BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT, WORTH BUYING OR NOT?
Discussion
I am thinking of purschasing a Bentley GT continental, they seem to be extremely good value, a 54 plate available for 50k, I know they are common but after viewing one on the weekend I am seriously considering buying one, any views guys and gals? In terms of reliability and every day usuability are they suitable? What should I avoid if I go ahead and buy one
Thanks.
Dean
Thanks.
Dean
d3hno said:
I am thinking of purschasing a Bentley GT continental, they seem to be extremely good value, a 54 plate available for 50k, I know they are common but after viewing one on the weekend I am seriously considering buying one, any views guys and gals? In terms of reliability and every day usuability are they suitable? What should I avoid if I go ahead and buy one
Thanks.
Dean
I am waiting for them to hit £30k - can't be far off in the current climate!Thanks.
Dean
They're dropping like a stone in the current market, possibly due to overexposure to 'new money' owners who are suffering in the current financial climate.
How low they'll fall is anyones guess, given that you can buy a Turbo R for £10k the Conti GT is almost certain to hit that level or below eventually, and it's not impossible they'll end up at Merc CL type prices quite quickly.
How low they'll fall is anyones guess, given that you can buy a Turbo R for £10k the Conti GT is almost certain to hit that level or below eventually, and it's not impossible they'll end up at Merc CL type prices quite quickly.
They seem to be dropping like the proverbial.
Personally I also found the Conti GT a bit of a dissapointment - it's nice, but felt more like an XJ6 or something than a six-figure GT. It'll be fantastic if and when it reaches the sort of money that old Turbo Rs currently fetch though.
Probably the only car which will depreciate quicker is a Phaeton, but I'd be half inclined to look at one of those if the Conti appeals.
Personally I also found the Conti GT a bit of a dissapointment - it's nice, but felt more like an XJ6 or something than a six-figure GT. It'll be fantastic if and when it reaches the sort of money that old Turbo Rs currently fetch though.
Probably the only car which will depreciate quicker is a Phaeton, but I'd be half inclined to look at one of those if the Conti appeals.
My personal view is that when these things are about 10 years old, they will be worth little more than an equivalent Merc CL600 (which means about £8k if that), at the most. Three reasons why: 1) There are far too many of them, probably more than the Merc just mentioned. 2) The image is already somewhat naff. 3) There will be alot of bad examples around that have not been looked after, having been purchased by (you know the type) those who are incapable of keeping a nice motor in decent condition. These cars will also have had multiple owners as well. I beleave there will be more bad examples than good ones and this will have an overall negative effect on values.
I reckon they will become the cheapest and most numerous Bentley we've ever seen, after all, this is what they are when new anyway. I agree with the above post, and share the view that they will become on a par with an old Mercedes or BMW or bigger Audi, they will certainly slip well below the levels seen by tired old Turbo R's or T types. But, whereas people are prepared to pay many times the value of those cars to repair them when something major goes wrong, or for restoration, I can't see that happening with the Continental GT, they'll just get scrapped or broken for spares.
Fantastic car though, they will offer a huge amount of performance for the buck, and I reckon there will be nice ones to be had for not much at all, very soon. A friend of mine is a big fan of top end Audis, he wouldn't have anything else, so he's watching Continental GT prices very carefully.
Fantastic car though, they will offer a huge amount of performance for the buck, and I reckon there will be nice ones to be had for not much at all, very soon. A friend of mine is a big fan of top end Audis, he wouldn't have anything else, so he's watching Continental GT prices very carefully.
Balmoral Green said:
But, whereas people are prepared to pay many times the value of those cars to repair them when something major goes wrong, or for restoration, I can't see that happening with the Continental GT, they'll just get scrapped or broken for spares.
Absolutely, like we are currently seeing with Mercedes, there will be a two tier used market. In the case of Mercedes there is the 'classic' / 'semi classic' market which includes all model ranges produced up to around the mid 90's, and the 'mass produced' versions made therafter. (I actually think the W140 S Class will soon be the next model to rise up in value again, now that it is becoming universally acknowledged as being MB over engineering at it's best). In the case of Bentley, the pre VW era models - and this includes the Arnage, Azure and although not pre VW; the new Brooklands - will still rise in value (after a few years of heavy depreciation), but the post VW models (Continental GT & Flying Spur) will suffer at the hands of the market in a very undignified way.Edited by MZ on Monday 15th September 20:55
Ok, I appreciate all of your help so far Gents, I could take a big hit on it then, I am left really stuck now, I can't think of anything which is anywhere near as nice for the money, a Bentley, despite being common in the UK are not overly common where I live and just seems to be the winner, but thought of it being worth 20% of the 50k in a few years is a scary thought
If you believe this lot you will have to pay someone to take it away in a few years time. Yes they are common but the values won't slip into oblivion. It may be sliding now but soon I think it will plateau as it reaches a price point that more people can reach without all the cheap money around there used to be. As to whether to do it or not? Who buys any car and worries about losing money? For 50 grand it is a heck of a lot of car for the money and pees all over anything else of that type for the money. If you really can't stomach the depreciation set yourself up in business and buy a Spur. That way, him in the back is funding your dream.
d3hno said:
I am thinking of purschasing a Bentley GT continental, they seem to be extremely good value, a 54 plate available for 50k, I know they are common but after viewing one on the weekend I am seriously considering buying one, any views guys and gals? In terms of reliability and every day usuability are they suitable? What should I avoid if I go ahead and buy one
Thanks.
