has always been garage kept but driven and well maintained by both previous owners. It will continue to live its best life under my ownership. Keep up the good work!
New cars with a dozen modules, GDI, touch screens.... I can't work on them, don't need all that stuff and surely could spend $45,000 more constructively. I have several vehicles and could not pass on the opportunity to buy the silver 2004 Lincoln Town Car that has been in my garage for 3 years. It was a 2 owner, garaged, and clean car that sat for a year and the son of the owner was trying to prepare it for sale. It needed all the fluids, wipers, battery.... I paid $3200 and it was road ready. A year later I did all the suspension wear items, rebuilt the power adjustable pedals, replaced a door hinge and some door strikers, a leaky sensor on the variable effort power steering, and did plugs, belt/tensioner, and upgraded the stereo for a Pioneer with Bluetooth, back up camera, steering wheel controls... Yeah - you can work on older cars and they're cheap, simple and more durable. I am less than $4500 in a perfect highway cruiser that will run for 300,000 miles effortlessly.
I used to buy older Caddies in the 70”s and 80”s onwards, great value for the $$. Yes higher mileage cars have had any bad components replaced and by the time they are sold virtually all the work has been done before you get it and the former owner is at his limit for repairs. You basically get a rebuilt car if you get the right one
I immediately noticed the Alpine head unit in that Rolls. It looks like a 7618 model. Paired with the Alpine CD shuttle 5959 model it’s considered among the best sounding to this day. If you still have this vehicle, do yourself a favor and experience the dynamic range and clarity it has to offer.
If todays plastic fantastics cost $60,000 then what would it cost to build metal cars like they used to? I had a 1955 Chevy. The sound and ease of closing the door told me all I needed to know about quality in the old days.
You are spot on Wizard. I own a 1987 560SL with 192,000 miles. I’ve owned the car for 26 years, and I’m obsessive with maintenance and repairs as needed. Yes, I’ve spent a fair amount of money on it over the years to keep it in good working order. Bushings, ball joints, etc., etc. As expected for the mileage. It’s red w/tan leather and still looks head turning great. No leaks, no oil use, runs great! Do the maintenance!! 👍👍
The problem with Silver Spurs is that you never stop fixing them. They are over engineered and require the services of people who know them. Not just anyone can work on them. Parts cost a fortune. Buying one is just the beginning. Then you start repairing them. The Bentley you mentioned is typical of that make. I owned a Rolls Royce for several years. I know of what I speak.
@@StarSlugz do you have an extra $40,000 laying around? If you plan to drive it you will spend that much in 4 years or so unless someone renovated the car thoroughly before you got it. They never are completely fixed.
dump the hankooks and get Michelins.. Friend worked on a Crown vic the other day,, couldnt hear the thing run,, Loved the quality of the underneath and behind the panels.
I bought a Turbo R last year, a 1996 one so similar vintage to this Silver Spur III. It's not been cheap to look after so far, but I use it regularly and absolutely love using it. A lot of people have made comments about it leaking etc mainly from your videos with Hoovie and I think these cars have been unfairly maligned, if looked after and used they can last forever. Glad to hear you set the record a bit straight in this episode.
Agree with you, unfortunately, cars nowadays do not seem to be made to last but to break down. In addition, be difficult or impossible to repair. Sometimes the repair is much more expensive than the value of the car, both before and after the repair.
Good point. The key is and putting tech aside, if looking for a new car to look for a proven reliable older engine. I believe Toyota is pretty good that way. Honda used to be but now with Turbo, game could change.
Vehicles in general over the last 15-20ish years are really catching up to the rest of our household appliances in our modern day disposable society... Nobody really maintains anything anymore, and absolutely nothing is designed now days with service and repair in mind. There was a time not too long ago where you could have someone come fix your TV, or your refrigerator, toaster, etc etc, but now days you just throw it away and get a new one if it stops working.
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 Rusty dude well said. It's true. In fact even a small Transistor radio went in for repair. Look for instance the new Mercedes I believe s590. Only thing missing in that 140k car is the bathroom sink. So you are dead on. Cars have become disposable as its a computer on wheels. Why many lease now. Just rent and toss.
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 True. A wise person said that today's cars will probably not be as old as they used to be. It probably depends on what you point out, whether it is good or bad can be discussed, but that a car must be scrapped because it can not be repaired can not be good?
When I was in HS (grad '68) my Pop told me he would rather have a ten-year-old Buick than a nearly-new Chevy. Luxury cars are built to be stronger, more powerful, more comfortable, and their owners take better care of them. In the past thirty years my cars have been two Cadillacs, both bought used. I've had no trouble other than usual wear. My current driver is an '85 Eldorado Biarritz. I expect to keep it forever.
Eric The Car Guy said the same thing about sitting. Sitting destroys a car. I looked at a Lincoln Continental once and it had been sitting, dryrot everywhere. All the hoses under the hood were dryrottred, tires dryrotted, no thanks.
If hoses and tires were a dealbreaker, the car was either $500 or in terrible condition. Id be much more concerned with rust ,brake calipers, and drivetrain seals than cheap hoses and tires.
Re Modern small engine Turbo cars. We see the same issue in Europe where the turbos just do not last. This is because they use small 1.0 to 1.6L engines running high boost to get the power and torque. But high MPG and good emissions. However most folk do not know how to treat a Turbo engine. Look back to an old SAAB and they had a notice on the Sun Visor telling you how to look after the Turbo engine. Follow those rules and the turbo will last 150k. You cannot simply pound it down the highway, pull into your drive and switch off instantly. Oil seals will die in no time.
Car Wizard you are absolutely spot on with this one, my belief in well maintained older cars is unshakeable and translates into money in the bank long term.
Rolls-Royce before the BMW era built cars to last a lifetime. They were engineered to be serviced, overhauled and refinished, decade after decade. Earlier cars came with service manuals for chauffeurs to carry out basic maintenance. Dad used to say that Rolls-Royce were the best value in a car because you only need one for your entire lifetime. Completely different mindset from today's trendy recycle business model. Financialization and climate fanatics have destroyed the concept of good engineering and longevity. If you're really worried about the environment then buy a good used car and maintain it.
then the lenders would put up a stink. the biggest money maker for GM is GM credit.... they keep issuing new car loans , and thats where the "throw away " mentality came from.. all money driven. there is no money in cars that last unfortunately.
@@fedupdomer5654 I believe a General Motors executive said years ago that they were not in the business of making cars. They're in the business of making money.
I don't know if it's still true for all turbo-charged cars. If you drive it hard and shut it down hot, you will cook the turbo. Let it idle for a while and let it cool down.
On a recent visit to the local Nissan dealership for some service, I noticed they had 20-30 crated transmissions sitting back by their loading dock. Tells you how often they need to replace those CVTs.
I have a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis with 238k miles. Everything still works and it has been maintained well. Just started to develop an oil leak from both a valve cover and oil filter adapter, and the ball joints are starting have some play. Going to have those addressed and keep this thing going for as long as possible because it's a dream to drive and has been very, very cheap to own. Doesn't smoke or use oil (besides the new leaks), zero rust, all maintenance items have been kept up with, the paint and interior are in excellent shape, and it still drives like new.
Great video as always. I used to buy my wife a new car every 2 years, but back in 2013 We got a Chrysler 200 it now has 215, 000 miles on it and still runs and drives perfectly fine. Over the years it's needed a few minor repairs water pump, alternator, and a thermostat that's it. Every once in a while I'll ask her if she wants a new car and she'll say nope why pay a car payment every month when the Chrysler still runs great. I drive a 1996 Nissan truck with a manual transmission, no one ever asks to borrow it because they don't know how to drive it lol. People ask us all the time why we won't get newer vehicles. They just don't understand how much money we save by not having car notes or having to pay full coverage insurance.
