I am toying with the idea of a previously enjoyed Bentley. Perhaps 2006 ish. There seem to be a few about at about £20k with around 100k miles.

I just wanted to put the feelers out to see if anyone had or has one to get an insight into the general ownership experience.

Or more to the point, are they better made and more reliable than the RRS? Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

They're basically a VM Phaeton in a frock with extra cow inside. I expect they are very reliable vs a typical RRS. But I doubt they're cheap to run! L405 P400e Autobiography (MY2020)... Silicon Silver / Espresso
RRS TDV6 HSE Lux (MY2011)... Nara Bronze / Arabica - now gone!

Surprisingly, they are, since a vast majority of parts from a Phaeton (especially suspension and most driveline components, as well as infotainment and engine auxiliaries) are a direct fit. Regards etc.,

Wojtek

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WAS: 2006 RRS Supercharged
IS: 2010 RRS TDV8 HSE

A lumbering battleship. IF you're into old fashioned style you'll like the interior, mechanically smooth and cossetting.
Its a really big car which can make it a pain in the rear to leave anywhere.

The Bentley is also surprisingly lacking in space on the inside despite the size on the outside. I'm 6ft 1 and my head touches the roof and can't fit a passenger behind me despite moving the seat as far forward as I possibly can before my knees hit the steering wheel! It's also very unglamourous for your psssengers trying to exit. Beautiful car to drive but I''d have the Range Rover over it any day! 2016 RRS SVR Estoril Blue
2005 4.2L Supercharged Java Black - gone but was my first love.
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If we all point our RR's in the same direction and accelerate at the same time can we turn back time?

That is the 2 door, Scrumpy? Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

drdelrrs wrote:

Its a really big car which can make it a pain in the rear to leave anywhere.

Stuart wrote:

That is the 2 door, Scrumpy?

Hi Stuart,

When my father passed away I was left his car, a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit ll which I decided to change after a year or so. The RR and Bentley dealership near me suggested a Bentley Arnage T, plenty of grunt, 6 3/4 litres of V8 and in the dealership principals words, "the last of the proper built Bentley". I asked about the Continental and Flying Spur and he shied me away stating that his suggestion was the way forward even though he had plenty of both cars in the showroom. It was another 3 months or so after that he rang to say that they had one in and I bought it after a couple of days of haggling. The advice I can give you is ;

Do some serious research, internet, YouTube, Forums, so you are armed with all the questions needed. When presented with a car you can get bamboozled with the whole it's a Bentley thing because trust me there are some dogs out there as well as top class cars, as with any vehicle I suppose.
Full Service History is essential, preferably by main dealer but research the Indy if done by one of them
Lower mileage is generally better than higher mileage, but they must be used regularly
When parking up for a period of time use a trickle charger, nightmare if the batteries run down too low
Warranty a must, nothing is cheap..... labour costs crazy and some parts eye watering
If buying from non main dealer get it checked out at a main dealer before purchase
Get the Bentley tour around the factory in Crewe, all I can say is WOW!!!!!

Hope this helps.... feel free to PM if you need anymore info.
Good luck on finding your own piece of history

I suppose one associates the Arnage with older chaps and the Flying Spur with younger ones. I might be wrong, its just the impression I have.

Maybe I am classed as an older chap @ 47, I dunno.  Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

You could be right there but my 2006 Arnage T will do 0-60 in 5.2 and 179 mph top end with 500bhp under the right foot, and all done in near total silence

And yes I could always wear my slippers and smoke my pipe while doing it so associating it with an old man could be spot on but do so at your peril

A guy I used to work with bought a 2004 CGT for around @26k a few years ago - it was nothing but a money pit and he spent over £5000 on the car in 6 months before giving it to we buy any car - the build quality and standard on the older cars are apparently horrific. Suggest you buy one with a robust warranty if you are to tread this path

That's why they are cheap used, not many people can afford to pay the running / servicing costs which are all in today's quid / $. But, they have lots of BFYB (bling for your buck) and I have thought about one (Coupe) as a daily driver for a bit of fun. Even Mrs BKHK doesn't disapprove of the idea. The bloke at AutoMasters nearly crapped himself when I asked if he would service one That's the problem here, no Indy that I know of locally. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

RRSman wrote:

A guy I used to work with bought a 2004 CGT for around @26k a few years ago - it was nothing but a money pit and he spent over £5000 on the car in 6 months before giving it to we buy any car - the build quality and standard on the older cars are apparently horrific. Suggest you buy one with a robust warranty if you are to tread this path

Hence why the dealer principal didn't want to sell me a CGT or Flying Spur even though there were a few in the showroom at the time backing it up with the words the Arnage being the last of the PROPER built Bentleys.
He reckoned that almost every CGT that came in was £2000 before you even started servicing and whatever
The part/service numbers on relays etc etc have V.A.G. stamped on them but you pay Bentley prices
No doubt that guy you used to work with had Bentley goggles when buying and as I said before there are plenty of good ones out there but plenty of pups as well and if it's cheap then there's a reason.
There's no way you can run one without a warranty and to be honest looking for an Indy for service is just plain madness. You would never have taken your Ferrari to an Indy would you?!?
Good advice though RRSMan Warranty essential

BKHK wrote:

That's why they are cheap used, not many people can afford to pay the running / servicing costs which are all in today's quid / $. But, they have lots of BFYB (bling for your buck) and I have thought about one (Coupe) as a daily driver for a bit of fun. Even Mrs BKHK doesn't disapprove of the idea. The bloke at AutoMasters nearly crapped himself when I asked if he would service one That's the problem here, no Indy that I know of locally.