Car Review: Rolls-Royce Phantom – as big, luxurious and iconic as ever
Alan Sugar drives one. So does Simon Cowell. But, by and large, owners of the Rolls-Royce Phantom prefer discretion. For every ostentatious celeb with a Roller there will be 10 discreet owners who hide behind the tinted, double-glazed windows.
Yet it’s impossible to avoid people stopping and staring when you drive one. It may have been around for 11 years but there is no denying the impact this car still makes.
I took it from Hertfordshire to Wells in Somerset with a large group of friends for a walking weekend. The reaction was interesting. Most were so fascinated I had to organise a daily seating rota.
Others point blank refused to express any interest whatsoever. I can understand that viewpoint – a Rolls-Royce is the ultimate expression of one-upmanship. You could use the same argument for disliking the Royal Yacht Britannia, but you’d be crazy to decline a guided tour.
And take a guided tour of the Phantom and you can’t help but be impressed – the interior is like no other car. Opulent beyond expectations, there are all the luxuries we’ve come to expect, like the deep carpeting and layers of wood and leather. Beyond that there are surprising details to delight, like the push-pull knobs for the chrome-plated air vents, the fridge between the rear seats and the impressive entertainment system built into the back of the front seats.
The seats are big, clubby and extremely comfortable. From the driver’s perspective, the steering wheel is both huge and very thin-rimmed. The controls for everything else are to Rolls-Royce’s standards, not anyone else’s, which takes a little acclimatisation.
This is a truly massive car. I telephoned the Crown at Wells to warn them I needed a big parking space. They arranged for me to park in the mayor’s spot in the town hall over the weekend (though I somehow doubt the council buys anything quite so flashy for its leader).
Winding around the cobbled streets, the marvellous thing about the Phantom is its tight turning circle, which enables you to get through seemingly impossible situations. Park it up if you can find enough space – this is where the chauffeur becomes a necessity – and the rear doors hinge open theatrically from the back. They power close at the touch of a button.
In the latest Phantom 2 form, the Rolls-Royce’s headlights have become LEDs, it has a new navigation system and there are cameras all around that give you a bird’s-eye view for tight manoeuvres.
And in a nod to sustainability, a new, eight-speed transmission lowers CO2 and improves economy. I saw 20mpg on the run down the A303, which, in Rolls-Royce terms, is pretty remarkable.
That’s partly the result of the relaxed approach to driving the Phantom encourages. While the 460hp V12 can rush you forward in an unseemly manner if you choose, I found it easier to relax into a 60 – 70mph gait and just enjoy the comfort and lack of noise.
The air suspension provides a very comfortable ride, but this is the last car in the world that you’d want to hustle along a country road, no matter how much space you have; come to a corner and the laws of physics take over.
Rolls-Royce is owned by BMW and the German company introduced new standards of quality into the bits you can’t readily see. This makes the Phantom a car that can be appreciated on many levels, not just on luxury. Don’t bother looking online for a price; you won’t find one. “My” car was £387,612. Spoil yourself, it’s a real treat.