Anyone can afford to purchase an exotic today, however, the maintenance is what costs and will make you go bankrupt :) Keep with with the videos, very informative and entertaining
This still would be an expensive car to own. As for the Buick, the turbo give a a mpg or two, and a few grand to fix it, so it ends up costing you a lot. I just don't like turbos for regular cars.
Spot on video. My 30 year old Volvo Estate is incredibly smooth, quiet, comfortable and rock solid reliable. It acts barely broken in at 214,000 miles and has all the features I’d ever need. I honestly can’t imagine owning another car, and the way this one is going, I probably won’t ever have to. 😉 Besides, people strike up conversations about the car at gas stations, and I doubt I’d have that kind of prestige paying $1,200 a month on something new. 😊
A first generation Buick Encore = Opel (or Vauxhall) Mokka. So another way of looking at this issue is that modern German engineering is inferior to 1970's British engineering. 👍
I'm going to have to assume that you're unfamiliar with British cars from the 1970's. They were no better than American cars from the same era, any many were a _lot_ worse. That was the time when British manufacturers made a last-ditch attempt to capture some US sales, and what they pitched at the American market was _embarrassingly_ bad, I mean _really_ terrible, not fit for sale, and I don't know what possessed anyone to ship those cars 3,000 miles, because they were going to be every bit as terrible when they were unloaded in the US. In short, it was the terrible build quality of the 1970's that put the British auto industry on the slippery slope that led to the end of _all_ British-own mainstream car manufacturing by 1994 when Austin Rover was sold to BMW. Eleven years later Rover cars went out of production. A couple of years ago GM sold its Vauxhall brand and factories.
@@pulaski1 I'd say the downward spiral of the British car industry started in the 1950's. Many companies invested in models that were so advanced that they couldn't be finished. Look at the Morris Minor. The design was way ahead of the game, but they couldn't afford to match that with a similarly advanced engine. Morris stuck the old one under the bonnet and put the car in the showroom. It sold on space and ride quality and everything looked great. Then the problems started. Attempts to develop further models from the concept ate up funding that wasn't repaid with sales. Overstretched production lead to quality issues in the core products, and again sales suffered. Combined, there was no funding for a replacement model so sales dwindled. This lead to workers receiving lower pay rises than other companies in the same sector as profits suffered. Poor industrial relations lead to strikes, further harming quality and profits. This downward spiral continued for many years until a replacement was launched. But, the "new" 1970's Marina shared suspension components with the 1950's Minor since Morris couldn't afford to develop anything new. The cycle then began again. Reskin as the Morris Ital not withstanding, the company was dead. Maybe a parallel with Hudson? My point, though, was mainly the current perception of German engineering. The first generation of the Buick Encore was based upon a General Motors (Europe) product that used the Family 0 series of engines that had been developed by Opel. It is this series of engines that represent the failure point in the Buick Encore. Now, the L series of V8s in the Roller dates back to the 1950's. Like Morris, there was no funding for a replacement, so it was kept in service until 2020! Small block Chevy anyone? But the plus side was that maintenance was understood. Do what was needed, when it was needed, and your 6.75 litres runs for ever. Unlike the remarkably unreliable 21st Century product from Germany.
@@paulrobinson3649 I can't fault your history of the Decline and Fall of the British Car Industry, however I picked the 1970's as the "beginning of the end" because until the mid 70's I think the situation _could_ have been recoverable.
That’s like when I worked at the Honda dealer, the first time I ran into a BCM issue under warranty, I had parts check and our warehouse had like 500 of them in stock. Parts guy said I guess they already know it’s gonna be an issue. It was a Delphi part. We saw a lot more issues with Delphi stuff than Denso stuff.
Your first 2 minutes of commentary ,is spot on, you take care of a car , it will take care of you , my father told me this when i was young , them words have stuck with me ,
Funny how much this car reminds me of an 87 Caprice I bought in 2004. It had about 110k miles, garage kept since it was 2 years old, all maintenance and repairs were made when they were needed and it was kept clean. Paid $400 because the owner had to get a smaller car and it needed a head gasket. It was an awesome car, it went on so many long road trips, always started, only needed maintenance and everyone liked it
I love watching the Car Wizard but I think what's missing is seeing and hearing how these cars run. Even just to hear an engine run (and maybe dropped into drive for a moment) as well would be great. A short (diagnostic?) road test with a 'what to listen for', what sounds good and what doesn't would be awesome.
X250 XF was very luxurious too. Crying shame what is currently happening with the company. The CEO needs to be fired immediately. He is not qualified to run a mall kiosk.
An old XJ6 sedan was the smoothest car I've ever driven. I did suspension repairs alignment and wheel balance. Took it out for a test drive with no highway traffic. I thought I was going 65 or so and looked down at the speedometer, I was doing 90 and I realized I was closing fast on traffic up ahead.
I had a 2012 Pilot for about 10 years. 190K miles with only starter and spark-plugs being replaced. Never even did timing belt service 😄 It was great for our family, but it ended up being totaled. The damage wasn't half-bad, but the repair would've cost more than the value. Loved that SUV. Now my wife has been driving a 2021 Pilot for the past year and a half ...70K miles so far, so good 😄
These modern cars with heavily boosted turbocharged tiny engines, running at very high temperatures, and made of thin Aluminium, are never going to be reliable.
I had a friend that had a 1950 Bentley that car was beautiful it had a 6 cylinder in line RR engine. Everything in that car was top-notch. There was umbrellas in the back doors. My freind than told me how RR would do to their engines they would bury the castings for 10 years to cure, that made the engine blocks stronger and last longer. When RR started out they would warranty the car for the lifetime of the owner. Then they went down to 1 million miles. RR would send their mechanics any where in the world to work on the cars. Talk about road side assistants. Cheers
I found out at my Chevy dealer the service people will tell you that a certain part never fails almost like they want you to feel bad that your part broke. Of course they tell you that so parting with your money is eaiser since you must have created the problem. Then you talk with the parts department people and they are like yeah we sell that part like 20 times a day. And by the way it's easy to replace so just do it yourself. In my case the part was under $100 but the dealer wanted $600. Thanks for hard work making these videos.
I own a diesel ‘05 BMW X5. It has low miles but I change the oil every 5000 miles. The g/box and difs every 30 k miles. As with the rolls, anything goes down, it gets repaired/replaced. It’s 17 years old but as that Rolls, it’s like new inside and out. As you say, if you look after a vehicle properly, it will last.
Likely close the purchase price of the vehicle. These cars are not for the light of wallet and are designed and sold to people who aren't at all concerned about it.
That's what I was going to post! It's impressive to see a well-maintained car but not every owner is gonna spare no expense to maintain it. Good score if you find one.
I know a mechanic who has a Silver Shadow with the same engine, with over 600,000 miles, and records to prove it. The engine has never been apart and it runs like a top. No smoke, no noise. Maintenance.
Agree 100% with the message in this video. Sadly lower mileage cars always sell for more, so people tend to store special cars rather than use them. Not sure I have ever seen a Ferrari with over 100k for sale.... which is crazy as they were built to be driven. No reason a car can't do 250k plus if it is looked after properly and parts remain available..
Maintenance is imperative on any luxury vehicle like a Rolls-Royce. Parts must be quite hard to find. This one seems to have been pampered all its life.
As an enthusiast for machines that yield a high reliability to maintenance ratio, I've stuck with the old-school for nearly all of my longterm vehicle purchases (Jeep 4.0, Ford 5.0) as a rule. My most recent buy was new territory; she's a "sorta high mileage" 2010 4Runner from a Toyota dealer, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that she was treated to very regular dealer maintenance since day one, and I have decided to carry the torch in doing my own obsessive maintenance routines going forward. So far, the only money I might have to invest is for the electric rear locker, but I haven't ruled out anything simple just yet. Otherwise, I'm pretty confident she'll be as great as all my other high-milers have been! What The Wizard said about maintenance is absolutely true, and the mountains of miles I've put on my overly-maintained vehicles is testament to that: Take care of your machine, it'll take care of you!
