Bentley Continental GT (second generation) buying guide

The V8 arrived with cylinder deactivation and the eight-speed ZF from the start, developed with Audi and making 500 hp. The W12 launched with the six-speed ZF automatic, and W12 cars with the eight-speed were delivered by the end of October 2012. The W12 did not get cylinder deactivation until summer 2015, per Auto Express. The 2015 update brought new wheels and colors rather than mechanical changes.

Octane Files picks the 2014 V8 S as the best balanced car of the whole generation, with 528PS and a sportier setup. Auto Express agrees, saying its tweaked steering and suspension make it sharper than the regular V8 and the pick if you can find one. See V8 cars for sale if that is your target, or the V8 price guide.

Auto Express also says the V8 is significantly more frugal than the W12 while giving all the power and refinement most people need. CarsCounsel says the V8s tend to last better and cost less to run, while the W12 is the flagship experience. The GT Speed, also in price guide form, is the fastest W12 series, with 625PS and later 642PS, and Auto Express rates it best for equipment.

At the top, the Supersports of 2017-2018 has 710PS and 209 mph, with 710 built, and was offered as a convertible as well as a coupe. The GT3-R of 2014-2015 was built as 300 cars, 99 for the United States, with 580PS, torque vectoring and carbon-ceramic brakes. Octane Files calls both grails for collecting. Auto Express says the GTC costs a significant premium over the coupe but most of it comes back when you sell; see GTC listings and the GTC price guide.

The faults below are the ones the sources return to.

Six-speed gearbox

The early six-speed automatic is not so great and costly to fix, according to the sources we read, while the eight-speed is reliable. Check which gearbox a W12 has before you go any further.

Air suspension wear

The front of the car sits lower than the rear, or the suspension knocks, which can signal failure. CarChecker says struts typically start to leak somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 km, and a corner that sits lower overnight is the usual sign.

Wiring loom faults

Loom problems can cause electrical malfunctions and intermittent warnings. Exotic Car Hacks and carchecker.pro both list them.

Brake light failures

Failures are frequently reported and often need the whole unit replaced. The centre LED strip is a very common failure, the sources say.

Power window failures

They are described as common and may need a new motor or a full unit, per Exotic Car Hacks and Autoblog.nl.

Upper arm bushes

Clunking from the front over bumps can point to worn upper suspension arm bushes, typically from 60,000 km onwards, says carchecker.pro.

Battery cable recall

A loose 12V battery cable connection could overheat and cause an engine compartment fire, which led to a November 2015 recall. It covered 2012-2014 GT models and certain 2012-2015 GTC cars.

Auto Express warns that the bills for tyres, brakes, insurance, tax and servicing mount fast, well beyond what a mid-range BMW 3 Series costs. The car uses 275/35R21 tyres, which carchecker.pro calls costly to replace.

carchecker.pro puts replacing both air suspension struts on one axle at up to €4,000, and replacing both hydraulic engine mounts at up to €2,500. CarChecker says a full four-corner suspension replacement at a Bentley dealer can exceed €8,000. These are European figures.

Oil changes are advised at 12-month or 16,000 km intervals, and Bentley recommends replacing brake hoses every five years, per carchecker.pro and Exotic Car Hacks.

Buy the 2014 V8 S if you can find one, or any V8 with the eight-speed for lower running costs. Take a GT Speed if you want the W12, and check the gearbox first. The Supersports and GT3-R are collector cars (see Supersports listings and GT3-R listings), so bring the same scrutiny to a very different budget.

Insist on a specialist inspection with diagnostics, full service history, proof the battery cable recall was done and a level stance on all four corners. CarsCounsel says no model year is free of high maintenance costs.