Do Modern Bentleys Still Feel Like The Real Thing? Bentley GT Vs Continental R

Bentley is now owned by VW and is selling more cars than ever.. but did the Germans do a good job of retaining the British character which Bentley was famed for? or has the newer car lost some of the essence of what made the marque great? Today I compare an older car with the more modern ones made since VW took over.

[@easyglide301]

The Continental R is the most beautiful Bentley

[@Birmingham_racing]

I think older Bentleys and rolls were made to be more special because they weren't intended to sell in big number so they took more time on it. On top of that the owners were posh so had higher expectations

[@paulcruse]

Cheshire footballer’s wives are posh.. 😅

[@lebojay]

There’s an interesting Venn diagram in there somewhere depicting the relationship between wealth and taste, then and now. 🤔

[@redbluesome2829]

The GT was designed and built for a new age where volume sales to the bourgeoisie and nouveau riche unwashed masess would be the business plan. The same plan that brought about such cars as the Gallardo. Commercially successful, taking parent companies to new heights on investment, but only cheapens the marque.

[@henq]

And the previous buyers had chauffeurs

[@abtiepolo1018]

​@@redbluesome2829exactly. They used to be Hermès and now they are Vuitton... Not, at all, the same back culture, valors, money origin ..

[@richardstamper5630]

Interesting review - I am very lucky to own a late Continental R so I speak from real world experience. Frankly, anything with four headlights is bound to get my attention but it was more than just that which drew me to this car. It's got an elegance not many modern cars can match, it's powerful enough but at over 2.5tons it won't win races against the more modern stuff, that said, it pull like a train with real linear progression and in a way that's immensely pleasurable. We took our Conti on a 2,500k mile road trip in June 23 around Portugal & Spain where it performed flawlessly. As you can imagine, it drew many a glancing view but with age it's lost that flash element and is enjoyed for what it is - a fine old car. At around 70mph the rev clock is nudging 1500 rpm and returning 21mpg, which isn't bad for 6.75 litres V8. I just love it, there's real craftsmanship on show and although my wife is no car buff, she openly admits it's the most comfortable car she's ever been in and on that trip we just consumed the miles with serenity. Is it perfect, well no but that doesn't take anything away from it quality. We use ours like an everyday car which is surprising to many, it's off down the pub or doing the weekly shop at Lidle, it doesn't matter because people leave the car alone and I hope get pleasure from seeing one of these rare masterpieces.

[@dannykeeley9005]

Nice to know some people actually using their classic instead of parking them up in a garage most of the time

[@David-jm7mq]

Also the owner of an earlier, 1994, Continental R. While I appreciate this review/comparison, it is really like comparing apples and oranges. The 'R' and the 'GT' are two different cars. They do have the Bentley name in common, but the purpose-build of each vehicle is totally different, along with what each vehicle was competing with at the time. I also drive mine regularly, and sometimes look for a reason to take it out rather than something that gets better gas mileage. My wife agrees with your wife about the comfort factor. Also, I can more easily fit two people in the back seat of the 'R' than what looks like is available in the 'GT'. The 'GT' looks like a 2+2, with the back seats only purpose is to keep insurance costs down.

[@lint8391]

I did a 4,000 mile 40 day road trip to Iberia in June and July. 35 mpg in my 2006 Volvo XC90 D5. Including some off-roading when we stayed in a cork farm. There were 5 of us with plenty of luggage.

[@asdreww]

Loved the side by side shot. The older continental made the GT look small!!!

[@miles-x4u]

17 ft 6 vs 15 ft 9!

[@martinclapton2724]

The older car was hand built, albeit on a production line. You have proper chrome , proper wood and beautiful detailing. The newer car has plastic chrome and veneers , in other words it’s a production line car , albeit a posh one , or a posh Audi/ VW. The older car gets my vote .

[@jameslindemann6244]

That´s not quite true. Its real wood and also real chrome on the new Bentleys. I still prefer the old pre-VW models though.

[@Sharakomusic]

The new ones are handbuilt too.

[@Dan_druft]

£187000 in 1990 is about £544,000 in today's money

[@marinedrive5484]

An interesting comparison that really highlights the difference between the two models. The older Bentley is most definitely the Pukka Bentley when it's put alongside the VW Bentley. It just oozes class and elegance, whereas the VW Bentley - whilst still being a good car - has that Cheshire, football player feel about it. The price difference is quite telling which reflects the fact that one is very much a hand-built car whilst the other is more of a mass-produced car.

