RE: Bentley Arnage T: PH Buying Guide
Discussion
Absolutely love the Arnage and simply must have one some day - but I'm rather thinking of an LS7-swapped BMW version instead of the 6.75. Lovely engine though the latter is, it also weighs about three times what the LS7 does (about a 370kg difference!). Probably less likely to go wrong, easier to service and cheaper to fix than the Bentley motor. Also, manual 'box conversion possible... and the BMW motor could go in my E39 
What's the ride quality in these like? I appreciate my engine conversion might require changes to the springing and damping anyway, it'd sit so much higher at the front!
Still, there's just something so English and Baroque about them, like Chatsworth on wheels - you just know that, if Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy were around today, he'd drive an Arnage. "Carriages at eleven"...
Car geek fact: the Arnage was designed by Royden Axe, he also of the Sunbeam Rapier Fastback, Hillman Avenger and Hunter
, Talbot Tagora, Austin Montego, Rover 800 and R8-series 200/400, plus the horrendous Mondeo-on-steroids Bentley Java (commissioned by the Bruneian royal family). He also mentored Gerry McGovern, the man responsible for the blinged-up monstrosities currently issuing forth from Halewood and Solihull... however, he was also responsible for this and for the still-born "British NSX" MG EX-E, so I think I might JUST be prepared to forgive him...
What's the ride quality in these like? I appreciate my engine conversion might require changes to the springing and damping anyway, it'd sit so much higher at the front!
Still, there's just something so English and Baroque about them, like Chatsworth on wheels - you just know that, if Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy were around today, he'd drive an Arnage. "Carriages at eleven"...
Car geek fact: the Arnage was designed by Royden Axe, he also of the Sunbeam Rapier Fastback, Hillman Avenger and Hunter
, Talbot Tagora, Austin Montego, Rover 800 and R8-series 200/400, plus the horrendous Mondeo-on-steroids Bentley Java (commissioned by the Bruneian royal family). He also mentored Gerry McGovern, the man responsible for the blinged-up monstrosities currently issuing forth from Halewood and Solihull... however, he was also responsible for this and for the still-born "British NSX" MG EX-E, so I think I might JUST be prepared to forgive him...Grandfondo said:
What type of person drives about in one of these monstrosities?
So the efforts of all those craftsman and woman, who have spent hours building this work of art, would all go to waste if no one bought the cars. They take care in their work and if they did not have any orders for the car, then they would be on the dole....I mean, they can't build standard run of the mill cars as they are built by robots....so more people on the dole...Live and let live, huh?
I'm the proud owner of a 2007 arnage T sports combination 2. After owner many super cars, I can say hand on heart the Arnage is the finest motor car I have ever driven. It's sheer presence, power, quality and reliability reflect that this was the last true hand built Bentley using virtually / 90% all Bentley parts. Not something you will experience on the later, more modern models.
When you own an Arnage T, you are buying into a truly wonderful experience of British superior quality and engineering. When I wash the car, leathering her off afterwards, I can't stop looking at it's shape. Truly beautiful and outstanding.
I would recommend any potential buyer to buy the latest car you can with the best specification and has been serviced to death with a good record of maintenance. A car that has been used rather than a museum piece will drive nicer. Don't be put off by mileages at 70-80,000 miles. It's a big engine and grossly under tuned. I can only refer to a 2007 model year car but my views on big used cars have always been the same.
It took me a year to find my Arnage T in the colour I wanted (silver storm), linen beige interior with piano black wood and picnic tables. Black carpets, black top roll (dash) and some other lovely options such as champagne cooler in rear armrest, pop down vanity mirrors, massage seats, personal vanity mirrors in rear C pillars.
The Arnage T has potent power. A real handful due to its sheer weight. But, very solid on the road at any speed.
When I take my wife, two sons and my Jack Russell dog out for lunch to a nice country pub, arriving in the Arnage puts the icing on the cake as the experience is truly wonderful. People stop and stare at an Arnage, in their tracks. They are a very rare car however and not seen on the roads too often. Mine was £206,000.00 sterling when new. I have the original bill of sale. It's no wonder that the Arnage T sports combination 2 is indeed a very rare car.
The one downside to ownership is the upkeep of an Arnage. I use a well respected private garage who is a Bentley specialist. An annual service is a must to keep up the cars value no matter what the mileage or how many miles the car has covered in twelve months. My annual service cost is approx £1500, insurance is £500 per year, same with road tax @£500. So, £2500 before you put a gallon of fuel in it might not seem like a great idea to a lot of people for a car that I use once a month (more in the summer however) but once one has experienced the total pleasure of driving an Arnage, it's a small price to pay for such a beautiful motor car.
When you own an Arnage T, you are buying into a truly wonderful experience of British superior quality and engineering. When I wash the car, leathering her off afterwards, I can't stop looking at it's shape. Truly beautiful and outstanding.
I would recommend any potential buyer to buy the latest car you can with the best specification and has been serviced to death with a good record of maintenance. A car that has been used rather than a museum piece will drive nicer. Don't be put off by mileages at 70-80,000 miles. It's a big engine and grossly under tuned. I can only refer to a 2007 model year car but my views on big used cars have always been the same.
It took me a year to find my Arnage T in the colour I wanted (silver storm), linen beige interior with piano black wood and picnic tables. Black carpets, black top roll (dash) and some other lovely options such as champagne cooler in rear armrest, pop down vanity mirrors, massage seats, personal vanity mirrors in rear C pillars.
The Arnage T has potent power. A real handful due to its sheer weight. But, very solid on the road at any speed.
When I take my wife, two sons and my Jack Russell dog out for lunch to a nice country pub, arriving in the Arnage puts the icing on the cake as the experience is truly wonderful. People stop and stare at an Arnage, in their tracks. They are a very rare car however and not seen on the roads too often. Mine was £206,000.00 sterling when new. I have the original bill of sale. It's no wonder that the Arnage T sports combination 2 is indeed a very rare car.
The one downside to ownership is the upkeep of an Arnage. I use a well respected private garage who is a Bentley specialist. An annual service is a must to keep up the cars value no matter what the mileage or how many miles the car has covered in twelve months. My annual service cost is approx £1500, insurance is £500 per year, same with road tax @£500. So, £2500 before you put a gallon of fuel in it might not seem like a great idea to a lot of people for a car that I use once a month (more in the summer however) but once one has experienced the total pleasure of driving an Arnage, it's a small price to pay for such a beautiful motor car.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff