Thursday 26th November 2015

Bentley Mulsanne Speed: You Know You Want To

One millionaire's cancelled order can be another's £60K saving

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One of the adages among those who sell luxury goods for a living is that there's no such thing as bad taste, just other people's. Reference recent - extensive - discussion of the Bentley Bentayga. So while most people don't want a tartan Aventador that's been colour matched to their favourite golfing trousers, or a Bugatti Veyron trimmed with real leopard skin, for those who have both the ambition and the money to realise such gaudy dreams the salesperson's first response will always be along the lines of "excellent choice. Why not take a matching pair?"

OK, not subtle but it could be worse!

The very act of spending ridiculous amounts of money on something you don't really need is a deeply personal thing, hence the time and effort most buyers put into specifying such purchases; and the equal attention top-flight manufacturers are now giving to near-limitless customisation for those with pockets of sufficient depth.

But which also limits the appeal of a cancelled order Bentley Mulsanne Speed, even with a very generous saving over its optioned price. Anyone buying this unregistered example will make an impressive saving over the official list price. It's up for £229,969, £57,000 beneath its optioned list price. That's a saving that even Bentley owners can't afford to be too sniffy about, enough to buy a BMW M4 without haggling. But it also means being stuck with the choices made by whoever ordered it in the first place, and who then seems to have had second thoughts of their own.

Not that there's anything too Mansory going on here; indeed by the standards of a Mulsanne Speed you could practically call this one demure and understated. The Dark Sapphire exterior paintwork is a popular choice, and one that suits the vast car well. The magnolia and navy interior adds some brightness to the cabin, but it still looks like you would want to obsessively wash your hands before touching the steering wheel. Options are all sensible, including a sunroof, rear seat entertainment package and - of course - the all-important folding wooden picnic tables in the back that pretty much every Bentley saloon seems to have. There are just 10 miles on the odometer and the car hasn't even been registered, meaning whoever does buy it will be the first name on the V5.

If that's not quite so important then there are some even bigger savings to be made on some very gently used examples - this Storm Grey Mulsanne Speed has just 550 miles showing, brown caramel and anthracite interior trim and pretty much the same options ticked and is offered at £219,990.

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BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED
Price: £229,969
Why you should: If a Bentayga is simply too 'new money' for you
Why you shouldn't: Is a discounted reject really want you want at this level?

See the original advert here.

[sidesauce]

Notwithstanding the point about washing ones hands before touching the steering wheel (I'd probably wear gloves), that is a lovely looking thing.

[DoctorX]

Like it. Apart from the chav jacket quilted leather.

[jhonn]

I'm not rich, unlikely to be rich and even if I was I (probably) wouldn't consider a car like this.

It's a lovely thing though, and I'm glad cars like this exist.

[Duffman83]

I like it, but surely this just reinforces the idea that come trade in, all those expensive personal options make next to difference to the price. That just baffles me, same with carbon interior stuff and external trinketry.

As far as I am aware carbon is supposed to functional, i.e lightweight and super strong to improve performance. Sadly carbon interior and exterior packs do nothing more than fleece the buyer.

[kellyt]

Not sure why, but after looking at that for a few moments I was seized by the thought that a Mondeo Vignale would be a really nice car.

[V8 FOU]

Gorgeous car - but why such a piss-poor advert? Only 4 pictures. No front end shot - perhaps it was "lightly damaged"?
Very strange!

[shalmaneser]

What's a 'rifled' exhaust pipe?

[MyCC]

A very poor way to display such a HNW car, why are the images such awful quality? Doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Best regards,

MyCC.

[CS400]

This bit of the ad made me laugh

- Est. 2004
- Adaptive Vehicle Solutions Ltd has OVER 40 Years Experience

[aston addict]

absolutely gopping.

Front always looked better than the back.

And that two-tone interior is almost worse than the looks-like-a-melted-wellie rear.

[richinlondon]

Think an old Turbo R would has more style...

[Vee12V]

The perfect alternative for that Bentayga (if it has to be a Bentley that is).

[WokkaWokka]

I don't know whether it's coming or going.

[smilo996]

So much better than the Conti but I just could not help buy buy a Bentley Continental Turbo R, have it fully restored and spent hours burning teenagers up at Traffic lights. Infantile but so much more fun.

[1Rb]

Couldn't get over the generic VAGness of the steering wheel were I in a place to buy.

[andyps]

Advert says it is sold so someone liked it!

[numtumfutunch]

As much as I like this if I wanted to show how rich I was Id have a Phantom, and if I wanted to stealth my cash whilst still enjoying the drive Id have a Rangie or an S Class

Im obvs not the demographic here but just cant see the point of this Bentley - even if its lovely