Recently one of our forum members, SanibelSpeed, purchased a very lovely 2013 CGTC which was outfitted with the new V8. His experience with the V8 indicated that he was very happy with that option and said that “I predict that the V8 model will outsell the W12”. This generated a certain amount of discussion which seem to foster a small division between members as each camp started to defend its engine type. Pro arguments are smaller carbon footprint, better gas mileage, better range between fill ups (BTW the little Jewel gas cap adds about 1.2 mpg), equal or better performance, a lower initial cost of about $8,000, potential lower maintenance costs, etc. Con arguments are ‘it is not a 12 cylinder’, it is a new engine therefore not proven, it does not have all of the selection potential (which is may be disputable), etc. Certain members even discussed the sound of the engine as a reason for their preferences.

Since I had bought a GTC with a W12 earlier in the year and could have ordered a V8 instead, I naturally started formulating my position as to why the W12 is superior. Carbon footprint is a pretty weak argument, especially down here in Texas where oil and gas is king. A lower initial cost of $8,000 from $240,000 or 3.3%, which is pretty good beer money, but not material really. The cost of gas - not really a deciding factor. The added range would be nice. So on and so on. Then I realized that really none of these pros and cons really mattered. SanibelSpeed (if that is his real name) and I purchased our cars in the same way (i.e. we bought them the day we saw them) and for the same reason - we fell in love with the colors and options. The legendary Dr. Disaster has long promoted that the most important thing about selecting your Bentley is that it “pulls your pud” (whatever that means). This made me realize that if the car I fell in love with had a V8, it really would have not deterred my selecting it. And I get the feeling that SanibelSpeed would have not acted differently if his selection had the W12 option. I certainly would not have rejected that GTC and ordered a similarly equipt car with the other engine.

Basically, it doesn’t matter - right SanibelSpeed?

 

Your discussion implies that the engine cylinder may or may not effect ones decision to buy a car. I think this depends on how much of an impact this has on the type of car it is. On a Bentley it may not matter as much.
However on an Aston or a BMW it certainly may sway a buyer. Aston owners definitely choose a DB9 over a Vantage due to the V12 engine and sound.
I can tell you that as a previous owner of a V10 M6 and M5, I absolutely loved the intoxicating sound of the NA V10 motor. I wouldn't buy the new F10 M5 due to BMW's departure from it's NA V10 switching to it's current V8 turbo. It's a shame but that is where cars are headed now for fuel efficiency and emissions. That's probably what Bentleys doing as well. Oh well.
It probably wouldn't have effected my decision in buying my FS however. The priorities of a Bentley to me are not the motor. It has far superior luxuries to consider.

 

Of the estimated 210 model year 2013 GTCs in US inventory (figures taken from Cars.com), at least 134 are V8s ranging in price from $199K to $231K; the other third are W12s ranging from $231K to $264K. According to my dealer, the demand for the less expensive car is very high and they have trouble keeping them in stock.
The difference between a V8 with a price tag of $199K and one with a price tag well into the $220s or $230s is how the cars were optioned, and most of the costly options are spent on getting the full range of colors & the Mulliner specification. If you compare my Mulliner interior to that of any W12 with the Mulliner specification, you won't see even the slightest difference because there is none. The full range of color and stitch options is available on all models, including the V8.

I chose my car not because it had the V8 but because I loved how beautifully it pulled my pud (and I know fully well what that means!). Had the identical car been also available with the W12 but for $8K more, I doubt I'd have paid the upcharge for it since I'd already had 5 years' experience driving the W12 and had test driven the V8 and could detect no discernible difference in performance. I thought my 600HP Speed model made wonderful sounds but the V8 in Sport mode is even more aggressive, if that's humanly possible.

If cost were no object, I'd probably choose the new GTC Speed over the GTC V8 because I'm sure there's going to be a noticeable difference in performance between the two; but the difference between the V8 and the base W12 is undetectable, IMO and therefore not worth the extra money. For the Speed model the extra money is worth it.

Finally, my name is Jeff Liroff and my moniker "SanibelSpeed" was taken when I owned a '10 GTC Speed and lived mostly on Sanibel Island, FL. I now spend more time in Miami but since I still own the place in Sanibel, I'll keep the name.

 

Exactly.

I didn't mean to imply that in other cars it wouldn't matter. Having seen and considered both the V8 and the W12, it would not affect my decision if I were to select from a dealer inventory. If ordering a Continental, that would might be a different matter. When I ordered the 2013 I selected the W12 but that was because it was the 1st year for the V8, there was confusion about what options were available and I didn't think the price differential was enough. The thing I did like about the V8 was the range.

 

This is what makes this forum great. Knowledgeable people with real experiences who increase our knowledge of something we love.

Question: When you said "Had the identical car been also available with the W12 but for $8K more, I doubt I'd have paid the upcharge for it..."
What if the car on the lot had the W12 instead of the V8 and the V8 was not in inventory anywhere and in order to get the V8 you had to order it an wait 4 months, would you have done so?

 

I should state on the outset I am a W12 man and any opinions i have may be biased. If I were a Porsche man you would not be reading me here.

I see the two engine option as potentially troublesome. Lovers of the traditional W12 may have a difficult time accepting the new V8 from Bentley motors as a compromise of some sort. If we are honest we understand that traditions do not change easily. I recall reading that Mr. Bentley had made a promise some years ago that they would have a revolutionary efficient engine and this V8 was making good on that promise. I think Bentley has taken some risk of splitting the GT following with this approach. On the other hand offering customers choices is good business. This whole motor thing can be seen both ways as stated in the initial posting.

We will see over time how this plays out but it make take a while for the gas guzzling dinosaurs of the W12 to go into extinction. When a fellow goes out to get a car of this magnitude he will carry into the decision not only his head but his heart. Logic and love are compatible but not easily explained. So which is better blonds or brunettes?

I am waiting for the GT to come with a W12 in the front and back, one for each axle. Yipee a double W24

 

I might order my next car but I was ready to buy a car that very day and since they had a car that spoke to me, it was a no-brainer. I don't think I was in the mindset to order and wait as my car was already out of warranty and had a roof fault (for the third time) so I wanted a new car that very day. Just my luck they had a car I really wanted.

 

Gotta love this ready to go approach, I do. What if it was going to rain the next day you'd be rooted mate with that roof fault. I'm just glad they didn't have one of the new straight six motors from Porsche in that car.

 

It might sound a bit weird, but every major 'right' purchase I've made has been a series of boom-boom-boom steps to the end. Everything has slotted in perfectly and the transaction sings. Sounds though that's what happened here - no luck involved.

 

I agree with that Ken. Always.

Is everyone on here from Texas by the way?

 

True, but every 'wrong' purchase I've made happened the same way, too!

 

Texas or Tennessee.

 

Florida, born and raised.

 

Just down the road a bit - New Zealand, land of the Hobbit. Peter Jackson lives 10 mins away from me.

 

A well mixed bunch.

I'm actually 'from' 116 miles away from where all of our vehicles were assembled. I was going to say made, but that might be slightly wrong.

Whilst now I live circa 4864 miles away from there, give or take.