'I bought a Bentley for less than UK's cheapest new car and was surprised by discovery'

As the cost of living, socialising, commuting and heating skyrockets, so too does the cost of driving. Consequently, more Britons are opting for used or nearly-new cars.

This trend is largely due to new cars being pricier than ever. For instance, even the most affordable new vehicles on the market exceed £13,000.

Data from the RAC reveals that as of July 2025, the cheapest new car available is the DaciaSandero, with the Romanian model setting drivers back around £14,715.

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However, motoring journalist Mat Watson took a bold step and snapped up a 2006 Bentley Continental GT for just over £10,000.

Earlier this year, Mat put his Bentleyhead-to-head with a brand new model to see how they stacked up against each other, and to assess whether his purchase had paid off.

Speaking on the Carwow YouTube channel, Mat concluded that his punt had been worthwhile. He said: "I'm amazed at how good this car is for the money. Yeah it's got a few faults, but we'll get them fixed."

"I reckon it's going to come to around £15,000 for a sorted old Bentley Continental GT, which just feels so expensive and special even today, and way more special than £16,000."

Earlier in the video, he'd noted how older cars often exude luxury after talking to the public about how expensive they thought the car was. He said: "People will think you are a lot richer than you really are if you buy a cheap old Bentley even if one big fix could bankrupt you."

While Mat believed that investing in an old Continental GT had been a good decision, he did admit that the driving experience left him feeling the model's near two-decade age.

He remarked: "This car does feel pretty old to drive. The steering is a little bit disconnected and, ultimately, if you really do start pushing this car, it's going to start nosing wide in the bends so you just waft along and then get on the power when you come out of a turn."

Mat isn't the only motoring journalist to praise the Bentley Continental GT as a worthwhile used car investment. AutoExpress journalist Ellis Hyde included it in his trio of alternatives to a brand new Range Roveras part of a £100,000 three-car garage.

Explaining his choice of the Continental GT, he stated: "The Bentley Continental GT offers sophisticated style, stupendous speed and a pillowy ride, making it the perfect car for crossing counties, countries or entire continents if you have the time.

"This particular example we found had covered just over 26,000 miles, yet the gorgeous interior looks factory fresh and features quilted leather just about everywhere you look."