Benlandy101 said:

I have found that the many v8 owners would agree that the v8 is actually a fine engine that just requires regular service

I would only be doing around 200 mile weeks up and down A roads and Motorway Surely this wouldn't stress a large engine to the extent regular service wouldn't be adequate to maintain the motor. By regular service I mean a Yearly Service and Liquid Checks every other month.

basically what I'm alluding to is the question as to is a RR v8 really financially hard to maintain?

Thanks Ben

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You do need to be a bit careful - a lot of the V8s had what seem to be manufacturing defects where the castings weren't very accurate resulting in cracked blocks and slipped cylinder liners (although I believe overheating can also cause this). I'm not sure there's really any way to identify an at risk engine in advance, but you do need to make sure that whichever one you look at doesn't have this problem - blown head gasket like symptoms. I would like to think that most of them would have had this resolved by now, but I'm not entirely sure.
Best case would probably to find one that's had an engine rebuild already and fitted with top hat liners.

The V8 isn't hard to maintain - just NEVER let it overheat. The rest of the car really isn't that bad either, especially given the amount of advice and information freely available here and in Rave. You just need to keep on top of any problems. If you're prepared to be hands on then it's not too expensive. There's no reason why it shouldn't be reliable.

Happy hunting

Guy

thanks for all of the epic advice and pointers

Benlandy101, if you get a good one , then you will certainly get pleasure !I have been commuting for 3 years in a 1992 3.9 efi classic on lpg, with 186000 miles on the clock , which has a full service histiory . I do about 175 miles a week , and tow a caravan about 7 times a year. It has failed me about three times whilst out and about (broken fan belt,loose alternator adjuster, and faulty ignition module ). Obviously service type parts have been bought in that time . I doubt if I shall own anything else but a Rangey in the future !bob.

Cheers for the advice bobpm45, my mindset has changed about the cost of running the v8, I think the pleasure from the ownership is what makes the costs bearable. I spend a huge amount of time in my car basically and you only live once, make it count so it has to be a V8, something attractive about the p38 4.6 personally