Drove a 2008 bentley conti gt speed / Impressions and issue
Discussion
Last weekend i drove the above car and had a few thoughts.
Initially, it was almost a no brainer that i was going to have it.
Now I am not so sure.
Firstly, I found that the big w12 engine was muffled and i found at times that there may as well have been a big turbo diesel lump and it would have been the same. Expect with diesel it would have gotten 30-40mpg rather than 10-20. My wife described it as a giant hoover.
I mean I recently had an aston v12v and whilst i do not expect a similar experience, i still think that a w12 engine should make you feel special. I found the sound inside the cabin to be a bit boomy.
Secondly, I found the car to feel heavy (not a bad thing for a road car) but i did not find that it was a great 'wafter'. As in a car to be cool and relax. I did not find the seats particularly comfortable. I also find that on british tarmac, there was a fair amount of road tyres noise filtering into the cabin.
Thirdly, I found the infotainment system really dated and the volkswagen buttons around it were not a particularly sight. IMPORTANTLY, the car had the strd sound system with 12 odd speakers and i found it to be on the weak side. I thought it really lacked ooomph. I mean, how in the world can they let a car of this type come out of the factory with such a low system? Very few cars hjave the NAIM upgrade and makes it almost a no-no as a 2nd hand proposition.
Unless a concealed subwoofer can be plugged in the current audio system and be concealed underneath one of the seats?
Lastly, the car was low miles (sub 20k) and the leather on the arm rest at the back was starting to get lousy. One of the rear side panels was poorly cut and expended more than the one on the other side of the car.
The following day we drove a previous generation range rover tdv8 4.4 westminster and felt that it was better finished, way better sound system and infotainment. Good fast engine and gearbox and cheaper. Different car and different purposes. But still, the bentley suffered the comparison in my eyes.
Any thoughts on this?
Initially, it was almost a no brainer that i was going to have it.
Now I am not so sure.
Firstly, I found that the big w12 engine was muffled and i found at times that there may as well have been a big turbo diesel lump and it would have been the same. Expect with diesel it would have gotten 30-40mpg rather than 10-20. My wife described it as a giant hoover.
I mean I recently had an aston v12v and whilst i do not expect a similar experience, i still think that a w12 engine should make you feel special. I found the sound inside the cabin to be a bit boomy.
Secondly, I found the car to feel heavy (not a bad thing for a road car) but i did not find that it was a great 'wafter'. As in a car to be cool and relax. I did not find the seats particularly comfortable. I also find that on british tarmac, there was a fair amount of road tyres noise filtering into the cabin.
Thirdly, I found the infotainment system really dated and the volkswagen buttons around it were not a particularly sight. IMPORTANTLY, the car had the strd sound system with 12 odd speakers and i found it to be on the weak side. I thought it really lacked ooomph. I mean, how in the world can they let a car of this type come out of the factory with such a low system? Very few cars hjave the NAIM upgrade and makes it almost a no-no as a 2nd hand proposition.
Unless a concealed subwoofer can be plugged in the current audio system and be concealed underneath one of the seats?
Lastly, the car was low miles (sub 20k) and the leather on the arm rest at the back was starting to get lousy. One of the rear side panels was poorly cut and expended more than the one on the other side of the car.
The following day we drove a previous generation range rover tdv8 4.4 westminster and felt that it was better finished, way better sound system and infotainment. Good fast engine and gearbox and cheaper. Different car and different purposes. But still, the bentley suffered the comparison in my eyes.
Any thoughts on this?
Get the Range Rover tdv8 4.4, it seems more to your preference and you make many good points about the Bentley. The car is quiet on purpose and a different exhaust could solve that. The 2008 infotainment system is about circa 2002-ish in my eyes. Bentley, even in their 2014 models, are still far and away behind the pack in true technology for their infotainment system. Yes the car is heavy and they have tried to hide that fact, yet weight is weight. As for a sub, you could have one neatly integrated in the trunk with the output feeding out the ski opening between the rear seats.
