German Car Zone

I'm looking at the interior of the S65, and I most definitely think they could have done more. I like the steering wheel, but the pedals don't look anything special at all. I'd like to see more design differentiation in AMG kits and the core models, it's more a subtle change right now.

I see what you are saying Roberto, but the thing is, for me (i'm sure it's not just me), a car with a brand such as Bentley (even if it is half German) now deserve to be in a league of their own.
I'm with NSL on this one. A S65, as "special" as the car is, is just a beefed up S class, which can be found in every country in the world (the s class that is). A Bentley will always be something special. VIPs drive the Bentley. I can almost guarantee you that a non-car nut might just go for the Bentley just because it is a Bentley (as long as they can live with the styling), they won't care how many cylinders the thing has got. That alone, is enough to put the FS in a higher league... imo.

warot, I agree with you - the point I was making is that the Flying Spur was conceived to take sales away from the AMG S class - VW know they have the "prestige advantage" as far as Bentley's brand image is concerned - we might not like the looks of the FS very much, but a lot of people do...besides, the W221 is not the most beautiful car I've ever seen either.

I may be alone on this, but I really like the FS styling. I think its very elegant and very attractive-more so than the continental GT and the S class which is somewhat awkward IMO.

- It's not all that ugly.

Whoa, post some photos from the same site! Great shots.

The Flying Spur doesn`t have half the technical advancments or safty records (I mean HALF)
of what Mercedes has given the S-Class. It`s not a perception it`s a fact!




Lets not take thing out of context. I didn`t say the Bentley FS was re-badged VW Phaeton, nor did I say the Bentley Flying Spur was technically
inferior. I said VW provided the undercarriage and some techical advancements for Bentley. I also said I don`t like that fact that the undercarriage comes from the Phaeton and that it weakens the image and I still stand by that. The S-Class doesn`t share it`s carriage with another car
why should Bentley take that cost cutting approach. That shows as the FS
doesn`t handle as well as the Bently GT coupe noted Top-Gear!




Thats pure rubbish! Mercedes-Benz invented the image for the luxury car
long before Bentley came on the scene! it`s not that thay don`t do it as well
but that thay do it differently with technical achievements and scientific
research, that even Bentley has yet to bring to the table. The S-Class is the most popular luxury car in the world because of it`s innvations and achievements, This is it`s prestige and power known the world over for 40 years. It`s the numbers that make up the prestige at Mercedes-Benz.

That image is quit different from the "old-world" romance offered by Bentley.



No, I remember the orignal article, the Flying Spur was created to take sales
from the S500 and S600. Thay didn`t mention the S65 AMG.



Rubbish! The W220 S600 has a faster 0-60 time than the Bentley FS
(0-60mph 4.8sec./ vs. 0-60 4.3sec. for the S600.) The W220 S65 as you know is even faster than the S600. The W221 S65 has improved ABC suspension, it`s brakes have also been recalibrated and it`s steering rack is said to be faster. I wouldn`t pass judgement so quickly.

But, as I said before people who buy these car will not likley race them.

^ 0-60 times don't really have anything to do with performance (more likely gear ratios and torque).

Saying that Benz is in the same league as a Bentley to me is like comparing an M3 to a McLaren F1. You can have more technology and safety, but these cars aren't in the same league! A Bentley is still a Bentley IMO. When people see the Bentley driving down a road, it's an event. The S65 is just another S class. See my point?

Roberto, thanks a lot for those pics... wow, I haven't really paid attention to the FS but that black one looks fantastic. I know which car I'm going to pick now.

GTA7.5, I know you are afflicted with acute "Benzitis" but try to be sensible, the Mercedes is not twice as technically advanced as the Bentley - that's just being stupid.

I was saying that it is just a perception that Bentley is viewed as an out-of-date, technical dinosaur - Bentleys, including the Arnage, are technically among the most advanced cars in the world.


OK, I was paraphrasing a bit - but look GTA7.5, I'm not a big fan of the Flying Spur either, all I'm saying is give credit where it is due.

Firstly, I wouldn't expect this large sedan to perform quite as well as a coupe. As far as sharing it's carriage with the Phaeton - so what, it doesn't look anything like a Phaeton - this car was designed to crush the big Benz - not take on Maybach and Rolls-Royce.


Well that is just crap - which Mercedes are you referring to exactly - Bentley have always been a socially more prestigious brand than Mercedes - Bentley have always been associated with aristocracy - even more so than Rolls-Royce actually.


...and the biggest sales volumes for the S class come from the cheaper end of the engine variants - surely the fact that Bentley has had unprecedented sales success with the GT and the Flying Spur tells you that many people in the market for a top-of-the-line BMW or Mercedes have bought a Bentley for the first time - these new Bentleys, regardless of what we think of them, have attracted a lot of first time Bentley buyers who traditionally would have bought an S600 or even (yes that's right GTA7.5 - even...) an S65!


Surely it goes without saying......


OK, you have me on those acceleration figures - but Bentley are likely to offer a Flying Spur T at some stage.