2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur: Tester's Comments
2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur ▼
Select a Trim ▼
- MSRP: $170,990 -
- Invoice: -
Reviews & Ratings
Features & Specifications
Compare Vehicle
Related to Bentley Flying Spur
Previous Year's Reviews
View Another Vehicle
Find out what the Consumer Guide Automotive testers had to say about the 2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur. See if the 2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur is right for you.
Vehicle Evaluated
| Make/Model: | 2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur |
|---|---|
| Trim Level: | Base |
| Arrival Date: | 06/09/2008 |
| Engine: | Turbocharged dohc W12 |
| Bodystyle | 4-door sedan |
| Transmission: | 6-speed automatic |
| 4WD/AWD: | Yes |
| Base Price: | 170,990 |
| Price as Tested: | 194,215 |
| Mileage at Beginning of Test: | 2524 |
| Mileage at End of Test: | 3185 |
| Total Measured Miles: | 661 |
| Total Fuel Used: | 33.487 gals. |
| Consumer Guide Fuel Economy: | 14.12 mpg (what's this?) |
| Problems During Test: | None |
Advertisement
Major Options
Paint from Arnage Range (Meteor), Mulliner Driving Specification, Rear View Camera, Electric Glass Solar-Panel Tilt & Slide Sunroof, Contrast Stitching to Seats, Fascia, and Door Panels, Mulliner Alloy Fuel Filler Cap
From the Back Seat
Don Sikora
How does one go about judging the value of a $194,000 car? Think about that, $194,000. That's more than my condo, my car, and my furniture cost. Of course, my condo doesn't have carpet as nice as this Bentley has in its trunk. Seriously, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur is beautifully built and fabulously detailed. The engine sounds great, and is actually more a part of the driving experience than the Lamborghini-based V10 in the $115,000 Audi S8 I drove about a week ago. On the road, it feels more like a seriously fast large car than a seriously fast sports sedan, but that's not a criticism in my book. Yes, there are German competitors that may statistically and dynamically perform better at half the price, but that kind of misses the point of this Bentley. The interior is finished to a standard that very few cars can compete with. If you can afford the car, and appreciate fine craftsmanship, I'd guess little touches like the look and feel of the beautifully machined shift lever would remind you every time you drove just how special your car really was.
Ed Piotrowski
Considering what happened to Jaguar during its time as a Ford subsidiary, it would be easy to worry about how Bentley would be treated by its outside-England master, Volkswagen. Thankfully, VW generally leaves Bentley to its own devices. The Germans lend some platforms and engineering, and they let the folks in Crewe take it from there. Bentley has managed to take the basic VW Phaeton chassis and powertrain and transform it into something truly special. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class might be a better value overall, but one thing you can't get on the Benz is a 12-cylinder with all-wheel drive. The only other high-end luxury sedan with that combination is the Audi A8. Though it costs $70,000 less, the A8 completely lacks the Continental Flying Spur's character, which makes the Bentley the better choice for those who can afford such an indulgence.
John Biel
If you're the sort who wishes to do good whilst doing well, then perhaps driving a car that gets 10 or so mpg and has a rain forest's worth of wood in the cabin wouldn't be your first choice. For anyone else who can come to terms with a car that costs very nearly $195,000, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a well-tailored automobile with presence. Fun to drive? No, not something this big. Impressive to drive (and be seen driving)? Definitely!
Rick Cotta
Mercedes offers some upper-crust AMG sedans in this price range that are probably quicker, but they don't offer all-wheel drive and likely don't ride as well. And with their strangling speed limiters (at 155), they can't challenge the Spur's claimed 195-mph top end, important for locker-room bragging rights. They also can't match the panache of the Bentley name. That said, a standard S550 4-Matic rivals the Spur in most important categories at half the retail price.
Tom Appel
Dynamically, Bentley's "entry-level" sedan is subordinate to Mercedes' mighty S-Class cars. The Benz über sedans simply do a better job of balancing ride and handling. Ah, but no Mercedes has ever made me feel like a billionaire. Compared to the S-Class' machine-perfect sterility, this Bentley's cabin positively exudes restrained opulence. Likewise, though clearly meticulously assembled, Mercedes vehicles suffer the same orange-peel paint texture that plagues assembly-line painted cars costing just $20,000. Not so our Flying Spur. This Bentley's mirror-smooth finish alone helps justify its price tag. So, is the Flying Spur worth $30,000 more than the comparable Mercedes-Benz S600? For those with a genuine appreciation for things built with fastidious care, yes.
Next Step: Get a price quote from your local dealer ►
