1990s Bentley vs Lexus LS430

1990s Bentley vs Lexus LS430

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300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
k-ink said:
Balmoral said:
Reckon on around 12mpg and around £4K a year for fettling. Anyone who suggests otherwise is talking bks, just ask anyone who's run one for more than a year or two.
Yeah but 300bhp/ton has a mate named Dave who works in Halfords. He can service a Bentley for £4.99 in his fag break. hehe
Why are you so obtuse or is it just complete logic fail.

BTW - if you are happy paying over the odds for everything, please PM me when you want your car servicing, I'll make sure I charge you proper for it. wink

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
infradig said:
Balmoral said:
Reckon on around 12mpg and around £4K a year for fettling. Anyone who suggests otherwise is talking bks, just ask anyone who's run one for more than a year or two.
Thank you ,300BHP, would you like to cross examine?
Only that that doesn't help the OP much. A breakdown of costs over say a 2-3 year+ period of exactly what you've had to spend money on, would be help to anyone considering such a car.

12mpg I believe, a V12 Jag won't be much different, although I'd have thought (and based on a few people I know owning Bentley's) that you'd average slightly higher unless you have a lead right foot or are town driving all the time.

infradig

978 posts

206 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
I doubt anyone running one will want to keep a record of what they've spent. I used to hide credit card bills from my wife and once snuck out on a weekend away to fill it up so I could pretend it could go from Milton Keynes to The New Forest and back on a tankful.
I don't doubt you could run one on a shoestring,but it wouldn't be much fun,the Turbo R's raison d'être is effortless brutal acceleration and pootling around like a wedding Shadow on cross plies trying not to wear anything out and eke out a gallon for 15 miles would get frustrating.
The sad thing is Ive been trawling the net for an early Shadow that hasn't been emulsioned white, thinking maybe 300BHP is right and I can afford to run a Crewe product if I'm sensible and am prepared to do my own dirty work. I'd have plenty of time between Pot Noodles and watching Babestation in my bedsit !

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
infradig said:
I doubt anyone running one will want to keep a record of what they've spent. I used to hide credit card bills from my wife and once snuck out on a weekend away to fill it up so I could pretend it could go from Milton Keynes to The New Forest and back on a tankful.
I don't doubt you could run one on a shoestring,but it wouldn't be much fun,the Turbo R's raison d'être is effortless brutal acceleration and pootling around like a wedding Shadow on cross plies trying not to wear anything out and eke out a gallon for 15 miles would get frustrating.
The sad thing is Ive been trawling the net for an early Shadow that hasn't been emulsioned white, thinking maybe 300BHP is right and I can afford to run a Crewe product if I'm sensible and am prepared to do my own dirty work. I'd have plenty of time between Pot Noodles and watching Babestation in my bedsit !
smile

Honestly I'm not trying to say they are cheap to run, nor wanting to disagree with any current/past owners. If anything I'm more interested and curious.

I looked into TVR Cerbera ownership costs once, lots of people kept saying £3000-5000 a year. But nobody seemed able to actually tell me what the money was being spent on year on year.

The closest I got was:

-radiator
-respray
-alloy wheel refurbishment


Call me old fashioned, but even on a TVR (or a Bentley wink ) those aren't the kinds of things I'd have thought you'd splash out on each and every year. And something like a respray must be an 'optional' cost more than a needed one?

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
infradig said:
I doubt anyone running one will want to keep a record of what they've spent. I used to hide credit card bills from my wife and once snuck out on a weekend away to fill it up so I could pretend it could go from Milton Keynes to The New Forest and back on a tankful.
I don't doubt you could run one on a shoestring,but it wouldn't be much fun,the Turbo R's raison d'être is effortless brutal acceleration and pootling around like a wedding Shadow on cross plies trying not to wear anything out and eke out a gallon for 15 miles would get frustrating.
The sad thing is Ive been trawling the net for an early Shadow that hasn't been emulsioned white, thinking maybe 300BHP is right and I can afford to run a Crewe product if I'm sensible and am prepared to do my own dirty work. I'd have plenty of time between Pot Noodles and watching Babestation in my bedsit !
smile

Honestly I'm not trying to say they are cheap to run, nor wanting to disagree with any current/past owners. If anything I'm more interested and curious.