[@crissyb00]

The older Bentley is perfect.. except it is to much like a Rolls. Bentleys were always fast cars, until rolls got hold of them. Then they became just a Rolls with a different badge. VW did a pretty good job of blending the class and the speed. Just a shame it had to be based of some other car.. not so bespoke or hand made now.

[@christianvanneuves9958]

Yep, the new one has the Wayne Rooney look and feel.

[@crissyb00]

@@christianvanneuves9958 Way to young for Wayne. He like em to have a few wrinkles

[@abtiepolo1018]

Interesting point about the football. The continental R would have never been in the hands of any football player... It saus a lot about what Occident has turned to since globalization.

[@abtiepolo1018]

​@@crissyb00the continental R , and the extraordinary Azure, never had an equivalent in the Rolls Royce range.

[@sunnyc8900]

A 2 door saloon vs a 2 door coupe.

[@friederichgerlach9825]

I my opinion the old continental is a gentlemens car and the GT a car for soccer stars 😊

[@arthurdardalis]

Well said

[@a.m.9357]

Man, the old Conti is sooooooo quiet. Can't believe it's so old and still quieter than 95% of the cars made today -- including those comedians in Audi, BMW, Merc and Jaguar.

[@wigs1098]

Not really comedians, drive an older Rolls Royce or Bentley, really poor dynamics compared to the others. This matters if you are an owner driver as much as the ride and quietness does.

[@S2NAZ]

We called those early Bentley’s a “boat” because they would just float down the road and you dare not drive them too aggressively. They were an elegant car.

[@katieprice2]

Excellent idea to compare the two. Thank you. To me, the question of quality is not so much whether something is "bespoke" in order to show off, but depends on the amount of time somebody was ready to invest in something. And the British car manufacturers (probably still do) invest a lot of time. I appreciate that silent joy, and that is also what I would be ready to pay for extra. And in comparison, it is probably relatively cheap :)

[@boxsterman77]

Investing time and effort is but a means of getting to quality; not quality itself. Were that not true, I’d have so many projects in my house of incredible quality. I can assure you that I do not. I always think of quality in terms of fit, function, feel, longevity, durability and some other more ineffable unquantifiable factors like visual, tactile and auditory appeal. Very often high quality can be achieved by quickly and with little human involvement during production. Very often, a process that is lengthy and labor intensive produces crap.

[@nontasanastasios7612]

@@boxsterman77 you are clearly talking by today's standards, by the way have you heard of the English wheel? A labor intensive tool, producing masterpieces, or you can compare it to henry fords marvel of production. Which way of the mirror are you looking at? I will never forget this: Im not English btw though ive lived in the UK for a good amount of my life, Around 2000s i was after either a 5series an E series or a Jaguar, i went for a E39 530D station wagon which was dominating (at my eyes) everyone else. An old friend of mine went for a Jaguar, we sat down somewhere and while talking about cars i said my E39 is better in all areas, his answer was "yeah but i drive a Jaguar and you drive a common BMW"

[@katieprice2]

Hi, I can agree with you. Time invested without improvement is not worth it. At the same time, to me, this was not time wasted. It may have been old school but coming with the benefit of tradition and thereby something I can connect with. These cars new are both not my price range but with the older one I could and can sympathize more (although original owners probably snobs). I like to believe that it was at least in part built with the will to keep something going that once was great and still captures peoples' imagination. And btw you can clearly see the effort that went into it, at least in the parts were they could make a difference on their budget: the wood, like marble in a palace, is obviuosly chosen for its symmetry and the leather is that stuff that makes shoes and belts look classy from a distance and therefore you always look well dressed, no matter what the wear. As a tourist, driving through beautiful England (or any other) countrside in the old car certainly is a completely different experience than with the "international" one. Because it came from there and it fits. And that needed time to develop. The other one, no matter how good, just arrived and was only able to make "references".

[@davidspropaganda]

LJK Setright wrote at length about the handles, door and boot opening weights and balances, all the buttons and push pulls, and how you had to be able to operate them easily with gloves regardless of strength, on an RR or Bentley after RR bought the company. These are lessons that have been lost. We have a newish 7 Series in the family and its often parked on a five degree slope and my mother can't push the heavy passenger door open. Someone has to come round and open it. On the flat she can but it's still heavy. The boot doesn't have the motor option and I have to put quite a bit of effort into pulling it down and I'm quite strong. She can't close it without a lot of effort. She could open or close the bonnet on a Silver Shadow with her little finger however.

