Bentley or E39 M5???

[robbie77]

In the next year or so I should have some money coming my way.

I have decided to allow myself about 8 grand on a car but I'm undecided which to go for.

I love British cars, I currently have 2 Rangerovers and an MG Montego.
I also love BMW's, having previously had various 6cyl ones.

Whichever I get, it will mainly be a weekend toy but by the same token that will include round town driving as well as motorways.
I have a lockable driveway for when it's not being used.

I would be looking for a Bentley to be from about 1986-1994.
Possibly a turbo, possibly not. I may even look for a Brooklands.

An M5 would be from about 1999-2002ish withing my budget.
I quite fancy having a 5 litre V8 'sleeper'

Fuel isn't particularly an issue and I've had insurance quotes too, neither is above £300 fully comp.

However, I realise that my budget is at the lower end for each car.

I don't want to get stung, so what are the pitfalls?
I know that an M5 will probably have been thrashed and that I'd need to check the brakes,suspension and arches on a Bentley.

Cheers

[composimmonite]

Bentley, like Rolls, of that age will probably have hidden rot underneath. They are all "fur coat and no knickers" - ie maintained to look good outside for weddings etc but neglected mechanically / underneath when they get a few years old and owners don't want to pay specialist service costs.
Also £8000 is low for a sound Bentley - double that and you will start to get into decent territory. A cheap Bentley will be a massive money pit - and that included ones in you price range so I'd say go for the BMW.
Have fun.

BTW My brother in law had a Turbo R from new. Lovely car. When he came to PX at 3 years old for a new Arnage it had lost £90,000 in value !

[Battles]

A pal of my Dad's got an eight grand Bentley Turbo last year, it's in very good condition.
Edited to say - The car was listed at ten grand and had been for sale for two months but his budget was firm. He took a punt and went to see it and the seller took the eight grand.
It's a '95 car, he bought it from the second owner.
Good eight grand Bentleys exist but he looked at a lot of wibblepoo before he found that one.

[pauly22]

I had an e46 m3 last year. Was quite the car.

[robbie77]

I know there's a lot of good and bad examples of all cars out there. What I should have said was if I get a Bentley, I'll either run it and keep it for a year just to say I've done it, or I'll rin it then store IT for a year as an investment