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Rolls Royce maintenance costs
- Thread starter bthompson
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TRMark
Jedi Knight
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The latest issue of the Haggerty Insurance magazine has a picture of a street modded 1954 Rolls Silver Dawn. It has a 383 sbc with 22" front and 24" rear wheels. I would think a Rolls would have deserved at least a big block and the large wheels, so much in vogue these days, make a vehicle look like a channeled pram. But what do I know, the thing sold for $225,000. Guess I am doomed to stay the way I have always been, poor and unimaginative.
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For a bit of an eye opener on Rolls ownership expense, here's a tale:
Corniche intermittent wiper "relay box"... Client wanted his wipers to go on with the timer, it had failed some months before. We explained to him the job was ~involved~ and likely would be more expense than it was worth, since the wipers went on and off with the switch, no problem. He was insistent so...
The "smart box" was ordered ($600!!!) from Rolls and I proceeded to DISASSEMBLE the entire facia and instruments from the car. The "box" was likely installed in the chassis before *anything* else was mounted. By the time I had access to it his whole dash assembly was in component bits all neatly lined up on two 8' long, blanketed tables. He came in for a "visit" and saw that. RAN home to fetch his wife back to show HER why it cost so much to replace the unit.
Upon seeing all the parts on those tables she asked if it was all going to get put back together correctly! :madder:
...I kinda said something like: "Maybe. But it could take a month or two... th' dog ate all my reference notes yesterday!"
In the end the bill was somewhere around $2K... He paid with a smile and a "thank you!" too. :shrug:
<span style="font-style: italic">
EDIT: An interesting aside, he became a customer "for life" after that and apparently chatted up a couple other Rollie owners. We got two other clients who'd refereneced him.</span> :thumbsup:
Corniche intermittent wiper "relay box"... Client wanted his wipers to go on with the timer, it had failed some months before. We explained to him the job was ~involved~ and likely would be more expense than it was worth, since the wipers went on and off with the switch, no problem. He was insistent so...
The "smart box" was ordered ($600!!!) from Rolls and I proceeded to DISASSEMBLE the entire facia and instruments from the car. The "box" was likely installed in the chassis before *anything* else was mounted. By the time I had access to it his whole dash assembly was in component bits all neatly lined up on two 8' long, blanketed tables. He came in for a "visit" and saw that. RAN home to fetch his wife back to show HER why it cost so much to replace the unit.
Upon seeing all the parts on those tables she asked if it was all going to get put back together correctly! :madder:
...I kinda said something like: "Maybe. But it could take a month or two... th' dog ate all my reference notes yesterday!"
In the end the bill was somewhere around $2K... He paid with a smile and a "thank you!" too. :shrug:
<span style="font-style: italic">
EDIT: An interesting aside, he became a customer "for life" after that and apparently chatted up a couple other Rollie owners. We got two other clients who'd refereneced him.</span> :thumbsup:
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DrEntropy said:For a bit of an eye opener on Rolls ownership expense, here's a tale:
Corniche intermittent wiper "relay box"... Client wanted his wipers to go on with the timer, it had failed some months before. We explained to him the job was ~involved~ and likely would be more expense than it was worth, since the wipers went on and off with the switch, no problem. He was insistent so...
The "smart box" was ordered ($600!!!) from Rolls and I proceeded to DISASSEMBLE the entire facia and instruments from the car. The "box" was likely installed in the chassis before *anything* else was mounted. By the time I had access to it his whole dash assembly was in component bits all neatly lined up on two 8' long, blanketed tables. He came in for a "visit" and saw that. RAN home to fetch his wife back to show HER why it cost so much to replace the unit.
Upon seeing all the parts on those tables she asked if it was all going to get put back together correctly! :madder:
...I kinda said something like: "Maybe. But it could take a month or two... th' dog ate all my reference notes yesterday!"
In the end the bill was somewhere around $2K... He paid with a smile and a "thank you!" too. :shrug:
<span style="font-style: italic">
EDIT: An interesting aside, he became a customer "for life" after that and apparently chatted up a couple other Rollie owners. We got two other clients who'd refereneced him.</span> :thumbsup:
Goes to show you that word-of-mouth is the best business-builder out there!
WA1KWA
Jedi Trainee
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DrEntropy said:
I like it.
Reminds me of my friend who has worked at Ford agencies for years. He has a kids Magic Wand in the bottom drawer of his chest. His usual line is "Well, my crystal ball's on order, but I have THIS!"
And proceeds to wave the wand with great flourish. Great to break the tension in the shop with a particularly aggravating job (or customer).
Colin
R
RonMacPherson
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Guest
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In that theme of emotional evocation from the customer.
Once worked at Benz dealer where we had an old time codger who knew his carburetors and customers.
Onc customer was having one of the solexes rebuilt.. It was waiting for something to do with the choke pulloff, I think this is when they just went to the automatic choke. So the car was in the shop for several days.
Now the customer would stop by every morning on his way to work and walk up to Porter and ask him if the part had come in, and if he would be able to pick the car up on his way home.
Now this customer had been a solid customer of Porters for years..But was breaking one of the shop safety rules in going back to the work area unassisted. Porter decided to pull the guys leg on his next visit.
When the customer came in the next morning and asked Porter if the part had come in, Porter blew up, grabbed a carburetor that was on the bench, smashed it on the floor and told the customer it would be awhile before the part would come in... The customer was aghast, turning shades of white.... As he was quivering with fear Porter reached under the bench and told him the part for HIS carburetor had come in earlier in the day and it would be ready that afternoon...........
Once worked at Benz dealer where we had an old time codger who knew his carburetors and customers.
Onc customer was having one of the solexes rebuilt.. It was waiting for something to do with the choke pulloff, I think this is when they just went to the automatic choke. So the car was in the shop for several days.
Now the customer would stop by every morning on his way to work and walk up to Porter and ask him if the part had come in, and if he would be able to pick the car up on his way home.
Now this customer had been a solid customer of Porters for years..But was breaking one of the shop safety rules in going back to the work area unassisted. Porter decided to pull the guys leg on his next visit.
When the customer came in the next morning and asked Porter if the part had come in, Porter blew up, grabbed a carburetor that was on the bench, smashed it on the floor and told the customer it would be awhile before the part would come in... The customer was aghast, turning shades of white.... As he was quivering with fear Porter reached under the bench and told him the part for HIS carburetor had come in earlier in the day and it would be ready that afternoon...........