[@drd6416]

Im glad someone paid homage to the musings of the legendary LJKS. His prose on such matters made for an informed and entertaining read indeed.... and as he was a fan of the motorists gloves when piloting fine automobiles, i can see the validity of those said musings too.

[@markbrennan4693]

Great video. I bet W O. would probably approve of the more sporty GT, rather than the older softer car. Both cars are superb.

[@joshuarosen6242]

I agree with this. My first thought when I think Bentley is the Bentley Boys and racing. The Bentley Boys were jolly posh and well off but they wanted a sporty car and I’ve always thought that the sportiness is just as important as the luxury in a Bentley, unlike a Rolls Royce.

[@snd7622]

The biggest difference is prestige : old Continental still has exclusive image when new ,, Bentley'' can be bought cheap and is plenty on the market.

[@jharris947]

6:14...That Continental looks huge compared to the GT.😲The passenger space and the boot are so big it looks strange only having two doors...Excellent video.

[@stephenricketts7764]

A good comparison between old and 'new' (VW) I think. For me the Continental R is certainly more refined and graceful alongside your Bentley GT and I would have to choose that. However I think you made a valid point when you said the GT had to look different enough from Rolls Royce to be separate (I may have slightly paraphrased there).Interesting video Jack thank you. 👍👍

[@milesborg9812]

Was a continental R in an underground carpark near where I worked for a while. The car is super long.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

I enjoyed that Jack.... As always buddy 👍

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Well, not that I could ever afford one, but if I could, I’d have the Continental R - looks to me like a tidied up and modernised Rolls Royce Camargue - a car that I like immensely (although it is a bit Marmite!) - I don’t know if that was intentional, but that’s what it conjures up!

[@martinhogg5337]

Great comparison, Jack. Interesting to see how the old compares with the more recent.

[@whitsundaydreaming]

Nothing compares to the older designs. I love the Conti. I also love the old RR Silver Shadows.

[@e24mpwr]

I get Jag/Lexus vibes from the newer car, where the Continental is more unique (and 'stately' vs. 'beautiful', which I'd be OK with ;) )

[@eze8970]

Thanks Jack, really shows the differences between the generations, & buyers. Continental wins for me as better quality inside with more dials/instruments! 🙏🙏

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Thank you for this video. Had no idea of how much of an absolute unit the original car was. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@SharpblueCreative]

The Continental is in another league where the interior is concerned. Not as mad produced? Love the look of it too. It is what I expect a Bentley to look like considering we are from the same era Jack. Great work.

[@markmcgrath9098]

Jack! You’ve gotta find a Westfield SEight. Proper bonkers pommy motoring. Even more bonkers than then a TVR. I really enjoy the content you put out for us. Thank you.

[@arthurdardalis]

I’ve worked on two Continental GT’s, a nightmare to work on, horrendously expensive parts even the one that have VW/AUDI/SEAT/SKODA labels all over them. Has the usual VW electrical issues and check engine light. On the plus, it’s really fast, one final thing, don’t let the batteries go down, nightmare to reset the car.

[@drd6416]

Its a 2 door phaeton, which was a nightmare too, and got worse tge bigger the spec or engine. If i were monied, id still go old school. Seems far more British, back when that meant something .

[@arthurdardalis]

@@drd6416 Well said on all points

[@oscarsnr]

Great comparison test. The ex-Sound Engineer in me couldn’t help but notice the early reflections in the newer car. I would choose the older car to record vocals in!

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

That grille on the R... It just says "move over peasant" and I kinda love it for that. Even if I am a peasant.

[@romanoguttadauro6116]

Hi Jack, As a follower of your channel, I like your title of this video. As a 50 something year old guy originally from the UK I can remember when car companies were prestigious and the thought of ten blokes hand building a car with national pride actually appeals to me, unfortunately corporations got in the way of all that and as a result cars from around the early 2000's onward have all become clones of each other, lift the bonnet of any car and all you see is a plastic cover, yes I'm stuck in the past but cars just seemed to be more fun, we didn't need to go 300mph the feel the cars gave you through the seat of your pants and a driving experience of you and the car being one was it for me. As technology advances in cars some thing get better but I think we've lost a part of the sense and feel of driving . Just my 2 pence worth. love the channel Grazie Mille.

