RE: Bentley Arnage T: PH Buying Guide

[I WISH]

The name is justification enough. What other car make can you drive that has cars named after bends and straights at Le Mans?

There's just something about a Bentley. Loved them ever since owning one when I was seven. A beautiful black over silver two door Continental with real steering, jewelled headlights and an opening boot. By Corgi.

Then of course there was "Department S" for those of us of a certain vintage!

Epic!

[BlackPrince]

Grandfondo said:

http://thumbsnap.com/7GyJFYqI

Says it all really!

Ditto



Back on topic...I think that Bentley's offerings from the mid 90s are lovely. Certainly more attractive and more "British" than the Continental GT and saloon. Thank God Bentley has started making stately cars again now with the Mulsanne.

[spikey78]

When my Dad was alive he had a 2000 Red Label Arnage and I have to say I had mixed feelings about it.. I drove it a fair bit and it undoubtedly went well, but had what felt like seconds of turbo lag before all hell let loose! And it was big, and heavy - it did not like corners at all and so as a cruiser it was fine but I actually didn't like driving it much (and im not a boy racer by any stretch!) It was awesomely comfortable, particularly if you weren't driving it - the seats were fully adjustable except that I couldn't really get the drivers seat far enough back (im only 5'9 so hardly rumplestiltkin) It had climate control and the control panel was awful, like something from a Rover 213 or something and certainly not what you'd expect in a 130 grand car! Lastly I always had the impression that something expensive was just about to go wrong with it, even though it was built like a tank it felt really fragile somehow. Servicing was regular and expensive. Overall a nice enough car, and attention grabbing but not great and I'd not rush at the chance to get one (especially a 'cheap' one!)
After that he had an 2007 S class, and you cant really compare them although they're both big posh saloons they are quite different. You don't get the 'sense of occasion' in the S class (god I hate that phrase), but the Merc does everything else better

[slippery]

This is no place for reality checks spikey!

[spikey78]

Hehe! Sorry - as you were!

[carl_w]

Got followed by one of these down the A10 when I had the Cerbera. I got away eventually (at ridiculous speeds) but the wipers were standing upright and the rear edges of the side windows had pulled away from the seals. I suspect the Bentley driver was in complete comfort with some light opera on the stereo.

[tali1]

The final series is posting 9.8mpg official urban - can't be too many cars esp 4dr one that dip below 10mpg official

[Howitzer]

My best ever drive was when I took the Classic Car Clubs Arnage out for a run across the fens in a summer lightning storm with Mr Crowley playing loud, awesome.

I can't remember exactly but I went through a full tank in 140 miles or so, well worth every penny though when surging around in it.

Dave!

[RobinSherwood]

SilverWraith said:

Definitely on my list as I still miss my Turbo R and am dying to buy an Arnage now that the prices are getting reasonable. Want the Bentley engine and a T would be perfect if I could find at the right price. I found one last summer I loved but SWMBO insists I get rid of one of the cars before investing in a new one.

I am working on her! She just had the most amazing Christmas presents from me including a luxury overnight stay in the Cotswolds in a few weeks (during which I shall suggest a Bentley again). What do you reckon to my chances?

You could always compromise and reluctantly agree to part exchange the Skoda for an Arnage T?

[dazzalse]

Here is mine which is a final series and a car that I felt I had to own after owning 6 of these great cars going back to 2001, ironically the car featured in some of the photo's for this buying guide wearing the 1 WO number plate, we owned after the factory sold it, when she was 6 months old and I still have all of the memorabilia and photo's of when that was shot down on the Garden Route in S. Africa

Just come back from Portugal in ours and covered best part of 800 miles in a day! NOt the most modern car on the road by comfort by the bucket loads, and road presence like no other

[tali1]

So is that Final Series number 1?
yes /no/maybe ?

Edited by tali1 on Tuesday 7th January 18:27

[carl_w]

dazzalse said:

Just come back from Portugal in ours and covered best part of 800 miles in a day! NOt the most modern car on the road by comfort by the bucket loads, and road presence like no other

And the fuel bill was...?

[dazzalse]

carl_w said:

And the fuel bill was...?

We covered just over 2500 miles and spent just over a £1000 on fuel

[gvij]

dazzalse said:

We covered just over 2500 miles and spent just over a £1000 on fuel

That isn't really very much. The true cost of running these beasts now isn't depreciation, fuel or insurance its paying for something if it goes wrong. I doubt parts out of breakers are available readily which means the only source is Bentley who will want to bend you over...

[dazzalse]

gvij said:

dazzalse said:

We covered just over 2500 miles and spent just over a £1000 on fuel

That isn't really very much. The true cost of running these beasts now isn't depreciation, fuel or insurance its paying for something if it goes wrong. I doubt parts out of breakers are available readily which means the only source is Bentley who will want to bend you over...

I think on a long journey they are not to terrible on fuel, on our way out we had a fast run from Santander down to Salamanca ( 4 of us plus boot full of luggage) all motorway and not hanging around and averaged 22.3mpg

[gvij]

dazzalse said:

I think on a long journey they are not to terrible on fuel, on our way out we had a fast run from Santander down to Salamanca ( 4 of us plus boot full of luggage) all motorway and not hanging around and averaged 22.3mpg

Not bad at all, I get 30mpg in my 1.8T 225 Audi TT on long journeys at 80mph. 22 isn't bad at all. It only adds an extra 45% to the fuel bill.

[over_the_hill]

dazzalse said:

carl_w said:

And the fuel bill was...?

We covered just over 2500 miles and spent just over a £1000 on fuel

I make that about 14-15 mpg

[dazzalse]

over_the_hill said:

dazzalse said:

carl_w said:

And the fuel bill was...?

We covered just over 2500 miles and spent just over a £1000 on fuel

I make that about 14-15 mpg

Yes your right over the whole journey think we averaged about 15mpg, but there was some single figures within that where we just used the car locally around town and the low 20 we saw from Santander to Salamanca

[P4ROT]

dazzalse said:

Here is mine which is a final series and a car that I felt I had to own after owning 6 of these great cars going back to 2001, ironically the car featured in some of the photo's for this buying guide wearing the 1 WO number plate, we owned after the factory sold it, when she was 6 months old and I still have all of the memorabilia and photo's of when that was shot down on the Garden Route in S. Africa

Just come back from Portugal in ours and covered best part of 800 miles in a day! NOt the most modern car on the road by comfort by the bucket loads, and road presence like no other

Thats awesome- reminds me of the Brooklands actually

[ayseven]

Why? Just because. No real reason. They are so comfy, and you used to be able to park absolutely anywhere you wanted, if they are anything like the old Rolls I rode around in during the 70's (not mine). Perhaps things have changed over there...