Here in the UK petrol prices are around £1.45 per litre which equates to around $7.48 per US gallon. Luxury barges, however well maintained, you would need a petrol tanker as your second car! That is before you get into car road tax around £490 to £600 per year. Insurance group 50, then the cost of parts at a premium. It is good that in the US people are keeping these luxury cars going, as in the UK they are more and more being scrapped.
Magic Mike is correct (14:37) that (in 138 and 153hp guises)T-1.4L made by the former Daewoo in South Korea was in quite a few small GM cars, mostly on the US and Korean-spec Chevy Cruze. Daewoo, both as an independent and as part of GM (now GM Korea) have always being behind Hyundai and Kia in reliability terms (comparing the same year models). Of course, YMMV, but it is an example of the "lack of craftsmanship" there.
@@orkoto6057 - OVX (and probably Daewoo as well) sold NA-1.4L engines, but not any US division of GM (all US-spec engines of that size had turbos in them).
The funny thing I've found with cars is it's all a mixed bag and each individual case can rewrite your expectations. Cars with owners who had 'everything done' may well have been hooked up to an incompetent shop. Cars that have had the minimum done can be way better than those. Low miles cars can be complete sheds, that is true, but I'd say in the price bracket I operate at, incompetently maintained cars are my biggest bug bear. I really feel the former owners of such cars as they did the right things and paid to keep their tip top and didn't get that outcome. That Rolls is splendid. Kudos to the previous owner and whoever did the spannering for them!
I met a DeTomaso Pantera owner and he told me "I'd rather buy a car with 100k miles over a low miles car. Because I want a car that's been driven and loved. Making a car sit on display for 30 years is the worst thing you can do to it." Absolutely spot on in my opinion!
Unless the car was made before the 1980's lol, then the engine is just about worn out if not overhauled
IONIQ has
Yeah
Couldn't agree more, seeing a 10 year old car with 50k that has a 'full service history' because they've serviced every 10,000miles is way more discouraging than 150k and well serviced because you know the first one has sat for so long
Having 100k doesn't mean the car was loved, only that it has been driven.
For example, you can do significant long-term damage if you don't warm up the car properly; or if you red-line it constantly.
Problem with owning "exotic" vehicles is lack of Car Wizards. I can't imagine trying to get quality work done in the area where I live.
I have a german car specialist and a honda/acura specialist (who I used and recommend) but I dont know of British car specialists
Wizard should specialize in British makes. He seems to know his way around them unlike VWAG and BMW stuff.
Just move to Newton, KS; Problem solved ;-)
Looks a lovely place to live BTW.
@@richardcrossley5581 too hot in summmer too cold in winter
D.I.Y.
the Rolls smacks of having the sort of owner who has it into the shop whenever he/she is on holiday, for no specific work, just to "give it a good going over, i think there's a service coming up but do whatever you find", and then pays the bill without asking too many questions
im starting to have clients do that. Every 6 months , thorought inspection with oil change and then we scheduled every little things we find. Those people actually save money in the long run because we can plan to bundle up some of the labor "while we're in there" . The simple fact they dont wait til a part fail makes it possible
best kinda customers 😎
@@Nordic_Mechanic not only do they save money but they make your life a lot easier. You have clients like that because they trust you not to rip them off.
also, if the car is chauffeur driven, one of the chauffeur's jobs is to keep the car maintained. He may do it himself or have it done, but it gets done.
😅
People who own an older car, of any sort, and complain about maintenance costs, often seem to overlook the depreciation on new vehicles. The reality is that owning _any_ vehicle involves costs - you either pay for maintenance, or you lose money through depreciation.
If you continue to own a vehicle you bought new, eventually the annual depreciation will reduce, .... and the maintenance costs increase. It's that simple! :)
Too much sense making there. Let's just continue chanting "endless money pit" while waving arms around.
@@vw5056 have this discussion with a friend who constantly changes cars when it gets to three years old. Told him just buy something older and chances are be cheaper in the long run. It’s already depreciated and the maintenance differential between old and new is way less than what he’s lost on depreciation.
I drive a 2009 Ford with 165,000 miles and I give it whatever care is needed. My coworkers ask me why don't I buy a new car? Wouldnt it be cheaper to maintain? Pulaski answered that question perfectly. I've owned it since new and it's been nothing but good to me.
@@sparky4878 For some it's easier to see thousands or even tens of thousands evaporate via depreciation than drop hundreds into repairs. People like that are needed to keep car companies in business i guess but they are certainly not financially prudent despite them thinking so because they avoid "money pits."
Although there are some cars that might have common issues new, like the GMs with AFM and DFM. my grandfather's truck broken down at 5k miles, and several other people have had that issue to. and older chevy truck can last a long time, and while little things may break over time, they can be fixed quite affordably. so some newer cars might have higher repair costs as their warranty expires.
These older luxury cars just have a style that just doesn’t exist nowadays
Exactly. You can look at everyone else in their boring bland looking new cars and just feel sorry for them for not having an imagination.
We’re all curves and bubbles now. I prefer angles like this car.
@@sparky4878 I'm sure that the people in their newer, blander-looking cars (Asian made - NOT American) will not feel sorry for anyone who breaks down in an older car during a downpour of rain.
@@sparky4878 especially with the common boring looking black and white colour cars..
All older cars, not just luxury cars.
Before I watch the video and read the comments my thoughts are older luxury cars are about ride quality, comfort, making the driver feel special. These days car manufacturers seem to think luxury means tech and covering the dash in nasty touch screens. I hate touch screens and digital displays with a passion. They soon look dated. I don’t want to press three sub menus to open a glove box (looking at you Tesla!).
Love my old Jag. Wood, leather, proper buttons and not a stupid iPad size centre console in sight.
Edit: and before any comments, no it’s never let me down because I take car of my cars.
.....and, Importantly, the "modern screen type controls" are Dangerous! Bet you know exactly how to operate, day and night, without taking your eyes off the road. As in a left hand curve, at 95mph, 2 lanes, you in left lane, passing a truck that is going over the line toward your car. ETC. Saftey matters. A lot. Great post, thanks!
Your my kind a guy , exectly how I think !
I got a 21 year old Rover 75 , rustfree and
reliable .
Your Jag is probbably faster , but they both share the wood and leather and
a great shape .
Fully agree with you re the tech and gadgets. I own two Mercedes Benz: a ‘99 CL500, classic, beautiful and reliable ; an ‘18 S560, tonnes of tech, potential issues. I can’t stand the brand new S class…too much tech and too many screens…it makes it ugly and loses the S class elegance.
Great comment 🏆
I can't see how those touch-screens are safe. They're not in front of the driver, you have to look across to them as you can't count buttons across with your fingers. Saab used to put the radio in front of the driver for safety so he didn't take his eyes off the road!
Something I tell young people and still do myself.
Buy used stuff off of millionaires.
They normally take good care of it and aren’t trying to get every possible cent out of it when they sell it.
You buy a used car off a guy living in an apartment that car probably represents half of his net worth.
He’s not going to let it go cheap. Unless he’s hurting for money in which case he’s probably not maintaining it well.
Not necessarily true. I worked at a German auto repair shop during college. Your average joe spent a lot to maintain. The wealthy customers balked at every service and were tight with their money. Very stingy. This was along Connecticut’s Gold Coast. I worked on many Lexus, Mercedes, BMW.
@@BIMMERZEITT always exceptions.
Or a buick from a middle class old man.
Maybe even have negative net worth when counting debts.
