DRIVEN + VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz's S65 AMG Coupe — Why Bother With A Bentley Continental GT Anymore?

The S Class coupe is the most beautiful coupe ever built in my opinion. Perfect proportions and gorgeous from every angle.

To *me* it's all about a sense of style and stateliness. The Bentley Continental looks regal, yet timeless, like a classic Canali suit. I just don't get that from today's Mercedes.

I feel Mecedes used to have some of the most beautiful designs around, in the last days of their quad round headlights when they had the most beautiful sedan (E-class) and roadster (SL). They were positively stunning. If you took me off the planet for the last decade, and returned me and showed me this car, but with a Lexus logo on the grill, I'd say it was a logical styling progression for Lexus, but one that'll come and go with the changing of the calendar.

Styling aside, I wouldn't be surprised in the Mercedes outperforms the Bentley.

Eh, there's no way the Bentley Continental GT is timeless.

Everytime I see it I can't think of another phrase except for "played out."

'00R writes "...Everytime I see it I can't think of another phrase except for "played out.""

Every time I see today's Mercedes, the phrase that comes to mind is "trendy." Today's trendy is tomorrow's dated. Mind you, lots of people are into trendy, so it appeals to them. To each their own.

You still do not get it.
A Mercedes - is simply not s Bentley. It may as well be a Corvette - it is not the Upper crust Luxury car that a Bentley is. It is NOT a matter of performance - and never will be. Bentley and Rolls Royce and Ferrari/Lamborghini and some other super exotics - are simply a class above all other cars in both rarity and desirability. For decades -Rolls Royce did not even publish Engine power numbers (Adequate was their term) because it did not matter.

And for those who want the cachet' of a Bentley - a Mercedes is a mass market - mass produced car - for those who cannot afford the very best.
Virtually ALL owners of these vehicles will never actually drive them at anything approaching their limits - only the uncivilized Riff-Raff would even attempt to do so - and it is those who try to compare - and in doing so - specify their complete lack of class.

Jeez, this may be one of the most ridiculous comments I've ever read.

You've drank the kool-aid.

A Bentley, while stylish and a representation of "the best" simply isn't that at the moment. The Mercedes has a better design, MUCH better technology and, frankly rides just as well as a CGT.

After spending a lot of time in both the latest CGT and S-Class Coupe you'd have to be out of your mind to pick the CGT at this stage in the game.

Agree with TomM or not, he has a point. The Mercedes brand has offerings that start at US$31,300 for a GLA-Class SUV, and run as high at the top as the car featured in this article, the S65 AMG Coupe for around a quarter million. Bentley's entry-level offering is around the quarter million mark, and they go up from there.

Bentley truly is in a different class than Mercedes, and Bentley owners know it. It doesn't mean Bentley is "better," because better is a highly subjective thing. It does mean they're more exclusive, they command more presence, and they are widely associated with greater affluence than Mercedes. Bentley, like Rolls Royce, is a Millionaires' Brand, and that matters to some.

Agree with TheSteve I believe they are somewhat in a different class but nowadays most old money (both multi millionaires and billionaires) are mostly subtle and prefer to drive something like the Mercedes than the Bentley. People that purchase a car like this are just as wealthy as someone that purchases a Bentley. I drive an MB (my second) and when I am at BRUMOS JAX, I don't even look that way (where this car is parked) since its way out of my league.
On the other hand "nouveau riche" love to show their new found wealth (ie. NFL players, NBA players, movie stars) and they love those Bentleys. Just look at people like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and so on, look at what they drive. Now look at all the new billionaires in Russia and China as compare their rides.

Anyways, this is one hell of an automobile. If I had the money, I would have one as my cruiser in my stable.

'00R writes "...you'd have to be out of your mind to pick the CGT..."

Or perhaps someone who has different preferences than you, rather than insanity?

All of you have a point but , besides the "Exclusivity", the CGT does not surpass the the S65. Inside the S65 looks a lot better, outside too. Performance wise it also better; reliability, I bet also in that is better than the CGT. If you buy a car because is exclusive and your are a Bentley fan, that's ok, but definitely the S65 have a lot more for anyone.

exclusive doesnt always mean better. after 10 months, i got rid of my maserati ghibli sq4 and can honestly say i like just about everything more in BMW than maserati except the looks and exclusivity.
bentley in this case is probably the same. not necessarily better, but you are paying to look different.

So for my "play car" I have a Bentley GT Speed and before that I had a Mercedes CL550. I have not driven the new S Class coupe, but I am sure it is even better than the CL 550. The CL is like driving the most state of the art (back when I had it), most luxurious car two people can ride in. It is an amazing car and I would have one again. The Bentley is like driving a work of art. It feels like the real deal. It feels like everything is the best it can be, like a guy in England spent hours making sure every surface is perfect. It is sportier than the CL, it howls when you step on the gas. It is handmade, more old school than the state of the art robot perfected CL. They are two different cars. The Mercedes is amazing, smooth, calm and luxurious. The Bentley is a handmade work of art that lets you know it doesn't get better than this. The thing will thrust you back in your seat and puts a smile on your face when you drive it. Both amazing cars and one should cost more than the other, they are very different automobiles.

Its a matter of taste - Some people think the Bentley is incredibly tacky and some people think the Mercedes is incredibly tasteless (insert your stereotype of choice here). So they each appeal to their own market and customer.

Its completely wrong and simplistic to say "the richest people buy the Bentley because its the most expensive" - each car has its niche.

I would argue that because the Bentley is much flashier - its owner will always have a bigger ego and flashier personality, but might not be wealthier than that MB buyer.

Maybe the Bentley is purchased to impress people but the Mercedes is purchased because (since it is built by robots) it is a more functional and reliable daily car.

Well, most people buy Bentleys and Rolls Royces as status symbols. The Merc may be technically better but it doesn't have the cachet and cadre of the aforementioned cars.
If I was a millioneire I'd go for the Bentley and view the Merc as made for the snot-nosed proletariat-nouveau riche attempting to gate-crash the party but not having enough class to realise they bought the wrong car!