Used Bentley Continental GT 2003 - 2011 review

The Bentley Continental GT was the first model to come out under Volkswagen ownership, but any worries that the new Bentley would be little more than a rebadged Audi were immediately dispelled.

It's a big, very fast and hugely desirable coupe that uses VW's unusual W12 engine. It makes a distinctive, but attractive, noise and provides phenomenal acceleration and a 200mph+ top speed.

Standard four-wheel drive harnesses the power and gives the GT sure-footed handling. For a car of this size and weight, it feels surprisingly nimble on country roads.

The air suspension has four different settings, and the GT gives a relaxed and comfortable ride most of the time, although the firmest suspension setting can let the occasional bump filter through.

The interior is as opulent as you'd expect of Bentley, although the rear seats are tight on space.

That 552bhp engine gets through fuel at rate of 16.5mpg in mixed driving, but on longer cruises, that can jump to more than 20mpg, which puts the GT on a par with much of the competition.

Servicing at an official Bentley dealer will never be cheap, but there are numerous specialists able to look after the Continental GT just as ably, and with labour charges that won't make your wallet groan.

There's no getting away from buying tyres and other bits and pieces at high prices, but at least these make sense, and help protect the car's future value.

Franchised dealers have plenty of GTs in stock and they charge the most, but there are large numbers of independent dealers that are better value, especially for earlier cars.

There's only one Bentley Continental GT model in the range, although the Mulliner option is a little more expensive and offers even more bespoke colour and trim options.

Four-wheel drive is standard on every model and all use the supreme 552bhp W12 engine and six-speed automatic gearbox, so there's no need to hunt around for exactly the combination you want.

When looking at used Continental GTs, the most important thing to bear in mind is the colour combinations. The original owner may have been happy to opt for a weird and wonderful mix and then lose a considerable amount of value when the car was sold on, but it would pay well for you to stick with the more restrained colours and trims - or to negotiate a good price on any particularly garish colour schemes.

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