RE: The Brave Pill | Bentley Turbo R

[Augustus Windsock]

yonex said:

V8 FOU said:

Pah!
Mine is the best track car ever! Very reliable. Just a set of brake pads every other track day.

If you can do the spannering yourself, they aren't too expensive to run. Plenty of parts available.

anyway, what do you want £3k/year in repairs or buy a modern bently/vw thing and have £10k/year depreciation.......

It must have been you that I met at Brooklands on the run up the test hill?

Best run of the day

Brilliant use of a Turbo R, and I’d suggest it would mean depreciation isn’t a factor anymore!

And as an aside I wonder how much the featured vehicle would be worth we’re it broken for parts? I’m sure you I remember Mike ‘I ate all the pies’ Brewer saying that a full radiator surround and grill was around £1k secondhand. And interiors aren’t exactly cheap.
Mind, one would need somewhere to strip it and store the parts in the short term...

[J4CKO]

Augustus Windsock said:

J4CKO said:

Raygun said:

A proper Bentley rather than the turgid things they make these days.

Yawn, the current stuff is way, way better than these old ones, in every measurable way, ok the Bentayga is a bit ugly and overblown (but very good) but look at the new Conti GT, Turgid ? it is bloody magnificent.

I quite like these but lets have it right, anything with a Bentley badge, made by Bentley is a proper Bentley, it is possible to appreciate both.

But, this is quite likely to become a expensive hobby rather than transport, every time I see a video of one being given some stick it then involves masses of coolant spraying everywhere. Other than that they rust like mad and stuff breaks for fun, not even that fast these days. 17 seconds to 100, thats a bit depressing, had a go in one when I worked in a pub and a guy used to drive his car dealer boss to functions and wait in the pub, went for a spin and it felt sooo fast, then he did a massive burnout in the car park, had never seen a burnout before like that.

I’m sure you’re correct, the engine, chassis, electrics etc will be way better and many generations removed from this behemoth but to me the current version comes across as a very expensive VW
The Turbo R comes across as having the sort of owner who is discerning, who likes things ‘just so’, and knows the difference between a bespoke suit and a Hugo Boss one
The current one, stupendous as it no doubt is, comes across, to me, as Premiership footballer or someone with ‘new money’
In many ways my view doesn’t make sense, but the point I’m trying to get across I guess is that you can’t buy class. But in this case you can
As one of the other replies alluded to, £3k/year on servicing and maintenance or £10k/year on depreciation?

And back when this came out there were people saying the same about it.

Bentley is owned by VW and there is parts commonality between some higher end Audis.

But this is a rebadged Rolls at the end of the day, back then they didnt do very well, Vickers owned them for a bit and nobody really bought Bentleys for a long time, it nearly disappeared, VAG have been around for just over twenty years and they seem to have done ok.

if you want a "Proper" Bentley, you can still buy a Mulsanne which has a development of the same engine as this.

if you want things "Just so", you buy a new one which will work, nothing wrong with the Turbo R, they are impressive machines but they are more of a sixties design, and I know running one marks you out as an enthusiast but dont see why everyone despises the owners of the new ones, that is who has the money. It used to be just establishment folks, "old money", Rolls got annoyed when john Lennon painted his Rolls.

Its a different world.

[Deep Thought]

DKL said:

shake n bake said:

Can anyone explain why the brake lines need to be replaced every 4 years?

I wondered that too, seems rather excessive. Inspect them yes but just change them?

Indeed

I would say at this cars age an inspection only and replace only bit that have perished / corroded.

[Esceptico]

Augustus Windsock said:

J4CKO said:

Raygun said:

A proper Bentley rather than the turgid things they make these days.

Yawn, the current stuff is way, way better than these old ones, in every measurable way, ok the Bentayga is a bit ugly and overblown (but very good) but look at the new Conti GT, Turgid ? it is bloody magnificent.

I quite like these but lets have it right, anything with a Bentley badge, made by Bentley is a proper Bentley, it is possible to appreciate both.

But, this is quite likely to become a expensive hobby rather than transport, every time I see a video of one being given some stick it then involves masses of coolant spraying everywhere. Other than that they rust like mad and stuff breaks for fun, not even that fast these days. 17 seconds to 100, thats a bit depressing, had a go in one when I worked in a pub and a guy used to drive his car dealer boss to functions and wait in the pub, went for a spin and it felt sooo fast, then he did a massive burnout in the car park, had never seen a burnout before like that.

I’m sure you’re correct, the engine, chassis, electrics etc will be way better and many generations removed from this behemoth but to me the current version comes across as a very expensive VW
The Turbo R comes across as having the sort of owner who is discerning, who likes things ‘just so’, and knows the difference between a bespoke suit and a Hugo Boss one
The current one, stupendous as it no doubt is, comes across, to me, as Premiership footballer or someone with ‘new money’
In many ways my view doesn’t make sense, but the point I’m trying to get across I guess is that you can’t buy class. But in this case you can
As one of the other replies alluded to, £3k/year on servicing and maintenance or £10k/year on depreciation?