The Conti R sits too low in its front springs (common problem on all late SZ models!), but when put right, it changes its presence once more completely! I’ve done it on mine and it just looks “right” and stately again!

[@Pete...NoNotThatOne]

Harvey Bailey kit?

@@Pete...NoNotThatOne : Not at all! You just need new springs! They are too weak for the weight of the car

[@ChicagoItalian]

@I actually used the Continental springs on my Turbo R as I believe they are a bit more robust.

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

The 1990s Continenal is THE car to me. It just has it all.

[@michaelpegasiou4531]

The continental is the one I would want to sit in the back of and eat my caviar and crackers without spilling my champagne.The vw is the one I would want to drive.

[@guinnessharvey4476]

That dash on the R is epic . Cliff face of wonder

[@marcel1463]

Both are good, but my favorite Bentley is the Arnage because it was the first i drive.

[@bandwagon240]

The Arnage was a nightmare. Such a mismatch of parts, no wonder there were lawsuits.

[@TheMRmadhatt]

The L series engine in the continental was tested by sitting on a test bed at full throttle for 500 hours, No american engine got past 100 hours

[@benofbrown]

I know it's easy to think the year 2000 was only two years ago, but the L series lasted from 1959 to 2020, so 61 years not 41 ;) I've not driven either of the Continentals but my Turbo R has the same engine and it really is incredibly smooth. That Continental seems to be from 1993, so it should have the 4 speed torque converter. There's just something magical about those big old Bentleys, I'm glad you're enjoying your GT but I'm going to stick with my Turbo R.

[@timmzey_1985]

Nice video. Fortunate enough to have both in the family. Was planning on doing a similar video myself. Great stuff

[@jasoncaulkin9830]

The Continental R was my dream car, recent examples are fetching from £50,000 upwards in today’s market.

[@lqr824]

1:29 "The Bentley GT was based on the VW Phaeton." FAKE NEWS. While they shared substantial amounts of hardware, it'd be more accurate, given production numbers, to say the Phaeton was based on the GT. The truth is even less odd: they both shared a lot of parts with the other VAG models, from the Polo on up.

[@Mr57blackbeauty]

I think GT has changed in meaning over time. The Continental GT was a luxurious means of travelling across Europe with pace and comfort, but now GT seems to be more of a performance term, both nice cars, but if I was travelling from the soggy UK to my summer villa in Portofino, the old V8 would be my choice to waft me along in grace pace and style, btw how is the lotus then????? been a while

[@shanehnorman]

The Continental R is one of my hero cars. A wide-body version, with little grilles behind the front wheel-arches, used to live on my street and I could never walk by without stopping to gawp and drool. Surprised Jack doesn't comment on the Italianate quality of its styling, especially the roof-line.

[@pinkze]

pinkze he say " wow I love your enthusiasm and will be watching a lot more, love your excitement of the Detomaso Pantera 🎉😂❤"

[@tigermoth66]

I’d say it was more the footballers and bling merchants that sullied the Bentley brand, rather than Volkswagen per se.

[@crusherbmx]

The new Bentleys have the proper understated look, they look like a regular car till you do a double take.

[@thewildybeast]

When all the controversy of Rolls Royce and Bentley happened when the German’s became their owners. I always saw it as them still being a British Mark, but which were now financed by the German’s. Something that was needed for them to retain their position’s in the world of motoring .

[@highlandmalt6368]

Worth noting, the dash shape in the GT was taken from the Bentley Java concept car. The GT is, for me, the realisation of the Java concept - a cheaper car built it greater numbers, but still exclusive.

[@peteb3091]

Bull's-eye vents 5:00 😜 Great videos Jack.

[@BeaglefreilaufKalkar]

Dwelling on RR or Bentley and its "Ride" I am reminded of the American car journalist PJ O'Rourke, who said: It's like my mothers Buick

[@nigelbullock9039]

Jack. Another brilliant video produced and edited so well. Great choice of cars and I would love the GT if it didn't drink so much.

