RE: Bentley Mulsanne Speed: Driven
Discussion
RichB said:
MGZRod said:
I can't be the only person that really hates the front end of this?
You're not. I was going to post that the front really is a mess and I see you beat me to it! One wonders what the designers were thinking when they came up with that and all the bits and pieces bolted on. All that being said, it is still a cracking car and I would definitely have one over a Rolls (regardless of whether or not it is objectively worse)
matt5791 said:
I have always liked the exterior styling of the Mulsanne - it looks like a continuation of the real Bentley saloon, taking over where the Arnage and Turbo R left off.
What I find a disappointment is that, when you get up close, it is FAR too conventional, when compared to the older original Bentleys, which were set apart from other expensive cars. The Mulsanne is just too ordinary. My biggest issues are:
- Close your eyes and open a door on the Mulsanne, and you really could be opening the door of an A8. What in the world possessed someone to spec plastic door handles for a £250K car? It's like receiving a Michelin star meal in a restaurant and being given cheap cutlery and crockery. I know they are probably trying to save weight, but it's just not good enough.
- They deleted the floor mounted pedals seen up to Arnage. I know there may be valid engineering reasons behind this, but, again, on a car at this level it needs these sort of design features, in my view. Things like this set such a car apart from the crowd.
- They deleted the choice of horns that used to be offered.
- I think you feel as though you sit down too low in this car, which makes it feel too ordinary. This sensation is heightened by the shell design where the floor is lower than the sills, rather than being level with the top of the sills.
All in all, to me, it looks fantastic, the engine is superb (perfect even) but the experience is too Audi A8, and not enough Bentley. And all the wood and leather doesn't disguise this.
This. At this level, those small details really matter.What I find a disappointment is that, when you get up close, it is FAR too conventional, when compared to the older original Bentleys, which were set apart from other expensive cars. The Mulsanne is just too ordinary. My biggest issues are:
- Close your eyes and open a door on the Mulsanne, and you really could be opening the door of an A8. What in the world possessed someone to spec plastic door handles for a £250K car? It's like receiving a Michelin star meal in a restaurant and being given cheap cutlery and crockery. I know they are probably trying to save weight, but it's just not good enough.
- They deleted the floor mounted pedals seen up to Arnage. I know there may be valid engineering reasons behind this, but, again, on a car at this level it needs these sort of design features, in my view. Things like this set such a car apart from the crowd.
- They deleted the choice of horns that used to be offered.
- I think you feel as though you sit down too low in this car, which makes it feel too ordinary. This sensation is heightened by the shell design where the floor is lower than the sills, rather than being level with the top of the sills.
All in all, to me, it looks fantastic, the engine is superb (perfect even) but the experience is too Audi A8, and not enough Bentley. And all the wood and leather doesn't disguise this.
RR have done a much better job with making the Phantom feel quite distinct from a BMW.
Regards,
MyCC.
Davey S2 said:
Dale Lomas said:
Spec sheet oneupmanship
£5,200 for curtains. Lol Despite that, I would love one, it is a fantastic machine and 811 lb/ft torque is just amusing in a luxury barge. If I'm not on PH for a while it is because I am working very hard to raise £320k. Might take a long time!
Kawasicki said:
I'm pleased that Dale noticed that these are actually good fun to drive. I think that may be the first review that mentioned that.
I drove a Hummer H2 once - that was 'fun' to drive - very high novelty value (esp as it was a footballist's car so people thought I was him on account of the plate, his name on the back, the seats, the front and the roofrack!!) - very high sphincter-clenching moments trying to get the f
ker to fit almost any road too tho - and it's gearbox was probably as useless as a teacup on a spaceshipIt was not in ANY way 'fun to drive' tho - 2 different things - I do wonder which one this Bentley actually was ;0
matt5791 said:
- Close your eyes and open a door on the Mulsanne, and you really could be opening the door of an A8. What in the world possessed someone to spec plastic door handles for a £250K car? It's like receiving a Michelin star meal in a restaurant and being given cheap cutlery and crockery. I know they are probably trying to save weight, but it's just not good enough.
- They deleted the floor mounted pedals seen up to Arnage. I know there may be valid engineering reasons behind this, but, again, on a car at this level it needs these sort of design features, in my view. Things like this set such a car apart from the crowd.
- They deleted the choice of horns that used to be offered.
- I think you feel as though you sit down too low in this car, which makes it feel too ordinary. This sensation is heightened by the shell design where the floor is lower than the sills, rather than being level with the top of the sills.
Some of those I can see why they did them, but a choice of horns seems an easy thing to do. A simple bolt on part that might make £10 or so difference for something that just makes buying the car feel a little bit more special. Plastic door handles however. What the hell are they thinking. That is the first part of the car anyone touches, and makes a big difference to the feel. I thought car manufacturers knew about the importance of the feel of the bits you touch now. They should have a solid cool feel to them. That is just unacceptable. I doubt it will ever make any difference to me, but that seems a fundamental thing to get wrong with a car like this.- They deleted the floor mounted pedals seen up to Arnage. I know there may be valid engineering reasons behind this, but, again, on a car at this level it needs these sort of design features, in my view. Things like this set such a car apart from the crowd.
- They deleted the choice of horns that used to be offered.
- I think you feel as though you sit down too low in this car, which makes it feel too ordinary. This sensation is heightened by the shell design where the floor is lower than the sills, rather than being level with the top of the sills.
B10 said:
Amazing to think that the engine goes back nearly 60 years with the RR Silver Cloud II in 1959. I know it has had much redesigning by Rolls, Cosworth and Bentley. Is this the oldest engine design still in production?
Wikipedia tells us:'Except for the Chevrolet Small-block V8 and Lamborghini V12, the Rolls-Royce/Bentley V8 is the longest-lived engine currently in production. From a standpoint of usage in currently sold vehicles, the 6.75 litre engine is the second longest lived engine produced (after the Lamborghini V12, 1963-2010). Production of the Chevrolet small-block engine has been relegated to sale as a crate engine and the replacement GM LS engine is dynamically unrelated to the classic Chevrolet V8 engine, (though the Chevrolet 90-Degree V6 engine is directly related to the original small block and is still in production).'
Looks like a yes to me.
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