Used Bentley Continental GTC 2011-2018 review

In a world of immense change and the need for immediate gratification, it’s nice to know you can still rely on the heavyweight sporting prowess and elegance of a Bentley – as British as a good game of cricket on a summer’s day, even if the firm is not actually under British ownership these days.

Others agree, too. Despite initial reservations about its weight and looks, the Continental GT coupé has proved a massive sales success since its 2003 launch. And it was as predictable as night following day that a convertible version would follow in its footsteps. If what you desire is open-top opulence, look no further than the Continental GTC.

Initially only available with a whopping big 6.0-litre W12 engine, borrowed from parent Volkswagen Group, a 2011 facelift introduced this lighter and rejuvenated model with the option of a 4.0-litre V8 engine. This impressive unit makes the Conti GTC lighter, more agile and more economical while losing little in terms of performance or refinement. Both GTCs offer an unimpeachable ability to waft around town or on motorways in near-silence, whether the hood's up or down, with just a background whoosh from road and wind noise to remind you you’re moving. Despite their girth, both stop and handle reasonably well too.

The luxurious interior offers just about every electrical option you’d want, never mind need. Everything is trimmed in polished wood and soft leather, and the quality of the fixtures and fittings is exemplary. Space is good up front, with electrical seat and wheel adjustment, and two small children will be happy in the rear for short distances.

The Conti GTC is a big and classy convertible that, we think, offers enough to justify its price differential over a number of other wonderful cars that cost far less. Of course, its running costs are huge, but its sense of occasion is nearly unmatched. How does it stack up as a used buy? Read on to find out.

You’ll need at least £65,000 for one of the post-facelift cars. This will buy you one with an average mileage for the year and a full service history (without which we do not recommend buying one), from an independent or franchised dealer. This substantial saving over the new price makes a used Conti GTC look quite tempting. Up the dosh to between £70,000 and £80,000 and you’ll be looking at 2012-2013 cars from Bentley dealers, while £80,000-£100,000 should net you a 2013-2014 car in pristine condition.

You’ll need to be rich to run a Conti GTC. The 4.0 V8 model has a claimed average fuel consumption of 25.9mpg, while the 6.0 W12 claims 19.8mpg in some versions and 17.8mpg in the Supersports model. In real-world driving, expect to see even less than this.

Road tax will be correspondingly high, whether registered before the April 2017 tax changes or not. Insurance groups are all super-high, too.

Servicing is best done at a Bentley specialist and, once again, this won’t be cheap. You can choose a used service plan for your Bentley, with prices starting at £1710 for two services (one major and one minor), payable up front or by direct debit.

These post-2011 GTCs benefit from the option of the 4.0 V8 borrowed from the Volkswagen Group and it’s a great engine that makes far more sense than the 6.0-litre W12. It pulls very hard from low revs and loves to be pushed. It’s not exactly frugal, but next to the W12 it looks like an eco choice. You can also have an extra 20bhp in the V8 S.

There’s no doubt Bentley’s W12 engine makes a statement, but you’ll need incredibly deep pockets to keep it on the road. It’s also a fair bit heavier than the V8, so doesn’t handle as well. It’s the smaller engine for us.

There are varying trim levels available new and used, but the different 20in wheels, more power, lowered suspension, bigger brakes and a sports exhaust all work to make the S model the best version of the Conti GTC to drive, as well as the best-sounding.

Our favourite Bentley Continental GTC 4.0 V8 S

At this level of opulence, there are few rivals, but the most obvious is the Rolls-Royce Dawn. This breathtakingly large open-top car has an awesome V12 engine under its long bonnet and effortless performance. It offers flawless comfort, enormous refinement and superb interior quality. It’s hugely expensive, even used, and will cost you a small fortune to run. However, the same can be said of the Conti GTC.

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