Flying Spur family car?

[fflump]

Dear all
Interested in people's views of a Flying Spur as a family car. Not super bothered about an estate, don't like SUVs, or anything that looks like it should be picking me up at Stuttgart airport, and need something I'll look back at when I lock it up at night, as well as make me feel good when in the cockpit.

Have usually driven Italian cars (Alfa 156 TS, 159 V6 Q4, and currently Ghibli S) due to style and value for money 2nd hand. Had a brief diesel aberration when I drove a 330d GT xDrive prior to the Ghibli. Great car, but left me cold. The Ghibli is, however good looking, quick and great sounding the engine, not a great car, and diabolical in Scottish winters. Anyway, I can trade my '16 40k Ghibli for a '14 reg Flying Spur Mulliner (FBSH), also 40k, for an extra £23,000.

Annual mileage is around 5k so fuel not an issue, nor is £2k pa (I'm guessing) on servicing/consumables.

Does anyone drive one of these or have any advice-experience or blind prejudice equally welcome!!

[ZX10R NIN]

The looks are a bit marmite but as a car they're special car & if you're happy with the maintenance costs then I'd say go for it.

[fflump]

Yeah I know what you mean. I don't like the 05-13 'Rover 75' shape at all but it sharpened up a lot when they dropped the Continental name.

[Jasandjules]

If you like the look then go for it. It must be like driving a leather sofa, wafting along the roads.

[fflump]

cheers! Honestly it's a shame Maserati don't do the Ghibli or QP in AWD in RHD, otherwise would probably stick with them.

[MorganP104]

fflump said:

cheers! Honestly it's a shame Maserati don't do the Ghibli or QP in AWD in RHD, otherwise would probably stick with them.

If you like Italian cars, have you considered the Maserati Quattroporte? AWD models come with V6 engines, but the full-fat V8 is available in RWD cars.

For those "on the fence" regarding the styling of the Flying Spur, one look at the M156 QP is enough to make anyone flip to the Maser.

[fflump]

Pretty sure the AWD QP is not available in the UK, or any RHD country.

[anonymous-user]

Do it.

Bear in mind, it's quite long, people will think you are a dick and the interior isn't necessarily durable (depends what you mean by family).

But as you only live once, and can afford it and are mentally prepared for the odd bill, do it.

I have often considered the same.

[MorganP104]

fflump said:

Pretty sure the AWD QP is not available in the UK, or any RHD country.

Ah, LHD only is it? My apologies.

[fflump]

01WE01 said:

Do it.

Bear in mind, it's quite long, people will think you are a dick and the interior isn't necessarily durable (depends what you mean by family).

But as you only live once, and can afford it and are mentally prepared for the odd bill, do it.

I have often considered the same.

cheers!
Family-no dogs, but 10, 12, 13 yr olds. The dick factor is fine (and probably accurate!). Get plenty nice comments in my Ghibli-probably get spat at in the Bentley! Good point about interior-maybe I'm better going darker.

[anonymous-user]

Don't go darker, just be stricter with them!

In my eyes blue exterior, ivory/almond/portland interior is phenomenal. We have two cars in that spec.

What's the spec of the one you have seen?

[fflump]

01WE01 said:

Don't go darker, just be stricter with them!

In my eyes blue exterior, ivory/almond/portland interior is phenomenal. We have two cars in that spec.

What's the spec of the one you have seen?

Quite similar to that
Dark Sapphire Metallic w/I cream interior and blue secondry hide.
W12 Mulliner FBSH.

[anonymous-user]

Lovely.

[ahenners]

If you can stomach the costs (and it sounds like you can) then do it!

[Lozw86]

2k annual servicing may be optimistic. If thing goes wrong with these, repair costs can be very high

[akirk]

What do the kids think?!
you are moving in image terms from something quite sporty looking to CEO limousine - how will they feel being dropped off at school from the Bentley?

[fflump]

Lozw86 said:

2k annual servicing may be optimistic. If thing goes wrong with these, repair costs can be very high

Servicing 2k is realistic. Probably 5k to keep it on the road on average.

[fflump]

akirk said:

What do the kids think?!
you are moving in image terms from something quite sporty looking to CEO limousine - how will they feel being dropped off at school from the Bentley?

I know what you mean. Image-wise it's a leap.

Not that I care what the kids think-they walk to school anyway ;-) The young one (a girl) hates anything that is not a pink mini. The two boys would like it as rappers drive them

[anonymous-user]

fflump said:

Servicing 2k is realistic. Probably 5k to keep it on the road on average.

2k p.a might just about cover you for servicing on average. hydraulic or plug service will be considerably more than 2k all in, but at least you have the cheap fixed priced £800 minor service once every two years to bring down the average, but again I stress that's for servicing

It won't cover tyres, brakes or suspension arms all of which they eat at alarming rate, and most certainly won't cover anything going actually "wrong" and requiring 10s of hours of diag and work to replace, which is a certainty.

When I worked at a Bentley retailer it was not uncommon for a 6 year old car to generate five figures worth of remedial work on a service inspection, and it would almost always be okayed by the customer within a short phone call by the service advisor - that's the sort of disposal cash you need to run one.

Imho, if you can't afford one that qualifies for the approved warranty scheme (which iirc, means it has to come from a Bentley retailer) AND the top tier warranty each and every year they will let you extend it, you can't afford to run one, at least "properly".

[fflump]

WorldBoss said:

Imho, if you can't afford one that qualifies for the approved warranty scheme (which iirc, means it has to come from a Bentley retailer) AND the top tier warranty each and every year they will let you extend it, you can't afford to run one, at least "properly".

I know what you mean but its a numbers game. A warranty is essentially insurance, and insurance is always by definition geared to make money for the seller and give peace of mind to the buyer. That is why we all insure our homes against fire. That said, many of us will not buy extended warranties on our fridges or TVs, not because we cannot afford the extra cost, but because we don't see value in the premium, and if we're unlucky and it goes kaput well it's not a big enough hit to lose sleep over. If you buy a Bentley out of warranty and are prepared to hope for the best but not to be bothered emotionally or financially by the worst then you'll be better off more often than not.