Edited by enjoythemusic on Tuesday 16th December 12:49
enjoythemusic said:
Get the Range Rover tdv8 4.4, it seems more to your preference and you make many good points about the Bentley. The car is quiet on purpose and a different exhaust could solve that. The 2008 infotainment system is about circa 2002-ish in my eyes. Bentley, even in their 2014 models, are still far and away behind the pack in true technology for their infotainment system. Yes the car is heavy and they have tried to hide that fact, yet weight is weight. As for a sub, you could have one neatly integrated in the trunk with the output feeding out the ski opening between the rear seats.
I was actually thinking of of fitting one of those self powered mini subwoofers.Edited by enjoythemusic on Tuesday 16th December 12:49
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BO8O9XQ/ref=dra_a_sm...
I fitted one of those to a car previously and they are extremely discreet and super efficient to lift up the sound quality in a car. The only problem is that i do believe that the car does not have a subwoofer output.
Edited by erics on Tuesday 16th December 13:08
Hmm, not sure that would fit under the Bentley seats. As for no sub out, no problem just have the installer split off the speaker lines and use that (usually a sub has an input that turns speaker output level it into a preamp input of sorts). The Bentley amplifier, as I recall, is in the boot's driver side (UK) sidewall behind the carpet so easy to tap in.
I see that your preference is for Ferrari, Porche and Lotus, and I wonder whether you approached the Bentley with the view that it was similarly chuckable. The car weights 2.5 tonnes and even with all the electronics to aid stability, it will never be as nimble as others in your stable. What it is good at is accelerating. The forward urge is relentless all the way to the top of the speedo. There are no flat spots - it just goes on pulling, ever faster. It does what it says on the tin - crosses continents at speed and in style.
If you are buying a Bentley for the infotainment and cabin noise, you're using the wrong criteria. Sure, the infotainment is not good and the seats are hard - small price to pay for a supercar that you can use on a daily basis. Get it out on the open road and give it a real test drive for 500 miles - you'll warm to it. Most importantly with a 7 year old car, check the service record before deciding. It needs to have been serviced by a main dealer or a well regarded indie.
If you are buying a Bentley for the infotainment and cabin noise, you're using the wrong criteria. Sure, the infotainment is not good and the seats are hard - small price to pay for a supercar that you can use on a daily basis. Get it out on the open road and give it a real test drive for 500 miles - you'll warm to it. Most importantly with a 7 year old car, check the service record before deciding. It needs to have been serviced by a main dealer or a well regarded indie.
Thank you for the feedback. The weight is not really the problem. I know what to expect.
It's a bentley, not an Aston. It should be cosseting. You should be able to be very comfy in those seats and put on your favourite cd and enjoy for a 1k miles trip down to the south of France. The hard seats and the weak standard stereo system prevents you from doing so.
I expect the roar from the tyres to be less pronounced in a car of this caliber.
It's a bentley, not an Aston. It should be cosseting. You should be able to be very comfy in those seats and put on your favourite cd and enjoy for a 1k miles trip down to the south of France. The hard seats and the weak standard stereo system prevents you from doing so.
I expect the roar from the tyres to be less pronounced in a car of this caliber.
yeah - probably look for something else then.. I have come from Porsche/Ferrari, and although I agree re infotainment display being poor - the sound from the stereo is actually very good...
The seats are very comfortable... very! Each to their own - etc... just sounds like it's not right for you - for me , I think its a great car to drive - especially given the size of the thing!
The seats are very comfortable... very! Each to their own - etc... just sounds like it's not right for you - for me , I think its a great car to drive - especially given the size of the thing!
Hi.
The exhaust is a quick and easy fix. You simply block the vacuum pipe at each rear silencer and hey presto, the active valves stay open permanently.
On mine, I thought that the audio sound was way inferior to that of the XJR I had. A quick scan with my diagnostic tool showed that both front bass speakers were faulty. I bought a new and better quality pair of speakers and the difference was amazing.
As for the car, I love it.
The exhaust is a quick and easy fix. You simply block the vacuum pipe at each rear silencer and hey presto, the active valves stay open permanently.
On mine, I thought that the audio sound was way inferior to that of the XJR I had. A quick scan with my diagnostic tool showed that both front bass speakers were faulty. I bought a new and better quality pair of speakers and the difference was amazing.
As for the car, I love it.
See your other post - I have a 2010 GT Speed and have owned it from new. It is heavy and not nimble on slower windy roads if you drive it like a normal sporty car. It has ridiculous power and traction and responds to being driven a little more brutishly than elegantly. Push it hard and you will be amazed at what it can do. In manual with the flappers you can have fun and the engine note comes alive with revs. But it's not a sports car.
On a longer GT type run, where you can push on a bit, it is a lot more in its element and can chew up very long journeys in comfort and with entertaining performance - instantaneous rapid acceleration anytime any speed, and rock solid stability to at least 170mph (not gone faster than that in it).
BUT - in my view it's still a very very good top notch Audi with wonderful finish and interior - and that's no bad thing.. If you really want the Bentley experience, to be a bit different from everything else you've driven, and make you grin every mile, then get an Arnage or Brooklands (coupe). My older Arnage is still my favourite of the two, and while it is not as fast as the Conti, it's much much more special to drive, has major oomph and terrorizing vanquishing mile eating capability, but is comfortable and can waft when preferred. Surprisingly I also prefer the weight and feel of the Arnage controls to drive - reassuring heavy and engineered, rather than light and electronic...
On a longer GT type run, where you can push on a bit, it is a lot more in its element and can chew up very long journeys in comfort and with entertaining performance - instantaneous rapid acceleration anytime any speed, and rock solid stability to at least 170mph (not gone faster than that in it).
BUT - in my view it's still a very very good top notch Audi with wonderful finish and interior - and that's no bad thing.. If you really want the Bentley experience, to be a bit different from everything else you've driven, and make you grin every mile, then get an Arnage or Brooklands (coupe). My older Arnage is still my favourite of the two, and while it is not as fast as the Conti, it's much much more special to drive, has major oomph and terrorizing vanquishing mile eating capability, but is comfortable and can waft when preferred. Surprisingly I also prefer the weight and feel of the Arnage controls to drive - reassuring heavy and engineered, rather than light and electronic...
spyker138 said:
BUT - in my view it's still a very very good top notch Audi with wonderful finish and interior - and that's no bad thing.. If you really want the Bentley experience, to be a bit different from everything else you've driven, and make you grin every mile, then get an Arnage or Brooklands (coupe). My older Arnage is still my favourite of the two, and while it is not as fast as the Conti, it's much much more special to drive, has major oomph and terrorizing vanquishing mile eating capability, but is comfortable and can waft when preferred. Surprisingly I also prefer the weight and feel of the Arnage controls to drive - reassuring heavy and engineered, rather than light and electronic...
Interesting stuff - very well put. Top notch Audi with nice trim - it's what I've often thought. It's a shame a lot of the individual stuff is missing from the new Bentleys (floor mounted pedals, switchable horns, sill level floor, doors that feel like safe doors, etc)I’ve had a Bentley GT Speed for just under 2 years and recently bought a Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 to complete the footballer look! 
So hopefully I can help.
I’ve driven a couple GT’s, over the years and always found them to be brilliant cars. I use mine as a daily and have always found it pretty chuckable (for a car that weighs more than a house), comfortable and very easy to use. The speed is very fast but it does not handle like a Ferrari/Lambo etc. The best way I would describe it is kind of 911 Turbo-esque (Loads of grip, loads of torque) but a very obese version of a 911. So if you drive it like a Ferrari it will be respond like what it is…
I agree with you as standard the exhaust is far too quiet, I had the valves jammed open in mine and it made a big difference. You could also remove the secondary catalytic converters (you’ll still pass an MOT and won’t have check engine lights) however I never did this so don’t have any first-hand experience there I’ afraid. Likewise, you could go down the sports exhaust option, quicksilver do a lovely one. I was going to fit it but was pretty happy with the exhaust valves open I didn’t see any point.
Stereo – I always thought my one was pretty good, I think from memory it was the upgraded one (can’t remember off the top of my head, would have to go over original spec sheet). Perhaps the car you drove had faulty speakers? Tyre noise – never noticed it, again perhaps the car you drove had cheap tyres on it? A friend of mine bought a standard GT and the dealer had put cheap budget tyres on it which he felt made the car handle a lot worse.
If I were you I would perhaps test drive another one just to see. It may well be that the car simply isn’t for you.
As for Range Rover, I love mind. Just feels like driving a very high up arm chair. Reasonable performance for what it is. Rolls about A LOT though if you really push it.
