RE: You Know You Want To: Bentley Flying Spur

[jakesmith]

stain said:

You won't get an average of 17mpg in a Spur. Ours does 12-13 tops. 20mpg is the most you see at 70 on the motorway but hit some traffic and it is down to 6-9 mpg.

Despite some VW origins the running costs are enormous. Take the dampers for example. They have a habit of blowing requiring replacement. That's 4 grand there and ours went at under 50k miles. Brakes are 2 grand a pair. If the headlight bulb goes you will need to visit the dealer, and if the starter or alternator goes then it is engine out. Approx 21hrs labour for that.

Great cars at silly low prices but if you can't afford to buy 2 then don't buy 1.

Nice realistic post & a bump back down to earth! I'm guessing the engine needs to come out for those jobs because it is so big it fills the entire bay in the photos above, so no space to work around it?

[Rushmore]

Only because the value of these cars has come down, they still are top notch luxury cars with all the related issues.

[PurpleMoonlight]

The bonnet catch sensors failed on mine.

£1000 to replace and fit.

[POORCARDEALER]

Do not underestimate the thirst of these cars.......however 200 mph in luxury, its acceptable

[swisstoni]

They are like Elephants. Lovely to look at but I wouldn't want to own one.

[militantmandy]

marcosgt said:

Someone mentioned it earlier, but the classy choice is the Phaeton W12...

M.

Sat in a Phaeton recently and thought the interior was a big disappointment. Not a patch on the Bently and it looks very, very similar to a Passat! Good value, but not in the same league class wise.

[soad]

PurpleMoonlight said:

The bonnet catch sensors failed on mine.

£1000 to replace and fit.

Ouch. But suppose that's expected.

What's the servicing cost on these?

[E38Ross]

soad said:

PurpleMoonlight said:

The bonnet catch sensors failed on mine.

£1000 to replace and fit.

Ouch. But suppose that's expected.

What's the servicing cost on these?

much more than an A4 diesel, i reckon. i'd be interested to know this. i reckon an annual service around £2-3k

[Wonderman]

E38Ross said:

much more than an A4 diesel, i reckon. i'd be interested to know this. i reckon an annual service around £2-3k

http://www.jardinemotors.co.uk/bentley/news-and-offers/announcing-bentley-platinum-club

Can't copy prices, but give u an idea

Edited by Wonderman on Sunday 21st October 13:36

[bertie]

soad said:

PurpleMoonlight said:

The bonnet catch sensors failed on mine.

£1000 to replace and fit.

Ouch. But suppose that's expected.

What's the servicing cost on these?

I wouldn't expect that, it's ridiculous!

The switch will be the same part as umpteen other VWs at about £3 cost

[PurpleMoonlight]

soad said:

Ouch. But suppose that's expected.

What's the servicing cost on these?

I only had it for the one service which was the minor one, it was about £1000 I think.

[stain]

jakesmith said:

Nice realistic post & a bump back down to earth! I'm guessing the engine needs to come out for those jobs because it is so big it fills the entire bay in the photos above, so no space to work around it?

Alot of components live within the W. front wings need to come off for most jobs to make room.

Servicing is about 850, 2k and 3k in rotation at a main dealer.

[POORCARDEALER]

Power steering pump is VW and is cheap

[scholesy]

Some of the dashboard switches on this look far too VW, which would put me off, apart from that it looks lovely, with less of the footballer rep of the Continental GT

[anonymous-user]

stain said:

Alot of components live within the W. front wings need to come off for most jobs to make room.

Servicing is about 850, 2k and 3k in rotation at a main dealer.

I'm afraid the bloke above you was closer to the truth; Removing the front wings makes approximately zero extra room when trying to spanner away at the engine.

Everything is very tightly packed within the engine bay. Even jobs that aren't engine out per-say will be main dealer/specialist jobs due to either needing a special tool or knowing the particular knack to getting to job done. An exhaust gas temp sensor is a good example, I wish anyone attempting to do that job without the special tool the very best of luck!

Its so tight in the engine bay that O2 sensors (an item some would consider a 'consumable') are engine out according to the workshop manual.

[Rushmore]

So who is going to be the 3rd and 4th owner of these cars then?

[wildcat45]

Will everyone stop being so sensible and down to earth.

Its a bloody great car for the cash. I want one very much, though I do have to admit to preferring something like a T2, 1990s Continental T, Turbo R or the model that followed it.

I am going off to search for adverts now and dream......

[PurpleMoonlight]

wildcat45 said:

Its a bloody great car for the cash.

It is, but I would have to say there are better cars out there of the same ilk, a Merc S600L for example.

[Rushmore]

Well - these are truly great cars.

wildcat45 said:

though I do have to admit to preferring something like a T2, 1990s Continental T, Turbo R or the model that followed it.

[X5TUU]

I can't draw a comparison to something as mundane as an a4 or 6 diesel but ...

Our CGT is insured on a multicar policy, with 6 others between 2 drivers and the whole policy is £1600 all in, for me (30) and my other half (28), including class one business on all cars.

Only had one service done so far and was £800 at a local luxury/performance specialist.

I have had 2 tyres replaced at 250 a corner.

But I did search for a long time to find a well looked after and cherished example.

I will only do prob 1k miles a year in it, max, so it spends its life mainly tucked up but that's intentional as I know I couldn't realistically afford to have one as a daily driver, and when I can afford to chop it in for a 360 Spider I should be accustomed to the costs of running such a financially intensive car (in theory)