Is Everything Not Enough?

2013 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed

(This listing is from Cars & Bids.)

This Bentley Flying Spur managed to stall out at auction just north of $47,000 because apparently one of the greatest luxury driving experiences ever can’t compete with your fear of a decade-old V12 built by British townies being glared at by German accountants.

And yes, we’re singling you out. Not mad. Just disappointed.

Because you were once the type to jump all over a chance to let some rich asshole eat six figures of depreciation so that you can roll heavy with the clear conscience of someone who actually pays taxes and has never lectured your DoorDash driver about bootstraps.

But no. You’ve let heart and soul take a fold-down third row backseat to practicality and decided that fifty grand is totally reasonable when it comes to egg-shaped compromises designed by an aerodynamics algorithm but suddenly a stretch when it comes to something that probably came in off lease from Drake.

For less than the cost of a poorly-equipped modern E-Class, you could be rolling in a Bentley, giving up nothing in the deal beyond a factory warranty and four linear feet of MBUX infotainment screens.

This Flying Spur retailed for $215,000 and that was in 2013. You might not remember this, but 2013 dollars hit differently. Back when Chrysler wouldn’t dream of asking $100,000 for a Wagoneer reboot and slightly before supercar execs started selling million dollar low volume variants to the same 11 people over and over, $215,000 was real money.

So yeah. Grab one of these on the cheap and separate yourself from the dude who wrongly thinks he outwitted a local sales manager after paying the same for a new Toyota with “just a bit” of ADM.

You’ll be making a statement—one that identities you as a bonafide enthusiast of reasonable means, moderate recklessness, and unrepentant appreciation for everything a car can be. It’s a GT in the truest sense of the term, harkening back to when “GT” meant eating up effortless miles on the open road and not just a trim package for people who want a better sound system and lumpier hood.

There is not a better luxury driving experience in the ballpark of $50,000, at least not one with 13,000 miles on the clock waiting for you on decade-old tires that you’re really going to want to change.

This auction came and went without clearing a reserve that was less than the MSRP of every midsized SUV at your local BMW store. It’s an indictment of every enthusiast with internet access that we’re even having this conversation.

So quit sitting on your hands and channel the automotive joy you want to see in the world. Click here. Hit buy. Then take a breath and say it slowly with us: I drive a fucking Bentley.