Bentley Conti GT to 997 Turbo

[Mike Scott]

Hi Guys,

I have been deliberating about changing my Bentley Continental GT Mulliner for a 997 turbo and would be interested to hear from anyone that has made a similar change.

I love the comfort, effortless speed and practicality that the GT offers but with my daughter going in the car once I a blue moon and no longer needing a pushchair I felt it could be a good time to get back into a 911.

I am aware that the bentley will be a superior car in terms of comfort for long distances however I have managed to dramatically reduce my long distance journeys so this shouldn't  prove to be a problem.

I have had both 997 C2S and C4S cabriolets previously but would welcome the insight as to if a move to a turbo would be worthwhile and how usable the performance is in day to day motorway and A/B road driving as this is where it will speed 100% of the time as I don't do any track driving. 

Also I would welcomes peoples experience of manual vs tiptronic..... I might be wrong but I was told that the tiptronic is quicker on the turbo?  

I have briefly spoken to a couple of Dealers but would be interested some unbiased opinions before making the commitment.

On the flip side should someone have a 997tt and be interested in making a move the other way the I would be happy to have a chat. Happy for straight swap or i can add cash if needed.

Thanks in advance, I welcome your feedback.

Rgds Mike

[Lordglenmorangie]

Hi,Mike that is a huge change in car dynamics but if you have owned 911s you know that. I have run a 997 Turbo for six years and it has been the best car I have ever owned by a country mile. It does every thing I want from a car in spades. The performance is usable in nearly all conditions it rides on a wave of torque that is so satisfying and can make a leisurely drive or a hoon just a flick away.

A point some times missed because we all talk of the power and Turbo boost is the size of the car, it's SMALL you can thread thro traffic , I call it my covered in motorbike . As for manual or auto wait for this post to run to 300 pages, it's a personal thing. I am in the manual camp, the short shift kit makes gear changing a delight, I can not imagine this car with a auto box unless your daily commute is the M25.

Take a test drive, A long one

[mm450exc]

C2S/C4S do not compare to the turbo. The turbo is fast! I have the 6 speed manual with short shift as well - fantastic! The turbo is very usable in day to day driving and in any weather as it has a very sophisticated 4 wheel drive system.

[SFO]

wait for the 991 turbo, or get a C2S with powerkit now.

991 is much more refined and quiet, with much better ride than 991. And just as agile, if not more so. Lighter too. But slightly bigger.

[MrCooke]

If you have to ask, keep the Bentley.

A Porsche is a beautifully engineered sports car, a delight of feedback, balance and power, perfected over decades of international motorsport. A Conti GT isn't. If you're happy driving the Bentley then the things Porsche put in their cars like steering feel, body control and turn-in don't matter to you.

For whooshy power something like an AMG or Audi is better.

[anonymous-user]

MrCooke said:

A Porsche is a beautifully engineered sports car .........

Excluding all of the known engines issues of the past I assume ?

[monthefish]

MrCooke said:

If you have to ask, keep the Bentley.

Not necesarily.

The main thing to note is they are very, very different (but perhaps a big change is what he is after)

I recently drove a Conti GT (Mulliner also) back to back with my (996) turbo - (a friend recently bought the Bentley, and we did 'a shot for a shot') and even I was amazed at how different they were. Both fast cars (although the 996 was noticeably quicker ), but they way they went about 'going fast' was totally different. Of course, in terms of refinement, cabin F&F etc the 997t will be slightly closer to the Bentley than the 996.

Mike Scott said:

I love the comfort, effortless speed and practicality that the GT offers

This is what concerns me the most, and I suspect you might find the 911 too raw in comparison.

As someone has already said, take a long test drive, taking in both the twisties (where the 911 will be a revelation), and motorway/urban (where the Bentley will be better), and decide which is more important to you.

I felt the Bentley was lardy, imprecise and slow compared to my car, however there was no question it was a far nicer place to be, and therfore I would only consider one I were to be doing a lot of long distances.

[Mike Scott]

Thanks for all the replies Guy's. I guess it is just going to be a case of trial and error.
I do enjoy the Bentley but it just seems a little pointless keeping what is essentially a Grand tourer when the longest distance I am likely to do is 50 miles.

Still interested to hear any other peoples opinions or experience but plan to pop in over at OPC Silverstone & Leicester this weekend to see what they have to offer.

On another point is there anything other than Sports Chrono that is a must on a Turbo for the extra boost etc

Rgds Mike

[dazco]

MrCooke said:

If you have to ask, keep the Bentley.

A Porsche is a beautifully engineered sports car, a delight of feedback, balance and power, perfected over decades of international motorsport. A Conti GT isn't. If you're happy driving the Bentley then the things Porsche put in their cars like steering feel, body control and turn-in don't matter to you.

For whooshy power something like an AMG or Audi is better.

If only Bentley had done some motorsport every now and then

[monthefish]

dazco said:

MrCooke said:

If you have to ask, keep the Bentley.

A Porsche is a beautifully engineered sports car, a delight of feedback, balance and power, perfected over decades of international motorsport. A Conti GT isn't. If you're happy driving the Bentley then the things Porsche put in their cars like steering feel, body control and turn-in don't matter to you.

For whooshy power something like an AMG or Audi is better.

If only Bentley had done some motorsport every now and then

You wouldn't know it based on their current range though, would you?
(nor, for that matter, their cars for the last 20(+) years)

[anonymous-user]

Waitforme said:

MrCooke said:

A Porsche is a beautifully engineered sports car .........

Excluding all of the known engines issues of the past I assume ?

No known issues on the turbo. The 997.1 turbo uses the bullet proof Mezger engine. The 997.2 uses the DFI engine; no reports of issues.

You're thinking of the normally aspirated 996/997 engine, which has reports of IMS/RMS issues.

[mm450exc]

Mike Scott said:

Thanks for all the replies Guy's. I guess it is just going to be a case of trial and error.
I do enjoy the Bentley but it just seems a little pointless keeping what is essentially a Grand tourer when the longest distance I am likely to do is 50 miles.

Still interested to hear any other peoples opinions or experience but plan to pop in over at OPC Silverstone & Leicester this weekend to see what they have to offer.

On another point is there anything other than Sports Chrono that is a must on a Turbo for the extra boost etc

Rgds Mike

Must have at least for me

PCCB
Rear diff lock
Sports Chrono Package Plus
Sport Shifter
Adaptive Sports Seats
6-speed
Thicker 3-spoke steering wheel

[Vetteran]

I have owned quite a few 911 over the years the last was a lightly tuned (cargraphic) 997 turbo. Fast car no character. If you like luxury and the bonus of a convertible go for a 6.3 Merc SL. If you want a car that puts a smile on your face probably a GT3 but you will miss the torque.

[MrCooke]

dazco said:

If only Bentley had done some motorsport every now and then

I think it's fair to say a Continental GT owes precisely nothing to anything Bentley have done on racing circuits.