My 2001 Jag has started to develop some annoying “check engine” gremlins that evaded solving. Fix what was causing the error code and then get it for a different reason. So after 18 years of happy times, it was time to give her up. Wife was nervous when she took it and check engine light would come on and it would go into limp mode. My investments have been doing extremely well and it was time to take some money off the table.
Started looking at used Jaguar F-types and Mercedes SL 450 or 550 (same except for different engine). Found a couple relatively close and on a Saturday took the wife to see. We both felt the F type was a little small in the cabin room, but otherwise ok. We were both of the same opinion that the Mercedes was underwhelming. Interior seemed cheap for a high-end car. Seats were a bit hard with the leather stretched drumhead tight. We were both looking for something that was more similar to our Jag XK8. The salesman said have you looked at a Bentley. That hadn’t even been on my consideration list when I started my car search. He showed us one they had; Bentley Continental GT. Dark blue. Looked superb. We got in and loved it. But the choices of interior colors was bad. Blue leather that looked like old vinyl. The interior appointments were also blue. The wood panels were a very light yellowish wood. Great car with bad interior color choices.
Started researching the Bentley Continental GT. Reviews and mechanical reports were satisfactory. Then started searching for the right car at the right price. My target price was $50,000 - 65,000, low mileage, clean Carfax, pleasing colors.
After two months found the right thing. 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed. The Speed has additional power and suspension and some other minor things. A dark blue. So dark it almost looks black until the sun brings out the blue. Good light cream color leather with dark blue/gray appointments, and medium dark burl wood panels. 27, 200 miles. Good Carfax and service records. It had the old infotainment system replaced with a very well done modern one. Sat nav and Apple CarPlay. All the new tech stuff. A $4,200customization that was properly mated with the existing car controls and steering wheel controls. Custom chrome wheels. Closed the deal for $57,000 out the door with $6,500 for my Jag. So $50,500.
Great condition. People think it’s new.
Wife and I are happy with it. It is truly a step above in quality of materials, fit, and finish. Parts aren’t plastic but metal. Almost too much in the way of features. Lots to learn about it all. Ride is so sedate and smooth. At 600 Horsepower it is fast 0-60 in 4.0 seconds and top speed of 202 Mph ( yeah, like I’ll ever see that).
Comfortable.
Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.
Beautiful car - until I quickly got an overdose of it during my years spent in China. It is always the "Flashy-Gucci-shirt-with-matching-belt, sometimes-the-shades-too!" type of guys driving a Continental GT in Shanghai or Beijing.
Would it be the same type of drivers in your part of the 'Hood ?
Cheers, Slug
"Major Burns isn't saying much of anything, Sir. I think he's formulating the answer..." - Radar - M*A*S*H
Saw a Mercedes Benz commercial not long ago showing off interior neon lighting (you can change it: blue, green, orange, etc.), including lighted strips wrapping around the inside.
Only word that came to my mind was "tacky". I think words like "classy" and "elegant" are frowned upon today.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Indeed it is a gorgeous car. I love the deep dark blue and the light leather, especially the light interior for FL.
V-12 ???
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"There's a sucker born every minute." Phineas Taylor Barnum
I had one car that I kept in my dads yard for years. It was my Teenage Cruiser He finally made me Junk it. Still to this day, I think of the cars backseat.
Thanks, did some reading and it seems the W12 has been around for quite awhile at Bentley.
2022 version is around $250K here.
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"There's a sucker born every minute." Phineas Taylor Barnum
RSColonel, yes it has paddle shifters. But it is an automatic so they are a bit of a gimmick unlike my Maserati GranSport which has legitimate paddle shifters since it is a manual transmission.
W12 engine. Advantage it is shorter than a V12. Lots of torque on top of its horsepower. You can really feel when the twin turbos kick in. It startled me the first time I floored it and they spun up. Surge of power that catches you by surprise. Greater acceleration than my GranSport. Hard to believe such a luxurious car can have such brutal power. I like it.
As for the Gucci drivers, can’t blame the car for that. If it weren’t for them there wouldn’t be these used ones on the market with such low miles.
Yes, new ones go for over $300,000. Mine was $214,000 in 2008. The Speed versions are a bit more.
Took it to my friend who owns a European car service center and he gave it a good inspection. Gave me the thumbs up. Hopefully she won’t be a trouble car.
Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.
Beautiful car, and IMO one should really own a 12-cylinder car at some point in one’s life!
Now, pack the weekend bags and go on a spectacular road trip!
In all my years I've never seen the like. It has to be more than a hundred sea miles and he brings us up on his tail. That's seamanship, Mr. Pullings. My God, that's seamanship!
EDIT: ^ That is so freggin' disappointing (awesome fan video), why do they do this?!
Last edited by MarkG; 06/19/2104:33 PM.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Ya ..I dearly love the Jag. But that Bentley is very nice I have driven all sorts of vehicles oce the last 50 years. IMO nobody combines luxury and performance like the Brits Some are faster some are fancier there is just something about how they combine the two.
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,478PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,478
Miami, FL USA
A very nice car indeed. You chose very well OG!
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”