You are right-I live in MA-the "OLD MONEY" in NE is extremely cheap-their mansiosn fall aprt-they won't spend money to keep them up...and they wear their grandparent's clothes.@@BIMMERZEITT
They have more charisma as well. I bought a W203 Mercedes that wasn’t used for years. The owner bought it in 2002 and parked it in 2004. I picked it up in 2013. It’s a time capsule, it had 9/11 memorabilia stickers on it and some cassette tapes. The car is showroom condition and gets more attention than the newer Mercedes and BMWs I owned.
Those are great cars. I would love to own one some day.
But I'm waiting to come across a nice RWD Volvo wagon first. The Benz is a tough 2nd. I have driven one and loved it, actually way more comfortable than the Volvos, but the Volvos have my heart.
@@volvo09 It’s the last of the overbuilt and interesting Mercedes cars in my opinion. It drives the same if not better than modern luxury cars. The only problem I had was since the car was barely driven (it only has 30,000 miles) I basically had to replace all gaskets as they became brittle over time. It was a NY car too which didn’t help.
I’d hate to rain on your parade, but the 203 C-class was less reliable than the car it replaced. All sorts of electrical issues on that generation!
@@paulsz6194 It did have a few. Mine had parasitic drain that I traced to the seat control module. I think even the W204 was mechanically more reliable despite the interior being badly made.
@@paulsz6194 yup you are right. The w203 was rubbish.
I had an IROC-Z that I purchases as 2nd owner with 80,000 miles. The car was meticulously maintained by the original owner and when I acquired it it literally never had a day of dirty oil- all filters, plugs, flushes were performed and probably over performed. I eventually got 435,000 miles on the original engine without having to open up the motor aside from changing injectors, intake manifold gasket and the transmission 2Xs... LOL.
Wow, 435k miles on any car is amazing! Do you still own it?
that's not funny at all
@@Fattony6666haha ha ha ha !
I sold my 1991 Isuzu Amigo in 2006, with 189,000 miles to a tenant and
it was still going strong when I left Virginia Beach in 2019.
I have my mother's 1991 Park Avenue, with 123,500 miles.
The car has been meticulously maintained with the proverbial 'open checkbook'
and every feature and function operates as designed.
We move4d from Virginia Beach to Tucson, making the trip in 53 hours including 'nap stops', getting 29.8 mpg.
I bought a high mileage Volvo a few years back that the previous (and first) owner took meticulous care of it. I sold it after two years (regrettably) to a friend who now has 50k more miles and it’s still flawless.
Bought a high mileage Honda accord from our neighbour who took great care of! It's been great for nearly 3 years! Just basic maintenance!
My brother had a Volvo 960 station wagon in the early/mid 1990s. I drove it a good bit. To this day, in my mind, still the finest car I have ever driven. I’ve driven several new cars since then, but none have surpassed that Volvo 960. Not even close. It was a very substantial car.
Bought a 2007 RR Phantom last year, 5400 miles, temp controlled garage kept under RR cover. What a fantastic automobile, was way over serviced by local RR dealer. Now have 12,000 miles on her, yes have had some maintenance issues taken care of by my local BMW dealership. The mechanic said drive her, not to the store, driver we have, runs better than when purchased, pure joy to drive! CLASSY, thumbs up & pictures taken where ever we go. No regrets, driven daily!
Very nice. Enjoy your car.
To me part of the problem with modern turbo engines is people not caring. I know someone with a turbo failure, talked about letting it warm up and cool down afterwards and the answer was "but it's a small engine, so that's not as important as on bigger engines". People nowadays buy turbo cars left and right but the education on technology is getting less and less and it reaches more people who don't care.
YOu are absolutely right. Same problem when the democrationation of computers.
I think there's a couple of issues with the 1.4T. One, they don't handle lack of oil changes or junk oil. Second, they later added insulation on the oil line. Apparently the engine heat after shutdown would coke the oil and eventually the turbo died of oil starvation.
I let all cars warm up and cool down gently regardless of whether they are turbocharged, supercharged or naturally aspirated. Expansion and contraction of different materials in the engine over many cycles must be a common source of failures. You also want to make sure the oil is flowing well before hitting high RPM or WOT.
@Veikra new turbo engines have systems that allow oil to circulate even when the engine is off to cool the turbo. Poor maintenance & oil change intervals is what kills turbo engines.
@@alextran8188 Oh really? Name one mass produced car with a secondary electric oil pump. I want to look it up
We had a RR come through our shop in the mid 80's it was a 76 model. I was amazed at the K.I.S.S. method of engineering. It was very elegant but done to the extreme of excellence in the engine and if well maintained would last 50 or better years. Even the hand crafted bodies, with the many coated lacquer layers, were built for durability.
We had to work on a electric window motor. It was built like a starter motor for a V8 . it's a shame what they've become.😢
It is, Rolls Royce are no longer what they once were, and it's quite sad. Bently makes far better cars now.
@@marvindebot3264 Three accursed letters; B,M and W.
@@Phantoman Yup, they also used to make great vehicles, not any longer.
The quality and work that went into that interior is one of the reasons it's look so good. Nearly all handmade.
Repairs also have to be hand done = extremely expensive.
Most of the work is done by hand on most vehicles, but the quality RR accepts is unlike most manufacturers. They don't use as many machines, and the materials the use are of much higher quality, and they'll accept a lot fewer flaws in things like leather.
Fun fact... If you look at the accumulator for the hydro suspension, you can see a Citroen badge embossed on to the accumulator. This is because Rolls Royce implemented Citroen's 'Hydrolastic' suspension design on a few of their cars.
Wasn't Citroën's systen hydropneumatic and hydrolastic is the rubber spheres in the Mini and other British offsprings?
yes the rear suspension is Citroën this engine dates back to 1970 the one before was not so big but when thay sold them in America thay had to meet emissions and to power the air conditioning if I remember it was 6250 cc but Rev better
@@6rimR3ap3r yep, Hydrolastic is the interconnected rubber cones used on British Leyland products like the ‘classic’ Mini and Allegro. The Citroen system is Hydropneumatic, with the accumulators/spheres etc using the Citroen LHM fluid
@@garychilds1130 6 and three-quarter litres (6.75), same basic engine was used in Bentleys that didn’t use the W12 up until quite recently. That engine dates back to the 1950s
Yup, they licensed the Citroën hydropneumatic technology, and used it at least through the 80s and into the 90s. Citroën themselves used and heavily modified the system from 1955 with the launch of the Citroën DS up until 2017 with the discontinuation of the C5 sedan/estate.
In my old age I now have had a 1981 Rolls Royce Silver Spur with 355,000 + kilometres on it for a couple of years as a "second" car. Naturally aspirated, had a moderately good respray at some time and, with everything fixed when it broke, its a joy. It will never be concourse, but its solid and reliable, more than comfortable, and a dream drive. Parts are reasonably readily available and as an enthusiasts car, parts are not that expensive when compared to modern cars.
What’s a good year of old school rolls Royce to buy?
Another plus is older Rolls, Jags and other European makes use a GM or Ford automatic transmission. Way more reliable and a whole lot easier and less expensive to repair and maintain.
These Rolls have a GM 4L80E if I remember correctly.
Thats the only thing on them that doesnt cause issues.
Fuel injection issues and the hydroSuspension and brakes share all same fluids.
Most overcomplicated insane car on earth..
I love the way they look.
But $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to keep running.
@@bill_clinton697 Yep!
@@Nudnik1 Rolls-Royce costs money? Whooda thunk?
@@vw5056 used repairs..
Almost as bad as german cars.
And older luxury isn't necessarily the tech. It's lovely materials and comfy ride!
Newer luxury cars doesn't have real leather it's half leather and half vinyl.
@@theshield1613 theyre moving away from it. The younger generation doesnt like leather. They only care about tech.
@@floridaman7 I'm 26 I love leather and don't care about tech
@@floridaman7 As someone of the younger generation, I can't stand leather. Damn shit is like setting your seats to bake at 380° on a summer day. I much prefer cloth seats.
