Back in the day when snooker was in its heyday, I was an avid fan. Brought up a policeman’s son, I had access to a proper full-size snooker table from a young age at the local station, and indulged in what was known as the ’sign of a mis-spent youth’ - the green baize.

In the seventies and early eighties snooker was at its peak. Prime time coverage on TV and big prize money made for a nation obsessed. From the ‘old-timers’ like Ray Reardon and the relative newcomers like Cliff Thorburn (and his fellow Canadian Bill Werbeniuk, who managed to convince the game’s authorities that he needed 20 pints of lager per game for medical reasons!) and the completely unpredictable Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, the sport managed to become interesting. Even Steve ‘interesting’ Davies, who wasn’t the most flamboyant player in the world, became big news because of his uncanny ability to pot everything in site in a plodding, pedantic style. And they all got rich in a sport that didn’t even raise a sweat.

But snooker got boring. The characters disappeared and it was just another late-night slot on TV. But one man stood out. A sometimes tormented soul, with a complicated private life, whose natural ability in the game made it a must-watch again. That man is Ronnie O’Sullivan. And yesterday saw him achieve a maximum break on TV in the most flawless fashion. And what does Ronnie intend doing with his prize for the maximum break? He’s going to look for a Bentley Continental GT Convertible for sale (or more correctly a Bentley Continental GTC for sale) and spend the summer with the top down, cruising.

I was always a tad disappointed with the Continental GT. It lacked edge, but wasn’t really a cruiser in the Bentley mode. Then along came the GT Speed and put that right. But what of the GTC? Well, unlike its hard-top brother I always felt it worked really well. A convertible doesn’t need an edge. Sure, there are convertibles with a real edge; proper drivers machines. The F430 and Gallardo spring to mind. But the GTC is about the waft. And the power. And the interior. And the noise. And especially the noise. In the hard-top you just don’t hear it. But in the GTC there is definitely a glorious, Thor-like soundtrack. And I love it. The interior is beautifully appointed and the seats extremely easy on the body. And it goes. I mean, it really does go. And it seems to go even more with the top down! It still feels nose-heavy in the bends if you push hard, but the GTC isn’t going to be used like that. But put your foot down on a nice long straight and you experience what feels like an endless wave of power. Overtaking, at even the slightest opportunity, is simplicity itself. You just seem to be transported from where you were to where you want to be in an instant. It is very intoxicating.

So enjoy your Bentley and your Summer, Ronnie. You deserve it (if you can find time between the runs). And if you want a good deal on the car, give us a call!

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

Back in March last year, at the Geneva Motor Show, Bentley announced a new model based on the ancient Arnage - the Brooklands. What a sensible move! Ancient though the Arnage is (and it’s engine - which is even older) it epitomises traditional Bentleys, something VW is very keen to keep alive. So a limited edition coupe, based on the Arnage, was a great way to show commitment to the model ( since then VW have reinforced that commitment to the engine and the model - VW is obviously a safe pair of hands for Bentley).

Now that the Bentley Brooklands is for sale, at around £225,000, it seems a good idea to have a quick look at what’s on offer, even though the first years production is sold out (but if you want one now, it’s not a problem!). If you’ve been here before you’ll know that I have a big soft spot for these old-school Bentleys. And this one is a peach.

Based on the Arnage, the Brooklands is in many ways a successor to the old Continental R (a name Bentley couldn’t of course use for this car as it would be confused with the ‘VW’ Bentleys). A glorious, powerful and luxurious coupe, harking back to the Bentley glory days of the 1920s. There is nothing else like it on the market anymore. I suppose the biggest competition comes from Ferrari with the Scaglietti or in-house with the Continental GT. But this is much bigger; much more a traditional car.

The V8 lump in the Brooklands has a huge 530bhp (the most ever from this engine) and a planet turning 750lb ft of torque. That’s enough to propel this huge car to 60mph in a smidge under 5 seconds, and on to 185mph. But the mid-range performance is the most impressive. With all that torque you’re looking at around 1.5 seconds for the 30-50 range. That will make it hugely impressive on the road.

Rolls Royce already has something similar up its sleeve at the moment, and don’t think Maybach won’t jump on this big, luxury coupe niche as well. It’s been pretty empty for a while, but that’s all going to change. Should be interesting.

Back in early September I did a piece on the Bentley Continental GT Speed for sale. I have to admit, it blew my socks off. It was the car the Continental GT should always have been, but never quite was. Well now they’re coming on stream, and we have three ready for delivery before Christmas! I’m not quite sure how we pulled it off, but if you’re looking for the perfect gift for the man who has everything, or you’re toying with treating yourself after your bonus, the Bentley Continental GT Speed fits the bill perfectly!

