Thinking of buying a conti GT

[sparkmad]

Hi guys new to this site, I am thinking of buying a Conti GT, I have seen one at a Bentley dealership for 58k for a 08/08 plate with 24k full main agent history. I currently run a range rover sport which i have had from new. What kinda problems need I look out for?. The Gt is going to come with a years Main dealer warranty which i am told you can extend each year, Am I gonna be running up big bills by going for an older car than i currently drive?

Cheers

[WightGT]

You don't say what model GT you are looking at for £58K, but looking at what is available on the second hand market, this looks like a fully priced car - maybe worthy of a Mulliner specification. Anyway, ignoring price or value for money, you will get fewer surprises if you stick with main dealer servicing. This is an annual event and will set you back about £1,000 depending upon what they find. It would be worth determining whether the brake disks have been renewed, and how much life they have left. Similarly, you may be due replacement brake hoses which is on the E service at 6 years old. Main dealers charge about £1,200 for this. May be worth negotiating these into the deal. Tyres are likely to be in the same ball park as your Range Rover. There has been discussion about the value of extending the Bentley warranty. Obviously, if it's included in the purchase, you'd not want to turn it down (how much would they knock off if you didn't want it?), but whether it is worth continuing with it after that is debatable.Others might be better qualified to discus this than I am. I take the view that in running a Supercar you should expect to lay out £2K a year on maintenance, and that you might occasionally run up a bill for £3 - £5K if you are unlucky. If you are really unlucky, and blow a cylinder head gasket, it will cost you £10K or more. If you can't live with this, the GT is not for you, regardless of whether the extended warranty will cover the problem. It's a 200 mph car that will normally only be used at one-third of it's capability, so as long as you don't abuse it or upgrade the chip, and use main dealer servicing, you should be OK.
Tread carefully. Buy with your head. Join the BDC. You'll not regret it.
David.

[sparkmad]

Thanks for your reply David, sorry I was vague with the details it is a mulliner spec car, I guess what worries me is that my current range rover sport I bought from new and has only covered 25k and is just about to turn four years old. And hasn't really cost me a penny except for a set of tyres . I have a choice of buying another new one or going for a GT.
It's a tough dilemma my head says buy a new rr sport but I really fancy a GT.

Cheers

[WightGT]

Depends what you need - (unless you buy the V8 petrol)

Bentley seats 2+2 or RR = 7
Bentley ground clearance 4 inches. RR = 8 or more
Bentley off road ability = 0. RR = 100%
Bentley rear vision = lousy. RR = OK
Bentley 0 - 60 = about 4 secs. RR = 7 secs plus
Bentley fuel consumption = 16 mpg. RR = 25+ (diesel)
Bentley BHP = about 570. RR = 280
Bentley Supermarket parkability - NOT ON YOUR LIFE unless you use a mother and toddler space. RR found in car parks everywhere (often driven by women who try to collide with Bentleys!) Probably get a pile of abuse for that!

[spyker138]

My Bentley has terrific off road capabilities - as good in a muddy field even on its std tyres as my previous RR Supercharged, and in the winter (with winter wheels/tyres fitted (second pic)) is far better than the RR on its std tyres in snow and ice.... If you can choose I'd take the Bentley.

[WightGT]

While we are posting pictures of GTs, I thought I'd add a picture of mine, taken on a recent tour of south west Ireland. Better looking than a Range Rover, or what!

[RevHappy]

It only comes down to power and seats, if want more or the first and less of the second then GT all the way.
Sadly it might be going the other way.
But as pictures are being posted, here's my contribution.

[Lostprophet]

Great pictures.

How do folks finance 55-60k cars? Are they bought with cash or finance?

[WightGT]

Cash - but now that I have almost retired, I doubt I'll ever be able to do so again without attacking the pension fund. Consequently, I'm hoping to see at least 200,000 miles out of it. After that, I'll be too old and infirm for anything but a Morris Minor, which will mean I'll have to buy a hat to wear in the car - seems to be an essential requirement for geriatric drivers!
David.

[RESSE]

Lovely cars (in my opinion).

Ours is a 2007 Mulliner specification model and I think Silver Tempest + cream look good: