I'm contemplating my first purchase of a Continental GT. It will be used and based on what I want to spend looks like it will be 2020 or older. I know of the model change in 2019 and would like to better understand what years or options to stay away from. Unfortunately, my wife and I were just in a pretty significant wreck that left us both in the hospital for an unexpected stay. Our car (2018 AMG SL65) did a nice job of preventing further injury, but I'm looking for something different and have always loved the look of the Continental GT's (especially the speed models). Thank you for your time and any wisdom you may be able to provide.

 

So I have had a 2006 which I loved but those earlier years tend to have issues with vacuum lines which crack and require an engine out. Overall the W12 is a big engine and most major work may require the engine to come out. I also found it hard to find people willing to work on them at all. I was lucky to find a shop I trusted near me but for a while I was driving an hour to find a place who had experience with the engine and air suspension. Air suspension can be a real problem and can be expensive to fix, like $2k a strut expensive so if you're looking for one out of warranty you can end up with a expensive repair bill. Not for the faint of heart.

Depending on your needs you may want to pay attention to the radio options because early GTs have no Bluetooth and the upgrades are limited, look cheap and are not reliable.

I personally am looking at the 2016-2017 from a styling standpoint, outside of the cool rotating dash in the 2020+ I am not a fan of the rear of the new style.

 

I previously had a 2016 GT Speed, and it was a wonderful car. Never had a problem with it. If I had to nitpick something, it would be that the bluetooth tech was rather cumbersome. Other than that, the car was amazing, Only reason I got rid of it was that I ordered a 2022,

 

I have a 2014 GTC Speed. For me, it’s the perfect car. I love to go fast and this does that very well, while you’re encased in pure luxury. The best part is that it does the around town slow stuff perfectly as well. I would stay away from first gen cars because of the vacuum issues. I have not heard one bad thing about the new cars. Be ready to spend big bucks on maintenance and make sure there is a mechanic willing to work on a Bentley in your town. Otherwise, you have to ship it off like I do, which sucks.

 

Hello, I purchased my first Bentley about a month ago. It's a 2012 Continental GT with only a few thousand miles on it. Similar to you coming from a Benz, I was coming from a Z06 Corvette. I can tell you this is two different worlds but very very glad I made the switch. I'm not as savvy with Bentley yet but learning about it all the time. I don't think I'd recommend purchasing one that's older that a 2012 though. I also purchased an extended warranty for it which is advisable. Good luck with your pick.

 

I also had a 16 GTC Speed, and loved it. Upgraded this year to a 23 GTC Speed. The 16 is a wonderful car, but the gen-3 is SO much better, especially the interior and driver interface tech. If you can, consider a 2020 or newer. If you go with gen-2, stay with 2016-18 (facelift), and try to find one with ACC driver assistance pkg (which should have been standard on a car at this price point), and NAIM audio if you prefer. Coming from an SL65, you might miss these items.

 

Not to be too negative but I will share my opinion. I have a 2013 GTC W12 bought with 14,000 miles and well maintained in Southern California. I am in the metro Washington, DC area, and I cannot emphasize enough
the barriers to maintaining the car here. There is one authorized dealer which operates like a criminal enterprise and controls access to parts that the two independent shops have to rely on. Even the two independent
shops are some some distance from me, and one will not let me supply my own parts. I dread even the routine service and have put on only 4,000 miles since I got the car a few years ago.

As regards the car itself, it's a work of art aesthetically, but it is very front heavy and handles like a large heavy sedan, which it basically is with two doors. I don't like the braking compared to my MB and former Porsche 911.
I am reluctant to use the car in the city and told a friend that I think his Ferrari is less prone to vandalism in Washington. I am reluctant to take the car on road trips, as a possible breakdown could be logistically and financially
a real problem. I've had problems with the convertible top mechanism which is like a Swiss watch when you expose it. I've had one oxygen sensor go bad which was difficult to fix but Ok in the end. I dread the second bank
oxygen sensor inevitably going bad which seems to possibly require the engine out. Supposedly the radiator will leak at some point requiring an expensive replacement, and of course the air suspension problems are well documented here.

