RE: PetrolTed's Bentley Red Label
Discussion
such a beast exists , after the new Bently was launched most owners prefered the grunt of the old 6:75 lt. motor so Bently re-introduced Dino motor 
See below:
www.rolls-royceandbentley.co.uk/bentley/index.htm
Goto model range, then current models.
They also produced a Green Label Bentley Arnage, which IIRC was a calmer version of the Red Label.
www.rolls-royceandbentley.co.uk/bentley/index.htm
Goto model range, then current models.
They also produced a Green Label Bentley Arnage, which IIRC was a calmer version of the Red Label.
I wrote the brochure for the Red Label Arnage, and have driven both Green and Red Label cars.
The Red Label is a much better car - much more 'Bentley'. Interestingly, the move back to the old technology was driven mainly by the political need to disassociate Bentley from BMW (the green label had a twin turbo 4 litre BMW V8) and from the fact that engine supply would eventually dry up. It was a move out of corporate necessity, although it is true that many owners didn't like the 'new' 4.0 engine and wanted their old 6.75 litre back, so this was used as the main marketing message.
I also drove the Roller of the same platform - the Silver Seraph. Much less impressive - quicker than you'd think, but a noisy engine at high revs and the handling should have a govt health warning. V dangerous on a quick lane change. The Titanic rolled less.
Best car I drove whilst working for Bentley was probably Merc S500 - couldn't match Red Label for style, but overall a better car and half the price. Best Bentley was Red Label. I'm glad it has been a sales success as it deserved it. The Green Label was too emasculated, and although it was sold alongside the Red, this was only because there were unsold Green Labels and a pile of brand new BMW engines waiting for a home - not because they were ever designed to compete with each other in the marketplace. The fact they did was an interim measure in a limited market.
Just FYI.
Rgds
Domster
The Red Label is a much better car - much more 'Bentley'. Interestingly, the move back to the old technology was driven mainly by the political need to disassociate Bentley from BMW (the green label had a twin turbo 4 litre BMW V8) and from the fact that engine supply would eventually dry up. It was a move out of corporate necessity, although it is true that many owners didn't like the 'new' 4.0 engine and wanted their old 6.75 litre back, so this was used as the main marketing message.
I also drove the Roller of the same platform - the Silver Seraph. Much less impressive - quicker than you'd think, but a noisy engine at high revs and the handling should have a govt health warning. V dangerous on a quick lane change. The Titanic rolled less.
Best car I drove whilst working for Bentley was probably Merc S500 - couldn't match Red Label for style, but overall a better car and half the price. Best Bentley was Red Label. I'm glad it has been a sales success as it deserved it. The Green Label was too emasculated, and although it was sold alongside the Red, this was only because there were unsold Green Labels and a pile of brand new BMW engines waiting for a home - not because they were ever designed to compete with each other in the marketplace. The fact they did was an interim measure in a limited market.
Just FYI.
Rgds
Domster
Hi guys,
I don't work for the Bentley crew (or should that be crewe!) anymore, but writing a brochure for a mainstream model was fantastic - really felt like writing history. It was a great experience, and the Bentley lot were very professional and knew what they were doing. Good clients and very sensible.
It always made me laugh when the engineers fretted over the new S class having a few more cm's leg room or head room, though. I mean, one is a 140k car and the other is a 70k car. Do they really compete? Our research showed that the average Bentley owner had 5 cars, and at least one was a Mercedes. Probably an S class.
The Red Label tends to compete with a downpayment on a yacht/small country/trip to the moon rather than another car. Owners tend to use the Merc every day for work, and then the Bentley for special occasions/golf club visits.
The best story was a guy in America with a top spec Range Rover as one of his other cars. He kept it at his fishing lodge and had a tow hook on it for his boat trailer. However, unhooking and hooking the trailer on and off was a pain, as he'd often go to the nearest town for supplies. His solution to the tedium of hooking/unhooking the boat trailer was in the true Bentley Spirit. He bought an *identical* Range Rover, so that one could be permanently hooked up to the boat trailer, and the other was free for town duties. Brilliant!
If Ted wanted a discount I could try and get him a name of someone to speak to, but Bentley aren't big on discounts and it may never happen. They are very wary of the price of their cars in a specialist market and how depreciation can be potentially deadly for their business. Therefore, official talk of discounts never takes place, and if it does (I really don't know) then I imagine only their best customers (usually royalty from sunny climes) are in a good position to negotiate.
Keep on saving, Ted, the walnut and hide is calling! Maybe one day when you sell pistonheads to Bill Gates or something.
Rgds
Domster
I don't work for the Bentley crew (or should that be crewe!) anymore, but writing a brochure for a mainstream model was fantastic - really felt like writing history. It was a great experience, and the Bentley lot were very professional and knew what they were doing. Good clients and very sensible.
It always made me laugh when the engineers fretted over the new S class having a few more cm's leg room or head room, though. I mean, one is a 140k car and the other is a 70k car. Do they really compete? Our research showed that the average Bentley owner had 5 cars, and at least one was a Mercedes. Probably an S class.
The Red Label tends to compete with a downpayment on a yacht/small country/trip to the moon rather than another car. Owners tend to use the Merc every day for work, and then the Bentley for special occasions/golf club visits.
The best story was a guy in America with a top spec Range Rover as one of his other cars. He kept it at his fishing lodge and had a tow hook on it for his boat trailer. However, unhooking and hooking the trailer on and off was a pain, as he'd often go to the nearest town for supplies. His solution to the tedium of hooking/unhooking the boat trailer was in the true Bentley Spirit. He bought an *identical* Range Rover, so that one could be permanently hooked up to the boat trailer, and the other was free for town duties. Brilliant!
If Ted wanted a discount I could try and get him a name of someone to speak to, but Bentley aren't big on discounts and it may never happen. They are very wary of the price of their cars in a specialist market and how depreciation can be potentially deadly for their business. Therefore, official talk of discounts never takes place, and if it does (I really don't know) then I imagine only their best customers (usually royalty from sunny climes) are in a good position to negotiate.
Keep on saving, Ted, the walnut and hide is calling! Maybe one day when you sell pistonheads to Bill Gates or something.
Rgds
Domster
Ever been in a Bentley, Ted ?
Just that my old fella's got one, and if I can get him up from Surrey to a get together, I'm sure he'd take you for a waft in it. He won't be able to make the MK karting meet up as he'll be golfing in Portugal (bah)
When (yes !) he gets an Arnage, he does fancy a Green rather than Red label, only for the rarity value. Although he's obviously been working on my mother - she stated on the phone the other week that the Arnage T is "only £165,000, you know"
I nearly choked on me bagel!
Greg
Just that my old fella's got one, and if I can get him up from Surrey to a get together, I'm sure he'd take you for a waft in it. He won't be able to make the MK karting meet up as he'll be golfing in Portugal (bah)
When (yes !) he gets an Arnage, he does fancy a Green rather than Red label, only for the rarity value. Although he's obviously been working on my mother - she stated on the phone the other week that the Arnage T is "only £165,000, you know"
I nearly choked on me bagel!
Greg
I can see it now, standing at the Main Gate to LE Mans as a Bentley Red Label Cruises by, Ted at the wheel looking as cool as ever, you watch it past with an open mouth, as the rear comes into view you see a collection of BIG white letters just above the number plate on the bootlid, as you close your mouth, take a second glance and re-focus, Can it be? Surely not? On His Read Label, he's got more sense! To your amazement is reads "www.pistonheads.com"!!!
>> Edited by tvradict on Wednesday 20th February 12:53
>> Edited by tvradict on Wednesday 20th February 12:53
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