[@royfellows5468]

Another interesting video. RR and Bentley were indeed the same cars from the Silver Cloud 1, Bentley S1, up through the Shadows and T's until the introduction of the Silver Spirit in 1980 and its Bentley equivalents. This is when RR decided to create a special niche for Bentley by making them more sporting with turbo charging becoming a major part of the equation. The Spirit was targeted at the American market, hence its shape, something of a departure from the traditional flowing lines. This is reflected in the Continental R which is built on the same floor plan and reflects your comments. Graham Hulls designed later Silver Seraph and Arnage returned to more traditional lines. It may be a bit harsh of me to say so, but to a degree I see a trend of quality going down while price goes upward, with craftsmanship being superceeded by technology.

[@jamescoyle5618]

You're not being fair. The genuine Bentley is supposed to be "sporty". You were using RR comparators of silence and smoothness. That's not what real Bentleys are about. They are meant to have sporting intent and come from sporting heritage

[@jaimearmstrong5275]

Would be interesting to see how the last variant of the Mulsanne stacks up as a proper Bentley in comparison, if you can get your hands one. Enjoy your reviews as always.

[@colinhoward74]

One test that trumps them all , having been around many different Bentleys , is slightly different to the opening and closing the door test , its the percieved assault on the senses , at the moment , a friend of mine in the motor trade has a 1936 Hooper Bentley , a 1967 Bentley T1 and a 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur , I am going to put more strength to my arguement and state that the Bentley Turbo R , the Arnage and Azure all have one quality the Conti Spur does not have , they all smell like a Bentley !

[@paullyons1325]

Don't we just love both models. The newer one has a nice feel, it is after all a Bentley. No, it does not matter who makes the window switches or even the frame. Calling it a VW is so insulting and laughable, its probably not polite to go there. Bentley and Rolls Royce are were the horseless carriage of royals and men of great means. Nice video overview with unique insights and highlights. I may just buy one now.

[@terrymurphy2637]

Thanks Jack .Really good comparison. Having driven Turbo RLs for 15 years I prefer the sedans drive to the Continental R but the Conty R is definitely prettier. Sorry but VW Bentley GT is a faster but definitely 60000 pound cheaper car. Maintenance on the older cars is expensive but if your VW Bentley has issues its wallet destroying !

[@derekstocker6661]

Yet another great review, the Conti is a fabulous looking car from virtually all angles and is a real smooth ride with as always a great driving position. The W12 is a totally different beast with the power and speed of a fast tourer and not bad looking. Thanks or these as always, great cars in any case.

[@PeteYeado]

In the old Conti, one tends to "waft" along. I like "wafting."

[@James-cs2wi]

Great video thanks 😊

[@my1vice]

But isn't that Continental just a Camargue?

[@MarcosCodas]

Top mounted camera looks nice!

[@benmarshall787]

Another great and fair video, you really should apply to go on Top Gear as a presenter so more folk can see you Jack! As a Ford man I don't like the VW platform sharing game , and having watched videos of Lambo Urus' with a plethora of parts badged Audi , and one of the US KZbinrs who had the saloon version of the GT getting Audi parts cheaper to fit, not to mention our very own Mat and his Lambo ashtray savings I would feel a little cheated. Obviously the older car will have parts , trim ,lights or switch gear from something or other I'm sure, look at the tvrs you've been highlighting recently, with fiesta lights etc. I think these manufacturers ought to at least put the brand badge a part is for , originally in them, as all these videos have shown though for money reasons they don't! Before someone says something I am aware the focus spawned the mazda 3 and the Volvo S40 et al, it's just not until now , that we've really noticed. Theres also the Ford tie up with VW which is sad for me, as each new car comes out they are less and less individual, for example, I'd like to see Ford Transits made in Southampton again for the British market , not Turkey because of cheap labour, etc etc. Anyway an interesting scenario, wouldn't it be great if your coupe was fitted with the 6.75 litre with just RWD I wonder if people have tried that? Also a couple of testing suggestions from me, try and find a lancia thema 2.0 turbo car to test as a follow up to the magnificent 8.32. And perhaps a PM limo special, Jag XJ12,Vs XJ40,Vs the last XJ, and maybe throw in a Rover P5b coupe and maybe even a nice but very underated 827sli or similar from the late 80s which were ministerial cars? Just some ideas, love the videos , still wanting to see Roco the dog again, which leads me on to Nobles at his house wasn't it? Best wishes, sorry for the length, Ben ,🇬🇧🇺🇦🚐🚌

[@trwsandford]

I love them both! That's my jam! debating whether the new awesome car can still be called by the same name as the last awesome car... Its just a love fest.

