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Bentley Continental GTC – $200,000.49

Ah, the sheer excess of it all. This driving expression is less about the driving than about the experience. The fine folks at Bentley insisted that we drive their new Bentley Continental GTC – the cabriolet version of the popular and successful Bentley Continental GT coupe. How could we say no?

Bentley GTC F34.JPG

Bentley GTC R34.JPG

Note the price of this particular car was $200,000.49. Staffers at AutoPacific and VehicleVoice wondered if they could negotiate down that final 49ยข.
The Bentley arrived in an absolutely gorgeous Neptune blue with a blue soft top that turned heads everywhere it went. The valets at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Costa Mesa insisted on parking it up front and center. Guess the Mercedes SLR and Lamborghini Gallardo did not rate that night. Other diners “OOOHED” appreciatively and engaged in banter about the car while waiting for their S-Classes and 7-Series.
Bentley GTC SV.JPG

Driving the Bentley you tend to be relatively sedate even though the car has 552HP and can come on like a freight train. It’s a car that can lump along in traffic with the occupants giving the hoi poloi the royal wave, or a car that can be pushed and driven enthusiastically. Punching the W12 powerplant (yep, the basically the same W12 found in the defunct Volkswagen Phaeton and the Audi A8) really pushed you back against the seat. The car feels fast and competent but cannot be called lithe and nimble.
Interior: Flamboyantly Upscale… Only the British Would Do It
The interior is an upscale mix of historic Bentley cues like the pull stops for the A/C registers to the beautifully finished switchgear, wood inserts and contrasting leather. The contrast of Neptune blue crash pad and upper door trim panels with the Magnolia environment was a touch of sophistication expected by British luxury cars that should be benchmarked by competition.
Bentley GTC Driver Side.jpg

Bentley GTC Pass Side.jpg


Continental GTC is a Small Big Car

The exterior ambiance of the GTC is that it is a big car, but it is not. It looks massive and hides a massive engine, but the interior is relatively cramped even in the front seats. The windshield is fast to give the Continental and Continental GTC their knock-dead-gorgeous styling and does not intrude much on ingress. The seating position is a bit low for a car in this class. Once again a tip of the hat to this being Bentley’s sports car.
Bentley GTC RSV.JPG


First a and Foremost, GTC is a Coupe
Other than the absolutely gorgeous color and to-die-for interior trim and fittings, you have to remember the GTC is first and foremost a coupe. It’s really a two person car. Fitting folks in the rear seat requires them to be nimble and thin. A technique that works well to get folks into the rear seat is to lower the top, have them step into the rear seat footwell and then close the top over them. Egress is similar. Lower the top. They stand up and step out. Not quick but effective.

Bentley GTC Rear Seat.jpg

One Button Top is Very Easy
The top is actuated with one button. No trauma. The car does it all. Of course, the process takes a bit longer than in the 12-second Mazda Miata with its power retractable hardtop, but for a big car, the top operation is good. The top is a fabric affair. Maybe the best we have ever seen. It insulates the passengers from road and wind noise very well. While we would have preferred a retractable hardtop in this class and size car, the Bentley execution is hard to beat.
Continental GTC SV Top.jpg

Now, where can I get that $Two Tenths?
Editor’s Note: While the Continental GTC is an outstanding example of a large coupe cabriolet its sporting bodystyle – either Coupe or Cabriolet – severely limits the usefulness of the car. It is certainly the perfect two-passenger car for an affluent person who wants to be noticed anywhere he or she goes. The sleeper in the bunch… launched much after the GT and GTC is the Continental Flying Spur. A more sedate four-door sedan, it rides on a stretched GT platform but has a much larger rear seat and the rear doors are very easy to get into and out of. Priced the same as the GT, the Flying Spur is an excellent choice for when you must take clients to dinner.
Can’t wait to drive one.

7 Comments

  • Kevin Lucciano| November 26, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    I am interested in a used low milage Bentley GTC fully loaded. Please let me know if you have one.

  • Jessy| April 29, 2008 at 4:07 am

    OMG, I want this car soo much, i’d do anything to get one.

  • Star| April 11, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    WHOA!!! My dream car….but what up with the 49cents though. LOL

  • Julia| September 1, 2007 at 7:02 pm

    I LOVE the bentley continental gtc! I think it is the cutest car out there!!!

  • CARLOS RODRIGUEZ| August 1, 2007 at 6:06 pm

    what r u j=kidding me this car is flawless ” editors dont pay no attenching to this idiots and if u dont know who im talking bout..its the one who put comments recently anyways……this car is beautiful gogeous the only bad thing is i cant affode it. but if i had the money this will be(this is my word) the FIRST CAR I WILL GET…. EXCELLENT BEAUTIFUL GOGEOUS, LUXURIOUS CAR EVER.
    ***IF THEIRS ANY AUTIONS OR RIFFLES TO GIVE THE CAR TO SOME ONE DILLERS EMAIL AT JAKEBUG09@YAHOO.COM AS soon as POSSIBLE*** THANK YOU

    Published without comment. ENJOY!
    Ed

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