B Family,

I have a quandary on my hands. Should I just buy a '06 B CGT or STEP UP two years and buy the GT SPEED!!?? Speed will cost around 30k more, but is the difference between the two (performance upgrades) ENOUGH to spend quite a bit more?? Any and all feedback is much appreciated.

 

Hmmm o6 GT or 08 GT Speed. The 08 has the POTENTIAL to also include the Naim audio system and adaptive cruise control (or whatever they call it). 08 also saw some internal changes that fine-tune the car too for better, well, many things. If it doesn't have the Naim audio and cruise I'd go for the 06.

 

The audio or cruise upgrades doesn't really move me either way. As I will NEVER use the adaptive cruise, and the audio is really a secondary thought for me. I was more referring to the difference in the horsepower and torque. Is $30k worth the extra 50 horsepower and torque??

 

An 06 with Giac flash for 3k-ish will have more power than the 08 Speed, but the Speed has uprated suspension. You're right, tough choice.

 

What's a Guac flash?

 

Its not just a power increase.
Here is a list of some of the engine internals that were re designed...


Lighter and stronger rods
lighter and stronger pistons
Modified cooling to the heads
Modified stronger head gaskets
Different cam profiles.
Internal oil way and pressure modifications
Modified turbos
modified exhaust.
The whole rotating masses of the engine have been lightened to allow high rpm & increase reliability and the ability to take serious extra power.....not just the power it has atm.


The Speed engine stated life as a bench engine for Bentley to move into motorsport. The earlier W12 engine suffered head problems and cooling issues. With highly modified engine's, rods were known to fail as with pistons. I'm not talking about the average street tune, but track power upgrades. The speed engine allowed Bentley to develop the W12 engine for motorsport. it was even a contender for the latest GT3 cars and was developed right to the very last point. The V8 is not capable of producing as much out right power, but Bentley could manage much better fuel economy, which on a 24 hr race fuel mean less fuel stops and or less fuel weight carried.
So the Speed engine is worth every penny IMHO.


And you get all the Mulliner stuff as standard and the nicer more upright front grill and small trim differences.
Frank

 

Joe www.giacusa.com/


Thanks Frank for posting the list above. Well Joe, looks like you should get the 08 Speed and be very happy

 

Does anyone else besides myself use the adaptive cruise control?

 

If the $30K is not problem then why even consider the older slower car? To me, and some others it does come down to money. If not I'd have a 2014 GTC Speed.

My used car dealer advised me to buy the best I car i could afford. Sounds perfect for the salesman to make more money but it really works out well for the buyer also. Be satisfied with your decision.

 

Well I have ZERO intentions of tracking or racing the car, so that's why I'm torn. The 30k for matter to some extent. If I can buy an 06 and not have any issues, then why not save the extra 30k? I mean how often does a person use the 600+hp and torque the speed has?? LOL

 

If I am not mistaken the suspension system may be a bit more stiff or sporty on the Speed model. For a true GT ride and a daily driver I am not sure this is to any advantage. Check the seats to see if they are more "supportive "(stiff) also. Just because it is faster does not mean it is better for you. I did the tune and pipes thing wanting a bit more power but have not sacrificed any creature comforts.

I drove a Nissan GTR this weekend and it was fast and lively but when i got back in my 07 GTC I was well please with my car. The ride was sooooo much more luxurious. I really do spend more time just riding than racing.

 

Use cruise control quite often when on the highway and would use the adaptive version if the 07 GTC had it.

 

Yea, well it may just come down to me driving both, then making a decision.

 

That's correct, there are a few other changes apart from power. The front x member has been stiffened, some of the suspension components have been lightened to reduce rotating mass/unspun weight. The idea being to stiffen up the chassis, lighten the car and produce a more dynamic handling car. They continued the idea with the Supersports model.