Most of us aren’t Bentley people. The price of poker is pretty high. For example, this 2007 Azure, a grand tourer convertible with a powerful V8 engine, cost between $330,000 and $350,000 when it was new. Its condition is nothing short of marvelous, and the odometer reading is low at 25,000 miles, yet the art of depreciation has come into play. Located in Paris, Kentucky, this stately drop-top can be yours for $85,000, and more details and photos can be found here on Facebook Marketplace. Are you ready to step up to a Bentley?
Like other cars with the Bentley name, the Azure was meticulously built in England. First from 1995 to 2003, then again from 2006 to 2010. Despite its size, it was designed to carry only four passengers in style. It’s an old school car in that rear-wheel drive application,s and performance was delivered by a large 6.75-liter Twin-Turbo V8 also built by Bentley (with a 6-speed automatic transmission). This much muscle was needed as the Azure came in at just shy of 6,000 lbs. in weight.
When this edition of the Azure was produced, Volkswagen was calling the shots as they had purchased Bentley Motors in 1998. The 450-horsepower engine was thirsty, so these heavy cars didn’t pass up many gas stations. 10 mpg in town was common and, if you were lucky, you got 15 on the interstate. But if you had the wherewithal to buy a Bentley when new, that probably didn’t matter. But now, for us regular folk, at $3-4 a gallon for premium fuel?
We’re told this opulent ride is on its second owner. The condition is excellent, from the hand-formed body panels to the shiny black paint and the saddle leather interior. The seller says the machine drives like new, and we’re guessing the ride is something that you’ll find a lot different from one of today’s mass-produced luxury automobiles. Are you ready to impress your friends and neighbors and spend more than you’re used to on tune-ups and oil changes? Thanks for the rare tip, Sam61!
Excuse me, would you have any Grey Poupon?
There’s just something about driving a three ton automobile that can hit zero to sixty in less than six seconds.
Beautiful, and I suppose if I could afford the $85K, I could also afford the associated out-of-warranty maintenance costs. That said I’ll take a Chrysler 300, pocket the difference and pose.
That is one sweet money pit.
Who cares if the car has all the MPG of a ’62 Dodge Power Wagon, it would be a lot more fun to drive, it’s got a lot of class and guaranteed, you’d be about the only one in your zip code to own one.Too bad depreciation hasn’t taken a bigger bite.
You might be surprised what is commonly seen on roads around here – smack-dab in the middle of horse farm country. Take a drive around Paris KY.
Like all these ultra luxury cars, they are low production and burdened with complex gimmicks that cost a fortune in parts and labor to keep running. They usually have low miles, because those wealthy folks hardly have time to drive with the private jet, bi-coastal beachfront mansions and art collections to look after. Once sold to the plebian market, the miles remain low because the cost of fixing those gimmicks keeps the car sitting in the garage for long periods. There is a You Tuber who bought one and is doing a-you guessed it- LS swap. He is an interesting character named Wesley Kagan- look him up.
The used Bentley for sale…… That is ONE limited market! Those that buy Bentley’s like this are usually the sheiks who buy them by the 1/2 dozen and dozen, like we buy doughnuts! If I really wanted the Bentley experience, the best thing for me would be to rent one for a day ( if possible)! Spend the $1000 (or whatever) and get it out of my system!! I would be saving lots of cash!!
A friend was a Rolls Royce dealer some years ago. He said he had people who bought a RR to drive to work. Said that don’t work. Has to have a man to bring it to the dealership for repairs and then it has to sit months to wait for backordered parts since some many parts are handmade and then the producer dies and RR has to find somebody else to make the parts.
I had a BS manager call me one day and ask if I could get RR parts. I said AIN”T NO WAY. Send that thing to a RR dealer.
Also…. back to the limited used market of Bentley’s and Rolls’….. I had an uncle who was a successful restauranteur. He made good money and had a fairly large ego. He would never buy a new Rolls, but he wanted the experience. He bought a used unit for $50K, got his bottle of grey Poupon, and had his fun! After a few years of ‘non driving it’, he sold it for $45K and ‘got his fix’!. He then said that he actually enjoyed driving his Chevy wagon much better!! True story!!
What a beauty. Safety AND speed. But oh that cost of maintenance! GLWTS.
How do you spell depreciation? Bentley!
There is nothing more expensive than a cheap rolls/bently. True, $85,000 isn;t exactly cheap, but it is s lot cheaper than the initial price.
What a gorgeous example of an incredible car. Its barley been driven. I have a newer GTC W12 Speed convertible. The car is absolutely amazing and no issues whatsoever. Just regular once a year services is all I’ve experienced.
That beauty would make a wonderful weekend top down driver.
And you wonder why sports stars go bankrupt?
There’s a older guy in my small city who has a similar car with the hard top you only see it around town in the summer along with a Lamborghini SUV . this time of year you never see them and what I personally find funny is the only shop around that can work on them is two hours one way and across the state line. After watching Hoovies garage on YouTube I can’t ever bring myself to buy one of these things or a Lamborghini just cuz the cost of basic maintenance.
I know when I have a near 6-figure item that I want to sell, FACEBOOK’s Market Place is always the first place I would go seeking success.
I wanna be there when the FB marketplace tire kickers show up to test drive it. Yeah. Just to make sure the 0-60 and top speed numbers are still valid.
And, WTH, it just might end up as a prop in a p0rn hub video.
Ahhhh he of the endless money pit 😂
Bentley’s from this era are actually pretty reliable vehicles.
That’s bull 😂
They probably do reliably sit in some 6 car garage while the owner drives his Tesla on most days. Can’t break ’em if you don’t drive ’em.
Nice Car vastly overpriced in today’s Bentley market.
Might as well go fishing for sucker fish at that price.
These cars go through collector car auctions all the time for $35K-$65 depending upon condition and mileage.