Great Golf Magazine Sep/Oct 2017 September October 2017 | Page 64

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GREAT CARS

Bentley does not differentiate between those clients who
purchase new vehicles and those individuals who select a PreOwned car. All Pre-Owned customers are invited to tour Bentley’s
factory and partake in the marque’s many exciting events, including
negotiating the challenging corners of the iconic Nürburgring.
This may sound strange, but McCallum explained that often, after
purchasing a Bentley for the first time, many clients repeatedly
‘trade-up’, selecting ever newer vehicles and, in some instances,
migrating to a new car.
Clients choose the Pre-Owned route to Bentley ownership for
an array of reasons. For example, some well-healed individuals
take this path as a means of validating the merit of Bentley
ownership prior to taking the full plunge and buying new.
Alternatively, some aspiring ‘Bentley Boys’, or girls, decide to
purchase a ready-built, classic vehicle, not wishing to wait for a
car to be built to order. The fact is, Bentley clearly understands
the importance of customer delight, whether selecting new or
Pre-Owned, allocating a degree of care seldom found with more
pedestrian car brands.
THE FLYING SPUR. Whilst here I wanted to see some of the Pre-

Owned cars available for sale. Some were virtually newborn, with
a recent plate and very low mileage. A typical vehicle is 33 months
old at the time of purchase, according to the brand’s research. One
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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

Bentley specifically caught my eye; a Continental Flying Spur,
equipped with the highly desirable Mulliner Driving Specification.
The car was presented in Silver Tempest, with an interior clad in
swathes of Portland leather, a rather comely shade of grey-hued hide.
Despite being first registered in September 2007 and having
covered 53,229 miles, the car looked remarkably fresh. I looked
at the blemish-free 20-inch Speed Style alloy wheels and noted
how the seats still possessed new-car freshness and support. The
only indication that the vehicle had seen service on the road were
a few inconspicuous stone chips near the front apron. “We would
not look to respray or touch up those marks, ‘originality’ is
absolute and that car is very original,” explained Neil. And he was
correct, it was very original and touching up the paintwork would
only mar this quality.
A few years ago, I drove a new Bentley Mulsanne and waxed
lyrical about its majestic ride within the pages of Great Golf. Eager
to consummate my newfound admiration for Bentley’s Pre-Owned
vehicles, the prestigious car marque handed me the keys to a Flying
Spur. I left the warm embrace of the Bentley Glasgow team and
headed home in serene comfort, keen to explore every facet of
Bentley ownership. In the next issue of Great Golf, I will report back
on my experience, however, whilst I don't wish to divulge too much
at this stage, rest assured my affection for this most British of brands
shows no signs of abating any time soon.
GGM