1997 Bentley Brooklands LPT from UK and Ireland - Comments

The high-pressure front lamp washers stopped working at 10,000m.

Alarm triggered randomly around the same time.

The car is wholly unlike any other I have owned. Before buying, I liked the idea of a handmade car, despite very negative experience with TVRs; after spending time with the Brooklands, one does question the reason for continuing producing Bentleys this way. There are squeaks and rattles that you would neither expect nor encounter inside mass-produced German rivals (made all the more evident by the quiet ride), and the heavy-duty door-hinges, while no doubt a prerequisite given the weight of the metal they support, are industrial in appearance and operation.

That said, as any Bentley fan will tell you, the car oozes charm from the sumptuous interior to the surprisingly vocal V8. It is, as they say, far more than the sum of its parts. Ostentatious, yes, but with that comes simply unbeatable road presence. It is huge, of course, but it feels very airy and roomy inside, like you are travelling around inside your sitting room. You will find yourself holding conversations far more than in any other car, and you will arrive at your destination feeling as though you've not actually been anywhere.

Rubs and squeaks aside, the quality of materials inside is top notch. Name plates on the engine show that a lone craftsman put the big Bentley lump together by hand. Yes, this is a positive! The chromed organ-stopper ventilation controls poking from genuine walnut will have passengers coo-cooing at the other-worldly British charm of it all.

Handling is not the least bit yacht-like. People will tell you that Rolls-Royces handle like barges, and lean round corners like giant despatch riders. Perhaps this is true of the RR, but it is not true of Bentleys. The ride is surprisingly crisp - yes, read again, one might describe it as firm - and not the nausea-inducing wafting motion everyone expects. It can be hustled down lanes at surprising speed, but don't expect anything weighing 2,930kg sitting on whitewall tyres to handle like a sports car. Because it won't.

The only true downside is the cost of running the car. A £50 tank of unleaded fuel will take that vast, 40 year old, Rolls-derived 6.75 turbocharged lump around 220 miles if you drive like you're part of a cortege. If you hurry you'll see perhaps 8 or 9 miles per gallon which is enough to make anyone's eyes water.

It is expensive to keep that Bentley service history up to date, far more so than the Mercedes-Benz S or BMW 7. Major services start at a whopping £1,500, but in return Rolls and Bentley dealerships give you a truly premium service. In all the years of buying cars, they are by far and away the most courteous, helpful and honest people I have met. They are in no way "snooty" or "detached"; the service I received from Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar dealerships is in my experience so much worse for this.

In short, the Bentley is a car that has surprised me. I had a few sleepless nights immediately after buying it, wondering if I'd made the worst decision ever, but after a short while the car begins to grow on you. Slowly but surely you begin to realise why Bentley can't make enough of them to keep up with demand. Even now I still get that eager twinge before driving it. Can't say anything more.

Really excellent review. Very helpful to prospective purchaser. Thanks.

I agree with your comments, having just purchased one, what a beautiful car. Every time I drive it or just look at it it brings a smile to my face. Quality second to none, complete and utter self indulgence.

I am going to collect my bentley brooklands on wedneday today is monday I had a mercedes c lass diesel c220 and I am now buying a bentley I know very big jump.

I was going to purchase a s320 cdi mercedes however I went and saw this bentley as my father drives a rolls royce, he convinced me to go and see this bentley and I thought id be able to fault it, but when I got there and saw it it was an end of line bentley and it looked woooooooooooo too good to be true even though I have just payed over double of what I would have paid for my s class.

Iv left my deposit and I'm going to collect it, this car looks the part and I got a feeling when I sit in this car and drive it everyone around me will look at it, cos when I was buying it and sitting in it everyone was looking then too, I just can't wait and I will let everyone know if I get any problems besides the hefty servicing costs I think I'm gonna love this car, I think I'm the only person who owns a bentley in Wolverhampton at the age of 25. fingers crossed wednesday lol.

I was lucky enough to acquire a Bentley Brooklands LPT with only 6000 miles on the clock. Even having covered 2000 miles, I still cannot believe that I own a Bentley! Although I have always owned all kinds of German machines, this is the best of the lot. I am just not looking forward to the annual trip to get it serviced and MOT'd (think big bills!).

Nevertheless, I am thinking seriously of acquiring another Bentley, a Turbo R, for my son for his 21st birthday, being a student he won't go far - the fuel costs are astronomical!!

I thoroughly recommend the last of the line Bentleys, they're by far in the best condition.

Lucky owner from Edinburgh.

Hello All.

I recently purchased a 1997 Brooklands for a whopping fantastic deal. It's in the shop over winter for detailing, the MOT test and a tune up. While researching prior to purchase I was horrified to discover CAD$630+tax for an oil change at the dealer... fortunately my company's office landlord owns an '82 Mulsanne and was able to direct me to the RR Club of Southern Ontario who provide caring and competent service for reasonable prices (including an oil change for CAD$65).

I'm a little apprehensive that this vehicle will be overly ostentatious - my other car's a 1995 Toyota Tercel! I fell in love with 'my beloved Bent' as the missus calls it, at first site... am looking forward to sunny days for cruising. My son (8 yrs old) loves the inside including some mulliner features, but says 'it looks old' from the street. Nonetheless, a happy owner I am.

I do not plan to buy the new Bentley Brooklands, but I consider the car to be more a work of art than a machine. I have never found a car with more comfortable seats than those found in the Mercedes S-Class. At one third or less the price of the new Brooklands, Both the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8 offer far better value unless you happen to be a serious collector of all fine works of art.

I bought a 1997 Bentley Brooklands Trophy Edition in 2003.

Well for one thing it's like no other car I've ever owned.

It's very fast for it's size and the handling is very good.

Wormanship is impeccable. Very expensive to service, but it

is a Bentley.

I bought a 1997 Bentley Brooklands Trophy Edition in 2003.

Well for one thing it's like no other car I've ever owned.

It's very fast for it's size and the handling is very good.

Wormanship is impeccable. Very expensive to service, but it

is a Bentley.

Just bought a 1997 Bentley Brooklands with 22K miles on the clock. After a routine service which included new front brake pads and rotors and a new set of tires, it is ready to go. It is quite a superb car: it is blindingly fast when the turbo kicks in, yet very well mannered around corners. I bought the car to drive once a week on a high speed, 250m. journey, and this car does not disappoint at speeds approaching 100 MPH.