[@nickhaag7803]

One is classy, one is naff. Guess which is which? All IMHO of course!

[@10secondsrule]

I alway like watching your car. If it wasn’t so expensive to run and service it would be a car I’d like to own as it looks stunning. But in current and near future times there’s simply no justification for gas guzzlers anymore I believe.

[@markdoyle6414]

When did you film this? I would love if you had a different backdrop than the building site fence, nothing against building site fences but I get distracted by it. Absolutely love your videos.

[@Number27]

Thanks Mark, the fence is not a great backdrop I agree but the light at this time of day meant it was the only option. Unfortunately in this location most of the time the light shines the wrong way.. there lovely contraire the other way.

[@Number27]

Countryside not contraire!!

[@richardcoates4471]

Perhaps you could try/borrow a Wraith which might be a Continental equivalent. Incidentally organs have stops, not switches! Love your videos though.

[@lqr824]

9:30 the GT "roughens up past 4500, especially for a 12." It's not a V-12, it's two VR6's. It's four banks of 3 each. There's no reason in the world to expect that to be smooth.

[@drd6416]

W12.

[@giuliopedrali4794]

Also in my modest opinion, the R or T of the 90s is a truly Bentley in construction philosophy etc etc, for the soccer stars is the same...

[@Pico-hq7ws]

Another great video. Interesting that in the "stiffer" GT your seat back is flexing so much 14:40 onwards ?

[@richardeycken]

Interesting, but remember, Bentley was a sports car margue, that RR softened.

[@heartofoak45]

Impossible to compare these two cars one was nearly twice the price.

[@DrJRaven]

The better comparison would have been the 2000+ model, and the Continental T

[@helenmick5053]

perhaps the flying spur would be a more fitting competitor

[@Allmentux]

The seat controls are not RR-specific, but come from Land Rover/Range Rover.

[@johnmonachelli5256]

All i can see is bill Murray running over the bike in Rushmore

[@archiegoodwinjr]

Thank you for this thoughtful episode-part review and part contemplation. By the time VW and BMW bought their UK marques everyone had learned the importance of maintaining brand ID. VW worked hard to reinterpret the Bentley while RRB did not comprehend that when designing the earlier Continental. Do you recall that RRB-made 1950s-60s Continentals looked like “sporty” variants of standard saloons, but specialists such as Park Ward were allowed to stray-Chinese eyes, this monstrosity, and the Azure. I think that is why you are able to spot more similarities between the GT and older Bentleys. I think BMW’s RR is turned out to be more RR than even RRB’s own update (such as the rather meek looking Silver Shadow). As good as VW’s Bentley has been, I think BMW’s Mini was a more brilliant remake. This episode makes me sorry to consider other brands that have not been as carefully nurtured-including Maserati, Alfa Romeo, MG, and especially Jaguar.

[@Jester-Riddle]

Target markets affect car design. In a nutshell, the R appeals to old money, whilst the GT appeals to new money, such as footballers, etc ... Not that I am stereotyping much !!!

[@noserly]

They're different cars but they are both great. I haven't had the GT, but do have a flying spur and I love it. I've had older ones too and love them as well, though I sold them all off over the years when I got tired of chasing parts. The VW Bentleys are easy to find parts for if you know how to cross reference the parts numbers. It's a fun topic for anoraks, but they are all pretty special.

[@wholeNwon]

Ah, yes, the problems of parts and why they are so often needed.

[@webersteve1547]

How expensive or complicated is it to maintain the modern Bentley?

[@noserly]

@@webersteve1547 Maybe $3k a year unless something big goes wrong. There are a lot of vacuum lines and so many sensors. I just replaced a secondary boost pump sensor, oil temp sensor, and one that registers brake pressure that won’t let you start the car unless you have the brake down. That last one was a superseded part and the car only liked the older one. Mostly a bunch of little stuff. Also had a problem with the egt sensor for bank 1, and that one will randomly send the car into limp mode because it thinks it’s overheating. There are two and the only last about 4 years. It’s not that bad if you know cars and don’t mind working on it. There are some great diagnostic programs out there too.

[@thewildybeast]

All the rubbish that people go on about the original’s being special because they were hand built. The fact is neither Rolls or Bentley gained their reputation through being hand built. They gained their reputation through their excellence in their engineering. In fact both Rolls and Bentley on built the running gear when they gained their reputation , they had nothing to do with the body work. This was carried out by independent coach builder’s.