Though I would prefer something like a Silver Spur over a current Rolls or luxury car. I don't want my car to be all screens.
....and that touch of je ne sais quoi !
On top of the mechanics of the car, I'm sure they have that car professional detailer. And they have done an exceptional job.
I read somewhere that 3 out of 4 Rolls Royces ever built are still on the road. That's amazing when you think about it.
The attention to detail and quality is top notch. Notice how the driver's side door wood trim doesn't have even one hairline stress crack.
"3 out of 4 Rolls Royces ever built are still on the road"
The other 1 out of 4 made it home.
I’m thinking very few Rolls are used as daily drivers. Probably less than three thousand miles a year. Ask the next time at the Country Club.
Richiest people can afford mantainence that this kind of cars require....🤷♂️
@@calbob750 The older ones in the UK seem to do a lot of weddings and chauffering stuff, thus paying for their upkeep and being a nice little part-time income for the owner. But I shouldn't imagine they do huge annual mileages or end up being used every day.
I was looking at buying one of these, but then I saw a 1991 Jaguar Sovereign XJ40 that was as well maintained as this car, for much less money. Seriously, an XJ will give you 95% of what a Rolls-Royce is for 10% of the price. Parts are relatively affordable and the interior is almost as nice.
@Yippee Skippy Exactly. Do not know much about Jaguars I'll admit, but I have a friend who used to drive a jaguar xjs with the v12. Great luxury and styling for relatively cheap, but not so great reliability.
@Yippee Skippy Yes it is a great summer car
@Yippee Skippy You obviously know nothing. I daily drove an XJ40 and X300 for years as my only cars. Never let me down. They are more driver's cars than a floaty SZ body but the Rolls/Bentley's are bigger inside.
A Greek restauranteur gave me a ride in his RR Silver Shadow many years ago.He also had a Jaguar XJ6 which he said he actually preferred to drive.
@@vw5056 my X330 is 27 years old and an everyday car, i`ve run for 9 years , I`ve done quite a bit to it but only because I wanted to and the only thing that failed was the original alternator and a cam position sensor . And everyone admires it when I park up. I paid £999 for it with a private plate on it worth £800 , all in all with with every single item I have bought for it in 9 years its cost £4500 in bills and that including any rot chopped out new rear arches, xk8 wheels, full xj8 light upgrade and 3/4 respray . Aj16 engine is bomb proof.
th-cam.com/video/LnocbNsFWD8/w-d-xo.html
It seemed really weird hearing you call the hood a bonnet. (I'm in the UK so expect to hear you guys say hood & trunk etc.) One of my friends works for Rolls Royce and got to bring a Phantom home for the weekend. He was telling me that they pass the car round the workforce, then when it has done so many miles they strip it back down to every nut and bolt so measure the wear on everything and this helps them to improve anything on future models.
He works in the woodwork department and you would not believe how precise their work is. Everything has to be within fractions of a millimetre and even the thickness of the wood veneers and lacquer has to be within microscopic boundaries. Even the humidity is measured.
Here in the UK your car is required an M.O.T every year and i used to take an old guys 25yr old BMW to get tested and M.O.T'd. The tester/qualified mechanic specialist would always say that the car was in better condition all throughout than a BMW of 3-5yrs old.
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, I agree that if you maintain a car that was well built to begin with, it will last a long, long time!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
That's 100%, even though some manufacturers will tough through abuse much much better than others (and initial quaulty to begin with) typical American abuses their car no matter what it is. Go buy a toyta of your lazy, it will hold up a little better to abuse!
@@jmabs5096 which is why you should always have a knowledgeable mechanic check it out before you buy it.
@@sw7366 excatully if your buying used, dealerships can fake "certified pre-owned, 100 perfect etc etc" its not even worth the paper printed on. Or even worse is private sales... $100-$200 or whatever is going to save your put for a trusted mechanic inspection is worth more than gold!
@@jmabs5096 exactly. When I buy a house I hire my own inspector at my cost. Same thing for a car. I don't trust the other guy!
@@sw7366 1000% on home inspection too... We where able to get closing cost plus 30k off our original offer because once all the furniture was out, this idiot "engineering" did so many half ass DIY "repairs" it wasn't even up to city code. Next house is going to be built from the ground up, never buying an oldish house (1950) again!
Personally, I'd love to find 4 year old cars with 200,000 miles.
That's the real sweet spot.
Fluids haven't deteriorated.
Parts still plentiful.
Engine & transmission run at full operating temps.
IMHO older cars suffer from plastic decay even if maintained properly.
I have those kinds of cars everyday at work, and weirdly there seems to be very few of them on the market.
Whatever the brand, 3-4 y/o cars with lots of miles are common... And very commonly been rolled back by the 2nd owner.
I had a Jetta with 255000 miles. the engine kept on running but everything made of plastic constantly broke down. reluctantly sent it to the junk yard.
The Car Wizards has the coolest walk on TH-cam! I'd love to see a continuous loop video of him just waddling around on his stubby little legs with Pantera's WALK as the background music!
I couldn't agree more Wizard, I'm a tech at a Ford dealer and I only drive vehicles that are 5-7 years old with at least 200000km on them. The 5.0L in my '13 F150 has 270000km on it and it runs perfect, oil is clean and doesn't leak a drop from anywhere. and I can rely on it to start at -35'C even if it's not plugged in.
Despite my dad's decades as a Caddy Man (except for his last car when I convinced him to get an LS 430) one of his favorite buys was his 1964 Electra 225 in that light blue with the chopped off rear vertical fins.
There is a kind of prosperous business man or professional who has "Cadillac money" but doesn't want to project the image of someone who buys the most expensive brands. I'm talking 1950s and 60s here, not the recent decades. They bought those Electra 225s and Olds 98s that were almost Caddies, but. . . My dad, a Jewish New York garment manufacturer wouldn't have been caught dead buying a "Jew Canoe" no matter how much dough he made!
Light blue 1964 Buick Electra ... sounds like the one Jane Mansfield died in 🙁
Friend of mine owned a Rolls-Royce shop. He said the biggest problem with these cars is 1) do not get driven enough 2) when they are driven these cars are lucky if the engines run over 2500 - 3000 RPM. 3) They need to be driven at highway speeds for a good "exercise runs"
So, run them up, take it for a good cruise along the highways. The car will be very happy.
I feel like your lying a bit. I’ve heard many owners say to drive the vintage rolls once a month
I think that the engine in the Encore is too small for the size of the vehicle therefore the turbo is overworked to get the thing moving. Basic mechanical engineering tells you if something is overworked it will break.
More like a poorly engineered piece of junk. Probably 1/3rd of the cars in Japan(kei class cars) run a tiny 660c turbocharged 3 cylinder under the hood, that's been a common setup for 20+ years now. On the flip side, semi trucks all have turbochargers that are constantly spooled up, driver with their foot to the floor that run 700,000+ miles between rebuilds.
1.4 litre engine is 1400cc. That belongs on a motorcycle, not an SUV. Very poor choice of engine size by the engineers.
Even an 80hp engine will get it moving, the problem is needing the turbo to have good acceleration and highway performance expected today.
I love my 87 Spirit. I lavish love on it and it repays ten fold in joy.
That Rolls seems like a car it was owned by an enlightened owner. By the looks of the front, the original owner must have installed a 3M Clear Mask on the Front and the Rear View mirrors. That's what I have done to all my cars for 20 years now. Whether it was my 7 series Bimmer or my Traverse they get appliqued. Although it's expensive, I have always received my investment back when I get rid of the cars after 150k miles. After the film removal, the fronts are impeccable. especially here in Florida with Love Bugs and sand/gravel trucks.
