Automotive

Pros:Surprisingly lithe and agile for a 5000lb+ behemoth; Great acceleration, nice drive train sounds, smooth yet quick transmission Planted handling, well calibrated and appropriate for the vehicle - not too stiff, yet doesn't "waft" and wallow so much i...  

One of the major advantages of the Mercedes CL (besides the handsome but understated styling) is the fact that the rear seat and trunk are incredibly usable. One can truly seat four adults for long trips in the back with relatively little complaint. Can t... 

but the rear seat space is comparable. But the dropping tail gate on the Bentley GT V8 is Uber cool. (space comments eyeball subjective; I haven't compared the cubic space measurements, but as anyone who has actually used a car knows, cubic space measurem... 

Have an 06 and not too much changed per se. Rear seats are usable yet not elegant to enter/exit. Trunk is extremely usable is real life and fits quite a bit. Agree with review about her hiding her weight well. What impresses is usability over specs/number... 

"What impresses is usability over specs/number game" - precisely. Well said! Cheers, TM

The rear seats are much more functional since the introduction of the 2012 model, the backs of the front seats were redesigned to allow for another 1.5 inches of leg room. Af far as the trunk goes the space is good unless you purchase the optional Naim st... 

and a two time, returning owner at that! I've always heard the early examples "driove and rode like a truck" - for sure the 2013 GT V8 didn't! Any thoughts on this? TM

The 07 GTC was great on the highway but a little rough riding around town, not quite like a truck. May have needed a little suspension work at 42K miles to tighten things up. The 12 GT does have a much smoother ride around town than the 07. JerryW

Jerry, what mode was the suspension set at and what rims were being used? i find that many people seem to like the 21 and higher rims, which can do harm to the handling such as you described. Of course suspension mode can change the feel quite a bit, too.... 

I always thought the BMW 3-series coupe was a fantastic car. The interior materials were very good. The car drove extremely well, the handling was sublime. I've only driven the 328i coupe, and I can't say I loved the brakes on that car, but otherwise the ... 

There are an awful lot of us to sum up our positions on those marques in a single paragraph.

:-) Yeah, I agree, the inherent nature of generalizations and "image" no? I'd love to explore the issue in another thread - every generalization, no matter how well founded (eg, "Italians" as if all Italians were homogeneous...) has powerful exceptions. S... 

So far it's the only car tat doesn't make my back aches while driving. Really looking to get back to it in a few years, possibly the V8.

to the marque. The designers (and we know one them) have brought with them an understanding of what Bentley always was, and now is again. Exceptionally engineered and designed "world's fastest bus". And that is meant as a compliment. W.O. was quite the br... 

Engineered as Phaetons... rebodied as Bentleys. What ties have been left uncut?

like the Phaeton would drive like the Bentley GT. I've tried both; they don't. :-)

And I prefer the Phaeton :-) But both bow down before the sheer presence of a Continental T. But wasn't asserting that the cars are the same, just challenging the idea that Bentley has been brought closer to its roots (whatever they are) under VW.

Hi, BDLJ, Interestingly, you prefer the Phaeton, I prefer the Continental GT (wait a minute, why are we comparing a smallish large sedan with a large coupe?) - just goes to show that, assuming we "experienced" the same thing - taut if civilized ride, hand... 

...for the Phaeton. One, because it is a bit of an automotive orphan and two, I was fortunate enough to drive a very early production version in Germany a decade ago. But it also comes down to what I expect of big sedans. I'm after comfort and ride with c... 

Hi, BDLJ, "...for the Phaeton. One, because it is a bit of an automotive orphan" I'm a softie for orphans underdogs (not the same) too; I actively try to filter for this personal bias when I evaluate something but of course it weights strongly in my final... 

At the risk of boring everyone, I'll continue :-) I understand what appeals about the Frankencars or Q-cars. And the E39 epitomises that, but I'm getting boring in my old age and am unsure whether the handling gains outweigh the ride losses. (refering to ...