A quick recap on what I said back in September:

The Speed badge has always denoted the fastest Bentley (well, since it was first used in the early 1920s), but it’s not been used for a while. But now it has, and the Speed can wear it with pride. On the face of it the performance figures on the new Speed seem only slightly up on its sibling (202mph and 0-62mph in 4.3seconds), but it feels so different. It’s crisp; it’s sharp; it’s wonderful! That nose-heavy feeling when you turn in has all but gone. The exhaust has learnt how to sing. The engine feels alive, and it all works so well together.

Prices for the Speed start at around £137,00 (before you start adding extras like ceramic brakes at £10,000!), so it’s a fair bit more expensive than the standard GT. But it is a very much better car, and I have no doubt it will end up being a bigger seller than the standard GT. And so it should. Now I’m looking forward to a full road test in the very near future, instead of just a drive.

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly, and I can’t think of anything that would make me more jolly than one of these in my Christmas stocking. Are you listening, Carla?!

There was a time when the phrase ‘Bentley For Sale‘ would almost guarantee the phone didn’t ring. Bentleys over the last few decades have just been badge-engineered Rolls Royces (even the Bentley Turbo - which was a great car - was still a Rolls Royce with a Bentley badge and a tweak or two). But how things have changed.

Just four short years ago Bentley were struggling to churn out 1000 cars a year; just 3 a day. But then along came VW and, contrary to what everyone expected, completely revitalised the brand and turned it into a must-have car for the rich and discerning. And now they’re selling 10,000 cars a year.

The Bentley brand now has a selection of the most desirable cars in the world. The Bentley Continental GT was the first, and many thought it would be just a Phaeton in drag. But it wasn’t. It encompassed most of the desirable traits of the marque whilst at the same time addressing all the quality issues that had plagued it in the past. Yes, it had its faults (but they were few and far between - mainly it’s slightly dead feel and heavy front end), but VW even addressed that by launching the Bentley Continental GT Speed this year (which is a simply incredible car). They’ve even thrown in an option for the poseurs out there - the Bentley Continental GTC.

And still the Bentley Arnage soldiers on. But actually it’s not just soldiering on. it’s going from strength to strength, with a new model in the planning. And most remarkably of all VW is so committed to the ancient (but wonderful) 6.75 litre engine that they are planning not just to make it comply with upcoming emission limits, but making sure it complies with those for 2013! Now there’s commitment for you. And in the face of competition from their own grand-cruiser, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, they’ve found room for them both. Wonderful.
According to Bentley Sales & Marketing Director Stuart McCullough, speaking this week at the Tokyo Motor Show, Bentley are now considering a three shift system to keep up with demand. They’ve sold 1,000 Bentleys in the Asia Pacific region alone in the last year, and 400 in China. That’s twice what they expected, and they’re not even coming close to fulfilling demand.

It’s great to see a British brand (even though it’s owned by the Germans) succeed by producing world-class products once again. Just the same with Rolls Royce. Maybe the Brits and the Germans do work well together after all. We owe the Germans a lot for reviving these two archetypal British marques and restoring them back to the world-beaters they once were. And I never thought I’d find myself saying that!

Now I have to confess I am a big Bentley fan. Yes, even those Rolls-Royce, badge engineered Bentleys I find appealing. But my favourite modern-day Bentley has been the Arnage (with the V8, not the BMW engine). Not the ‘T’ mind you; that never really worked for me. But I think I’m about to get a new favourite!

Bentley have introduced the Bentley Continental GT Speed, which for me is the car the Continental should have been. I was always a little disappointed with the Continental. I had high hopes for it at first - the first non-Rolls Bentley for an age. On the face of it VW did everything right. It looks like a Bentley, inside and out, and it had a clear and defined style (even though it was designed by a Belgian!). But I felt a little underwhelmed when I drove it. It cruises well, the cabin is a nice place to be, and it is very quick for such a big car. But it never felt sharp. It never felt how I imagined a ‘Real’ Bentley should feel. But that’s all changed now, and I want one!

The Speed badge has always denoted the fastest Bentley (well, since it was first used in the early 1920s), but it’s not been used for a while. But now it has, and the Speed can wear it with pride. On the face of it the performance figures on the new Speed seem only slightly up on its sibling (202mph and 0-62mph in 4.3seconds), but it feels so different. It’s crisp; it’s sharp; it’s wonderful! That nose-heavy feeling when you turn in has all but gone. The exhaust has learnt how to sing. The engine feels alive, and it all works so well together.

Prices for the Speed start at around £137,00 (before you start adding extras like ceramic brakes at £10,000!), so it’s a fair bit more expensive than the standard GT. But it is a very much better car, and I have no doubt it will end up being a bigger seller than the standard GT. And so it should. Now I’m looking forward to a full road test in the very near future, instead of just a drive. But they may have to send out the bounty hunters if they want it back!