The Bentley Is Back
At the beginning of 2007 I took delivery of a Bentley Continental GT. I fell in love with the looks of these cars the moment they first appeared. To me they were pure sculpture on wheels, and next to my DB7, one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
But my joy of owning this car lasted a mere 18 months - before it caught fire as Helen and I were driving in it on our way to a charity event at Glyndebourne Opera House (see earlier blog!)
In the long ensuing saga, about which there will be a further blog, the car was off the road for a staggering 12 weeks. I got fed up in the end and bought another one, the massively uprated Bentley Continental GT Speed, (pictured) a car with real attitude!
It has has 600 BHP, will do 203 mph and handles as sharply as a Porsche. Jeremy Clarkson, I believe, said it was the best road car he had ever driven and I completely agree with him.
I recently let a traffic police officer friend of mine have a lengthy drive in it, and he was grinning from ear to ear as he drove it, saying it was the best handling road car he had ever driven. He is right. It is a glorious beast and at least if this one catches fire - well, it is fire engine red!!!
6 Comments:
At 1:01 PM ,
Anonymous said...
The Buzzcocks did a song in the
70's called
I'm in Love again", this truly applies to this car. Love the colour Peter.
Aside my car, this is the only other car l would have. I have owned Porsche, and "M" machines.
But yours is OUTSTANDING.
I saw a red Convertable in Blackpool 4 weeks ago, but it wasnt the GT speed. I could fit in a Bentley, but do strugggle with Astons.
Jeremy l love and though he doesnt like my car, l still think he is the bible on cars. But he is
6 foot 5 l think, how the hell he gets in some of these cars, and make it look comfortable l will never know. Its one question l'd ask. I drove a ferrari once, and couldnt get it into 6th gear, my knee was in the way.
Enjoy it Peter you deserve it, or
Roy does.
By the way any names for who may play Roy Grace yet?
Robert P Splaine
At 2:52 PM ,
Jo Adams said...
I am not a car buff - haven't owned one for 3 years due to traveling but that is one very nice motor Peter!
Jo
At 12:43 PM ,
Peter James said...
Hi Jo, thanks!
Hi Robert - totally agree with you that Jeremy Clarkson is wonderful - I love his writing and Top Gear, but he is not always practical in his love of cars. Take Astons - they have such a stupdily small amount of bootspace that it makes travelling anywhere long distance difficult. When I had the Vanquish, and Helen and I went away for five weaks across Europe (excactly the kind of long trip the car built for) we had our luggage in eleven plastic bags and arrived at swanky hotels looking like we had stolen it! And the space in the DB9 convertible is even more ludicrous. You could almost get a full size coffin in the boot of the Bentley!!!
No further news on the tv series yet....
At 3:59 PM ,
jackie twamley said...
Peter
You dont buy an Aston for the boot space, you buy one for the joy of owning one of the most special cars ever built, with a history like that I would feel it an honour to own one. Unfortunately my talents only stetch to a Renault Senic. If I had the kind of money that would buy an Aston I would have one and something else to do my trip to europe. We did a very similar trip on our honeymoon and had a convertible renault megane which did have enough space for our luggage, just. Fabulous trip will do something similar again one day. I am reading the Alchemist at the moment and I am about 400 pages in, fantastic I am really enjoying it, can't say I like the gory bits but it is all part of the story. I also took your advice and I have a Natasha Cooper on ipod and the moment, wasnt sure at first but I really enjoying it now. Take care Jackie Twamley
At 10:55 PM ,
Little Miss Naughty said...
Sexy............ the car's not bad either!
hee hee xxxx
At 12:37 PM ,
Peter James said...
Thank you Miss Naughty!!!
Thank you Jackie also - I think Natasha is hugely underrated in his country and I'm really pleased you are enjoying her writing.
I'm thrilled you are enjoying Alchemist - it is one of my favourites.
All best
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