Mulsanne Speed or Flying Spur

[bertie]

Chaps,

Lets face facts, none of us are getting younger and whilst I love my sports cars I have recently been feeling the urge for sone luxury and comfort.

So I have a terrible itch for a Mulsanne Speed ....but then I’ve been told the Flying Spur is a better car.

My take is this...

Mulsanne. - More presence, greater sense of occasion, majestic old school engine, amazing value at 3 years old, I’m told maintenance can be expensive.

Flying Spur - Slightly smaller and 4wd so maybe a bit more real world usable, cheaper, newer tech, but it’s not a Mulsanne.


Any thoughts or view from owners greatly appreciated

[WightGT]

Go for the big one! Mulsanne Speed if you can afford one. Sport mode makes it easier to drive since it takes out some of the sloppiness. Stick it in Sport mode at 40 mph and floor it. The Flying Spur will be a dot in the mirror. You have to be very careful where you do this, because the horizon rolls towards you very quickly!
Google Mulsanne Sport faults to find out more.

[21st Century Man]

Mulsanne. The last proper Crewe built Rolls Royce, even though they took the RR sign off the front wall twenty years ago!

[ntlr]

I've had my Mulsanne Speed (facelift) for over 3 years. Flying Spur looks good on paper, with AWD (would be useful to go up to the mountains) and that W12 engine (quicker).

My local dealer wanted me to try the new FS when it came in, and had a chat with the factory rep who was there too. Driving the new FS, there is no doubt that it is quicker and more dynamic than the Mulsanne Speed. The W12 is a very nice engine, but it has a very different character from the 6¾ (I like the 6¾ because of how torquey it feels and how the engine pulls like a freight train). However, comparing the quality of the materials and feel of the various bits, going from the Mulsanne to the Flying Spur is a downgrade. Don't get me wrong, the Flying Spur is excellent vs. almost everything else out there, but the Mulsanne feels like it's on a whole different level.

Disclaimer: I'm 36 and love my Mulsanne, and wouldn't get rid of it for anything.

[bertie]

This is all great stuff guys as you're telling me exactly what I was thinking.

It's got to be a Mulsanne for that sense of occasion and proper Bentley character.

So Mulsanne Speed or regular car with MDS???

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply, any more hints and buying advice greatly appreciated

[WightGT]

With this being the last and most sophisticated version of this venerable engine these cars must surely appreciate in the very near future. After all, the GT generation is still in production in large numbers and second hand cars are getting cheaper by the day. If you want to get the proper Bentley experience the Mulsanne (or Arnage?) must be the way to go.
What will a well maintained Mulsanne Speed be worth in 2030? Or will it be outlawed as not green?

Stay distanced
David.

[Saweep]

I've only ever been driven in a Mulsanne, not driven one. What always surprised me is how little room there is inside for such a giant car!

One of my best mates has one and he says his is hateful in every sense; unreliable with eye watering bills, too big, thirsty etc etc. He bought it for a road trip and hasn't been able to sell it for anywhere near what he bought it for afterwards. It's just sitting on his drive whilst he uses every other car he owns but the Bentley. Depreciation will be continuous till £30k ish if you ask me.

I'd still love one to be honest, just not as a daily steer.

I do think it's important not to get too wrapped up in the romanticism of what is essentially just a very expensive every day car.

I'd personally put the probability of these being appreciating vehicles at 0%.

[jeyjey]

I use my Arnage as an every-day car.

Trust me, after trying to use a first-gen Vanquish as an every-day car, the Arnage seems bullet-proof.

[ntlr]

Shame about your friend's experience, Saweep.

I've had mine for over 3 years, and daily drive it. I've averaged probably 6-8 other cars over this same period and yet have been able to put 25k miles on my Mulsanne. No major issues at all... in fact, I've found it to be amazingly reliable and solid. The trunk is a bit small, but otherwise have 2 car seats (one forward facing, one backward facing), and it is amazing how much space there is. My daughter in the forward facing seat can't kick my seat!

It's an expensive car, and if you're buying one you better not care about depreciation. Phenomenal car.

[Mulsanne-Speed]

In short, if you want a car that feels like a top of the range Audi or Mercedes, with plenty of plastic components, then the flying spur is for you.

If on the other hand, you want a car which feels like it's been handcrafted, with real quality and attention to detail (even the indicator stalks have weight, those who've owned one will know what I mean), then you need the Mulsanne Speed.

In my opinion, you really can't compare the two.....