A German FEUD Is The Only Reason This Crazy Bentley Exists - Arnage R
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- čas přidán 18. 09. 2022
- The Bentley Arnage Red Label and later The Arnage R and T should never have existed, it is only because BMW threatened to suspend supplies that these cars were hurriedly re-engineered to take the old 6.75 Litre Rolls Royce engine. Today I drive what I believe is the best Bentley engineered entirely in Britain.
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I drive a 2006 Arnage R all over Europe, and I must say that it is the best car ever. Irrespective of the weather driving is a pleasure; neither the rain nor the wind bother you, the distant humming of the powerful engine is music to the ears.The interior is just incredible, the engine excellent and reliable, I have never had a problem in all these years, and the insulation superb. When parked under the scorching summer sun, the wheel doesn't even heat up, so thick are the windows. The interior warms up or cools down in a second as the air conditioning is so powerful. The engine's power reserve is impressive, which provides great security in compromising situations. The suspension is so well designed that it allows you to take corners at high speed with complete confidence in any conditions. On mountain roads with many hairpin turns, Sport mode sticks the car to the ground. Consumption is high in the city and at high speed, but it is not exaggerated driving within the legal limits. The brakes are huge and fully effective despite the weight of the car; there is no feeling comparable to driving this beauty. No other car that I know, and I have driven many excellent ones, can compare to this work of art.
Having owned 2 Arnage I eventually bought a modern Rolls Royce Ghost. The RR is better in ever way, and by some distance. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the Arnage, it is a truly incredible car, but the Rolls is in another league.
@@BibtheBoulder In my opinion, a modern RR can't be compared to a more dated Bentley. A fairer comparison would be between the Arnage and the Silver Seraph, in which case I think the former would come out on top.
@@ahones2255 Allow me to make your comparison. You see, when I owned my first Arnage, the 6.75L version, a good friend of mine had a Seraph. Both designed by Graham Hull, but with a few differences, such as the RR getting a 5.4l engine, while the original Arnage was given a 4.4 BMW derived engine, albeit with a single Garrett turbo-charger. The Bentley also received a Bentley grill and a few other Bentley specific items.
I have driven both cars back to back, and the Seraph is by far the superior car. The not insignificant road noise you hear whilst driving the Arnage is almost reduced to nothing in the Seraph. The Seraph of course had a stick change mounted on the steering wheel, and what seemed to me at least, a far superior ride. The only area where the Arnage was victorious was (and surely still remains) the availability of spare parts. Indeed it is this very reason my friend sold his Seraph on.
While owning the 6.75 Arnage I had nothing but mechanical issues with it.
Head gasket: £3,500
Gearbox: £2,500
Water pump and associated other pumps: £2,000
Transpires when the Arnage was mated with the 6.75l engine Bentley didn't make enough adjustments to accommodate it. All the while my Seraph owning friend did no more than keep his car serviced.
Ironically, having sold the Red label Arnage on I eventually purchased a Green label, 4.4L Arnage and in the 30,000+ miles I owned it it never missed a beat.
@@BibtheBoulder Thank you. Very helpful.
Arnage is nice. I would gladly compare it to a Hyundai Equus, Genesis G90 or even to a Gensis G80.
It is nice to see someone around my age get silly with excitement. That is one of my favorite British cars.
"Silly with excitement"! - Brilliantly put. Jack is so enjoyable.
This is a favourite? I prefer elegance to pomp and circumstance.
@@devroombagchus7460 The Arnage is Muscular Elegance. Sporty and Classy.
I had an 02 Arnage R, the best car I ever owned. Lost it in a terrible accident, driving on similar roads to your video. On a wet autumn day here in the US north east, a young lad on a tractor pulled out in front of me, I avoided hitting him, but went through the roadside barrier and rolled down a ravine. If I was in any other car I’d be dead…. It was my fault, I was driving a bit too fast, not by much, but on a tight wet country road, trying to get out of a pinch, not the car for that pace, learned my lesson.
To me, the R is beautiful, but my next one will be a T.
The only way to own these cars is to discipline yourself to preventative maintenance, with an independent specialist, otherwise your sinking cash when things go wrong.
Great video, and spot on observations in your review. Thank you.
I own a late Continental R - it's a beautiful thing. It runs the 385hp 6.75ltr engine and it's no slouch. Every trip in this car is a real occasion and you can sense the time and skill lavished on it by the great crew at Bentley. I am so lucky.
I much prefer the looks of these older cars to the new Bentley's. I love hearing about the history of these. Sadly most car people here in the US don't have the knowledge that you do. Thank you.
