There are two very famous resort hotels on Lake Como in Italy: the Villa d'Este outside of the town of Como, and the Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio. It was said that in order to understand the difference between the two resorts, all you needed to know was that the parking lot of the former was filled with Rolls-Royces, and the latter with Bentleys. The meaning of that statement was that while both resorts were world class, wonderful, and quite expensive; the Rolls set represented old, staid, money; and the Bentley set was slightly younger, hipper, and more recently wealthy.

This difference has perhaps never been more true than today. With the introduction of the Continental GT, Bentley has once again become the darling of the young (relatively) wealthy.  Bentley sales catapulted from 412 US and 995 Worldwide in 2003, to more than 5 times that after the GT was available in 2004 (2,395 US/6,550 Worldwide).  By 2006, Sales had increased another 50% to 3,856 US and 9,386 Worldwide.  The GT is the car one must have in order to make a statement, and at nearly $200k, it's a statement that not every upwardly mobile young professional can afford to make. You need some serious coin to drive this car. Think of it as the Millionaire's BMW.

This is the car that my wife covets, and was her first and only choice until she understood that there were 5 zeroes after the initial $2 bill. Unfortunately she was then forced to settle for a new Mercedes CLK convertible. Life can be so unfair.

In order to make it up to her, I recently had the chance to take possession of a brand new GT, which was stabled in my garage for a full three days. Upon delivery, I was immediately struck by how massive this car really is. On the road, the striking fastback design makes it appear lithe and compact, but up close and personal, it's big and aggressive looking, with broad shoulders. This particular vehicle is a rich golden color, and reminds me of a Palomino stallion – large, powerful, and more than a little dangerous. Think of Roy Rogers and his big Palomino horse, but Trigger's more refined English cousin, Bentley.

So, like a horse whisperer, I approach the car gingerly and cautiously. As I said, it's a big fellow and looks like it could easily run away with its rider. I stop to admire the chocolate brown leather with contrast stitching, and the beautiful dark burl wood trim. The interior is absolutely elegant. I saddle up and sit carefully – I don't want to leave any scars on this hide.

When I start the engine, it burbles like a Ferrari, but with more restraint. In the chest of this beast beats a twelve cylinder heart with twin turbos. It sounds nothing like a Buick or a Mercedes. This car is pure power wrapped in an elegant and understated package. Mr. B doesn't need to yell to be noticed; he sits there calmly knowing that admiration will inevitably come in due course. Attention WILL be paid.

There are some quirks. The Key fits into the ignition on left side of steering wheel – why, I wonder? Is this a holdover from right hand drive? Is Bentley trying to save a few bucks by refusing to redesign for the American market? Hard to believe in a car that is otherwise so opulent. But, no matter – you don't really need to insert the key in the ignition. If the key is on your person or anywhere in the vehicle, the GT will start with a push of the start button on the console. So much for that potentially awkward issue.

The Car also has an electronic parking brake which is set and released with the push of a button on the console, but air vents that are operated by simple chrome pulls which are manually operated---a strange throwback to earlier days of hand craftsmanship among so much electronics, and positioned just above the all-in-one computer screen that operates the radio, nav system, and even the air conditioning.  But again, only an interesting observation, not a drawback. The pulls are in fact elegant and make perfect sense, once you try them.

But, back to business. In order to get comfortable with each other, I decide to make the first day an easy one. We go to the place where all Bentleys are at ease, in their natural habitat---Beverly Hills.

Day 1 – Lunch at Spago

I make a 1:30 lunch reservation at Spago, and as I join my luncheon companion at the valet station, he informs me that mine was the 3rd Continental GT taken by the valet in the last 5 minutes. After we eat and retrieve the GT from the valet, we drive around the Hills of Beverly, passing the Beverly Hills Hotel, proceeding up Benedict Canyon, and back down Canon.

Although it's not unusual to see either a Rolls or a Ferrari in downtown Beverly Hills, we saw neither during this short jaunt around town, but during the span of twenty minutes, we have encountered no less than 9 other Continental GTs and one GTC (convertible). We have arrived at Bentley GT ground zero.

