Actually, my friend pointed out the
navigation system's shortcomings as we were driving around his upper class section of town,
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| While featuring nearly every technological advancement available to modern motor cars, the Flying Spur maintains its old world charm. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
preparing to pick his kids up from their various schools. Upon seeing the car drive up to the school ground, the grin from each of the young men, ranging in age from twelve to seventeen, was infectious. There's something about a big, bold Bentley grille that revs up the endorphins in young and old, and in this case the boys and their friends immediately took notice - one of which claimed be willing to sell his rather large afro in exchange (no doubt a sacrifice of the utmost). "Did you buy it Dad?" asked the first, second and third, in sequence. Of course, when they saw me they knew that we were just having a little fun. I find the kids' reactions interesting, however, as they've been trying to talk there Dad out of buying a new Porsche 911 because "it's too "boring"... yeah, you heard me right. Two out of three teens in my unofficial poll say, "Go for the Bentley!" with some enthusiasm no less. Sorry Porsche, but in this neighborhood at least, your 911 is simply too popular. Whether or not my friend will add a Continental Flying Spur to his collection of well-used premium vehicles is difficult to say, but he didn't balk at its $227K base price and, other than the nav system, seemed to like the car much more than the others on his list.
Interestingly,
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| The Spur's cabin could woo even the most overindulgent royal. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
he has been looking at top-line versions of BMW's recently revamped 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz's new S-Class, and the Spur had him questioning his selection for a number of reasons. First, there is that impressive winged-B on the radiator, an attribute that's impossible to put a price on. To some, it's worth $100K alone, while to others it might not be part of the equation at all; or at least not much. It's one of those intangibles, but everybody's got a number that they'd be willing to pay to move up from a three-pointed star to a flying-B. I'm sure that the Bentley mystique played some part in my friend's fondness for the Spur, but what I truly think had him leaning more towards the big-Brit, and for that matter has me sold and just about everyone else who sees it, is its divine design. It's stunning. Bold, powerful, yet ideally proportioned, and thanks to classic lines that are almost understated in execution, especially when compared to the rather garish Rolls-Royce Phantom or the vainglorious S-Class on steroids Maybach 57, both of which, even at approximately twice the price of this new entry, Bentley's least expensive model, should be considered competitors.
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| The Spur isn't perfect, of course, as there has to be a few reasons to step up to the pricier Arnage. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The Spur is ultimately elegant, about as unpretentious as a $227,465 luxury car could be, and backs up its stately design with a cabin that could woo even the most overindulgent royal.
With its camel-coloured leather and rich wool carpeting, it's a banquet for the senses, replete with that rich aroma only old money emits. Yes, the smell of finely tanned, individually sorted hides, the strikingly beautifully detailed wood trim, each piece similarly hand-picked to match its adjacent "plank". The metal trim feels solid to the touch, especially the vents and their "plungers", while plastic has been kept to a minimum. What plastic bits Bentley does use are high in quality, while the fit of buttons and switches is on the best side of better than average. Comparing the Spur to the Arnage, however, shows some of the newcomer's weaknesses. You'll be hard-pressed to find much interior plastic at all in the Arnage, other than for a few buttons on the centre console. Rather, pretty well everything is covered in leather, wood, suede or metal. Now don't get me wrong, the Spur is a cut above most, if not all rivals in its class when it comes to interior execution, but just the same there are reasons why some Bentley customers are willing to buck up the extra $80K, or so, for the top-line car. Then again, most don't.