The advantage of buying an older luxury or a car with cult following over a regular newer car is the ease of keeping it in the long run. It doesn’t matter how old the car is, there is support from the factory and 3rd parties that offer parts and services so you can keep that car on the road for as long as you want. There is also support from clubs and forums that have documented every single possible issue and solution so you can tackle a repair on your own or bring the information to your mechanic. That is not possible with newer regular throwaway cars that have very poor support from the factory even when they are new and after they are discontinued obtaining some parts becomes impossible, unless you go to salvage yard. Once those cars start to become old, they just get junked and people forget about them.
The paint should be good it has 20 layers in total which roughly weighs 100 lbs.
Is that true? Guy who details my car, says that, everyday vehicles (Honda, Ford, Buick, Toyota, etc.) have the thinnest layers of paint the manufacturers can get away with. I realize a Rolls or Bentley is in another stratosphere, but 20 layers of paint? If so, good on Rolls and Bentley for giving their customers their moneys worth.
@@AldermanFredCDavis Scotty recently said that older cars (2000 & previous) used oil based paint but when the new environmental Nazis took over everything automakers were forced to switch to water base paints which are thinner & less durable.
Absolutely! I’d rather buy a higher mileage car that was maintained correctly then a garage queen that sat for years. My ‘87 911 3.2 did 350.000 km and I wanted to freshen up the engine. The internals of the engine were like new! Buy a car on its condition and not just on a low mileage.
"And the Oscar goes to ... Magic Mike !" .. ha ha, just kidding. Always gives a very succinct explanation of the problem, and how he is fixing it. Well done Michael !
You can find 25 year old RR's for less than $30k, sometimes for as low as $7,000. They have almost no resale value. Be prepared to spend all the money you saved not buying a new one on gas. They only get about 6-8MPG.
90% of my 25 car fleet are all from the 80’s & 90’s.
Cadillacs, Mercedes Benz, Toyota’s. They’re all exceptional cars, extremely well maintained and solid. I love them all!
If you take care of the car, the car will take care of you.
Every vehicle I've ever owned have been 80s and 90s. 👍🤙
Tip
For anyone starting their own shop.
Get a security key cabinet to lock customers keys in while the vehicle is waiting to be picked up.
Thieves will target businesses to steal vehicles. They cause a distraction while someone sneaks in to steal the keys and anything laying around.
Never leave the keys in a vehicle even when you’re working on it unless you first open the window so you can get in when it decides to auto lock itself.
Never leave a Ford automatic idling unattended they have a bad habit of wanting to drive off by themselves.
I have an 02 Pontiac Grand Prix with almost 200k on it. Amazingly dependable vehicle. I purchased it solely for the purpose of delivering pizza. My 01 Monte Carlo with less than 100K on it has been a garage clean it's entire life and constantly needs work. It is an amazing vehicle but it has spent too much time sitting.
Lol I bought an '03 Lexus ES with 150K 2 years ago really cheap for gigwork. It now has 210K, and keeps on running with style. Not a spot of rust, or body damage. Only thing wrong is the small tear in the driver seat which hasn't grown in the 2 years I've owned it.
Great video Mr. and Mrs. Wizard!!! Fully agree on buying a well maintained high mileage example of a car. I recently bought a 1995 Corvette 6-speed with 187K miles. Several people told me to run away but once they saw it and drove it they now say it was a great deal. I am only the 3rd owner and it too has always been garage kept but driven and well maintained by both previous owners. It will continue to live its best life under my ownership. Keep up the good work!
New cars with a dozen modules, GDI, touch screens.... I can't work on them, don't need all that stuff and surely could spend $45,000 more constructively. I have several vehicles and could not pass on the opportunity to buy the silver 2004 Lincoln Town Car that has been in my garage for 3 years. It was a 2 owner, garaged, and clean car that sat for a year and the son of the owner was trying to prepare it for sale. It needed all the fluids, wipers, battery.... I paid $3200 and it was road ready. A year later I did all the suspension wear items, rebuilt the power adjustable pedals, replaced a door hinge and some door strikers, a leaky sensor on the variable effort power steering, and did plugs, belt/tensioner, and upgraded the stereo for a Pioneer with Bluetooth, back up camera, steering wheel controls... Yeah - you can work on older cars and they're cheap, simple and more durable. I am less than $4500 in a perfect highway cruiser that will run for 300,000 miles effortlessly.
I used to buy older Caddies in the 70”s and 80”s onwards, great value for the $$. Yes higher mileage cars have had any bad components replaced and by the time they are sold virtually all the work has been done before you get it and the former owner is at his limit for repairs. You basically get a rebuilt car if you get the right one
I immediately noticed the Alpine head unit in that Rolls. It looks like a 7618 model. Paired with the Alpine CD shuttle 5959 model it’s considered among the best sounding to this day. If you still have this vehicle, do yourself a favor and experience the dynamic range and clarity it has to offer.
I believe the 7618 predates this car by two years that may some version of it but not the legendary 7618-7618R
There is only one version of the RR7616R, which was used by RR/Bentley from ~92 to 95. Have one in my Bentley and love it!
If todays plastic fantastics cost $60,000 then what would it cost to build metal cars like they used to? I had a 1955 Chevy. The sound and ease of closing the door told me all I needed to know about quality in the old days.
If a part fails that often...
It sounds like it should be
a RECALL.
Now THAT is how you treat a car! Beautiful Silver Spur!
My friend bought a 01 Avalon and man the seats are ridiculously comfy.
You are spot on Wizard. I own a 1987 560SL with 192,000 miles. I’ve owned the car for 26 years, and I’m obsessive with maintenance and repairs as needed. Yes, I’ve spent a fair amount of money on it over the years to keep it in good working order. Bushings, ball joints, etc., etc. As expected for the mileage. It’s red w/tan leather and still looks head turning great. No leaks, no oil use, runs great! Do the maintenance!! 👍👍
That Rolls-Royce just Screams old money!
The problem with Silver Spurs is that you never stop fixing them. They are over engineered and require the services of people who know them. Not just anyone can work on them. Parts cost a fortune. Buying one is just the beginning. Then you start repairing them. The Bentley you mentioned is typical of that make. I owned a Rolls Royce for several years. I know of what I speak.
@@StarSlugz do you have an extra $40,000 laying around? If you plan to drive it you will spend that much in 4 years or so unless someone renovated the car thoroughly before you got it. They never are completely fixed.
@@FrankMarterjust purchased last week I got 83,000$ I’ll be good
dump the hankooks and get Michelins.. Friend worked on a Crown vic the other day,, couldnt hear the thing run,, Loved the quality of the underneath and behind the panels.
I bought a Turbo R last year, a 1996 one so similar vintage to this Silver Spur III. It's not been cheap to look after so far, but I use it regularly and absolutely love using it. A lot of people have made comments about it leaking etc mainly from your videos with Hoovie and I think these cars have been unfairly maligned, if looked after and used they can last forever. Glad to hear you set the record a bit straight in this episode.
Agree with you, unfortunately, cars nowadays do not seem to be made to last but to break down. In addition, be difficult or impossible to repair. Sometimes the repair is much more expensive than the value of the car, both before and after the repair.
Good point. The key is and putting tech aside, if looking for a new car to look for a proven reliable older engine. I believe Toyota is pretty good that way. Honda used to be but now with Turbo, game could change.
Vehicles in general over the last 15-20ish years are really catching up to the rest of our household appliances in our modern day disposable society... Nobody really maintains anything anymore, and absolutely nothing is designed now days with service and repair in mind. There was a time not too long ago where you could have someone come fix your TV, or your refrigerator, toaster, etc etc, but now days you just throw it away and get a new one if it stops working.
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 Rusty dude well said. It's true. In fact even a small Transistor radio went in for repair. Look for instance the new Mercedes I believe s590. Only thing missing in that 140k car is the bathroom sink. So you are dead on. Cars have become disposable as its a computer on wheels. Why many lease now. Just rent and toss.
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 Just to add, you tube has eaten into repair guy as well. Just look up minor fixes and do yourself. Saved me many times.
