RE: Bentley Arnage T: PH Buying Guide
Discussion
On turning 65 and having already retired twice, my Dad bought an Arnage Red Label on the basis that he wanted one whilst he is still young enough to enjoy it.
I suggested that he set up a website and contributed to running costs by making the car available for weddings.
He has nearly had it 5 years now. Last year he and his wife covered 50 weddings and the Arnage ownership experience has generated a modest profit. He picked up a matching Turbo R last year to go with it!
It is an extraordinary experience to drive one.
I suggested that he set up a website and contributed to running costs by making the car available for weddings.
He has nearly had it 5 years now. Last year he and his wife covered 50 weddings and the Arnage ownership experience has generated a modest profit. He picked up a matching Turbo R last year to go with it!
It is an extraordinary experience to drive one.
Grandfondo said:
Busso GTA said:
Grandfondo said:
What type of person drives about in one of these monstrosities?
Possibly someone who does not want to waft about in some predictable sheeple german uber barge ? As always in the PH guides, we try to give the full spread of prices the cars can be bought for. Sadly, a £12k Arnage T is going to be quite a risky gamble, so best to consider £25k as the point at which the best cars start, though you may get lucky and find a good one for less.
I spent a very happy couple of weeks driving one over Christmas/New Year in 2006/7 and loved every minute, even though it nearly bankrupted me wit the fuel bills. Showing an Impreza Turbo a clean pair of heels on the A1 while heading up to Scotland was petty but very amusing.
I spent a very happy couple of weeks driving one over Christmas/New Year in 2006/7 and loved every minute, even though it nearly bankrupted me wit the fuel bills. Showing an Impreza Turbo a clean pair of heels on the A1 while heading up to Scotland was petty but very amusing.
T is lovely, but for me Arnage gets better as it gets longer and softer.
Arnage Limousine. Very limited edition (20 I think). Custom interior to individual customer spec.
RL extended doors AND extended D-pillar. This car has polished stainless steel sills, the stunning reflective effects of which are lost in this photo, but I don't think any customer cars did.
Very very special indeed.
Arnage Limousine. Very limited edition (20 I think). Custom interior to individual customer spec.
RL extended doors AND extended D-pillar. This car has polished stainless steel sills, the stunning reflective effects of which are lost in this photo, but I don't think any customer cars did.
Very very special indeed.
The Jolly Todger said:
Grandfondo said:
Busso GTA said:
Grandfondo said:
What type of person drives about in one of these monstrosities?
Possibly someone who does not want to waft about in some predictable sheeple german uber barge ? 
Fantastic bargains....!! Unless you bought one new! I personally love 'em, especially with the boost pressure raised a little, and few subtle touches, like retro fitted T-24 style louvres in the wings..
Not really silly for bits, I look after two for customers, and probably 'cost over ownership' not too different to say, something like an S-Class..
Not really silly for bits, I look after two for customers, and probably 'cost over ownership' not too different to say, something like an S-Class..
sideways sid said:
Always fancied a Turbo R, but for some reason I can't get so excited about this.
I guess for the money, a Continental would be better in so many ways.
...off to check the classifieds for Turbo Rs
Better in the way a large Beazer home is better than a small castle. Definitely better...but only in the more easily measurable ways.I guess for the money, a Continental would be better in so many ways.
...off to check the classifieds for Turbo Rs
Lowtimer said:
Hairbrakes said:
Always fancied one of these but prices are way out of my reach!
Was the Arnage a new car, or is it "just" a very heavily facelifted Turbo R underneath?
It was a totally new platform, first one since the Spirit / Mulsanne.Was the Arnage a new car, or is it "just" a very heavily facelifted Turbo R underneath?
Wiki said:
Development of the Silver Seraph began in the late 1980s, with design work commencing in October 1990. By April 1991, the conceptual design was frozen and approved by the management in June 1991. After several refinements made, the definitive design was reached in 1994. On July 28, 1995 design patents were filed for both the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph and Bentley Arnage utilizing production design prototypes as representations. Development concluded after an astounding 10 years in late 1997, with pilot production models being produced into early 1998 bearing R396 DTU registration plates. All Seraphs were hand-built at the Rolls-Royce factory in Crewe, England, which stopped making Rolls-Royce models in 2002 but continued with Bentley...
...Following the uplift in sales for all of Rolls-Royce, and resurgence of the Bentley marque, the then-owner, Vickers, set about preparing a new model to replace the derivatives of the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Bentley Mulsanne which it had been selling since 1980. In a complete switch from tradition, these new cars would have bodies built at the Crewe factory, with its internal combustion engines built elsewhere.
A number of potential engines were examined, including the GM Premium V engine, and a Mercedes-Benz V8 engine, before Vickers selected a pair of BMW power plants. It was decided that the Rolls-Royce model, to be called the Silver Seraph, would use BMW's naturally aspirated V12 engine while the more-sporting Bentley model would use a special twin-turbo version of the 4.4 litre BMW V8, which was developed by Vickers subsidiary, Cosworth Engineering.
Since these models, the Bentley and Rolls Royce models have drawn significantly from the largest platforms their respective VAG and BMW owners produce, in a couple of generations of A8 and 7 Series in turn. Silver Seraph and Arnage were the last of the traditional lineage and in time that may help them preserve decent residual/classic values. ...Following the uplift in sales for all of Rolls-Royce, and resurgence of the Bentley marque, the then-owner, Vickers, set about preparing a new model to replace the derivatives of the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Bentley Mulsanne which it had been selling since 1980. In a complete switch from tradition, these new cars would have bodies built at the Crewe factory, with its internal combustion engines built elsewhere.
A number of potential engines were examined, including the GM Premium V engine, and a Mercedes-Benz V8 engine, before Vickers selected a pair of BMW power plants. It was decided that the Rolls-Royce model, to be called the Silver Seraph, would use BMW's naturally aspirated V12 engine while the more-sporting Bentley model would use a special twin-turbo version of the 4.4 litre BMW V8, which was developed by Vickers subsidiary, Cosworth Engineering.
What sort of person is attracted to them? If I had the money to both buy and run one, then very much me. I have been in a couple and they do feel special to be in or drive in a way that an A8/7 Series or S Class just can't hope to match, even a flagship engined model. Mainly because those also exist in airport taxi specs, whereas you can't get a 3.0 TDi Arnage, they are a great embodiment of wanton excess.
There's no rational reason to own one at all, but that's precisely the point.
Definitely one to consider if in need of a 4 door wafter. Sadly now owned by the germans, who abandoned this type of luxury car after 1945, since when England has reigned supreme. In purchasing Bentley the VW Group grabbed for me the better heritage and the sales have proved it so. Mercedes had a brief fling with the Maybach but it is England that still produces the best, and Bentley deserves it's success.
Zwolf said:
...they do feel special to be in or drive in a way that an A8/7 Series or S Class just can't hope to match, even a flagship engined model. Mainly because those also exist in airport taxi specs, whereas you can't get a 3.0 TDi Arnage, they are a great embodiment of wanton excess.
That's very relevant to the appeal. All the basic ingredients of a £150k S65 AMG were built to be sold (with a medium sized Mercedes engine thrown in) for a handsome profit for all concerned at £50k retail.Every inch of Arnage was built with a £140 - £200k RRP in mind, and nothing inside it had to be cheap. Much of it was expensive simply because of low volume, but that also gives each part uniqueness. One won't spot much in there that you recognise from another car. Some stuff, yes, but not much.
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