I think owners of new Bentleys would love to suffer just £10k of depreciation per year!! Surely more like £30k?

[buyer&seller]

DKL said:

shake n bake said:

Can anyone explain why the brake lines need to be replaced every 4 years?

I wondered that too, seems rather excessive. Inspect them yes but just change them?

They don’t, a hydraulic service is actually every six years but rarely do people have it carried out, by the time it was that age the wealthy owner who bought it new had long since sold it on, best to have the parts inspected and changed as and when required.

[bigandclever]

There’s no way RR are going to let you get away with a direct paedo link

ph said:

The sort of clientele drawn to big luxury saloons at that time - many of who went onto be answers in the game of Yewtree Bingo - showed a marked preference for a Spirit of Ecstasy on the prow rather than a winged B.

[Baldchap]

Esceptico said:

I think owners of new Bentleys would love to suffer just £10k of depreciation per year!! Surely more like £30k?

Our Supersport lost 100k in 9 years. So 10kpa is near as damn it not far off. Obviously that would be nose-heavy, though.

Servicing was surprisingly cheap.

Edit:. Just done the maths. It was 116k in 8 years, so £14,500 per year.

Makes this TR look good value...

[sidesauce]

J4CKO said:

And back when this came out there were people saying the same about it.

Bentley is owned by VW and there is parts commonality between some higher end Audis.

But this is a rebadged Rolls at the end of the day, back then they didnt do very well, Vickers owned them for a bit and nobody really bought Bentleys for a long time, it nearly disappeared, VAG have been around for just over twenty years and they seem to have done ok.

if you want a "Proper" Bentley, you can still buy a Mulsanne which has a development of the same engine as this.

if you want things "Just so", you buy a new one which will work, nothing wrong with the Turbo R, they are impressive machines but they are more of a sixties design, and I know running one marks you out as an enthusiast but dont see why everyone despises the owners of the new ones, that is who has the money. It used to be just establishment folks, "old money", Rolls got annoyed when john Lennon painted his Rolls.

Its a different world.

Great points and I fully agree. It's funny how people forget who often was seen in these Bentley's when they were new - a lot of them were considered "new money" at that time... I simply don't buy into this silly "proper Bentley" argument (a lot of "East End boys done good" as well as all sorts of other "dodgy" types had them); the cars are still finished in Crewe as they always have been and like you said, it's a different world, a world where unreliability and disappointing features simply don't cut it any more. I sometimes wonder if people on here would prefer that Bentley didn't exist anymore, which they probably wouldn't were it not for VAG...

[J4CKO]

sidesauce said:

J4CKO said:

And back when this came out there were people saying the same about it.

Bentley is owned by VW and there is parts commonality between some higher end Audis.

But this is a rebadged Rolls at the end of the day, back then they didnt do very well, Vickers owned them for a bit and nobody really bought Bentleys for a long time, it nearly disappeared, VAG have been around for just over twenty years and they seem to have done ok.

if you want a "Proper" Bentley, you can still buy a Mulsanne which has a development of the same engine as this.

if you want things "Just so", you buy a new one which will work, nothing wrong with the Turbo R, they are impressive machines but they are more of a sixties design, and I know running one marks you out as an enthusiast but dont see why everyone despises the owners of the new ones, that is who has the money. It used to be just establishment folks, "old money", Rolls got annoyed when john Lennon painted his Rolls.

Its a different world.

Great points and I fully agree. It's funny how people forget who often was seen in these Bentley's when they were new - a lot of them were considered "new money" at that time... I simply don't buy into this silly "proper Bentley" argument (a lot of "East End boys done good" as well as all sorts of other "dodgy" types had them); the cars are still finished in Crewe as they always have been and like you said, it's a different world, a world where unreliability and disappointing features simply don't cut it any more. I sometimes wonder if people on here would prefer that Bentley didn't exist anymore, which they probably wouldn't were it not for VAG...

We need to judge cars, not people so much.

There seems to be some aversion on PH to anyone who has made money in the last century, a working class lad who can play football well is not worthy of a Bentley apparently, but someone whos great, great granddad made some money is worthy.

So, how is having a skill now less worthy than your family being wealthy in the past ?

This isnt a political thread but not every enterprise in the past was honourable, some were horrible, more unpleasant than being skilled at kicking a ball, same as nowadays, people do some horrible st to get money and get nice things but we arent here to judge that, just the product and when, and how you made the money doesnt affect that.

Old money is no better than new, it an all be tainted and life isnt fair, not everyone gets nice things.

[Julian Thompson]

J4CKO said:

sidesauce said:

J4CKO said:

And back when this came out there were people saying the same about it.

