# If someone offered you a Rolls, would you accept it?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 28, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761 "2020-09-28T18:58:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/21 "2020-09-28T19:59:46Z")
Al Goldstein, the notorious publisher of _Screw_ magazine, bought a Rolls-Royce and wrote an amusing article about what a massive pain in the ass it was to own. It constantly broke down, and whenever it did, the people at the Rolls dealership would explain that their cars were extremely delicate and some tiny foreign particle must have found its way into the engine. According to Goldstein, the joke among Rolls owners was that you also needed a “Rolls Repair Kit”—a truck full of money that would follow you wherever you went.
I wish I could find a copy of that article; it was hilarious. IIRC, it was in a mainstream magazine (not _Screw_).
To return to the OP’s question … I’d accept the car, put it into storage for the required length of time, then sell it.
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### Author:  [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/22 "2020-09-28T20:01:39Z")
I would paint it more or less like [that](https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/img/tJzIthiLEPVkLMGTm_JltDbt_nw=/2017/07/13/c93cf30e-57ff-4dd4-9b50-dfe581aa5bf1/rolls-royce-phantom-john-lennon-promo.jpg), park it in front of my appartment, drive it every now and then a bit and let it slowly rust until [TÜV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technischer_%C3%9Cberwachungsverein) would separate us for good. Whatever the contractual agreement concerning the “not selling” was, TÜV saying the car may not be driven takes precedent. This is Germany, car’s inspections are taken seriously here.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/23 "2020-09-28T21:01:56Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#):
>
> 1970’s? Yes. They looked nice. 1980’s? No. They were unfathomably ugly and bought by people with more money than taste. Now they are cheap enough to be the province of people who have neither.
I haven’t followed Rolls design changes in detail but I was surprised to read that, as I always considered them to have turned unfathomably ugly sometime in the 2000s. But I checked out some pics, and by golly, you’re right. In the 1970s they still had their traditional classic elegance. In the 1980s they turned into boxes, not just the shape of the car but many of the design details. For instance the elegant partial ovals around the headlights in the 70s generation turned into fugly rectangular boxes in the 80s. Interestingly, that same 70s headlight design returned briefly in the 90s, at least for some models like the Corniche IV.
But for real ugliness check out the newer ones, like this 2005 Phantom:
> **[2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom : Latest Prices, Reviews, Specs, Photos and...](https://www.autoblog.com/buy/2005-Rolls_Royce-Phantom/)**
>
> Get in-depth info on the 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom model year including prices, specs, reviews, pictures, safety and reliability ratings.
Honestly, the front end looks like some industrial vehicle, possibly a dump truck. The ugly headlights seal the deal. And what are those things below the headlights? They look like a James Bond add-on for shooting death rays when pursuing an enemy spy.
Anyway, to answer the OP question, yes, I’d happily accept it – especially if it was one of the older vintage models that really looked classy. Maybe drive it on rare occasions, but it would be a PITA to insure. I’d probably take out liability-only coverage. Then I’d sell it as soon as the deal allowed.
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### Author:  [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/24 "2020-09-28T22:21:28Z")
Rolls, no. Make it a Ferrari, even an '80s Ferrari and I’d go for it. Then I’d drive it like I stole it until it broke–probably within a thousand miles if _Top Gear_ is anything to go by.
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### Author:  [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/25 "2020-09-29T03:11:25Z")
Couldn’t afford the property taxes on it, so no.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/26 "2020-09-29T03:23:24Z")
Yep. Actually been looking for one. Got any leads?
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### Author:  [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/27 "2020-09-29T04:27:50Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#):
>
> Yep. Actually been looking for one. Got any leads?
See [here](https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/?adtypeFacet=Vehicles%20for%20Sale&makeFacet=Rolls-Royce&year_rangeFacet%5B%5D=1980%27s). This website has a number of Rolls-Royce autos for sale, including 33 from the 1980s.
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### Author:  [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/28 "2020-09-29T06:07:25Z")
Yeah, I would.
My nephew lives in a rural area and has lots of space and he’s also a good mechanic. I’d keep it on his property and let him keep it tuned up and running, maybe even fix it up a bit. Then I’d give him a cut when I sold it.
If I couldn’t do that — probably not. In order to keep it on my own property I’d need to covert my garage from storage to an actual garage, right now we keep the cars in the driveway but it’s full…but if I stood to make a lot of money I might be inspired to figure it out,… That scenario is a gray area, I’d need more information on the car to decide.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/29 "2020-09-29T06:10:14Z")
Nope, never understood the appeal for dinosaur cars from dinosaur brands. If I wanted a classic I’d get a horse drawn wagon. Just seems like a maintenance and insurance nightmare, and who knows if it could even make the turns at drive throughs. What happens if it snows? And they’re soooo ugly, like a half-asleep Iron Man helmet.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/30 "2020-09-29T06:33:44Z")
I like the one in Little Rock.
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### Author:  [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/31 "2020-09-29T07:33:05Z")
> [@chela](#):
>
> Egads! No! Ugly af, costly to maintain, a big heavy behemoth gas guzzler.
Yeah -
admittedly, I’m not a “car person” but this is not the car that I’m going out of my way for:
[https://static.cargurus.com/images/forsale/2020/06/24/08/33/1985\_rolls-royce\_silver\_spur-pic-8056706108875241519-1024x768.jpeg](https://static.cargurus.com/images/forsale/2020/06/24/08/33/1985_rolls-royce_silver_spur-pic-8056706108875241519-1024x768.jpeg)
Plus, I have nowhere to put it, maintenance, etc. Way more trouble than it’s worth for a car where I don’t understand the appeal.
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### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/32 "2020-09-29T08:44:26Z")
I drove a rolls (work related). Wasn’t impressed.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/33 "2020-09-29T10:48:36Z")
I got no garage.
If I did—maybe a Limo Business?
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### Author:  [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/34 "2020-09-29T11:32:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> I’d accept it and drive it. Maybe I’d sell it eventually, maybe I’d keep to be buried in.
[**Kind of like this? LOL**](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/09/23/73/0923733f6290506cdd6cdb5bb9999867.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/35 "2020-09-29T13:09:57Z")
No. A t-shirt that just says “Pompous Asshole” would be a lot less hassle.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/36 "2020-09-29T13:24:40Z")
You can’t steal a (modern) Rolls Royce hood ornament. Or at least not easily.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj53HuWBfjE)
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### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/37 "2020-09-29T13:43:39Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#):
>
> Simply what the title says. Say someone offers you a mid-80s Rolls Royce, low miles, in fine operating condition. Only catch is - you have to keep it, at least for a couple years, rather than just turn around and sell it.
I absolutely would. Not as a daily driver. But I would happily roll in it on nice weekend outings and drives in the country, or out to [a formal cocktail party](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoW-1wZJjng).
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/38 "2020-09-29T13:53:39Z")
Nope, no place to park it.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/39 "2020-09-29T14:27:59Z")
I would gratefully accept, and probably drive it in good weather or on highfalutin’ social occasions (not into any swimming pools, though, even if the Lord Mayor were standing right there). The Eighties styling of Rollses wasn’t ideal, I agree, but I don’t find them particularly unattractive.
I suspect I would sell the car at the earliest opportunity, though.
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### Author:  [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-offered-you-a-rolls-would-you-accept-it/921761/40 "2020-09-29T14:53:39Z")
It would go just fine with your mansion and yacht, though.
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