RE: PH Blog: England v Germany*

RE: PH Blog: England v Germany*

Friday 7th December 2012

PH Blog: England v Germany*

Bentley takes on Mercedes; probably not polite to make the Benz blow up this time...



So, as you’ll have heard Alex has been immersed in all things Bentley the last few days. We’ve still got the Conti V8 and could think of no better wheels to head up to a chilly Mercedes media driving day up the M1 in Barnsley. Indeed, much of this morning’s content has been set live from the passenger seat of the Bentley, this being the mobile PH editorial office today.

How do you like your coupe, German or, er, German?
How do you like your coupe, German or, er, German?
I’ve instructed Alex to go out in the CL500, thinking this twin-turbo, V8-powered coupe a pretty good comparison with the ‘baby’ Bentley. But not until we got a cheeky snap of the two together.

Now, there’s some fun history to play on here there being some degree of previous between Bentley and Mercedes back in the day. Most famously at Le Mans, when the legendary Rudolf Caracciola and his SSK looked like the only threat to the Bentley Boys’ domination. The answer? Pure gamesmanship. The SSK’s supercharger is a part-time system, manually engaged with a kind kick-down button on the accelerator and unleashing the most godawful howl that sounds like the engine is tearing itself to bits.

Which is prophetic, given that the Bentley tactics were to go off at such a rate that Caracciola would have to use his supercharger to keep up. Which he did and after a thrilling battle with Woolf Barnato into the small hours the inevitable happened and the Mercedes blew its engine and ground to a halt, Barnato and Kidston going on to victory.

The M1 beckons. Who do you reckon will win this one? Given Bentley’s engine testing regimeI reckon the Conti might still edge it…

Dan

*Yes, we know who owns Bentley now…

Author
Discussion

tinkertaylor

Original Poster:

566 posts

141 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Wow...I knew the Bentley was large, but that absolutely dwarfs the Merc! eek

And I have my money on the Bentley too. smile

Super Injunction

99 posts

154 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
I think the Merc looks bigger - certainly longer in any case.

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
I can't really see any reason why one should choose the Mercedes. The Bentley is really quite lovely, image aside. Needs the V12, too.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
tinkertaylor said:
Wow...I knew the Bentley was large, but that absolutely dwarfs the Merc! eek

And I have my money on the Bentley too. smile
www.specsavers.com


E38Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
David87 said:
I can't really see any reason why one should choose the Mercedes. The Bentley is really quite lovely, image aside. Needs the V12, too.
1 - the Bentley needs "the" V12? What V12 would that be?

2 - because the Mercedes is a very, very good car indeed.

cocopop

1,300 posts

204 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
David87 said:
I can't really see any reason why one should choose the Mercedes. The Bentley is really quite lovely, image aside. Needs the V12, too.
Lots of reasons to choose the Merc.

Carnnoisseur

531 posts

153 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Hard for me to make a comparison. I sold my (W12) GT last year, I've since driven the new V8 variant and was suitably impressed. In relation to Mercs, I've owned a couple of SL55 and one 500, but never driven the CL variant (although I'm sure they are very similar). On looks and marque prestige, I'd opt for the Bentley. In relation to yearly maintenance and being slightly less ostentatious, I'd opt for the CL.

Each to their own....

PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

281 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
E38Ross said:
1 - the Bentley needs "the" V12? What V12 would that be?
To put it in French: la double-vee douze smile

eliotrw

302 posts

168 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
V12 fail....
nearly as bad as the guy I see in east london with a V12 plate on one.....
AWKWARD!

E38Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
tinkertaylor said:
Wow...I knew the Bentley was large, but that absolutely dwarfs the Merc! eek

And I have my money on the Bentley too. smile
Dwarfs it? You mean despite the fact the Mercedes is longer and taller, and only marginally thinner?

So, of the 2 dimensions you can ACTUALLY see from that image, you get it totally wrong hehe

sinbaddio

2,357 posts

175 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Carnnoisseur said:
Hard for me to make a comparison. I sold my (W12) GT last year, I've since driven the new V8 variant and was suitably impressed. In relation to Mercs, I've owned a couple of SL55 and one 500, but never driven the CL variant (although I'm sure they are very similar). On looks and marque prestige, I'd opt for the Bentley. In relation to yearly maintenance and being slightly less ostentatious, I'd opt for the CL.

Each to their own....
This. A friend of mine gave up a 20 year history of driving high end mercs to try a conti GT. After 3 months he went back to his CL as the CGT didn't pass his chip shop test, ie he felt a burke parking it outside the local shops rolleyes

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Love the idea of a part-time supercharger that kicks in on kick down in the Merc.. very Mad Max in a Hugo Boss suit cool

The Bentley still looks a little 'gold rolex' to me.

slarnge

364 posts

190 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Its Germany v Germany !! Bentley has vw Audi bits on it.

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
E38Ross said:
1 - the Bentley needs "the" V12? What V12 would that be?

2 - because the Mercedes is a very, very good car indeed.
Good point. No idea why I typed V12 rather than W12. I blame eating lunch and using a mobile phone keyboard at the same time. hehe

I'd still take the Bentley, though. smile

will261058

1,115 posts

191 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
slarnge said:
Its Germany v Germany !! Bentley has vw Audi bits on it.
Studied the article in depth then wink

Pistonwot

413 posts

158 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
I like thisone but its a proper mans Bentley.
Not so keen on the girly version with its boring generic blob styling.


g7jhp

6,959 posts

237 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Pistonwot said:
I like thisone but its a proper mans Bentley.
Not so keen on the girly version with its boring generic blob styling.

Can't wait to see someone try to turn their blobby Bentley into this!

gumsie

680 posts

208 months

Friday 7th December 2012
quotequote all
Pistonwot said:
I like thisone but its a proper mans Bentley.
Not so keen on the girly version with its boring generic blob styling.

How does this differ exactly? The silhouette is the same no?

After_Shock

8,751 posts

219 months

Saturday 8th December 2012
quotequote all
At least in 10 years time the Bentley will be worth about 20grand, the Merc however will struggle to purchase a packet of crisps for its value by that point.

Ocellia

186 posts

148 months

Saturday 8th December 2012
quotequote all
I'll take the Lexus instead.........(ducks quickly!)