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You Can, And Should, Buy A Used Bentley Continental

Thinking of luxury cars you can afford, you probably think of Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW, but a used Bentley Continental is an option you didn’t realize that you had. In fact, you can buy a used Continental for less than the price of some of the higher-end BMW or Audi models, and still get all …

Thinking of luxury cars you can afford, you probably think of Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW, but a used Bentley Continental is an option you didn’t realize that you had. In fact, you can buy a used Continental for less than the price of some of the higher-end BMW or Audi models, and still get all of the power and luxury you want. You can get a used Bentley Continental, a car that had an original MSRP of well over $100,000 for an average of $50,000 on the used car market.

Just because the Continental depreciated so greatly doesn’t mean that was due to it being a bad car. The luxury car market overall has incredibly steep depreciation rates, most of the cars losing value as soon as they are driven off of the dealership lot and many of them having a high cost of ownership that drives the price down as the mileage ticks up. You can get a clean title, mild-mileage Continental well within your budget if you look at the used luxury car market.

Bentley Continental V8 Photo: James Lipman / jameslipman.com

Sport meets luxury

The Bentley Continental GT is a sporty, two-door luxury car that was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2003 and has dominated the road ever since. It came with a 6.0L W12 engine that was twin-turbocharged to produce 552bhp. The Continental GT had a lot more to offer than just luxury, and it had the power to prove it.

Sitting down inside the inside of the Continental GT you can appreciate all of the high-end details that make the car worthy of its price tag. In older models, they feel a bit older, having a smaller, more simple infotainment system that is controlled by a dial instead of touch, and the dashboard is clad in an older style wood trim. These classic touches may have an older feel but they are still attractive enough.

Age aside, the Bentley Continental GT has some fun quirks that you would likely show off to your friends, even if they are simple. The Bently badge on the front and back of the car isn’t just for show. In fact, both of them have very useful purposes. Pressing the Bentley badge on the trunk of the car releases the trunk lock mechanism and allows the trunk to be lifted open. Releasing the hood lock found in the driver-side footwell, like in most cars, is simple enough, but instead of having a hood latch underneath the hood or grille, simply pull up on the now exposed “B” in the Bentley badge to release the hood and open it.

Along with power and styling, the Continental GT has the suspension and drivability to compete with more popular luxury sportscars, without being as common as an Audi A7 or BMW M3. With a lowered price tag, a used Bentley Continental is a great option if you’re looking for that special, new-to-you car.