2009 SuperSports .. Or .. 2012 GT (comfort model)

[S1M VP]

Hi .. Need some thoughts & experiences from owners please

I have been looking at what to change my Vanquish for, but never quite find the right car that has 2+2 seats as I have a young family, that is good enough to get me to change it ... BUT have this week beed out on test drives in a new GT Speed and a V8. (Got to say the guys at Bentley Birmingham were excellent).

I previously drove a Supersports some time ago and it was fantastic .. and I was very tempted at the time, but then a house came up for sale and we moved instead and I kept the Vanquish which suited me just fine (its been a cracking car) but I'm now determined to change and having test driven a Maserati Grantourismo MC, a DBS, a Ferrari California and most recently the GT's, I have decided I really quite fancy a Bentley.

Whilst all slightly different when driven back to back, they are all essentially very much the same car (to me) and being my first Bentley, I'm sure ill be equally happy anyway whichever I go for ... the technology is light years ahead of my vanquish even on the earlier cars ..... but a few questions to help me split the models.

It's going to be mainly a weekend car, but one that I could use to travel between my offices mid-week 60mls each way.
I have a budget of up to around £100k, so I am deliberating between a 2012 GT Comfort with 5-10mls, or a 2009/10 Supersports (2+2) with similar mileage.

I like the idea of the supersport performance and driving experience, but pI do refer the changes made to the new 2012 cars, especially the screen layouts, new technology, new body tweaks and the obvious fact that its 2-3yrs newer than a similarly priced Supersports ... hence the dilemma I am stuck with.


Based on your own experiences which would you guys go for, and why?

And

The SAT-NAV system on the old generation cars ... Is it good or bad?
(Dealer told me the old system isn't great but the new system is light years ahead)


Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[RevHappy]

Buy and older one, 06 or 07 if you want the DVD based nav and a 430 when you don't need the back seats

[MrC986]

Firstly it is a nice problem you have & if you are a good negotiator there are likely to be some good deals dependant on whether you are buying outright or p/ex the Aston? I helped a friend buy a £40k 04 Bentley GT last year & saved 10% off the price from a main dealer so there should be plenty of 'room' on price to deal if you are prepared to try a couple of dealers for your business & if you are selling the Aston you might want a specialist to 'bid' you on it as a straight sale to understand where the car is value wise.

As for the choice...it is a personal thing though there are fewer SS & an older car will depreciate less but you have the issue over the 'tech' on the nav etc. FWIW, I'd choose a SS but see what cars there are outside the main dealer network & get a factory warranty put on the car as part of the deal. The main dealers will be keen for your purchase & may surprise you on price. My friend has started using Bentley Leicester instead of the supplying dealer & would recommend them to a prospective owner

Good luck & enjoy choosing your 'new ride'....I am really impressed by my friends GT

[spyker138]

If you have the room then keep the Vanquish - almost investment territory now, and get one of the early GT's. It'll be 80-90% of the fun of a new one, and if and when you get bored you'll have lost very little. Some of the 04's in Dark Sapphire are looking very classy compared to the new ones. They're great cars but just think how nice it'd be to start up the Vanquish every now and then and take it out for a couple hours to blow out the weeds. Ideally I'd convert the Vanquish to a two seat version ready for all those euro-tours once the kids are old enough to make a cereal for themselves.