Bentley

[Les Paul]

My wife is really liking all the Bentley convertibles we see every day here in Naples. Any of you guys have any input on them. The major theme here is powder blue with white tops. I’m trying to steer her in to the Porsche cabrio but she keeps saying you have your cars I want a Bentley. Any input appreciated.

[Ayles]

Their depreciation curve is fascinating! I don't know if there is a car that sinks further faster. But clearly is not an issue for those who buy them.

[cassisrot]

I don’t know if it is still valid, but a while ago Bentleys were Roll’s with a different grill.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Ayles

Their depreciation curve is fascinating! I don't know if there is a car that sinks further faster. But clearly is not an issue for those who buy them.

Abut 50% the first year..who is going to buy used in that price range when they can buy new..

[VINMAN]

[tabs]

Originally Posted by cassisrot

I don’t know if it is still valid, but a while ago Bentleys were Roll’s with a different grill.

Until the mid 90's or so that was true..

Now Bentley is owned by BMW and RR is owned by Volks Wagen. I believe they both use BMW V12's.

RR/Bentley went BK back in 90...all the specialty parts makers went out of biz..it was then picked up by Volks Wagen and BMW...

Beautiful cars..luxury all the way...

The down side is as stated is the depreciation, rich people who own them tend to NOT MAINTAIN them cause they can go buy a nu one..so maintenance records have to be carefully checked.

AND EVEN IF YO PAY THE STROKE FOR MAINTENANCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE WORK IS GOING TO BE DONE PROPERLY...unless of course you take it to the dealer who is going to soak you like a teabag for every ounce of Gelt in your pocket.

The cost of maintenance is like BMW on steroids... If you have to ask how much..then you can not afford it..and that is why those cars run down so quickly.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

And you hit the next bit I was going to comment on....newly rich people... N&%$# Rich, Pimps and Drug Dealers...

I talked to a young guy whose family has REAL MONEY as in McDonald Douglas money....his comment was, "Rich people drive RR and Wealthy people drive VW Vanagens."

I recently read a little article that said that the #1 car for people who make over 200K a years is a Ford F150.

Finally in today's social climate do you really want to have a target on your back that says rob me I am rich...

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by tabs

Finally in today's social climate do you really want to have a target on your back that says rob me I am rich...

That's the main reason why I drive a Honda Civic.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by stevej37

That's the main reason why I drive a Honda Civic.

Your name is Zuckerberg?

[stevej37]

^^^ I'm not sayin.

But I am German.

[Tervuren]

I go by the Bentley dealer from time to time.
They moved into building where the Jaguar dealer was when Hendrick bought and moved the jag dealer away.
I still take the Jag there for service.
Not once have I seen anyone there dropping off or picking up their Bentley that was grumpy.

[oldE]

Tabs, you had it exactly backwards. BMW bought the RR name when VW got the factory.
Rolls Royces do indeed use a BMW V12. Bentlies use VW engineered V8 and W12.

Best
Les

[Les Paul]

Money is not an issue. She has let me spend insane amounts upgrading my pretty much common every day Porsches for the last 37 years. I could have had boats, planes, you name it she spoiled my ass. We see 3 or 4 every day just cruising around. I never really gave a fiddlers eff about them till we moved here. To me they are kind of timeless like 911’s.

[Tervuren]

The downside and upside to the Bentley's are their size.

In my 944 I have people move into my space like I wasn't even there.
In my much bigger XK, that doesn't happen.

The downside to size is skinny roads and skinny parking places are not friendly.

[David]

We spent a few days of our French vacation in Eze a few years ago and were amazed by the number of rolls Royce and Bentleys in southern France and Monaco. If was like every 20th car (ok maybe every 100th) was one.

[Baz]

That's what the white mark on top of a Cattle Dog's head is called too........

[speeder]

Originally Posted by David

We spent a few days of our French vacation in Eze a few years ago and were amazed by the number of rolls Royce and Bentleys in southern France and Monaco. If was like every 20th car (ok maybe every 100th) was one.

That’s a function of all the new money Russian scum, Bentleys are like Kias to them. They’ve completely ruined the Côte d’Azur but also sort of saved it at the same time with all of their lavish spending. It’s a double edged sword.

My experience in Los Angeles with the dealer, (Beverly Hills), is that the service department is completely worthless but luckily we have probably the best independent wrench in the country here, Charlie Agipou. When my friend brought her Arnage to the dealer for service, they charged a fortune, (expected), but did not even fix the car. We would get the car back with the exact problem we brought it in for.

The final straw was a power mirror control that was sticky. It’s in the center console, right where coffee or just dust and dirt would get to it. The dealer quoted some outrageous price to replace the assembly and I decided that it was time to look for another shop. Charlie Agipou wound up removing the switches and cleaning them, I think that he charged us $100 for both of them. That began a relationship that continues to this day.

They are very nice cars to drive and seem to hold up ok…like any car, they don’t like to sit and keeping on top of maintenance is key. I say go for it, you only go around once!

[beepbeep]

VW W12
1.5 times W8...with two turbos. English attention to detail.
Run.

[KFC911]

When I was a kid, the blue collar furniture city I grew up in had the only Rolls (now a Bentley) dealer in NC back then (lots of old, BIG money) directly across the street from the only Micky Ds on Main St. Always had 2 or 3 inside in the showroom .... we, being "we", would go in and ask if we could take a test drive .

[mistertate]

My dad has one, maybe a 2009 with the W12. He says the front of door egress is really easy for an old man because the W12 is so short. I haven’t heard him complain about the car ever. He had two Aston Martins before and was frequently complaining about parts and dealer prices when he had them. maybe he’s just come to terms with the situation