I will sell the car in due course and get another Porsche 911.

 

I had an '09 which was a good car but lost to flooding in '22. I replaced it with a '16 which is a nice upgrade and has been trouble free so far. Where I live in SWFL Bentleys are not rare and there are good indie mechanics to look after them. My wife has a '20 Bentayga which is an awesome SUV and making me think about an upgrade to a Gen 3 (2019+) GT.

 

Hi Bruce, I agree with what you said about there are several independent shops that will work on Bentley's here. I too live in Naples and I researched that part first about shops. I don't think I'd want to own one of these cars without a warranty.

 

I understand your concern but in 8 years of Bentley ownership I haven't had (knock on burlwood) any expensive problems. Courtesy Chevron, owned by Chet Singh, next to Jimmy P's takes care of everything for me. They specialize in high end cars -particularly Bentleys - as evidenced by the examples parked there on any given day. The dealer wanted an astonishing $2500 to do an oil change and associated service on the '20 Bentayga with 19,000 miles while Chet charged $500. When I first got my '09 it was pulling to the left and Bentley quoted $13,000 (you read that right) to fix it. Chet fixed it for less than $500. The '09 also had a problem with the AC blend doors and Bentley quoted $1400 to "look at it" while Chet reprogrammed it for $200 and it never broke again. Nothing wrong with buying with a warranty, the Bentayga we bought from the dealer came off a lease and they gave us a 1 year bumper-to-bumper warranty which is comforting but any non-warranty work goes to Chet.
Is your extended warranty only good at Bentley or any servicer? How much was it?
Since we're both in Naples, if you'd like to meet up sometime PM me!

 

Hey Bruce, I would never go to a Bentley dealership to get any repairs done unless it's under warranty. Otherwise I know the people at Gulf Coast Motor Sports in Bonita. My extended warranty is good at any Bentley dealership or any ASE repair facility. The warranty is from Empire Auto Protect, I thoroughly checked them out before I purchased it. 3 years 50,000 miles bumper to bumper except wear items (obviously) $4,800.

 

Recommend you peruse the Bentley Continental GT data on Wikipedia. it gives a very detailed overview of the model years and changes throughout the history of the CGT.

I'm in doubt the OP will see any of our advise as he has not ventured back here since his first post in mid-December. Seems to be the norm for these wannabe CGT owners.

 

I read your quote with great interest and High Hopes. My experience with Naples dealers for my Maserati, Porsche and other high-end cars has been painful, expensive and left much to be desired. Low sports cars have to be a thing of the past for me. I even have a problem getting out of my wife's 550 SL.I am actively scouting for a 2020 to 2022 Continental GT coupe V8. I would greatly appreciate it if you could share the name of the service shop you use. Also what has been your experience with the extended warranty?

 

My thoughts unless you have a Mechanical Engineering background and dont mind getting the spanners out and doing it yourself
Your going to be spending an awful lot of money .... if you have alot then your not going to have any worries enjoy driving it
I dont have it so im of the former which i quite enjoy at least i know whats been done and whats been fitted right
I have worked in the trade so ...behind closed doors nobody knows whats going on except the ones behind the doors lol
My advice find a good mechanic if you have one in your area thats knows his stuff
Thats my advice
And no way am i going to spend £400 plus for an oil drop and filter at the Dealers lol
For instance i rang a local machine shop to get the rear discs skimmed ..The guy quoted £46 each plus the VAT ...Hooooooooow Much ??
Told him i can get a pair of rears delivered for £89 delivered ..vented and drilled he hung up on me ...Waiting for his next victim dont let it be you

 

Hello Pasnet, I bring my Conti GT for service and maintenance to Gulfcoast Motor Works in Bonita Springs. I had the oil changed there for the first time (car only has 10,000 mile) a few months ago and it cost me including the two cabin air filters $650.00. Several months ago they replaced my drivers power seat switch and my extended warranty company paid them no problem. I purchased that warranty when i purchased the car last December from Empire auto protect. It is a 3 year 50,000 mile plan for $4,800. I will go through the time before the mileage. I hope this helps.