Bentley Turbo
Registered from 1990 to 1998.
About this model
The Bentley Turbo R is a high-performance automobile which was produced by Bentley Motors Limited from 1985 to 1999. The "R" stood for "roadholding", to set it apart from its predecessor. It initially inherited the turbocharged engine from the Mulsanne Turbo and also sported a retuned suspension and wider tyres on aluminium alloy wheels, a first for a Bentley. From the 1987 model year, however, the Turbo R's V8 engine was retuned with fuel injection for added torque. Motor Trend called the Turbo R "the first Bentley in decades deserving of the famous name" in their review of the car on its introduction to the United States in 1989.
From the Wikipedia article Bentley Turbo R, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1997 6.8 petrol. 32 of 223 tests failed, 14%.
Better than 92% of 1997 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 225 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 69% | 22 |
| Lights and electrics | 44% | 14 |
| Suspension | 25% | 8 |
| Visibility | 16% | 5 |
| Body and structure | 13% | 4 |
| Steering | 13% | 4 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 98% of 1997 cars — 69% of its 32 failed tests, where an ordinary 1997 car has 39%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 69% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
- Parking brake inoperative on one side
- Suspension — 25% of its failures
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded
- Steering — 13% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 44% of its failures
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 16% of its failures
- Body and structure — 13% of its failures
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 22% of its inspections, against the 26% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–60k miles | 7% | 19% | 54 | |
| 60–80k miles | 15% | 24% | 48 | |
| 80–100k miles | 22% | 26% | 50 |
152 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.