Thinking about a Gt or GTC

[phib]

Been thinking about something special for next year to do some euro trips / scottish trips. Its a big birthday next year and I feel like treating myself, now this is where it gets tricky !!

Ideally I want to buy a GT or GTC with the potential to sell on if I don't like it or don't use it enough. At the moment I have a perfect 355 spider that I love but hardly use and I cant really decide if to sell it or not, I looked at 22 before I bought it and it would be unlikely for me to find another in the same condition.

So my theory is buy well and then if I love the GT/ GTC keep it and sell the 355 next summer ( if I can force myself) if I don't like the GT sell it and keep the 355. I hope that makes sense ?

My question is having bought and sold loads of 911's, Range rovers etc etc I have never really had an issue selling, how easy or hard are GT's to sell on ?

I would be buying privately ( ideally with a warranty) in Jan / Feb and selling in the summer

I have a 730d as a hack which I will keep and a defender 50th for tip runs so this is just another toy like the 355 but hopefully I would use it more. If I buy a hard top I could probably keep the 355 but if I buy the GTC then the 355 would probably have to go

And advice welcome

Thanks

Phib

[MrC986]

I helped a friend buy a 04 GT 14 months ago with 36k miles & full supplying MDSH for £36k & at the time there were plenty in the market though very few in the main dealer network for the money & with wty. Clearly you've a good taste in cars though Bentleys are very heavy in service costs. They still suffer some reasonable depreciation for an 8 yr car for example.

However, there are a few repo cars & this is probably where the opportunity is if you can get a history or establish it before you buy & the car is in good condition. The older the car, the more choice & hence opportunity to lose your shirt. Convertibles are IMHO very specialist as the market is much smaller & if we had another c**p summer it could be the difference between break even & a loss.

However, they are amazing cars given their size & poke....my friends car is sat outside & he had been contemplating changing but couldn't come up with a suitable alternative so he kept it.

PS - if the Brietling clock breaks & you don't have Bentley wty, it is reportedly £3k & the high level rear brake light is £700 to fix. Good luck!

[Mike Scott]

Hi phil,

Having had a similar car history to yourself I can safely say you won't regret it.
Mine is the perfect compromise between my previous 911 but having the practicalities of a range rover.

I bought mine with the view of restricting my miles to save massive fuel bills but theyare far to addictive and comfy not the use.

They should be a pretty safe investment as they are highly reliable and fingers crossed have depreciated a fair amount already.

If you want to ease the future sale possibilities just ensure you get a safe colour combo and full bentley service history.
Getting a Bentley warranty would be wise as they can be expensive if something does go wrong however that will limit you to either cars being supplied by main dealer or those that have had a continued warranty was the wont typically renew if you let it lapse.

If you can try and get a mulliner spec as the are a nicer place to be sat and seem to sell alot better and have pretty much held onto the full premium it cost to spec when new.

I have been thinking of treating myself to a Bentley supersport in the near future, I was going to just px with the main dealer but just a happy to sell to yourself if its what you are after.

Mines a triple black mulliner, it has full history and also has full bentley warranty having been supplied by a main dealer.

You won't regret buying one!

Rgds mike

[phib]

Thanks for the feedback some interesting reading there , not sure about repo ones many from a resale point if view.

Have seen an 06 with 20k for 38k with warranty , buyer has bought a gtc and part ex wasn't that good so may have a look at that one.

Mike, could you pm the details on yours,Mage miles price etc etc

Many thanks

Phib

[MrC986]

^ repo cars don't have to be a problem....many leasing companies and finance companies deal with them all the time in the current economic climate & the dealers would never know something was amiss unless the servicing was a little 'flaky'. Good luck though with whatever you buy as the friend I helped managed to bag himself a bargain (though there were some even bigger bargains IMO for 1-2 yr old cars)

[phib]

Agree re repo cars don't have to be a problem,mi should have been clearer most of the repo ones I have seen have poor history, not seen that many though.

Just trying to gets feel for the market today and spoke to a dealer friend who was offering 30k as a trade in bid for a 55 plate with 45 k on clock, mulliner but not best colour combo blue and grey.

Quite amazed !!

Phib

[MrC986]

The main dealers have big mark ups on cars vs specialists though should prepare the cars better! I think they are also mileage sensitive as well as being sensitive on interior colour I.e. red is very much a 'Marmite' colour. You can now get warranty from Bentley on cars up to 9 yrs old subject to an inspection to check eligibility.

[Mulsanneman]

Good Morning Gentlemen. I think the notion of buying a GT/GTC with a view to short term ownership and financial neutrality is flawed. There are hundreds of these cars on the second hand market with service histories from 'Textbook' to non-existent. Hence the low likelihood of getting back the money that you laid out a short while back.

AS far as ownership is concerned, main dealer service history is everything. The electronics, like other supercars, need regular updating, and you only get this from a main dealer. Electronics left to their own devices without upgrades soon fester and cause unreliability.

It is true that on early cars, the high level brake light was prone to failure, and the tyre pressure warning system is also rubbish. You need to keep the front scuttle clear of leaves, or water will leak into the footwell, where important electronics live. They are not waterproof. You need to blow through the drain holes in the rear wing housing and the petrol filler housing, since they are prone to getting blocked by spiders and vegetation. Make sure the car you buy has the correct tyres with the (B) suffix at the end. Tyres are frequently in short supply, and you will almost certainly be offered 101Y rather than 105Y. The 101Y tyre is a BMW tyre that is not suitable for Bentley loadings. If you can't find a 105Y with a (b) suffix, you can use one with a (BC) suffix instead. You would not wish to invalidate your insurance. Make sure the front pads and discs have been done. They are expensive. Rears are not so bad.

I have run my 2004 GT for three years, and when you think what else you can get for around £40K there's no contest. I'm sure you'll love it, and short term ownership will be the last thing on your mind.

Buy with your head, not your heart.