Highly recommend the book "Inside the Rolls Royce & Bentley styling department, 1971-2001" by Graham Hull, chief stylist, which is a fascinating book, and covers the development of this model Silver Seraph/Arnage. A really enjoyable read.
Great video Jack! I can confirm the 6¾l engine is great to live with, I did over 200 miles in my Turbo R with one in yesterday and it was effortless. Arnage was the last British Bentley, though to me the interior of my Turbo R is a little more special without those BMW bits.
The pre facelift mulsanne is the last real Bentley I'd argue but your point is well made
As you said in your presentation, a monumental car, never to be repeated, puts large anonymous Mercedes, Audi and the even more boring BMW's to shame in their design and finish. Good video, great car.
Another fabulous Bentley, Jack does an amazing review of any car but these are just so special.
Thanks for this, wonderful car and such brilliant styling and road presence.
That's a great road to drive on. So interesting to see cars reviewed on it. I love cars with decent torque and with a with a wide range of power, very driveable.
I remember when I organised a visit for the ( now extinct) Ferrari Club of Great Britain to visit the Rolls Royce /Bentley factory in 1998, known as the Crewe Experience. It was rather fitting , because the change of management had just got underway. We visited Aston Martin at Newport Pagnall earlier in the year , who also had recently been taken over by Ford at the time. The first comparison of these two hand built manufacturers was how much bigger the premises was at Crewe, Astons premises seeming like a Cottage Industry by comparison. It was very evident, despite the large scale premises, how passionate right down to to staff on the factory floor were in their work. I think there was a slight feeling of unease with the take over at the time, job security obviously being a concern, even to the point of one member saying they should keep the original V8 , as it could be modified to meet future emissions. Still a very interesting visit , it gave you a sense of patriotism to be there , and something I would never forget.
You enthusiasm is contagious!
Hey Jack. I absolutely love the Arnage. I remember 'having' to drive a T around the Millbrook high speed bowl flat out when I worked there on my university placement year. What a car! Good times!
Excellent presentation 😊
Nice channel and story. I always liked the Arnage. A great British limousine.
Great Easter Egg of power being sufficient. Iirc in 70s Rolls thought it unseemly to quote BHP and quoted the Silver Shadow as sufficient and the turbo Bentley as "more than sufficient". Keep up the diverse and interesting videos 👍
Thank you Steve!
Awesome cars. These in a British racing green as stunning. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
Great stream Jack. What a machine
Great fun video. I love my Arnage R. May be a future classic but who cares, they are amazing vehicles. Thanks for sharing your fun and grins!
You are such a lucky man. That is one awesome automobile. The uprated engine version must be a real beast. Great content and such a lovely car.
Thank you!
Stunning luxury and performance. Interesting story, Thank you Mr Jack. So pleased to see and hera you enjoy the 6.75 litre behemoth"
6¾ mr... It's a Bentley we're talking about 😂
Loved the review! Liked how the car gave you a maniacal laugh! Would really like to drive one of these but this is as close as I am likely to get.
I love the Arnage. I used to own one of the Green Label cars. It was wonderful to drive. The work Cosworth did to the BMW 4.4 was simply wonderful, and the sound of the twin turbos, that were integrated into the exhaust manifolds was something else, almost like a big turbo diesel truck. When you get a chance definitely drive one and share your thoughts. I’ve unfortunately not had the chance to drive one of the 6.75l cars yet, but definitely hope to, maybe in Azure form :)
Would l or to try a Green Label!!
Would love to try a green label.. I meant!
laughing until you fill the tank
Then it's the petrol station owner who's laughing, so everybody has a good time.
@@marcusott2973 it is the tax man who is having the belly laugh
@@londonman8688 well there you go Bentleys spread happiness 😊
I’ve always thought the Bentley acceleration is like Thanos - it’s inevitable. And crazy, of course. But the horizon just comes toward you more and more quickly!
If you can afford a Bentley, you are not worried about the cost of fuel!
They're beautiful cars. Nice to see someone with the same smile I get when I drive mine (before I cry at the pumps). Granted, mine's a 2000 Red Label meaning it's equipped with the older GM gearbox, but it still moves and feels like nothing I've been in before. The torque is unreal, and the power just keeps coming effortlessly for a car that's near 3 tonnes.
Great review, although you have more confidence in the corners than me. I feel like it's capable of being thrown into the corners but I'm conscious of the inertia and chicken out!
Definitely the last of the hand-built British Bentleys we'll see.
4.4 litres was “inadequate”
You made me chuckle too. My old boss had a Bentley like that and he booted it. I laughed too!
Really enjoyed this one!!
