So, being given a Bentley for the weekend is one thing (she says casually), but being given the 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed is something else indeed. I learned this very fast. I screamed (like a girl) put down the phone and was met with a row of frowns. The boys of the offices were appalled. Why should someone such as me be given such a gift, I had no clue just what miracle of technology and mechanics was being given to me, I assured my boys I was worthy of this car and that I could drive it the way it should be driven. They shook their heads and walked away safe in the knowledge that I would be unable to appreciate such a beast. The joy of saying to people ‘oh yes I will be picking up the Bentley on Thursday’ was immense. I was in seventh heaven and I hadn’t even seen the car yet.
Off I went to collect this bundle of fabulousness, dressed appropriately in red soled shoes and massive shades, blonde hair as Lebanese big as I could get it. I sat in the shop and watched as this car, I say car, I want to come up with another name for it as its too beautiful to be called a car, pulled up to the door. Being handed a suitably weighty key was the beginning. I was shown how to push buttons to make the engine purr to life, how to adjust my seats and how to get the touch screen to work. I have to say at this point I was fairly nervous. As I rounded the corner away from the anxious looking man from Bentley who waved me out of the parking spot like I was a boeing 747 pilot, I thought I would see if I could go faster than 20kph. I nearly left the pavement. I honestly believed I was going to take off. Thus the first important lesson was learned. A Bentley does not require the same handling as a Ford Edge. I can see all you ‘car people’ shaking your head and silently mocking me. I don’t care. I am not a car journalist, nor am I hugely wealthy, I am a person who dreams of owning a car like this. I am also a person who was terrified I harmed it in any way.
By the time I was on Sheikh Zayed road and on my way home I was sold. The car was gliding and I was smiling like I had been told I have a lifetime supply of chocolate. Having been told I know nothing of cars I decided I would pay attention. That I would look at the car as if I was one of the boys. I did my research and it seemed that the one thing the new Bentley was being praised for was its new interiors, and its new ultra cool additions to the exterior. That, I thought, I can comment on. Easily.
The wheels of the Bentley have the trademark ‘B’ in the middle Enough to delight any female, talk to me of alloys and I will yawn, talk to me of shiny silver wheels with a monogram middle, now you are talking. Add to that a key that is weighty, shiny and very very Bentley. It becomes your latest fashion accessory. Forget the car for a moment, hard I know but humour me. Walking into a boutique with that little number hanging off your finger makes a sales assistant look up and take you very seriously all of a sudden. I am thinking about buying just the key as I cant quite afford the car yet. You will see I photographed the wheel of my new favourite thing. I was becoming very fond of the Bentley ‘B’. The inside of the car was all cream leather and tan piping, I was utterly delighted I was wearing matching Tan Louboutins. I have to note though, that despite having paid a fortune for the leather keeping my feet from burning on the tarmac, they were in no way a match for the leather keeping my jeans clad bum comfortable whilst I nipped to the airport to collect the girls.
I can report back having finally found the button to open the boot (no chipped nails here girls) that I managed to fit 3 overly large suitcases in the very roomy boot. Please note that this is 3 girls going away for 2 nights, the suitcases were indeed massive, (mine alone had 4 pairs of shoes) so for them to slide in amongst screeches of ‘watch the paintwork’ was very impressive. I have to note the cars first fault at this stage. There is a leather arm that raises for you to pop your iPod / lipstick / black amex inbetween the driver and passenger seat. However there is no real dashboard as such for a phone, you can leave it kind of next to the gear stick but it’s not a prime position. As I pointed this out to my two girls, it was suggested that this was a) a totally moot point as there is bluetooth and I just handn’t worked out how to use it yet and b) even if their wasn’t the leather was so soft it more than made up for needing a place for my blackberry. We then went on to discuss in detail how much we would pay if Bentley would make a handbag out of the leather of the seats. Please take note, if this happens I want a percentage, as it’s a fabulous plan. Make sure there is a heavy silver ‘B’ hanging from the side, guaranteed best seller.
We glided all the way to RAK, alternatively playing with the massive touchscreen dashboard, and listening to Little Maxine complain from the back that I should have brought her a DVD to watch on her screen, or at least a cup of tea so she could balance it on her little tray. She was having way more fun in the back it seemed. I love how people react when you pull up in a Bentley. It’s a sad thing to say, but the reaction you get from the Valet Team when you pull up in my blue beauty is vastly different to what I receive when it’s me and my Edna the Edge. I handed over the keys, and was utterly sad to see her being driven away, not so much the Valet Parker who was grinning broadly.
I spent the next 2 days driving all over in the Bentley, it was a delight. I have noted a few things that come with a Bentley :
You don’t mind getting lost. It’s nice to have no idea where you are, but know that you are the most comfortable you can be, and that everyone wants to be you. You could use the GPS but that would be too much like logic.
You do mind parking. Your blood pressure is up and you spend the entire time away from the car worrying if it is ok, almost as if it was a child. An expensive child that everyone is looking at.
You don’t have to wait for it. Your car is ALWAYS parked on the forecourt when you valet, this means it is hotter than other cars, but everyone is still wishing it was theirs.
You do get treated differently when you step out of a Bentley. It’s a statement. A very bold and unique one. Even bolder when a 29 year old Blonde gets out of one. That’s the fun part.
I loved the Bentley. I loved it so much it hurt, it was like a little pre-trial for having a baby. Although if I had a baby I would never have a Bentley. I think it’s a choice. I would also choose a two door, the 4 door is too hefty for a girl.
Congratulations on the Key though. Its spectacular, by far and away the best key I have ever seen. The car comes in a very close second.
