RE: Bentley SUV - inside line
Discussion
Ah yes, the Bentley Dominator. I seem to recall that it was a Range Rover chassis with the 6.75 litre Rolls-Royce/Bentley V8 connected to the centre diff by a GM 4-speed autobox. Unfortunately, it looks more like a London taxi than anything else. I'm doubtless in the minority here but I think the EXP9F is far better looking - though I'd still revise the front to match the Mulsanne.
e38Ross, 300bhp/ton - Thank you for your comments, but - I fear I did not make myself sufficiently clear...
I'd like a smaller and lighter Conti - but no, thanks, I don't want something as spartan as a Lotus. Wonderful cars though they are in their own way.
Bentley got into the portly habit during that long period of ownership by Rolls-Royce. I'd like to see them next offer the market a proper GT with a luxury interior, but at the same time something which isn't the size of an aircraft carrier. Premium compact is a fast-growing market sector, so why shouldn't Bentley consider it?
A new Conti doesn't have to be aiming to get down to Lotus car weights, but the next-generation one could be (and in my book should be) considerably lighter than it currently is.
I think there is a market of reasonable size (and growing in size,too) for a proper, continent-crossing GT that provides a very comfortable and quiet interior with sufficient lightness and also in a reasonably compact size. That combination will then make the handling much more interesting and pleasurable to drive, without taking you towards Aston Martin or Ferrari four-seater territory. It likely won't happen because Audi would begin to feel that Bentley were coming down towards their market, but I think there's a useful-sized market gap here.
Put it this way; I run an XK Coupe at the moment. Lovely GT car and sensibly-priced if you buy at 2 to 3 years of age. But, the interior is still a bit low-rent in places (and I say that despite having the post-2009 face-lifted model). I'd look at something a bit further up-market from this next time around but I want quietly-effective GT performance too, not that "look at me" + noisier thing that Aston, Ferrari & the like do. I'd love Bentley to look back at their roots - the earlier WO cars were not that big, for their time.
I'd like a smaller and lighter Conti - but no, thanks, I don't want something as spartan as a Lotus. Wonderful cars though they are in their own way.
Bentley got into the portly habit during that long period of ownership by Rolls-Royce. I'd like to see them next offer the market a proper GT with a luxury interior, but at the same time something which isn't the size of an aircraft carrier. Premium compact is a fast-growing market sector, so why shouldn't Bentley consider it?
A new Conti doesn't have to be aiming to get down to Lotus car weights, but the next-generation one could be (and in my book should be) considerably lighter than it currently is.
I think there is a market of reasonable size (and growing in size,too) for a proper, continent-crossing GT that provides a very comfortable and quiet interior with sufficient lightness and also in a reasonably compact size. That combination will then make the handling much more interesting and pleasurable to drive, without taking you towards Aston Martin or Ferrari four-seater territory. It likely won't happen because Audi would begin to feel that Bentley were coming down towards their market, but I think there's a useful-sized market gap here.
Put it this way; I run an XK Coupe at the moment. Lovely GT car and sensibly-priced if you buy at 2 to 3 years of age. But, the interior is still a bit low-rent in places (and I say that despite having the post-2009 face-lifted model). I'd look at something a bit further up-market from this next time around but I want quietly-effective GT performance too, not that "look at me" + noisier thing that Aston, Ferrari & the like do. I'd love Bentley to look back at their roots - the earlier WO cars were not that big, for their time.
Wemorgan - thanks for your suggestion. Yes, it's on my version of the "future possibles long-list" that we all mentally run, but I don't feel particularly attracted to the new SL.
Partly because:-
1) I also currently have a 2003MY C-class estate. Diesel, auto, the everyday "practical" set of wheels. And very useful it is, but, - no soul to it. Having driven lots of other borrowed/loaned Merc stuff over the years I have come to realize that is how they engineer all their products. I have great respect for Mercedes engineering but I wouldn't go to them for a car with soul.
2) Previous SL's I have tried were nice, capable and gave bland handling. They've all struck me as being the GT for people who didn't really want it to be very sporty, just the 2 seat tourer.
3) Price. The new alloy SL is just too new, and thus (in my book ) too expensive. I am a car enthusiast who doesn't like spending big money on his cars. [Yes, I appreciate this is illogical, thanks - no need to write in..]
4) My ex had an SLK. In fact she still has it, I think. Something of a "guilt by association" negative reaction to Merc sports cars, then, ever since the divorce.. [Also see above re illogical, thanks...]
I keep wondering about a Maserati GT. Partly because I never have. Partly because their s/hand prices are getting quite reasonable, so point 3 is being addressed. But then again we're back to that Italian "look at me" shouty style of performance.. And I'd like to talk to someone who drives 15-20K a year in one about their reliability experiences so far...
Meantime, I remember my favourite car mantra: "Depreciation is the impecunious car enthusiasts' friend.." and wait a bit longer. Which is a fancy way of saying "procrastinate"..
Partly because:-
1) I also currently have a 2003MY C-class estate. Diesel, auto, the everyday "practical" set of wheels. And very useful it is, but, - no soul to it. Having driven lots of other borrowed/loaned Merc stuff over the years I have come to realize that is how they engineer all their products. I have great respect for Mercedes engineering but I wouldn't go to them for a car with soul.
