We've always said the $2.78-million Bentley GT Continental is one of the silliest cars you can buy in Hong Kong, but how a silver model (above) glinted in last Saturday's sun, when Bentley Hong Kong's Raymond Wan backed it into his Causeway Bay showroom (tel: 2890 1918) after yet another test drive. GT sales are going well, he says, pointing to two more models in metallic grey and avocado. 'We have just delivered about 10 units and we've another 20 coming,' he says.
Foot Down loves the GTs on bigger roads, but reckons you'll get as much enjoyment in Jardine's Lookout in the new dark-blue Maserati V8 Coupe Cambiocorsa ($988,000), around the corner at Italian Motors (tel: 2529 2280). The Coupe's 4.2-litre, 32-valve V8 engine will take you to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, one-10th of a second slower than the Bentley, but at less than half the GT's price and with a better finish.
Don't wait up for the new BMW Mini convertible. The first batch of Hong Kong cars won't be built until October and deliveries will be 'two to three months later', say BMW Concessionaires (HK) staff. This means the new Mini, costing about $250,000 - a hoot to drive in Arles (below) - will probably miss Hong Kong's best soft-top weather. Never mind. The 1.6-litre Peugeot 206cc ($209,900) has better rear visibility; the fuel-efficient smart Roadster ($218,000) will make you feel you're racing at Monza, at just 60km/h; and you'll fit four adults more comfortably in the two-litre Volkswagen New Beetle soft top ($268,000). We also love the 1.8-litre Mazda MX-5 ($239,000), but think the 659cc Daihatsu Copen ($148,500) is still the funkiest reward for good exam results.
Finally, Alan Tam and Jack Lam of Saab dealers Forefront Motors (tel: 2508 0000) on Saturday showed us a couple of two-litre turbo convertibles: the 175-brake- horsepower Vector ($448,000) and the 210bhp Aero ($528,000), both fitted with a five-speed automatic gearbox and a paddle shift. The metallic lime green Vector seems comfortable and roomy for four adults, but the 93 convertibles face an uphill battle against Audi's 1.8-litre A4 Cabriolet ($494,393) and the Mercedes-Benz SLK200 ($428,000) in Hong Kong.
The Saabs are lovely cars, but Forefront's gloomy Ming An Plaza premises do them no favours in the shadow of Zung Fu's bright showroom across the street in Causeway Bay. Thanks to Zung Fu's army of window-dressers in Ying Pun Road, even the boring Mercedes-Benz C-Class looks interesting through big, bright shopfronts from the other end of the Lee Gardens, while the new Saabs' sleeker lines are obscured by the chrome-barred windows.
Forefront might see how Jebsen Motors (tel: 2926 2296) displays the new Clio Renault Sport V6 in its airy Happy Valley showroom. The two-seater, mid-engined Clio is a 255bhp rogue that's begging for a speeding ticket and, at $460,000, a nasty letter from the bank manager. But it's worth a look.