Anyone drove the Bentley Continental GT yet?

[Erik]

It seems the demo cars are out in the USA.

Anyone drove it yet?

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/sho...0&pagenumber=1

[ricky71370]

Yes, ...
today I was fortunate enough to get the thrill of my life, I got to test drive the ALL MIGHTY CONTINENTAL GT. I'm not going to get into details because it would be unfair to the engineers at Bentley,(lack of superb adjectives in my vocabulary to describe the expirience) The one thing I'll say is that I took my money out of the M6 waiting list and transfered it to the Continental Gt sedan due in early 2006. If I recall, Im number 18th on the waiting list and should get delivery jan or feb 06

the car is (sick if you get my drift)

It became a no brainer after thrusting my foot on the gas pedal and feeling something I had never felt before in my life, remember I'm a proud owner of a 04 gallardo and 03 beast, totally unmatch, sureal, unknown powerful, dynamic forces
What a freakin rushh!!!

Ok i felt like KING KONG....enough said


Pictures of the 4dr Continental Gt came out on this months Road and Track magazine, check it out!

Ricky

[absent]

Totally opposite experience for me.
After the test drive,felt the car to be too heavy and ponderous(S600 stage 3 my daily driver),not really that quick and full of items straight from Phaeton.
Promptly cancelled my #2 spot and ordered a 612.

[ricky71370]

by the previous reply. really not quick means what,, only quicker than the rs6 0-60 and top end over 198mph. you might need to test drive a concorde or space shuttle to aquire quickness

I wonder what your s600 is doing at 0-60mph and top end to say that 4.6sec 0-60(stock)and 198mph(stock) is not quick for a 5200 lbs car

I just wonder!!!

ricky
04 Gallardo
03 Beast
03 H2
coming- 06 Continental Gt sedan

[ricky71370]

dont forget to check out the link...
still


Bentley Continental GT - Technical Details
Highlights
* The fastest, four seat production car in the world
* Twin turbo, 6-litre, W12 engine developing 552 bhp (560PS) and 650Nm of torque
* Top speed of 198mph (318km/h)
* 0-60mph in 4.7sec (0-100 km/h in 4.8 sec)
* Maximum torque developed at just 1600rpm and comfort to 6000rpm
* Six speed, paddle operation automatic transmission with full lock-up
* Four-wheel drive with central Torsen differential
* Computer controlled air-sprung multi-link suspension front and rear
* Largest brakes of any car ever put into production


http://autospies.com/article/index.a...0&categoryId=1

still wondering

sorry i was wrong, the beast is a .1 quicker in 0-60



ricky

[Erik]

Here's everything on the Bentley GT

http://www.rs6.com/articles/012.html

[Sarge]

The Continental GT is VERY much advanced over the previous cars designed under the Rolls collaboration.

Many of the items are 'Audi/VAG', the MMI, the switchgear, etc. I find that a positive rather than a negative personally - as a package this car is light years ahead of previous Bentley's with regard to overall product design, owing entirely to the company that specs the window switches. And there is no blatantly obvious 'parts bin engineering' except where my familiarity with Audi shines some light. Some people won't like that the Phaeton window switches operate via the same motion. If that's your issue, well, Ferrari is about all you're left with. Otherwise its Chrysler/Mercedes, Ford/Jaguar/Aston Martin, VW/Audi/Porsche/Bentley/Lambroghini,
or one of the other conglomerate parts bins to nit-pick through.

As for driving it, we're not past the 500 mile break-in mark yet, but a few good jabs in the 20-90 range prove it to be very capable of moving as fast as claimed.

On startup, the exhaust emits a very nice rumble, a hint of deep base with a nice thrumpy 'mid-base' rythm, though certainly refined.

The car is 'mid size' by my definition, feels dimensionally similar to an RS6 but much heavier and smoother, fitting it's 'Bentley' mission, which is a fairly complete integration of complete luxury and sport, with little given away in compromise to the other. The negative is weight, so if you're looking for a light, tossable sports car this is not the car for you but that's a known factor at 5200lbs.

The paddle shifters work well and the transmission certainly doesn't hunt for gears, nor does it have to with all that torque on tap. I can't comment on ultimately how performance oriented it will prove to be as it's been driven relatively tenderly until the break-in period is up and the 'honeymoon' phase is over (wife's car, m'kay?).