Day 2 – 26 miles of Malibu

I let my wife take the GT to her office this morning, but only after she promised to drive carefully, and return home by 1:00 pm, so that we can spend the afternoon driving up the coast. She dutifully returns the car, and herself, and we set off for Neptune's Net, a fried fish shack of a restaurant across from a popular surfing spot with outdoor tables, fresh seafood, prices that are no longer cheap, and a line at even 3:00 in the afternoon that is still 20 persons deep.

As we drive up the coast, my wife recounts her morning adventures with our golden steed, and informs me that this car "is to die for." She was taken by the style and design before she ever placed a foot in stirrups of the GT, but now having actually experienced the thrill of driving, she is totally smitten. My plan to let her get familiar with Mr. Bentley in the hopes that such familiarity would breed, if not contempt, at least indifference, has backfired. She now wants a Bentley GT more than ever.

On the PCH, I let the car stretch its legs a little. This car is not only powerful, but smooth and comfortable. Without any warning, I'm suddenly traveling at 80 mph – 25 mph above the posted speed limit and the GT isn't even into a trot. I suddenly notice that the speedo is calibrated to 210 mph. Mr. Bentley isn't even walking briskly, much less running.

After lunch, we turn away from the ocean, up Mulholland Highway, and carefully traverse the narrow twisting road up to Decker for the trip back down the mountain. On Decker, we encounter a true hairpin curve that from a distance looks like a bad joke, but is no laughing matter. The six speed transmission with available paddle shifters, which on the highway is utterly seamless, refuses to let me stay in 2nd. I keep downshifting to 2nd, which is needed for engine braking on the extreme downhill slope, but the GT insists on periodic upshifts to 3rd, causing the Bentley to accumulate speed when it isn't wanted. The Bentley is still well mannered, but feels like it takes up more than half of the available concrete, and makes this driver a bit nervous about meeting other vehicles on this particular stretch of narrow road. My Visa card doesn't need the hit for body damage repairs to the side of a Bentley, thank you very much.

After stopping in Malibu town for some late afternoon frozen yogurt, we head home to bed down our ride for the night.

Day 3 – Burgers, Generals, and Tacos

Today I've agreed to pick up my friend Bob at Santa Monica Airport, drive him to lunch, take him to a private home in Pacific Palisades, and then back to his plane parked at SMO. I arrive at the agreed upon time, we head for the Santa Monica Freeway, and again I'm doing 80 before I even notice. I ask Bob to estimate our speed, and he guesses we're doing 55. 

With the windows up and the AC on, it's stunning how quiet the cabin of this super sports car can be. Bob raves about the interior, the quiet, and the smoothness. At driving speed, we can easily hear the other, even when we speak in whispers---there's no need for loud voices in a Bentley. There is nothing harsh or jarring about this driving experience.

We grab a burger at Duke's on the water at the south side of Malibu, and then head back to Sunset Boulevard toward Pacific Palisades. Sunset is legendary as an illegal road racing course, and for good reason. There are four wide lanes of twisty turns, perfect for a confident, poised, but powerful animal like the GT. The car hugs the road like it has Velcro tires.

At our destination we meet a retired 2 star general, who is happy to swap flying stories with Bob. We are given a tour of 40 years of service and memorabilia. I finally drag Bob away from his new friend and we drive back to Santa Monica Airport, where we are escorted by security onto the tarmac with the Bentley (see pictures). When you are in a Bentley, the world is a welcoming place.

Later that evening, I drive with my wife to Manhattan Beach for fish tacos at Wahoo’s, a small chain of surfer themed restaurants in So Cal. We are beginning to fit the GT into are daily lives and it's an easy adjustment. This beauty with a beast inside, seems part of the family now, tame and well mannered. Driving the Bentley along the water at Dockweiler Beach, we smell the fire pits and the burgers cooking. We suddenly long for s'mores.

Day 4 – Goodbye Mr. Bentley

Just as I'm beginning to feel quite proprietary toward the GT (I'm actually beginning to be under the delusion that the car really is mine), it's time to turn back into a pumpkin – the dream is over, and we must return to real life. But, in case it's of interest, we are willing to make an even swap for our slightly used CLK convertible. Just let us know where and when.

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