For guys who own the Bentley GT

I would not compare a GT to a 599. A 599 is a special car and one I would like to have if it were not more than I prefer to spend on a car. I am of the school "why spend $400k on an exotic, when you can get 2 for that price." I am hanging on to my GT until I see what Bentley does next. The only other car on my radar from that perspective is the Rolls Ghost.

In terms of downgrading cars. There are lots of great cars for under $30k floating around. If I had to get rid of my toys and go to that, it would be just fine. When I went to grad school, I went from a Mercedes 2.3 16-v to a used Ford Escort I bought for $500. I drove that thing for the next 5 years and went from it to a new Benz and a year later, my first Ferrari. Heck, my 9 yr old BMW S54 M Roadster is my favorite car and can be had for under $35k now. It is more rare than either my 360 or Bentley as only 1,500 were ever made, only 200 in my color. My favorite car of all time is the W208 CLK55 and you can get one for under $25k these days. No they are not exotics nor of the caliber of exotics, but they are great cars. I don't ever plan to sell my S54.

 

I heard the S54 is a great handling car. Definetly of the old school of working hard for your money. I am too but only in certain areas. I wish all aspects though. I was spoiled, not by my parents, but by myself. But learned a lot growing up and hope i can pass that knowledge to my daughter and son.

The more and more i think it about it, The Quattroporte might become one of those cars i end up only keeping for 5 weeks like i did with the C63 and M3. But the Bentley, I don't think so. I would have never thought in a million years, at the age of 38, would i be owning a Ferrari and possibly a Bentley. Well even a Maserati also.

 

I have owned 3 M3's so know those cars, but why did you keep the C63 for such a short time? They seem like great cars and have a great engine note.

 

After a couple of weeks, it just lost the sport factor. I think BMW handles the combination of sport and luxury better. The two are not true 4 seat sports car so why not get something bigger with more power like the M5. I test drove many e55/e63 and definelty too soft.

I love horse power but id rather have a car with better suspension and road feel. I think your m roadster has 333 hp? But i bet it can take a turn like no ones business.

Speaking of HP, i just saw that YouTube video of the supersport GT and the GTR. The GT did the quarter in 12.1. That is pretty impressive.

But i wonder why they need that much HP in their flagship cars.

 

Although my S54 has the same engine as the M3 prior to the current model, it has 315hp due to shorter exhaust routing. It is easy to get the rear to kick out and predictable and very much fun as well. It is nimble and quick (0-60 in 4.7) and you sit on top of the car, rather than in it, like a 360 or Boxter.

When I bought my RS4, I drove and was considering an E63. I agree with you fully, it was too soft. The RS4 was an animal. I hear the C63 is even more so because it does not have AWD like an RS4 and much higher torque, which means less midcorner traction. I actually witnessed this once. A C63 was tailgating me out of a single lane road onto a double lane that went back to one lane. When he got next to me, we both went for first into the single lane and he won on speed, but then his traction control had a convulsion as I passed underneith. Still, he was damn fast, though not very stable in the corner. The RS4 was absolutely planted and in the rain, nothing could stay with it.

My CLK55 was also poor on traction and spun the wheels on take off and was horrible in the rain. But, I still loved it unlike any car I have ever owned.

The GT has AWD as well, but it is not as good as Audi's systems. The S54 slides in the rain like a bad ice scater (as did my Aston Martin).

 

OK, wow!

I took a test drive in a 2006 GT, dark silver with the red leather. Man that car pulls like no ones business. Not the fastest but pulls like my old twin turbo 350Z. The torque is what makes the performance amazing on this car.

The fit and finish was still amazing for a 4 year old car. It had the sim card option for the cell phone which I really liked. It had the the push button start but no auto trunk close or open. Besides that a perfect GT car.

Had 31K miles and they wanted 94K plus 3500 for the 2 year extended warranty.

I usually purchase from a private seller cause I save on taxes and can usually tell if the guy is trying to pull a fast one on me. Plus usually i can negotiate more from a private seller. But then again, I can not get the factory backed extended warranty from a private seller.

Plus is 94K kind of high? I know the internet has ruined the used car sales for dealers. I see plenty of cars on Ebay for 05's in the 70"s to 80's and some 06 for high 80's to low 90's. 90's usually they have lower miles than 31K miles.

I guess I will figure that out when it's time to pull the trigger.

Now do I test drive the Quattroporte?

 

Oh and the service manager said the GT's average between $1000 to $2500 per every 10K miles or 1 year. Is that what you guys with the GT seeing.

Not bad at all.

 

Ballpark, sure, give or take. What's a $1000 among friends.

 

HaHa

Nothing.

On my way to the dealer to order my new fobs so I might as well look at the Quattroporte again.

 

You do realize that the Bentley CGT is basically a VW Phaeton? It's as German as they come ...

 

If you want luxury, it's probably best to buy a new car. Old Bentleys are ridiculously outdated in just about every way other than leather and wood paneling. You're paying a lot of coin to own a 2006 car that is outclassed by even a mid-range Audi in just about every quantifiable metric.

If I were you, I'd go new luxury car rather than old exotic car. Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, etc.

 

Sorry, but I disagree completely. A Bentley is a special automobile and you feel like it when driving one. Depreciation on a new merc/Audi/jag/ bmw is stupid dumb and the interior feels like mass produced overpriced garbage with fake leather textured rubber parts. Anyone buying a brand new one of those loves throwing money down the drain just so they can have the newest. You can argue my point of view is to just have an exotic at a discounted price....I will agree all day long. No comparison

 

Guess we'll agree to disagree.

I'd take a used 2014 S-Class over a Bentley any day and twice on Sunday. Remember, the LWB S-Class is a Maybach, and well, a SWB Maybach is an S-Class. They are very high-end cars with very high quality materials.

There is a reason that a used 2006 Bentley is worth less than a new Audi A5...

 

+1

 

For perspective, the OP's first post was from 2010, and he was looking at the 04-06 model years for the Bentley GT.

2005 Aston Martin DB9 vs. Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti F1, M-B CL600 - Comparison Tests

 

Many people are talking up the Bentley GT when I speak of real 4 seaters. I regard Bentley as an old men's car but I understand that is a cliche that I have a hard time to shake even as I try. I guess the clear wood is what gets me. I like black piano for wood in a car or carbon fiber. Leave clear wood to a boat.
I see that discussion being a bit obsolete may be as newinfo on reliability and aging are coming up. I heared of "deflating" suspensions..(air system failures)?
I also see many below $50K from 05 to 07 with little miles which is amazing. The used one dont seem to move much. Anyone up to date on these? Just curious.

 

Wood is part of the classic British look. It's one of the things I like most about the interiors of my Astons. Not a fan of Piano Black or carbon fiber. Looks cheap and often dirty to me. Much like black kitchen appliances. Who ever thought that one up?