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<p dir="ltr">In many ways, modern Bentleys offer the best of both worlds, blending traditional British craftsmanship with modern mechanicals developed with the help of the company’s owner, Volkswagen.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Bentayga SUV, for example, is closely related to Audi’s brilliantly engineered Q7 (another VW Group car). Yet the Bentayga still feels every inch a Bentley, thanks to its hand-finished interior and the fact that it’s available with Bentley’s outrageous W12 engine.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Other Bentleys you can buy today include the Flying Spur and Mulsanne saloons and the Continental GT coupé.</p>


BENTLEY

CONTINENTAL GT

<p>The Bentley Continental GT comines supercar performance with limousine-like comfort.</p>


Used Bentley Continental GT 2003 - 2011

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

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The Bentley Continental GT comines supercar performance with limousine-like comfort. 

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a></strong></p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> <p>Practicality is not essential but nice to have</p> </li></ul>

<p>Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.</p>

Sports

<p>Pick a colour and trim combo that you like, and that will also be easy to sell on. Only the obscenely rich can afford to choose outlandish colour schemes and not worry about residual values. Also beware of aftermarket alloy wheels because these can upset the ride quality.</p>

<p>It's a case of so far, so good where mechanical reliability is concerned. The complicated W12 engine has shown no signs of giving trouble, even in high-mileage cars.</p>

<p>A lot of Continental GTs spend their lives in urban captivity, so check the wheels have not suffered from contact with kerbs. Also inspect the seats' leather carefully to look for damage from belt buckles, studs in denims, jewellery and women's heels. Any scuffs or rips will be expensive to put right.</p>

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<p>The Bentley Continental GT was the first model to come out under <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> ownership, but any worries that the new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bentley">Bentley</a> would be little more than a rebadged <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/audi">Audi</a> were immediately dispelled.</p>

<p>It's a big, very fast and hugely desirable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/coupe">coupe</a> that uses VW's unusual W12 engine. It makes a distinctive, but attractive, noise and provides phenomenal acceleration and a 200mph+ top speed.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The interior is as opulent as you'd expect of Bentley, although the rear seats are tight on space.</p>

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Used Bentley Continental GT 2003 - 2011 reliability

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Used Bentley Continental GT 2003 - 2011 review

Pick a colour and trim combo that you like, and that will also be easy to sell on. Only the obscenely rich can afford to choose outlandish colour schemes and not worry about residual values. Also beware of aftermarket alloy wheels because these can upset the ride quality.,It's a case of so far, so good where mechanical reliability is concerned. The complicated W12 engine has shown no signs of giving trouble, even in high-mileage cars.,A lot of Continental GTs spend their lives in urban captivity, so check the wheels have not suffered from contact with kerbs. Also inspect the seats' leather carefully to look for damage from belt buckles, studs in denims, jewellery and women's heels. Any scuffs or rips will be expensive to put right. 

What to look for when buying a Bentley Continental GT 2003 - 2011, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Bentley Continental GT 2003 - 2011 reliability

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