[@BentleyOnABudget-mp8jj]

Based purely on looks it's got to be the GT for me. Never driven the older Continental but if its anything like the Turbo R I did drive frequently I'd also prefer the GT. I'm just not very good at football sadly LOL. It's like anything I guess, you get to know a car and everything becomes better about the experience generally but my memoriy of Spirits and the Turbo R is very vague steering until it bites and that takes some getting used to.

[@peterbradshaw8018]

The car of my dreams back in my sixth form years. It was really a Camarge reimagined boy do I hate that word.

[@pacoguerilla3097]

“She’s so Heaeaeaeavy !” (The Beatles).

[@rickden8362]

The new Bentley was meant to be sold to person who would drive it, the old Bentley was sold to someone who was likely to have someone drive them.

[@joemcgovern9785]

Hello I found your Video very interesting I love the Bentley Continental R as it happens I always have But I think you are right to Say that the Continental GT does not have the feel of the Continental R I know both cars don’t suite everybody but that is the point VW wanted A completely different concept but my issue has always been that the GT is to common place I would like to see you Compare the Bentley Brooklands Coupe with the Continental R you might find more points of interest in comparison

[@yankee.98]

This is not even a debate, on the left it's a VW.

[@astront917]

Local garage has a 2007 GT for £21995 , lovely looking one owner, Am tempted after selling my C63 coupe,always fancied one as a cruiser, Only do 15 miles a day round trip to work but potential bills worry me a little bit....... Yes or no ??

[@2006gtobob]

If all things are equal with maintenance and repairs, I'd be in the Continental R all day, every day. It exudes class and dignity. It's a handsome car. The GT just seems "standard". Meaning, in my eyes, there's nothing about it that says BOSS. It just seems built to a price point (as mentioned) and that's it. The current GT may be much better than either of these 2 cars, but, it looks like a Mustang...speaking of looking "standard".

[@autiomaaelokuva-forsakenla2337]

Both of them are lovely cars.

[@lesklower7281]

I do like comparison videos with two different cars and you have done many of them lets look at these Bentleys the older Continental R and the newer GT both very nice cars the Continental R looks less fussy in the interior very nice and the GT much more fussy as most modern cars are and the Contentile R wasn't built to a price as the GT was and thanks for pointing out the design details of the GT were tge design is based on Bentleys of the 1950s l nevrr realised untill you pointed it out thats good but another thing you use the same roads for all your reviews which is a level playing field when it comes to reviewing cars

[@alanchantiefighterskuanlia627]

The only let down is the lousy automatic transmission. Love everything else

[@oxfamshop]

Only my taste but the earlier car looks a lot better specially the front . The later cars looked like a huge pile of plastic . But then now the more money you pay the faster bigger lump of plastic you get

[@westmister]

English Bentley has a real wood, real metal and nothing has been cut in case of materials. No economy.

[@joelhenderson4450]

All due respect, I hate those GTs. The silhouette may please some, but the dimensions are wrong because of the VW platform. It looks unbelievably gauche. By contrast the SZ Conti R may not have the silhouette of the 1952 original, but the ethos is there: fast, comfortable, calming. That’s what we want from a Bentley.

[@badgersalesman5595]

The GT is such a beautiful car in my opinion

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Interesting comparison.

[@cobra1010]

The VW Passat gear lever in the newer Continental is just unacceptable. It almost destroys the entire car for me! What were they thinking?!

[@henq]

There was a marketing genius at Bentley. If a man (yes, man) becomes affluent, what expensive car can he buy? Ferrari? Not suitable for around town. Porsche? Maybe the Cayenne? The 911 is too low and the Cayenne an SUV, and not every rich guys wants to drive an SUV. So Landrover models are exit too. Our rich guy wants a luxurious *sedan* , that leaves only Mercedes as an option. But Mercedes? a taxi car? You see the void? There was hardly a top notch driver’s car _above_ the MB S-class… With the new Bentley this void was filled, hence its succes.

[@sputumtube]

There are more GT's here in Cheshire than Ford Mondeo's. I'm quite near the Crewe factory and they're as common as bird sh*t. The Continental R is (for me) in a whole different league and infinitely more desirable despite its drawbacks. For these reasons, I'll continue driving my 18 year old Volvo!!!