Vehicle Description
This 2000 Bentley Arnage Red Label was the top-of-the-line, built
at a time when BMW and Volkswagen were busily picking apart
Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Fortunately, the good stuff stayed (the
twin-turbo V8) and the rest was heavily upgraded with typical
German precision. This might just be the best car Bentley ever
built.
6000 pounds of British sedan is going to get noticed, I don't care
who you are. But when it moves like a 5.0 Mustang and has the
coddling luxury of a Lear jet, well, things get mighty interesting.
If there's a better color for a bruiser like this, I don't know
what it might be, and the artisans who painted it were obviously at
the top of their game. Sure, it's 17 years old now, but the depth
of the finish, the precision of the bodywork, and the hand-rubbed
gloss just can't be faked, so this car still looks insanely
expensive. It's gigantic, but that's kind of the point, and this
black sedan will make your neighbor with his Escalade on 20s feel
like Pee Wee Herman, because this is a man's car in every way. The
big Bentley grille is easy to recognize and has the mesh insert
that denotes the fastest models, and yes, the Red Label does mean
there's a red 'B' on the nose of the car, just to let a select few
know that you bought the right one.
There still nobody who can do interiors like the British and the
stunning tan leather driver's compartment of this Bentley is simply
stunning. The chairs coddle the passengers, the wood is real burled
walnut, and there's nothing that you can touch that doesn't feel
insanely expensive. Big white-faced gauges are simple and elegant,
much like the Smiths dials of yore, and the controls are neatly
arrayed on the center stack. The entertainment system hides out of
sight in its own compartment in the center of the dash, and if
you're a previous Rolls-Royce owner, you'll surely recognize some
of the controls like the seat switches on the console and the
eyeball vents in the dash. Everything works, which should be
reassuring to anyone contemplating such a complex vehicle, and if
you're lucky enough to ride in back, you'll find your own A/C
controls, fold-down tables and a sinful amount of legroom. The
trunk is likewise large and well-shaped, and offers access to the
CD changer.
This car was originally designed for a BMW V12, but the Red Label
cars received Crewe's own six-and-three-quarter liter V8, augmented
by a turbocharger. As Tony Gott, chief executive of Rolls-Royce in
1999 said, "You didn't really think we'd make a new car into which
our own engine would not fit?" Thank you, Tony, because the engine
defines this car. There's limitless torque at any speed (more than
600 pound-feet are on tap) and your mind will struggle with the
concept of something this big also being this fast. The big Roller
V8 has proven its durability over the years and with proper
maintenance, it should run practically indefinitely, which is the
Bentley way. Stay out of the throttle and it wooshes along in
serene silence and never gets cranky, with the slick-shifting ZF
automatic transmission always finding just the right gear. Either
way, this Bentley is a visceral thrill. The suspension never puts a
wheel wrong and the brakes are insanely powerful, which is a good
thing considering curb weight is a bit north of 6000 pounds.
18-inch alloys are chrome plated, a little flashy maybe, but why
not, and are fitted with 255/50/18 Nitto radials.
This is not a car for just anyone. Because you can afford it
doesn't mean it's right for you. But if you're that rare kind of
man who understands why this car is special, it will reward you
like no other. Call today!