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 True. A wise person said that today's cars will probably not be as old as they used to be. It probably depends on what you point out, whether it is good or bad can be discussed, but that a car must be scrapped because it can not be repaired can not be good?
When I was in HS (grad '68) my Pop told me he would rather have a ten-year-old Buick than a nearly-new Chevy. Luxury cars are built to be stronger, more powerful, more comfortable, and their owners take better care of them. In the past thirty years my cars have been two Cadillacs, both bought used. I've had no trouble other than usual wear. My current driver is an '85 Eldorado Biarritz. I expect to keep it forever.
Your dad is wise. I agree completely.
Eric The Car Guy said the same thing about sitting. Sitting destroys a car. I looked at a Lincoln Continental once and it had been sitting, dryrot everywhere. All the hoses under the hood were dryrottred, tires dryrotted, no thanks.
If hoses and tires were a dealbreaker, the car was either $500 or in terrible condition. Id be much more concerned with rust ,brake calipers, and drivetrain seals than cheap hoses and tires.
Re Modern small engine Turbo cars. We see the same issue in Europe where the turbos just do not last. This is because they use small 1.0 to 1.6L engines running high boost to get the power and torque. But high MPG and good emissions. However most folk do not know how to treat a Turbo engine. Look back to an old SAAB and they had a notice on the Sun Visor telling you how to look after the Turbo engine. Follow those rules and the turbo will last 150k. You cannot simply pound it down the highway, pull into your drive and switch off instantly. Oil seals will die in no time.
Mrs Wizard that LED light makes all the difference and really brought out the wood veneer.
Car Wizard you are absolutely spot on with this one, my belief in well maintained older cars is unshakeable and translates into money in the bank long term.
Rolls-Royce before the BMW era built cars to last a lifetime. They were engineered to be serviced, overhauled and refinished, decade after decade. Earlier cars came with service manuals for chauffeurs to carry out basic maintenance. Dad used to say that Rolls-Royce were the best value in a car because you only need one for your entire lifetime. Completely different mindset from today's trendy recycle business model. Financialization and climate fanatics have destroyed the concept of good engineering and longevity. If you're really worried about the environment then buy a good used car and maintain it.
then the lenders would put up a stink. the biggest money maker for GM is GM credit.... they keep issuing new car loans , and thats where the "throw away " mentality came from.. all money driven. there is no money in cars that last unfortunately.
@@fedupdomer5654 I believe a General Motors executive said years ago that they were not in the business of making cars. They're in the business of making money.
I don't know if it's still true for all turbo-charged cars. If you drive it hard and shut it down hot, you will cook the turbo. Let it idle for a while and let it cool down.
On a recent visit to the local Nissan dealership for some service, I noticed they had 20-30 crated transmissions sitting back by their loading dock. Tells you how often they need to replace those CVTs.
same thing with hyundais about '94 or so - now they are top qulaity cars
CVT's are junk. I would never buy a car with a CVT, no matter what the reputation of the car manufacturer.
CVT's 🤮
I have a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis with 238k miles. Everything still works and it has been maintained well. Just started to develop an oil leak from both a valve cover and oil filter adapter, and the ball joints are starting have some play. Going to have those addressed and keep this thing going for as long as possible because it's a dream to drive and has been very, very cheap to own. Doesn't smoke or use oil (besides the new leaks), zero rust, all maintenance items have been kept up with, the paint and interior are in excellent shape, and it still drives like new.
Wiper blade is upside down, the wind deflector goes below to push the wiper on the glass.
Great video as always. I used to buy my wife a new car every 2 years, but back in 2013 We got a Chrysler 200 it now has 215, 000 miles on it and still runs and drives perfectly fine. Over the years it's needed a few minor repairs water pump, alternator, and a thermostat that's it. Every once in a while I'll ask her if she wants a new car and she'll say nope why pay a car payment every month when the Chrysler still runs great. I drive a 1996 Nissan truck with a manual transmission, no one ever asks to borrow it because they don't know how to drive it lol. People ask us all the time why we won't get newer vehicles. They just don't understand how much money we save by not having car notes or having to pay full coverage insurance.
The 200 and Avenger are very under rated.
Bought a 2002 CLK430 with 30000km for $8K. Best car I ever owned. 285HP, 220 km/hr., ragtop. Better than my 2020 MKZ, which handled like a whale.
Anyone can afford to purchase an exotic today, however, the maintenance is what costs and will make you go bankrupt :)
Keep with with the videos, very informative and entertaining
This still would be an expensive car to own. As for the Buick, the turbo give a a mpg or two, and a few grand to fix it, so it ends up costing you a lot. I just don't like turbos for regular cars.
All most all of the add on crap has been forced upon us by our commie government
I remember when 150K miles was nothing for a V6 or V8. I dont understand either modern cars or modern mechanics.
As Leno says… Drive them often, wash them sparingly and they can last you a lifetime.
And he’d know.
Wash them sparingly? I don't know about that, If she's dirty I was taught to remove the soil because it's not good on paint.
Spot on video.
My 30 year old Volvo Estate is incredibly smooth, quiet, comfortable and rock solid reliable. It acts barely broken in at 214,000 miles and has all the features I’d ever need. I honestly can’t imagine owning another car, and the way this one is going, I probably won’t ever have to. 😉
Besides, people strike up conversations about the car at gas stations, and I doubt I’d have that kind of prestige paying $1,200 a month on something new. 😊
A first generation Buick Encore = Opel (or Vauxhall) Mokka. So another way of looking at this issue is that modern German engineering is inferior to 1970's British engineering. 👍
I'm going to have to assume that you're unfamiliar with British cars from the 1970's. They were no better than American cars from the same era, any many were a _lot_ worse. That was the time when British manufacturers made a last-ditch attempt to capture some US sales, and what they pitched at the American market was _embarrassingly_ bad, I mean _really_ terrible, not fit for sale, and I don't know what possessed anyone to ship those cars 3,000 miles, because they were going to be every bit as terrible when they were unloaded in the US.
In short, it was the terrible build quality of the 1970's that put the British auto industry on the slippery slope that led to the end of _all_ British-own mainstream car manufacturing by 1994 when Austin Rover was sold to BMW.
Eleven years later Rover cars went out of production. A couple of years ago GM sold its Vauxhall brand and factories.
@@pulaski1 I'd say the downward spiral of the British car industry started in the 1950's. Many companies invested in models that were so advanced that they couldn't be finished. Look at the Morris Minor. The design was way ahead of the game, but they couldn't afford to match that with a similarly advanced engine. Morris stuck the old one under the bonnet and put the car in the showroom. It sold on space and ride quality and everything looked great. Then the problems started. Attempts to develop further models from the concept ate up funding that wasn't repaid with sales. Overstretched production lead to quality issues in the core products, and again sales suffered. Combined, there was no funding for a replacement model so sales dwindled. This lead to workers receiving lower pay rises than other companies in the same sector as profits suffered. Poor industrial relations lead to strikes, further harming quality and profits. This downward spiral continued for many years until a replacement was launched. But, the "new" 1970's Marina shared suspension components with the 1950's Minor since Morris couldn't afford to develop anything new. The cycle then began again. Reskin as the Morris Ital not withstanding, the company was dead. Maybe a parallel with Hudson?
My point, though, was mainly the current perception of German engineering. The first generation of the Buick Encore was based upon a General Motors (Europe) product that used the Family 0 series of engines that had been developed by Opel. It is this series of engines that represent the failure point in the Buick Encore.
Now, the L series of V8s in the Roller dates back to the 1950's. Like Morris, there was no funding for a replacement, so it was kept in service until 2020! Small block Chevy anyone? But the plus side was that maintenance was understood. Do what was needed, when it was needed, and your 6.75 litres runs for ever.
Unlike the remarkably unreliable 21st Century product from Germany.
