Thom Blackett’s 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Driving Impressions:
If nothing else, piloting a $187,475 Bentley opens a driver’s eyes to a whole new perspective. Few other sedans cost as much, garner so much attention, and put 552 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque to all four wheels. However, few other sedans tip the scales at nearly 5,550 pounds. Nonetheless, and despite its heavy feel, the Continental Flying Spur can move out with authority, provided the transmission is shifted into sport mode. That’s where off-the-line acceleration feels immediate, whereas regular drive mode unveils a slight delay when the light turns green. Some may think this delay amounts to turbo lag times two, but realistically it’s an effort to prevent quick, sudden takeoffs for coddled rear-seat passengers. Wherever the knob lands, shifts are virtually seamless, and all of that torque available at only 1,600 rpm propels the Bentley to the front of the line with surprising ease. Compared to lesser cars, humming along in the Spur at high speeds feels like a slow poke in rush-hour traffic.

Though it is quick, the all-wheel-drive Continental Flying Spur leaves room for desire in terms of handling. The ride is coffin quiet and extremely well controlled, even over hastily patched pavement, but push it a bit on a twisty road and the 19-inch tires let out a scream that has no place within the confines of Buckingham Palace. The front end has a tendency to push while the tail stays tucked in. Using a button on the center console, drivers can adjust the suspension to any degree between comfort and sport – doing so makes the ride firmer with no noticeable change in handling. The steering, which has a ponderous feel in a straight line yet takes on an unwelcome heft when turning, is also unaffected by adjusting the suspension settings. Braking is sure and effective, a good thing since stopping for gas stations may be a common occurrence – I averaged less than 10 mpg during my test drive.

Brian Chee’s 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Driving Impressions:
As hard as it is to imagine, the 2006 Bentley Continently Flying Spur sneaks up on you. Really, it does. When you mash the accelerator, that 552-horsepower, dual turbocharged W12 engine doesn’t so much explode off the line as it launches itself, smoothly, hitting its stride and stretching out, just like a big cat on the hunt for prey. Torque is rated at 479 lb.-ft. at 1,600 rpm, which is good, for it turns a heavy car squarely into an uber-luxury performance car. This is a Bentley for people who like to feel young, which is perhaps a different image than what Bentley used to have. This is no blue hair special, no sir, not with a top speed of 195 mph.

We didn’t reach 195 mph, content only to drive the car the way we felt most would – fast when we had to, but, for the most part, with a spirited coolness befitting the upper class. If there’s any doubt about the price tag, the answer starts with the mechanicals. Sure, that 12-cylinder engine is the same powerplant that can be found in the dearly departed Volkswagen Phaeton, but it’s significantly revised, to the tune of around 100 extra horsepower. On the road, the power is immense, the delivery smooth, and braking is handled by a huge set of brakes that would stop an enraged rhino on the rampage. The six-speed automatic transmission is very capable, though the paddle shifters fail to add to the experience. Come on – paddle shifters on a Bentley Flying Spur is like putting makeup on a thoroughbred – it is what it is, and what it is happens to be is beautiful, bold and proud.

While I didn’t put it through its paces in terms of aggressive handling, on “sport” setting, the way the suspension sets up as you head into a corner indicates plenty of control and grip for such a large car. That’s hardly surprising, given the 20-inch wheels and all-wheel-drive configuration. Inside, the driving experience is tip-top, quiet and smooth as ice. The seats have about a zillion different moving parts, and the feel of the controls is magnificent. Of special note is the shifter, with its etched chrome and inlaid “B.” Few vehicles offer this type of attention to detail, in my book. Then again, few cars cost close to $200,000, so – as the saying goes – you get what you pay for. When it comes to the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, what you pay for – and what you expect – is a powerfully civilized ride, from tip-top to beautiful bottom.

Ron Perry’s 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Driving Impressions:
There are few things that compare to a drive in a $185,000 car. All I can say is I found the comfort and style of driving a car like the Bentley Continental Flying Spur to live up to the hype. This car transformed me into the successful entrepreneur I’ve always wanted to be…even if only in fantasy.