Bentley is owned by VW and there is parts commonality between some higher end Audis.

But this is a rebadged Rolls at the end of the day, back then they didnt do very well, Vickers owned them for a bit and nobody really bought Bentleys for a long time, it nearly disappeared, VAG have been around for just over twenty years and they seem to have done ok.

if you want a "Proper" Bentley, you can still buy a Mulsanne which has a development of the same engine as this.

if you want things "Just so", you buy a new one which will work, nothing wrong with the Turbo R, they are impressive machines but they are more of a sixties design, and I know running one marks you out as an enthusiast but dont see why everyone despises the owners of the new ones, that is who has the money. It used to be just establishment folks, "old money", Rolls got annoyed when john Lennon painted his Rolls.

Its a different world.

Great points and I fully agree. It's funny how people forget who often was seen in these Bentley's when they were new - a lot of them were considered "new money" at that time... I simply don't buy into this silly "proper Bentley" argument (a lot of "East End boys done good" as well as all sorts of other "dodgy" types had them); the cars are still finished in Crewe as they always have been and like you said, it's a different world, a world where unreliability and disappointing features simply don't cut it any more. I sometimes wonder if people on here would prefer that Bentley didn't exist anymore, which they probably wouldn't were it not for VAG...

We need to judge cars, not people so much.

There seems to be some aversion on PH to anyone who has made money in the last century, a working class lad who can play football well is not worthy of a Bentley apparently, but someone whos great, great granddad made some money is worthy.

So, how is having a skill now less worthy than your family being wealthy in the past ?

This isnt a political thread but not every enterprise in the past was honourable, some were horrible, more unpleasant than being skilled at kicking a ball, same as nowadays, people do some horrible st to get money and get nice things but we arent here to judge that, just the product and when, and how you made the money doesnt affect that.

Old money is no better than new, it an all be tainted and life isnt fair, not everyone gets nice things.

What a brilliant post. Well done sir.

[85Carrera]

Augustus Windsock said:

J4CKO said:

Raygun said:

A proper Bentley rather than the turgid things they make these days.

Yawn, the current stuff is way, way better than these old ones, in every measurable way, ok the Bentayga is a bit ugly and overblown (but very good) but look at the new Conti GT, Turgid ? it is bloody magnificent.

I quite like these but lets have it right, anything with a Bentley badge, made by Bentley is a proper Bentley, it is possible to appreciate both.

But, this is quite likely to become a expensive hobby rather than transport, every time I see a video of one being given some stick it then involves masses of coolant spraying everywhere. Other than that they rust like mad and stuff breaks for fun, not even that fast these days. 17 seconds to 100, thats a bit depressing, had a go in one when I worked in a pub and a guy used to drive his car dealer boss to functions and wait in the pub, went for a spin and it felt sooo fast, then he did a massive burnout in the car park, had never seen a burnout before like that.

I’m sure you’re correct, the engine, chassis, electrics etc will be way better and many generations removed from this behemoth but to me the current version comes across as a very expensive VW
The Turbo R comes across as having the sort of owner who is discerning, who likes things ‘just so’, and knows the difference between a bespoke suit and a Hugo Boss one
The current one, stupendous as it no doubt is, comes across, to me, as Premiership footballer or someone with ‘new money’
In many ways my view doesn’t make sense, but the point I’m trying to get across I guess is that you can’t buy class. But in this case you can
As one of the other replies alluded to, £3k/year on servicing and maintenance or £10k/year on depreciation?

Sums up the difference between the old and new Bentleys well.

Would like one of these but no interest in the modern monstrosities.

[anonymous-user]

I remember my boss had one of these about 20 years ago. I’m sure that a set of front discs was about £800 plus fitting then. Went through a few too

[pSyCoSiS]

Love these and would like to experience one, even if for a short while.

Owned a Bentley Eight back in 2015 for around 6 months. It was a high miler, with 211k on the clock and was actually Brian Johnson's (AC/DC) old car.

LPG converted, but to be fair, even on petrol, it was no worse than than my P38.

Green with magnolia hide and the obligatory walnut trim. Lovely old tank to waft in and driving it was always an occasion. People always waved and smiled when they saw the thing and it had some serious presence.

It blew a radiator hose and spilt coolant everywhere once, but apart from that, was reliable. I loved the way the nose lifted when you pulled away.

The service history and bills were immense, and it came with a folder of over £40k in receipts! Every single time it went to the Bentley specialist, the bill was never less than £1500 and quite often it was a few grand. I guess it takes a lot of money keeping these old barges running right.

Great craftsmanship, and you can tell these are tailored to the original owner's requirements. A nice slice of British motoring history.

[cmvtec]

First things first: a Bentley has always been new money. The old money would have a Daimler.

This is fantastic, and the Turbo R has always feature in my fantasy garage. I find the way they made this brutal tank of a car out of a Silver Spirit absolutely fantastic.