Dean
Dean i think if you are buying any car in todays market you have to expect a loss on it even more so if it is a high end marque like a Bentley.Thanks.
Dean
I dont think anyone has ever bought one thinking they were going to make money, or if they did then they probably dont understand the world of cars.
As for the car itself regardless of people slating them as common etc i would take it all with a pinch of salt. Yes they are Bentley's best seller so yes you will see a lot of them but i dont personally see that as a problem?
The car itself is great IMHO, if you can afford to stretch to the Mulliner i would do so as i reckon it will hold its value hopefully a little bit better over the long term.
Good luck
2 5HAN said:
As for the car itself regardless of people slating them as common etc i would take it all with a pinch of salt. Yes they are Bentley's best seller so yes you will see a lot of them but i dont personally see that as a problem?
The car itself is great IMHO, if you can afford to stretch to the Mulliner i would do so as i reckon it will hold its value hopefully a little bit better over the long term.
Good luck
I entirely agree - great car, probably far better bet than the opposition (e.g. DB9), if a trifle character-free compared to the 6.75s. Look past the image and the prejudice and you'll end up with a fine daily driver. But you will have to accept the depreciation, I am afraid, though perhaps not quite as drastic as some have predicted (you won't have to pay me to take it away!).The car itself is great IMHO, if you can afford to stretch to the Mulliner i would do so as i reckon it will hold its value hopefully a little bit better over the long term.
Good luck
The actual vehicle in question has had three owners, despite being only four years old, I know this is common with certain sports cars, but If i went ahead and bought the car, being the fourth owner in four years, makes me wonder would this damage my chances of selling the car? I normally keep a car I purchase for under a year before changing it.
Dean
Dean
I dont think the number of owners on these cars is a major issue as many get pre registered by dealers and also many owners only keep their cars for 8 months to 18 months.
You will find loads of Lambo's, Ferrari's etc with 3 or 4 owners.
Its a bit like the mileage issues on a Ferrari, some people think its a sin if they go into double figures i.e over 10k but some will say dont touch a car that has been sat around and not used, you are always going to get people that will try and knock you when you come to sell it so dont worry.
IMO the most important thing is Service History and if possible a Full Bentley "A" Warranty then you know you have peace of mind and when you come to sell the car the next owner will hopefully also have peace of mind.
You will find loads of Lambo's, Ferrari's etc with 3 or 4 owners.
Its a bit like the mileage issues on a Ferrari, some people think its a sin if they go into double figures i.e over 10k but some will say dont touch a car that has been sat around and not used, you are always going to get people that will try and knock you when you come to sell it so dont worry.
IMO the most important thing is Service History and if possible a Full Bentley "A" Warranty then you know you have peace of mind and when you come to sell the car the next owner will hopefully also have peace of mind.
If it's the car that you really want, then I'd go for it.
Heart wins over head almost everytime that I buy a car.
You buy a car because you want to, not because of what it might be worth in a year or two - unless you are the sensible type, in which case you'd buy a smart car etc.
It may depreciate like a stone but you'll have fun in the meantime!
Heart wins over head almost everytime that I buy a car.
You buy a car because you want to, not because of what it might be worth in a year or two - unless you are the sensible type, in which case you'd buy a smart car etc.
It may depreciate like a stone but you'll have fun in the meantime!
d3hno said:
The actual vehicle in question has had three owners, despite being only four years old, I know this is common with certain sports cars, but If i went ahead and bought the car, being the fourth owner in four years, makes me wonder would this damage my chances of selling the car? I normally keep a car I purchase for under a year before changing it.
Dean
It's gonna be an expensive 12 months then. There are tons of these for sale. Why not seek a 1 or 2 owner car for peace of mind.Dean
stain said:
There are tons of these for sale. Why not seek a 1 or 2 owner car for peace of mind.
I agree: if the previous owner kept the car for a good length of time, it indicates commitment to the car and someone who would have cared about looking after it, getting it properly serviced, etc.; a string of owners for a year or less indicates a very different attitude. I can't think of any car I have bought were the previous owner has not had it from new or for at least five years. I am just in the process of buying another Bentley at the moment: the previous owner had it for seven years, and it shows.Hi, i am thinking of getting one next year or so.
There is a fair few on the autotrader at between £40k-£45k.
I think they will prob drop £5k per year ???
what you reckon ppl, get an average miler for £30k come end of 2010 ??
even though they are a fair few on the road, surely this cant be such a bad thing,
they are popular for a reason, because they are such a beautiful car.
Surely these cars wont drop to £10k by 2012 ???
04 reg GT in 2012, would mean dropped £110k in 8 years, seems a little crazy, but as the credit crunch hits, how many people can afford to run such an expensive brand of car.
if so glad havent purchased one new
or even second hand yet,come to think of it, if they drop like some people predict.
How are these cars reliability wise, any major things to look out for if i ever did consider purchasing one?
There is a fair few on the autotrader at between £40k-£45k.
I think they will prob drop £5k per year ???
what you reckon ppl, get an average miler for £30k come end of 2010 ??
even though they are a fair few on the road, surely this cant be such a bad thing,
they are popular for a reason, because they are such a beautiful car.
Surely these cars wont drop to £10k by 2012 ???
04 reg GT in 2012, would mean dropped £110k in 8 years, seems a little crazy, but as the credit crunch hits, how many people can afford to run such an expensive brand of car.
if so glad havent purchased one new
or even second hand yet,come to think of it, if they drop like some people predict.How are these cars reliability wise, any major things to look out for if i ever did consider purchasing one?
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