2) Previous SL's I have tried were nice, capable and gave bland handling. They've all struck me as being the GT for people who didn't really want it to be very sporty, just the 2 seat tourer.
3) Price. The new alloy SL is just too new, and thus (in my book ) too expensive. I am a car enthusiast who doesn't like spending big money on his cars. [Yes, I appreciate this is illogical, thanks - no need to write in..]
4) My ex had an SLK. In fact she still has it, I think. Something of a "guilt by association" negative reaction to Merc sports cars, then, ever since the divorce.. [Also see above re illogical, thanks...]
I keep wondering about a Maserati GT. Partly because I never have. Partly because their s/hand prices are getting quite reasonable, so point 3 is being addressed. But then again we're back to that Italian "look at me" shouty style of performance.. And I'd like to talk to someone who drives 15-20K a year in one about their reliability experiences so far...
Meantime, I remember my favourite car mantra: "Depreciation is the impecunious car enthusiasts' friend.." and wait a bit longer. Which is a fancy way of saying "procrastinate"..
P6B - take a look at my profile & you'll find I already run a 2011MY Jaguar XK Coupe. This is the facelift model with the 5.0 Litre engine. Mine is in Portfolio specification.
In general very happy with it [my first-ever Jag after 30 years of driving "Strictly-German" kit].
Aston Martin Vantage? Too small a cockpit for my body shape; I am a lanky 6 foot four in height. Also, the two folks I've met so far who have them have volunteered a few reliability niggles. The XK, so far at least, has had nothing go wrong. [Hope I'm not tempting the fates by writing that line....]
P6B - now there is a car that BL should've built. I think I remember reading a DSJ road test report on it where he roundly pronounced it to be far better than a then-current Mk 3 E-Type.
In general very happy with it [my first-ever Jag after 30 years of driving "Strictly-German" kit].
Aston Martin Vantage? Too small a cockpit for my body shape; I am a lanky 6 foot four in height. Also, the two folks I've met so far who have them have volunteered a few reliability niggles. The XK, so far at least, has had nothing go wrong. [Hope I'm not tempting the fates by writing that line....]
P6B - now there is a car that BL should've built. I think I remember reading a DSJ road test report on it where he roundly pronounced it to be far better than a then-current Mk 3 E-Type.
disco666 said:
Interesting that the Range Rover is still referred to as the benchmark in this sector.
Even when brands such as BMW, Merc, Porsche, Maserati and now Bentley are doing their own, the oldest is still the best.
(And the only one I would have).
Wasn't the range Rover released this year? In which case, far from the oldest Even when brands such as BMW, Merc, Porsche, Maserati and now Bentley are doing their own, the oldest is still the best.
(And the only one I would have).
Bare in mind the starting price of the RR is considerably higher than it is for the Audi, Merc or BMW too....
But yes, it's the only one I'd have if I wanted something like that.
Ah yes, silly me. Apologies.
I did indeed mean the P6BS prototype, which was the car that DSJ (Jenks) road-tested in MotorSport a long while ago. Gave it a glowing write-up, too, which would only make BL management ever the more perverse in their decision not to build it.
Anyhow, a lighter and more agile Conti (which is where I came in on all this) would be no bad thing, in my book.
I did indeed mean the P6BS prototype, which was the car that DSJ (Jenks) road-tested in MotorSport a long while ago. Gave it a glowing write-up, too, which would only make BL management ever the more perverse in their decision not to build it.
Anyhow, a lighter and more agile Conti (which is where I came in on all this) would be no bad thing, in my book.
or at least 
disco666 said:
Interesting that the Range Rover is still referred to as the benchmark in this sector.
Even when brands such as BMW, Merc, Porsche, Maserati and now Bentley are doing their own, the oldest is still the best.
(And the only one I would have).
I definitely agree. It's the icon that defines the segment. Most of the others are just pathetic "oh, look this is a growing segment with deep pocket customers." Let's see could we build a diesel Maserati SUV, and share the platform with Alfa. Yes we can! This is the strongest reason to get a Ferrari or Lotus, as they're not likely to ever make a SUV, whereas the rest are. Even when brands such as BMW, Merc, Porsche, Maserati and now Bentley are doing their own, the oldest is still the best.
(And the only one I would have).
Ridiculous how the VW/Audi/Porsche shell is being milked for all it's worth, and so blatantly.
You buy practically the same car badged as a VW (not cheap), Audi (more expensive), Porsche (expensive), and now Bentley (probably very very expensive).
Still, I suppose VW Touareg owners will feel very very smug when a Bentley derivative drives past.
You buy practically the same car badged as a VW (not cheap), Audi (more expensive), Porsche (expensive), and now Bentley (probably very very expensive).
Still, I suppose VW Touareg owners will feel very very smug when a Bentley derivative drives past.
The idea of such a heavy, inefficient, energy intensive design as this is just another socially violent product of capitalism: its only value metric is money, usefulness to society is irrelevant. Something frugal or lightweight would be a far more impressive and important contribution.
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