@@paulrobinson3649 I can't fault your history of the Decline and Fall of the British Car Industry, however I picked the 1970's as the "beginning of the end" because until the mid 70's I think the situation _could_ have been recoverable.
Opel is probably the least reliable auto maker of all time, second to some of the early Korean brands. Absolute crap.
That’s like when I worked at the Honda dealer, the first time I ran into a BCM issue under warranty, I had parts check and our warehouse had like 500 of them in stock. Parts guy said I guess they already know it’s gonna be an issue. It was a Delphi part. We saw a lot more issues with Delphi stuff than Denso stuff.
Better to have a high mileage car thats babied than a low mileage one thats beat. That goes for any make.
Your first 2 minutes of commentary ,is spot on, you take care of a car , it will take care of you , my father told me this when i was young , them words have stuck with me ,
Funny how much this car reminds me of an 87 Caprice I bought in 2004. It had about 110k miles, garage kept since it was 2 years old, all maintenance and repairs were made when they were needed and it was kept clean. Paid $400 because the owner had to get a smaller car and it needed a head gasket. It was an awesome car, it went on so many long road trips, always started, only needed maintenance and everyone liked it
I love watching the Car Wizard but I think what's missing is seeing and hearing how these cars run. Even just to hear an engine run (and maybe dropped into drive for a moment) as well would be great. A short (diagnostic?) road test with a 'what to listen for', what sounds good and what doesn't would be awesome.
2008 and older jags are the most luxurious cars for the money. As well as they were well maintained they are good cars.
X250 XF was very luxurious too. Crying shame what is currently happening with the company. The CEO needs to be fired immediately. He is not qualified to run a mall kiosk.
Have an ‘03 X100 XKR and love it. Keep it maintained and it never fails.
An old XJ6 sedan was the smoothest car I've ever driven. I did suspension repairs alignment and wheel balance.
Took it out for a test drive with no highway traffic. I thought I was going 65 or so and looked down at the speedometer, I was doing 90 and I realized I was closing fast on traffic up ahead.
I had a 2012 Pilot for about 10 years. 190K miles with only starter and spark-plugs being replaced. Never even did timing belt service 😄 It was great for our family, but it ended up being totaled. The damage wasn't half-bad, but the repair would've cost more than the value. Loved that SUV.
Now my wife has been driving a 2021 Pilot for the past year and a half ...70K miles so far, so good 😄
These modern cars with heavily boosted turbocharged tiny engines, running at very high temperatures, and made of thin Aluminium, are never going to be reliable.
I had a friend that had a 1950 Bentley that car was beautiful it had a 6 cylinder in line RR engine. Everything in that car was top-notch. There was umbrellas in the back doors. My freind than told me how RR would do to their engines they would bury the castings for 10 years to cure, that made the engine blocks stronger and last longer. When RR started out they would warranty the car for the lifetime of the owner. Then they went down to 1 million miles. RR would send their mechanics any where in the world to work on the cars. Talk about road side assistants. Cheers
Doesn't sound like the Buick had a maintenance problem, but a design/quality problem if it's that common.
It is, for starters they cheaped out on the turbo bearings, they are not ceramic bearings so correct cool down before switch off is vital.
I found out at my Chevy dealer the service people will tell you that a certain part never fails almost like they want you to feel bad that your part broke. Of course they tell you that so parting with your money is eaiser since you must have created the problem. Then you talk with the parts department people and they are like yeah we sell that part like 20 times a day. And by the way it's easy to replace so just do it yourself. In my case the part was under $100 but the dealer wanted $600. Thanks for hard work making these videos.
A lot less garbage electronics that no one asked for
BAM!
I own a diesel ‘05 BMW X5. It has low miles but I change the oil every 5000 miles. The g/box and difs every 30 k miles. As with the rolls, anything goes down, it gets repaired/replaced. It’s 17 years old but as that Rolls, it’s like new inside and out. As you say, if you look after a vehicle properly, it will last.
Would be nice to know the total cost of maintenance and repairs done to this Rolls
Likely close the purchase price of the vehicle. These cars are not for the light of wallet and are designed and sold to people who aren't at all concerned about it.
That's what I was going to post! It's impressive to see a well-maintained car but not every owner is gonna spare no expense to maintain it. Good score if you find one.
I know a mechanic who has a Silver Shadow with the same engine, with over 600,000 miles, and records to prove it. The engine has never been apart and it runs like a top. No smoke, no noise. Maintenance.
Proud to be a Brit when l see videos like this.
Agree 100% with the message in this video. Sadly lower mileage cars always sell for more, so people tend to store special cars rather than use them. Not sure I have ever seen a Ferrari with over 100k for sale.... which is crazy as they were built to be driven. No reason a car can't do 250k plus if it is looked after properly and parts remain available..
Think this video is totally spot on. Thanks for this great channel!
This is why I love Mr. Car Wizard and Mrs. Wizard. Always true no nonsense and knowledged. I always love watching.
Maintenance is imperative on any luxury vehicle like a Rolls-Royce. Parts must be quite hard to find. This one seems to have been pampered all its life.
Maintenance parts is very easy to find and available for a good price.
@@Allmentux depending locations. We have a handful of RR dealers in Quebec.
As an enthusiast for machines that yield a high reliability to maintenance ratio, I've stuck with the old-school for nearly all of my longterm vehicle purchases (Jeep 4.0, Ford 5.0) as a rule. My most recent buy was new territory; she's a "sorta high mileage" 2010 4Runner from a Toyota dealer, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that she was treated to very regular dealer maintenance since day one, and I have decided to carry the torch in doing my own obsessive maintenance routines going forward. So far, the only money I might have to invest is for the electric rear locker, but I haven't ruled out anything simple just yet. Otherwise, I'm pretty confident she'll be as great as all my other high-milers have been!
What The Wizard said about maintenance is absolutely true, and the mountains of miles I've put on my overly-maintained vehicles is testament to that: Take care of your machine, it'll take care of you!
That Buick needs a turbo cool down timer.
Exactly, Buick saved money by using nonceramic bearings.
Here in the UK petrol prices are around £1.45 per litre which equates to around $7.48 per US gallon. Luxury barges, however well maintained, you would need a petrol tanker as your second car! That is before you get into car road tax around £490 to £600 per year. Insurance group 50, then the cost of parts at a premium. It is good that in the US people are keeping these luxury cars going, as in the UK they are more and more being scrapped.
Magic Mike is correct (14:37) that (in 138 and 153hp guises)T-1.4L made by the former Daewoo in South Korea was in quite a few small GM cars, mostly on the US and Korean-spec Chevy Cruze.
Daewoo, both as an independent and as part of GM (now GM Korea) have always being behind Hyundai and Kia in reliability terms (comparing the same year models). Of course, YMMV, but it is an example of the "lack of craftsmanship" there.
daewoo isnt close to kia/hyundai
I have a 2016 1.4 Opel corsa (B14XEL engine) is this the same block without a turbo? Water pump was leaking and got changed with barely 50000 miles...
@@orkoto6057 - OVX (and probably Daewoo as well) sold NA-1.4L engines, but not any US division of GM (all US-spec engines of that size had turbos in them).
The funny thing I've found with cars is it's all a mixed bag and each individual case can rewrite your expectations. Cars with owners who had 'everything done' may well have been hooked up to an incompetent shop. Cars that have had the minimum done can be way better than those. Low miles cars can be complete sheds, that is true, but I'd say in the price bracket I operate at, incompetently maintained cars are my biggest bug bear. I really feel the former owners of such cars as they did the right things and paid to keep their tip top and didn't get that outcome. That Rolls is splendid. Kudos to the previous owner and whoever did the spannering for them!
I always say that I would rather buy a car with half a million miles from myself than a car under 100 000 from someone else...
The engine in the Buick Encore is used worldwide on them by GM, its called the Vauxhall Mokka in the UK, same 1.4 Turbo engine.