I like the idea of a Turbo R sleeper. Fuddy-duddy gold with a Spirit grille, chrome wheel trims, no bodykit etc. That'd amuse me.

[Sandpit Steve]

This is a fantastic brave pill - and one for the fantastically brave! There’s going to be endless bills, and it’s probably going to break down occasionally, but what a car for the money. As others have said, think of the depreciation on something newer as the justification for keeping one of these running.

[Nerdherder]

pSyCoSiS said:

Love these and would like to experience one, even if for a short while.

Owned a Bentley Eight back in 2015 for around 6 months. It was a high miler, with 211k on the clock and was actually Brian Johnson's (AC/DC) old car.

LPG converted, but to be fair, even on petrol, it was no worse than than my P38.

Green with magnolia hide and the obligatory walnut trim. Lovely old tank to waft in and driving it was always an occasion. People always waved and smiled when they saw the thing and it had some serious presence.

It blew a radiator hose and spilt coolant everywhere once, but apart from that, was reliable. I loved the way the nose lifted when you pulled away.

The service history and bills were immense, and it came with a folder of over £40k in receipts! Every single time it went to the Bentley specialist, the bill was never less than £1500 and quite often it was a few grand. I guess it takes a lot of money keeping these old barges running right.

Great craftsmanship, and you can tell these are tailored to the original owner's requirements. A nice slice of British motoring history.

This. Presence.

Wouldn’t mind the splendor of a new Conti GT though.

[matt5791]

darkyoung1000 said:

The design of this appeals to me so much more than modern Bentleys, although it’s still not my sort of car... I wonder why they recommend replacing the brake lines every 4 year?

It's because the service schedule is one which bears no regard to cost and was written by, and signed off by, an engineer - in an ideal world all cars would have a similarly comprehensive schedule - but "normal" cars have to be sold to budget conscious buyers so they have a very basic schedule that ensures the car sees out its warranty period.

The Bentley schedule is how you would maintain any car in a cost-no-object perfect world.

It's one if the things I loved about the company in those days - always did things their own way.

[V8 FOU]

yonex said:

It must have been you that I met at Brooklands on the run up the test hill?

Best run of the day

This one? about 1:50.
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usibuYxRucE

[sidesauce]

Julian Thompson said:

J4CKO said:

sidesauce said:

J4CKO said:

And back when this came out there were people saying the same about it.

Bentley is owned by VW and there is parts commonality between some higher end Audis.

But this is a rebadged Rolls at the end of the day, back then they didnt do very well, Vickers owned them for a bit and nobody really bought Bentleys for a long time, it nearly disappeared, VAG have been around for just over twenty years and they seem to have done ok.

if you want a "Proper" Bentley, you can still buy a Mulsanne which has a development of the same engine as this.

if you want things "Just so", you buy a new one which will work, nothing wrong with the Turbo R, they are impressive machines but they are more of a sixties design, and I know running one marks you out as an enthusiast but dont see why everyone despises the owners of the new ones, that is who has the money. It used to be just establishment folks, "old money", Rolls got annoyed when john Lennon painted his Rolls.

Its a different world.

Great points and I fully agree. It's funny how people forget who often was seen in these Bentley's when they were new - a lot of them were considered "new money" at that time... I simply don't buy into this silly "proper Bentley" argument (a lot of "East End boys done good" as well as all sorts of other "dodgy" types had them); the cars are still finished in Crewe as they always have been and like you said, it's a different world, a world where unreliability and disappointing features simply don't cut it any more. I sometimes wonder if people on here would prefer that Bentley didn't exist anymore, which they probably wouldn't were it not for VAG...

We need to judge cars, not people so much.

There seems to be some aversion on PH to anyone who has made money in the last century, a working class lad who can play football well is not worthy of a Bentley apparently, but someone whos great, great granddad made some money is worthy.

So, how is having a skill now less worthy than your family being wealthy in the past ?

This isnt a political thread but not every enterprise in the past was honourable, some were horrible, more unpleasant than being skilled at kicking a ball, same as nowadays, people do some horrible st to get money and get nice things but we arent here to judge that, just the product and when, and how you made the money doesnt affect that.

Old money is no better than new, it an all be tainted and life isnt fair, not everyone gets nice things.

What a brilliant post. Well done sir.

Couldn't agree more - it's an excellent commentary!

Class snobbery is still far too alive and well on this forum for my liking. I daresay, given my background, I'd more than likely be classed as 'unworthy' by many on here but fortunately I don't care what people think - I enjoy owning and aspire to own the cars I like because, well, I like them.

We should indeed be all here judging the cars and not the people who drive them.

[Baldchap]

sidesauce said:

We should indeed be all here judging the cars and not the people who drive them.

What sort of human beings would we be if we behaved like that?