I looked into TVR Cerbera ownership costs once, lots of people kept saying £3000-5000 a year. But nobody seemed able to actually tell me what the money was being spent on year on year.

The closest I got was:

-radiator
-respray
-alloy wheel refurbishment


Call me old fashioned, but even on a TVR (or a Bentley wink ) those aren't the kinds of things I'd have thought you'd splash out on each and every year. And something like a respray must be an 'optional' cost more than a needed one?
After owning several TVRs and I can agree with Cerbera owners that a budget of about 3k a year is needed. They always need work doing, clutch, suspension, etc, etc.

Dominicc01

530 posts

166 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
smile

Honestly I'm not trying to say they are cheap to run, nor wanting to disagree with any current/past owners. If anything I'm more interested and curious.
I've never run one, but considered it many times. Apparently hydraulics are a common fault. Electrics are very dodgy (with old fashioned many miles of wiring to work out). Central locking will frequently pack up. And for everything else, it's bespoke parts (of which there are many) going wrong.

It was a hand built car, and not taken from a large company's parts bin. Yes, components may be generic, but getting them in and out usually isn't.

redgriff500

26,739 posts

262 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
A friend is a Bentley Specialist and even he is struggling to run his Turbo.

MPG is circa 15 and it regularly needs parts.

IIRC in the last year it's had brake lines, calipers, suspension spheres etc

Previous owner spent £10k one year.

Having one for 1k miles a year is one thing but for 10k is another matter.

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
why do you want the bentley?

wouldn't a more modern 730d on a 2006 plate be a better bet?

if i could have either regardless of cost i'd have the ls430 for better mpg, better build quality, more reliable, more mpg and a better car imho.

HowMuchLonger

3,003 posts

192 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
MUDGUTZ said:
From this one for sale: 2002 Arnarge


ABS/EBD
Driver and passenger airbags
Driver and passenger side airbags
ESP + MSR + ASR
Front and rear thorax airbag system
Front seatbelt pretensioners
Full size curtain airbags
HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist)

These are the sort of safety features that I'm talking about.
How on earth is that so cheap.

You don't happen to live near Berrywood Rd do you?

MUDGUTZ

Original Poster:

117 posts

146 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
jonah35 said:
why do you want the bentley?

wouldn't a more modern 730d on a 2006 plate be a better bet?

if i could have either regardless of cost i'd have the ls430 for better mpg, better build quality, more reliable, more mpg and a better car imho.
Thanks, this is a good question and in attempting to answer it, I may get to the bottom of this quandry and bring something more to the debate:

1) Because (Bentleys of that era) are British
2) Because it sticks two fingers up to the Green, Prius-driving Communists
3) Because I love big cars and am able to make up for my lack of insecurity by driving one
4) Because a Bentley does all of the above in one package
5) To quote Derestrictor:

Derestrictor said:
Whilst plebs may decry it on the grounds of fatuous stereotyping, the truth is these old crates represent the end of something broadly analogue and unapologetically imperfect but equally, magical.

Very few cars can deliver remotely the same sense of imperious tingle.

If they were a form of domestic heating, the three-box Bentleys from 1980-98 would be the most magnificent, grandiose, roaring, open wood burning fires and your chimneys would billow like the Mallard at 125 mph.

v8will

3,301 posts

195 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Reasons seem fair enough, the experience and it's possible financial implications - well only you can decide if it's worth it.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I did look at a Turbo and even as a 3rd car it wasn't something I could justify.

If I was in the market for a big Brit and at around that price point then maybe some sort of Jag? Or possibly an Interceptor (again not one for daily duty)

redgriff500

26,739 posts

262 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
jonah35 said:
why do you want the bentley?
Derestrictor said:
Very few cars can deliver the same sense of imperious tingle.
^^^This

Dad has a couple and they look fabulous on the drive and people really do move out of the way / let you in / treat you better when you are driving one.

I suspect it's partly because unlike a BMW / Merc there is no cheap Bentley (new)

I always promised myself one but the mpg is ridiculous but perhaps when I'm 60+ I might buy one (or inherit one of Dad's)


MUDGUTZ

Original Poster:

117 posts

146 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
HowMuchLonger said:
MUDGUTZ said:
From this one for sale: 2002 Arnarge


ABS/EBD
Driver and passenger airbags
Driver and passenger side airbags
ESP + MSR + ASR
Front and rear thorax airbag system
Front seatbelt pretensioners
Full size curtain airbags
HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist)

These are the sort of safety features that I'm talking about.
How on earth is that so cheap.

