Comments: 1-15, 16-19
Storage Compartment light missing.
Door lock control on center console inoperative.
Cruise control inoperative.
The 1989 Rolls Royce Silver Spur is the best production year of the 1980 decade.
Avoid model years 1981 to 1987. 1987 1/2 to 1989 excellent cars.
This car rides like a Rolls Royce should.
The outside sounds are muted.
The car is responsive to road conditions.
The car is the gentle giant of automobiles.
If you drive it gently and regularly, the car will be a dream.
Perform the required maintenance from a reputable Rolls Royce mechanic and the car will last.
When you rate running costs at 2/10, are those pertinent to the gas consumption alone or generic maintenance as well?
I am in the market for one of 1990/95 vintage and your feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
What is your basis for stating that 1989 is the best Rolls Royce of the 80's decade? I have heard a professional say that the wiring/electrical system was more reliable because it was simplified into a primary wiring harness which eliminated or reduced bad connections and the number or wires and connectors. What other areas of the car separate it from say the 1985 unites? I own a 1985 Silver Spur and would like to learn more about the 20000 series. Thank you.
Other differences in the 20,000 series cars compared to earlier Spur/Spirits are ABS brakes, A simpler, single height control valve instead of 2, Nippondenso high torque extremely reliable starter instead of a Lucas unit, More reliable, and better Sanden A/C compressor instead of GM, and general correcting of any bugs.
20,000 series cars were made between '87 1/2 and 1989. The '89 was the best simply because of final design corrections to the bulk of updates.
'89 is better than the early 90's cars because in '90 they introduced adaptive ride suspension where they didn't debug it for 3 years or so. Shocks became $1200 instead of $300. Dash wood was clipped on and much more difficult to remove, and reinstall. Good car, just not as reliable, or low cost to maintain.
If you find a decent mechanic, and don't simply go to a Rolls dealer, maintenance becomes less expensive than many mercedes, bmw, etc. cars.
Finally, I don't know of a door lock control on the center console. Maybe he means the memory seat buttons?
Larry
tbird@consultant.co
I have just recently purchased a 1987 1/2 Silver spur. The car drives like a dream. There is a button between the memory seats which the original owner told me locks and unlocks the rear doors. I found the switch not working, but I don't care about it. I had to replace the shocks and the front brake pads as a precautionary measure. My mechanic told me that repairing these babies is much simpler than most luxury automobiles. The spares are very inexpensive compared to some other cars. There is no feeling in this world which would describe driving a Rolls Royce.
I recently purchased a very late 1989 Silver Spur, built June 89. The car is perfect in every detail, I love it. It has been Rolls-Royce serviced from new, 42,300 original miles. It looks, drives, smells like a "brand new" Rolls-Royce, and for less money than a Cadillac!
I plan to use it sparingly, and keep it in perfect shape. Nothing rides and drives like a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur, I highly recommend a 1987 1/2 to 1989 model. Check to see if the NHTSA Recall #90V073000 was done, very important as it fixed a major brake line problem.
I highly recommend this car although very expensive to maintain if you let things get out of hand.
I have heard (A&E special) that Rolls Royce's do not get broken in until 250,000 miles. True or False?
You know, after reading some of the reviews here and talking to "real" Rolls Royces aficionados (as opposed to the Beverly Hills housewife type) it appears that Rolls Royces, while grossly expensive to maintain, are very good long term cars. Even David Olgilvy, the famous advertising guru, had one for 22 years after he got the Rolls Royce account.
So the 250,000 mile comment makes totally sense, although getting there would probably cost at least $50K in maintenance and gas. But, then again, a Rolls Royce buyer isn't concerned with such things.
But my favorite part of Rolls Royce is the lexicon. A Rolls Royce doesn't break down, it "fails to proceed". And a while ago they wouldn't list actual horsepower figures, but stated the engine was "adequate plus 10%". Brilliant and sooooo British. Too bad BMW is screwing up the brand with its hideous designs.
You know, after reading some of the reviews here and talking to "real" Rolls Royces aficionados (as opposed to the Beverly Hills housewife type) it appears that Rolls Royces, while grossly expensive to maintain, are very good long term cars. Even David Olgilvy, the famous advertising guru, had one for 22 years after he got the Rolls Royce account.
So the 250,000 mile comment makes totally sense, although getting there would probably cost at least $50K in maintenance and gas. But, then again, a Rolls Royce buyer isn't concerned with such things.
But my favorite part of Rolls Royce is the lexicon. A Rolls Royce doesn't break down, it "fails to proceed". And a while ago they wouldn't list actual horsepower figures, but stated the engine was "adequate plus 10%". Brilliant and sooooo British. Too bad BMW is screwing up the brand with its hideous designs.
I am the proud owner of an 88 RR Silver Spur and yes there is nothing like the ride of a RR. True it can be expensive to maintain, but then again if you shop around you will find a good mechanic or do the work yourself like I do. I have had the car since 1992 as a present to my wife, then again I drive it every chance I get. I am though searching for front pads and would appreciate a link to a retailer.
I own a 1995 Silver Spur, which has done 75,000 miles. Apart from some remediable problems with central locking, minor oil leaks and the cruise control, the car performs perfectly and drives majestically. It is far and away the most impressive car I have driven in over forty years of driving in nine countries.
JDF
Perth, Western Australia.
I own a March 89 Silver Spur which came with 159,000 kilometres on it. After a preventative service, I have also replaced the A/C compressor and the rear struts/gas springs. I'm only 35 now, and after owning everything from Rx-8s to Cadillac Fleetwoods and Statesmans, I fell fairly confident that this RR will be the car I drive into retirement. A machine can produce perfect replicas ad infinitum. A Rolls Royce is hand-built, thus every car is unique in some way. And they are designed and built to last 50 years or more. Which should just about see me into my grave one day...
I am considering obtaining a 1989 RR Silver Spur with 20,000 miles.
Can anyone that owns at '89 Silver Spur comment on the reliability and maintenance involved... How much would you pay for this car if it were in perfect condition?
How often do you have problems with the car (assuming that you drive carefully and slowly)?
I own a 88 silver spur with 40,000 original kms. I always look forward to driving this wonderful machine, what a ride. I will take this car over a new phantom any day. Yes I have driven the phantom.
I need some help. I have a 1989 Silver Spur and it rides like a pogo stick. I replaced the accumulators in the rear with no change in the ride. Can you help?
Just happened to notice your question. When you say accummulators, do you mean the gas springs situated at the top of each shock absorber in the luggage compartment? If so, was the system bled and the vehicle height verified afterward. Good luck.