I just bought the Arnage R diamond series. Amazing car.
Excellent review of the last crewe engines! What a machine!
I like a man enjoying his job. Brilliant.
In the spring of 2022 my wife and I were taken in this car from Nottingham to Plas Newydd on Anglesey before spending a further few days in North Wales. It was definitely memorable!!!
Still want one of these. Fabulous. Had a 1989 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. Awesome. Sold that in favour of a 1998 Daimler Super V8. A very good video let's have more Another awesome car.
Amazing review absolutely brilliant mate 😊
When I was first in the market for a "posh luxo-barge" back in the mid 90`s, I drove a few Bentley Turbo`s & T2`s, I liked a lot about them, but they just didn't go round corners (perhaps unsurprisingly). I drove some 7 Series as well, but ultimately I decided Jaguar gave me the combination of performance, handling, style & "aura" I wanted, & so I got my first Daimler 3.6. I`ve had numerous XJ`s since, & currently have a 99 XJR which I`ve had for well over a decade. I still like the looks of the Bentley, & I still might get one one day, although, one of my neighbours has an Arnage & it literally fails its MOT every year without fail, despite being over serviced & used regularly, which puts me off, especially as my Jags have always been amazingly reliable & easy to live with, plus, my XJR is faster in every way!
Smart man. I'm a big fan of the xjr!
@@sprezzatura8755 They`re great cars, I`ve never regretted my decision to stick with Jaguar, & my XJR still makes me smile every time I drive or look at it, 14 years on!
Your best video for a long time helped by great subject matter
One of your most interesting and informative videos.
Really glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching
Beautiful motor and I've had first hand experience as a passenger in this car 👌😍
Wonderful: Italian excitment, enthusiasm and temper meet the perfect, classy old stile British luxury car. I heard so much terrible things about maintaining a Bentley. But as a car entusiast you have to LOVE those Bentleys that were still British to the core.
Great car, great review. You should consider one!
You were genuinely shocked and puzzled with it accelerating. That's that Bentley should be about. And btw, those rims on the T's they're fabulous
Yea. The T has much nicer looking wheels.
Mulsanne wheels on an Arnage beats out the multi piece T wheels imo. But imma keep it stock personally
@@Snappy650you mean the final edition arnage and early mulsanne ones?
Not many cars generate that mad cackle of laughter from you.
I've always wanted one of those cars, simply awesome.
I always loved Bentley’s parchment dials. I’d love to see Bentley bring them back.
Puts a big smile on your face, must be good 👍
Enjoyed the background information. Thank you!
I really like those "last" Bentleys, and you had a good advise, to go for those with ZF gearboxes. I want one, and I think those will stay in value more than those VW cars.
I agree on the footballer part and the older are probably "cheaper" (but still expensive) to maintain. But it's impossible to deny that the interior is still incredibly well built. Even the firsts VW era cars interior are well above the Rolls Royce ones. Quite frankly early 2000 RR are a bit cheap for what they are...
@@uleertel Yes, and those are the last real Bentleys, there is, and will be forever.
@@uleertel Rather ironic that the green label has a manufacturers plate inside the front passenger door that reads "Built By RR Motors England"
I own a 2000 Arnage here on the U.S. love everything about it.
At 3:20 - the original, 1959 V8 engine was 6.2three litres, not 6.25. You MAY be confusing this with the 6.7five litre V8 which started in 1970. Sorry to be picky but that's my historical understanding of these cars. Still, THANK YOU for sharing this clip, I enjoyed it very much. Safe motoring and take care.
The last truly elegant Bentley, a classy nightclub bouncer clad in a tuxedo. If I could live with with the 14mpg I'd have one in a heartbeat.
To be honest, I'm not getting much more (20) from a 3.2 brabus clk. The extra six is probably worth it id say
The last proper Bentley, most definitely. From then on they were footballers cars in my opinion. Nice review Jack thanks. 👍👍
Saw a new cabriolet at the curcuit de remparts in Angouleme this weekend. Horrid. Really tacky wire effect grills. Not stately at all.
Best car I’ve owned. And this is my 3rd!
I had one of these for 3 years. It was eye-wateringly expensive. It cause a lot of strife in my marriage. 😂
Wonderful cars and amazing value still. Buy the best you can and look after it.
I love these cars and there is plenty of bs on the internet about the running costs, I would really appreciate an honest no bs idea of what they take to run from an actual owner.
I don't know about the Arnage but my Turbo R has cost almost as much as I paid for it to run for 18 months. There was a fair bit of deferred maintenance in there so I'm hoping it will be much lower over the next 3 or 4 years at least. I still love it!