You don't happen to live near Berrywood Rd do you?
...Sometimes, the Family Seat is in that area, most of the time I reside across the road from The Regency Club wink

Rushmore

1,223 posts

141 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
@Everyone:

Someone wants a Bentley and you keep suggesting German barges (btw i am waiting for someone to suggest an MX-5)???

@OP:

WHY do you want a Bentley - that is still unclear to me?! Do you like that particular shape? Or the brand in general?

The SZ-series cars are quite a matter of personal taste. The post-1995MY cars in in subdued colours with light leather can look halfway decent. They are anachronistic, brutal, not pleasant to the eye, women hate them, they are awkward to maneuvre in car parks. And still, they are provocative, charming, iron-cast, Ye Olde England (Denis Thatcher etc).

Is that really the right car for you? Does it suit your lifestyle? You will have difficulties to impress people with one of these - a Conti GT will do that job much better.

MUDGUTZ

Original Poster:

117 posts

146 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Rushmore said:
@Everyone:

Someone wants a Bentley and you keep suggesting German barges (btw i am waiting for someone to suggest an MX-5)???

@OP:

WHY do you want a Bentley - that is still unclear to me?! Do you like that particular shape? Or the brand in general?

The SZ-series cars are quite a matter of personal taste. The post-1995MY cars in in subdued colours with light leather can look halfway decent. They are anachronistic, brutal, not pleasant to the eye, women hate them, they are awkward to maneuvre in car parks. And still, they are provocative, charming, iron-cast, Ye Olde England (Denis Thatcher etc).

Is that really the right car for you? Does it suit your lifestyle? You will have difficulties to impress people with one of these - a Conti GT will do that job much better.
I have always likes big cars

I love the idea of a big, British car

I love the idea of a big, British car than can deliver effortless power and swallow up huge distances with contempt.

A while back I has on my way home from work, knowing that I would be doing the return journey within 10 hours, it would have been easier to get a hotel room and get some rest. As I joined the M1, the traffic slowed down and, were in another car, I would have instantly regretted the descision to head home for 8 hours when that involved 2 hours+ on the motorway. Because I was in the LS400, 'everything was OK'. A Bentley would do this for me but with a little more style.

Along with other things it's partly all the reasons given above plus the fact that I guess I want to own one as much as drive one. Part of the charm is the fact that if I have to drive 15,000 miles per year, I want something great to do that in. The LS430 represents this but a Bentley from the 90s could do that for me as well, if not better. The idea of a second car for the trip to work and back just does not appeal to me. Some folk look forward to work each day. I'm not one of them but I do look forward to the trip there (and back)and the only way I can progress from my current car is either 'more of the same' (LS 430) or 'similar yet more' (Bentley).

On the subject of a Continental GT: When they first were around, I though they were great but now, in my eyes they look crass, uncouth and sadly not to my taste, as they probably fit the bill. 90s Continental yes, Continental GT, no.

Rushmore

1,223 posts

141 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Ok.

Then buy a Bentley and accept it the way it is. It is an old-fashioned car, you will need to get used to it.

MUDGUTZ

Original Poster:

117 posts

146 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Rushmore said:
Ok.

...It is an old-fashioned car, you will need to get used to it.
You're not wrong, I had a look at one this afternoon. Basic inside but quite nice and in a way 'minimalistic'.

I'll keep up the research.

bqf

2,223 posts

170 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
I've just bought a Bentley Turbo R, from 1989.

It's utterly fabulous. I know it will be ruinously expensive, but who cares? Money is for spending.

Buy one. They're excellent.

Balmoral

40,625 posts

247 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
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DSLiverpool

14,660 posts

201 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
In the last 4 years I've had a 95 Turbo R, a Lexus GS450 and currently a 2008 BMW 760, I had in 2006 a GS430 also. As a daily driver there are many places a Bentley cannot go and it's oh so handmade in a way that's not that appealing any more plus it's got no nav or phone both handy in a daily driver.
The gs450 was serene so heck a ls600 if in budget but a Bit boring, the BMW - one of the best cars I have ever owned.