Entering the Flying Spur, the feeling of luxury washed over me. The rich smell of leather and the look of French stitching and billet aluminum were overwhelming as I sat and tried to take it all in. The dash is a busy one and controls aren’t where I thought they should be, but in a car like this inconveniences are quickly forgiven. Fire up the twin-turbo twelve-cylinder and it quickly settles into a purr. Slide the jewel-like shift lever into Drive and the Bentley smoothly pulls away from rest. The Bentley feels heavy as it accelerates up to speed, but one stomp on the race-inspired accelerator pedal and the big twelve shows its stuff. Initially there is a delay and then the 552 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque kicked in and rocketed the Spur into the triple digits before I realized it was happening. The smoothness of the power delivery is simply amazing. The big Bentley is equipped with a set of brakes that have no trouble reining the 552 horses back down to a trot and steering that offers excellent feedback and control.

One expects a car like the Flying Spur to be soft and cushy, and over the bumps it is, delivering an incredibly smooth ride. Turn onto a sharp freeway on-ramp and Bentley shows its other side. This car also handles surprisingly well for such a heavy weight. We are not talking track worthy grip and response here, just good for a car of this stature. Few of these will ever be driven in a sporting manner but it’s nice to know the capability exists. Maneuvering around town there is no mistaking the Bentley for a small car. Tight corners must be taken wide so as not to scrape the chrome seven-spoke wheels on a curb, but the steering is light enough to allow you to pilot the Bentley with confidence.

Once the ride was over, the fantasy ended and the reality of driving a Toyota Tacoma swept over me. It’s a shame everyone can’t experience the Bentley mystique on a daily basis, but that exclusivity is what makes the car so special.

Christian Wardlaw’s 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Driving Impressions:
Flatten the 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur’s accelerator pedal, and sheer, ungodly, billowing speed is the result, but the ultra-luxe sedan’s isolation from the road and outside elements dangerously masks actual velocity, making it altogether too easy to cruise at 100 mph without realizing it. Keep your foot out of the gas, and the Bentley sets sail in a leisurely manner, chauffer-style. Punch it and the Flying Spur becomes a rocket, gathering immense force and feeling like it’s never gonna quit. The transmission shifts crisply when necessary, fluidly otherwise, and the Sport mode holds gears longer while also providing quick manual shifts using the beautiful shifter or cheap-looking paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. Approaching a stop, the transmission downshifts through the gears, adding engine braking and making it hard to slow the Flying Spur smoothly. Stoutly outfitted for reducing tall speeds in short distances, the Brembo brakes are calibrated to allow for limo stops, but it takes practice to get the pedal modulation just right because they can feel a bit grabby until you adapt.

At all times, regardless of the suspension’s automatic damping selection, communication from the road is sent to the driver through the leaden, syrupy steering and the solid underpinnings. At speed, the Flying Spur definitely feels more connected on the suspension’s firm setting, and around town the comfort setting is best. The Pirelli PZero Rosso tires grip decently, but the heavy Bentley isn’t a canyon carver, proving far happier on high-speed sweepers. Its steering has an unsettling dead-spot on center and at speed, and when the steamroller front tires get on uneven pavement the wheel can waggle though the car tracks straight and true. Steering effort off-center is too heavy at low speeds, and too light when flying down the highway.

Visibility is not good. The side mirrors are small, and they automatically dim at night, so the already limited view takes on an even darker tint. The large, rectangular rearview mirror is nice, but the rear headrests impede the view out of the already limited backlight. Additionally, the C-pillars are rather thick and the greenhouse is short. Combined with the fact that I was driving someone else’s $185,000 automobile, this visibility issue was nerve-wracking. Good thing the Bentley had park assist proximity sensors front and rear.

It’s not every day you get a chance to drive a machine like this. In Los Angeles, the experience loses some of its gawk factor (I see a Flying Spur or three every week during my normal commute), but the car is ridiculously fast and incredibly comfortable. Still, as good as it is, I didn’t see much beyond the Bentley brand name that would command such a huge premium over a Jaguar XJ Super V8. But then I’m probably missing the point.