@@benofbrown much appreciated and what I would expect in that time frame. What I really want to know is does it go down in year 3/4 or does the cost stay high like in some other premium brands.
@@the_bunse Assuming I remember, I'll let you know!
I always lusted after an early (loved the side marker look on the early ones for some reason) Bentley Arnage in Silver Tempest over French Navy leather, or, secondly, Brewster Green over Cognac.
Cool review, interesting to learn that Bentley can really deliver some fun) thanks
Always fancied one, great vid, cheers 👍
My Portfolio has similar look inside. Good vLord it’s fast enough for a large car! But the wood & stitched leather are all there - including a suede head lining & massaging seats. It looks a bit more aggressive at the front, initially2., I didn’t like the new styling. I am 70, & don’t do huge mileage, but I think I know what speeds you got up to - very similar to how the countryside rushes at and past you When the Speedometer is at top dead centre, you’re already doing ninety! I also live in the country, so there are a lot of roads like that around here.
Magnificent British engineering 🎉🎉🎉😊
Lovely to see, that’s a beauty 👍
Interesting to see how much more the car floats around then most cars you test drive.
The camera on the windshild looking in moves around like a kiidde ride at a cointy fair.
Having driven these, I know what you mean by the acceleration - it’s so effortless, it’s like its moving in a vacuum tube!
I love classic Bentley's. They just look so nice. If I had the money & driving licence I would get one. I think this era of Bentley's were rebadged Rolls Royce but since the 2000s Bentley's are completely different to Rolls Royce. Great video by the way 👍
You could argue the Rolls-Royce Seraph was a rebadged Bentley Arnage, with the Arnarge being introduced first. Until the Turbo R in the mid 80's the Bentley models were essentially rebadged Rolls-Royce models, but the Turbo R was the first to have significant changes. Still the same body and basic engine as the Silver Spirit and Spur but with different interiors (from the 90s on), the great big turbocharger and much stiffer suspension, as well as alloy wheels for the first time on either marque. Now they are entirely separate companies they are entirely separate cars.
@@benofbrown I think Rolls Royce & Bentley were owned by the same company until 1998 when Bentley were sold to Volkswagen & Rolls Royce was eventually sold to BMW but I think it was owned by Volkswagen for short period
@@andrewbass6837 They were both owned by Vickers until 1998. Vickers didn't actually own the Rolls-Royce name or trademarks but used it under license from Rolls-Royce aerospace, VW thought they bought Rolls-Royce and Bentley, but in fact they only bought Bentley (and Mulliner Park Ward etc). BMW bought the license to use the RR name and trademarks for less than a tenth of what VW paid. VW didn't make any RR cars and BMW didn't make any Bentley ones.
The British car market is amazing because of how long and much they supplied and consumed motorcar - many other things as well, as I learned
I’m on my 3rd Arnage and currently have an Arnage T. I’ll be uploading videos on it soon. The car I bought had been mechanically neglected so had to spend a lot to get it back on the road. Hopefully collect from the workshop this week after the test drive last week failed. Fingers crossed!
Really awesome car Jack, the interior is so beautiful and was our chosen colour when we used to buy Lexus cars for our business. It handles 'Jacks Bend' with ease (haha). It's a shame you can't keep it, the number plate would be ideal for you 'Jacks TV' . Thanks again for another great video, Bob M.
Thank you for watching Bob, glad you enjoyed it!
Great video, great car, terrific knowledge but I must take exception with the comment "the last true Bentley". I would contend the last real/true Bentley is the Mulsanne. Developed, curated, built in Crewe start to finish........
Fabulous! However, I have a 2006 Lexus GS300 SE-L. 3 litre V6, 6speed g'box and no turbo. I've had Bentley, Rolls Royce, Mercedes-Benz and other luxury cars, but I've never experienced anything like my Lexus outside of a race-track. The thing is awesome! Well over 150mph, superbly comfortable, absolutely silent, enormously fun to drive - and I get 40+ mpg on the motorway at around 75mph and between 25 and 31mpg in town, depending on traffic. To make the journey even more pleasant, there's a brilliant stereo with both CD and Cassette players included. I'm absolutely converted; 2005/2006 seem to be the best years and, because these amazing cars are so under-rated, they can be bought for very little money, with a prime example going for as little as £3,500!
I can heartily recommend that you check one out thoroughly. I don't think you'd be disappointed.
Great review, I love to see a good car being thoroughly enjoyed.
The Arnage T was lovely, but the Brooklands is probably the last real Bentley. An interesting fact is that the engine, in it's last iteration, could actually run on the exhaust gases from the original!