I can't say there's anything bad about it at all, given its mission. It is deceptively fast, as it should be, both in the course of gathering and maintaining speed - 90 mph feels like 60 would in my A6, for instance. The Bentley formula seems to prescribe ever wider tires to maintain athletic responses in light of the heft, and they do their job well.

As for the AWD, it's like any AWD drive car in the sense that you can simply mash the pedal and go - no drama, no traction control elicted (in the dry), etc.

Overall, the most dramatic part of the experience has been the 'crowd response' - you can't drive it or park it anywhere without people immediately coming to look and talk, which is sometimes fun and other times you just want to get where you're going. It does bring instant celebrity status at this early stage in it's public life. At the time they delivered this one, it was the 4th to be released in FL, the first to Elton John, second to Ricky Martin and 3rd I don't know. and so on.

The waiting list is supposedly 2 years long, unless you pay the markup to get one sooner, and that opportunity is only offered to good Bentley customers (my father in law has purchased a number of them from this dealer, including his own Continental GT).

In sum it is everything I'd expected it to be: Blistering fast, comfortable, stylish inside and out, and without compromise delivering extremely high levels of performance in a very complete, well appointed and undemanding environment.

Here's a few photos I took last weekend:

[lukegarratt]

That is an absolutely stunning car Sarge (as you know . ) Looks silky smooth in that colour. Congratulations on an excellent choice.

Cars look so beautiful without front plates too...

[Erik]

Hi Sarge and welcome to RS6.com!

Thanks for your report not to mention those really nice photos!

[absent]

Congratulations,it really looks great.
I was looking for a little bit more exotic though and while GT might be an excellent daily driver for somebody who doesn't need a real 4 seater, it just did not fill my needs.
As far as performance is concerned,I guess I'm spoiled by the 600.
(524 hp at the wheels,0-60,1/4 mile similar to Treynors car)

[sturs6]

Fantastic report as well as photo's sarge. The lighting is awesome with that color. Do you have any large screen resolutions for a wall paper?

[Bingocaller]

One thing I like about this board (and others like it) is that, its members have the money 2 go out and buy the (super)cars we all dream of.

The reviews is not from any motorjournalist, but from "real" people who drives their cars almost every day.

Just my thoughts.


Sarge

Really nice pics - hope we can get some in wallpaper size

[ricky71370]

cant wait, gorgeous pictures!!!!!

ricky

[Sarge]

Thanks, you'll have a great time with it, and you'll likely want one, if the pinnacle of performance luxury is what you're after. The GT is even better looking in person than in pictures. With this car, VAG has definitely furthered, dare I say restored the Bentley marque to it's intended directive from the glory days.

If they continue these developments with a new Arnage/Azure, etc, I believe Bentley will come to be regarded equally for it's prestige and performance. While the Arnage/Azure and prior Bentleys have been capable cars in their own right, they are a bit more cantankerous luxury (comparatively), satisfying the most demanding 'images' on earth, but not necessarily the most demanding drivers. Given their platform age I suppose that's still an accomplishment, but competition demands more.

Have fun! (like that needs saying)

Sarge

[ricky71370]

The sedan will be SPECTACULAR! Here i go again, 12 to 16 months of agony. It was exactly 12 months for the gallardo and the dealer is telling me the same for the Gt(sedan).

Should be fun...(not)

ricky

[krm]

Thanks Sarge for those pictures, the GT looks absolutely stunning with a dark color.

I saw a black one driving by the other night, really a gorgeous shape. I like how the third brake light spans across the entire top edge of the rear windshield.

The Bentley HK showroom around my office currently holds three GT's with one in silver which looks fantastic as well.

Hope your wife enjoys such a masterpiece.

[absent]

Just got my August C/D magazine ,they rated GT last in a group test.(CL600,DB9,612,Conti GT)

[athlon]

I read somewhere the GT did a low 13 sec 1/4 mile, while the 612 did a mid 12.

The bentley though is in a totally different league to the 612. The 612 is the ugliest car i have seen.

Bentley has a name that means class, not even "VW" can f*** that up.