So hopefully I can help. I’ve driven a couple GT’s, over the years and always found them to be brilliant cars. I use mine as a daily and have always found it pretty chuckable (for a car that weighs more than a house), comfortable and very easy to use. The speed is very fast but it does not handle like a Ferrari/Lambo etc. The best way I would describe it is kind of 911 Turbo-esque (Loads of grip, loads of torque) but a very obese version of a 911. So if you drive it like a Ferrari it will be respond like what it is…
I agree with you as standard the exhaust is far too quiet, I had the valves jammed open in mine and it made a big difference. You could also remove the secondary catalytic converters (you’ll still pass an MOT and won’t have check engine lights) however I never did this so don’t have any first-hand experience there I’ afraid. Likewise, you could go down the sports exhaust option, quicksilver do a lovely one. I was going to fit it but was pretty happy with the exhaust valves open I didn’t see any point.
Stereo – I always thought my one was pretty good, I think from memory it was the upgraded one (can’t remember off the top of my head, would have to go over original spec sheet). Perhaps the car you drove had faulty speakers? Tyre noise – never noticed it, again perhaps the car you drove had cheap tyres on it? A friend of mine bought a standard GT and the dealer had put cheap budget tyres on it which he felt made the car handle a lot worse.
If I were you I would perhaps test drive another one just to see. It may well be that the car simply isn’t for you.
As for Range Rover, I love mind. Just feels like driving a very high up arm chair. Reasonable performance for what it is. Rolls about A LOT though if you really push it.
Ive had my 08/09 GT Speed for nearly 2 years as well. Came from a 9 Excellence 911 996 turbo, had a Revo Cayenne Turbo before that and numerous Cosworths.
These cars waken up with revs, use the upper 4k to red line and then they will shift ie take the revs up a notch and they become the beast they should be. With a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph its right up there with most Astons and Ferraris.
Turn the suspension to firm/sports mode and you soon loose most of the sense of weight.
On the subject of weight as with Fat people there is a lot of prejudice he/she is fat they must be lazy and slow, its the same with the GT Speed most people look at the 2350 kg weight tag and don't give it much of a chance to show what it can do. The GT Speed has an uncanny way of electronically shedding the feel of weight the harder you drive. Poodle around town and it feels a solid car that has weight behind it, push on and as said you'll will be suppressed at just how nimble the GT can be. I can honestly say when it comes to traction it is much better than the 911.
I'm waiting on DMS to get back to me about power under the curve increases as well as top end power increases . I like the idea of their quicker gear shift re-programme as well.
I don't think the op has had a good test drive car as I can categorically say the build quality is far far better than the 911 and Cayenne. I do find the GPS to be a regression from that of the Porsche but apart from that I'm very happy.
The W12 Speed engine is the one to have for power mods as well as its had a redesign to incorporate better /lighter rods, pistons, gaskets , head work and more to make it a much stronger engine with the ability to rev better and safer.
These cars waken up with revs, use the upper 4k to red line and then they will shift ie take the revs up a notch and they become the beast they should be. With a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph its right up there with most Astons and Ferraris.
Turn the suspension to firm/sports mode and you soon loose most of the sense of weight.
On the subject of weight as with Fat people there is a lot of prejudice he/she is fat they must be lazy and slow, its the same with the GT Speed most people look at the 2350 kg weight tag and don't give it much of a chance to show what it can do. The GT Speed has an uncanny way of electronically shedding the feel of weight the harder you drive. Poodle around town and it feels a solid car that has weight behind it, push on and as said you'll will be suppressed at just how nimble the GT can be. I can honestly say when it comes to traction it is much better than the 911.
I'm waiting on DMS to get back to me about power under the curve increases as well as top end power increases . I like the idea of their quicker gear shift re-programme as well.
I don't think the op has had a good test drive car as I can categorically say the build quality is far far better than the 911 and Cayenne. I do find the GPS to be a regression from that of the Porsche but apart from that I'm very happy.
The W12 Speed engine is the one to have for power mods as well as its had a redesign to incorporate better /lighter rods, pistons, gaskets , head work and more to make it a much stronger engine with the ability to rev better and safer.
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