Lovely car and a great video many thanks!
Nice to be able to do a test drive...if only, thanks
That was a great cackle at the pedal-to-the-metal moment :) I call that particular experience with turbos "the hand of God" effect.
I think you need to review the Bentley Brooklands. Seems a natural complement to this review
Nice review Jack. I'm unable to tell whether that sound during cornering is the bitumen being torn off the road, or the rubber shredding from the tyres. Its possibly both, that thing has enough tractive moment to pull the earth off its axis.
😂😂😂 great car this Neil!
@@Number27 I could tell that, Jack, partly from the opulent walnut and stitched leather interior, but mostly from your reaction when you booted it. That was priceless! :) :)
I owned one, the {1999} BMW Green Label 4.4 engine version, the best car I ever had. Inside the door was a chrome plate that read Made By Rolls Royce Motors. The main difference between the Green Label to the R and T is the 6.75 engines suffer terribly with head gasket failure which can be catastrophic.
I now own a 1999 Jaguar X308 long wheelbase XJ8 Sovereign with a V8 4L engine. I don't actually feel cheated driving this luxury barge!
It’s as Bentley as any of the new models. A (now discontinued) modern Mulsanne is a truly incredible machine, and all inside feels more solid and precise than in the Arnage. The first Flying Spurs and Continental GTS... OK, I buy it, they were one or two steps lower in general feeling (they were also cheaper), but current ones and that Mulsanne are top, top products.
Just one fact : Rolls Royce only came out with the 6.75 liter engine when Mercedes Benz kicked their arse with M 100 6.3 liter engine first seen in the Mercedes Benz 600. Once the Brits were on the market with their engine Mercedes bored their engine up to 6.9 liters, infamous in the SE 450 6.9,over here nicknamed "the flying gentlemen's club".
I can vouch for the BMW4.4ltr engine…. Had in the then current 740i and then moved to the Range Rover Vogue (322 series). Other than a perforated radiator in the BMW, they were both faultless and creamy. Having said that, I’d love to drive the RR derived 6.75ltr
There is no replacement for displacement.
yes, proper engine in that behemoth, and that gearbox will get the consumption into double digits
i got 7mpg in a borrowed older one, on a "spirited" run for my son's prom
" you can use the car for free, just put petrol in" famous last words......
keep up the good work young man PS how much juice did you use?
To be fair the successor Mulsanne was still a relatively bespoke design. Certainly much more so than the "baby Bentleys"
Looking at that interior every drive would be an event. How much would I 'need' the six-speed box? Later models seem to command more than I could afford.
I would like to see about Aurus... Thank you
I love the heat haze coming from the engine 😊
Excellent video but I'm unclear on what model years are being presented. Thank you.
Quite right. No more thoroughbred British vehicles left.
Cool video Jack
I can imagine the sensation is against everything your brain would expect
Thanks dude!!
What is it about that car that makes you start sounding slightly demented? 🤔 😆
‘Slightly’?
These are fantastic cars.
These are a really nice car. I have to disagree about the switch gear, it looks very cheap to me. Shame.
I guess the Buick/Rover V8 would be the next closest competitor at a mere 46 years from 1960 to 2006.
Well that's been in way more cars
Jimmy Tarbuck would approve.
Final Edition nailed it.
Them old updated Engine's are the best, there's an old saying " if its not broken don't fix it ".
"Traditionalist, never got on with the 4.4L BMW engine"
... but now all Bentley V8 are 4.0L variants. So BMW's thinking, was ahead of it's time.
Interesting collector's car. Much nicer than the usual cliche (red) sportscars. Luxury, craftsmanship and beautiful materials are very appealing.
Delightful
? parts readily available? I recall seeing one of these at a shop handling my 911 here in USA and lead mechanic nodded it was beautiful but a serious wait/search for parts…
That is a magnificent styled car. Pure luxury and comfort. ❤
No, Jack - the whole bloody Arnage, not just its engine, was based on the BMW E38 7-series platform.
At least Rolls-Royce engaged Cosworth (also Vickers-owned) to engineer the turbocharging of the Bentley's BMW M62 V8. Its Rolls-Royce sister, the Silver Seraph, used a BMW M73 V12 pretty much unchanged.
Running costs? Forget the Red Label and consider one of the BMW-engined Green Label cars - any BMW specialist can look after it. They also handle better and cost less to buy.
You should give it serious thought....
It makes me think of verry expensif version of the Rover 75 !
Is it designed by Richard Wooley ?
Had to follow
Now this is a bit of me... Such timeless elegance and class...