A Phantom in Ghost Town

I wanted to find myself in a place that would help highlight the luxury that I am about to describe.  Having had coffee in one of the popular coffee chains, I knew just the spot.  Caramel latte ordered! Something smooth, sweet and a treat only at the weekends.  The ambience is nice, with what I believe to be Straus just notable to the ears.  The café is not too busy and for once there seems to be a more mature client, reading books or having what has been most forgotten over time, a conversation. 

It is a dream for anyone, to have the chance to drive or to be collected by a Roll Royce and be conveyed in luxury.  I had the chance to drive the magnificent Rolls Royce Phantom.  The senior of the fleet. Conveyed yes but with the chance to feel the Phantom, feel the history and feel the passion and classic essence of Mr Rolls and Mr Royce without distraction.

With most cars that I drive there is a pause, a pause to draw in the feeling of the car and with every car there is notable difference.  The senses come alive in the Phantom initially drawn from your first site of this colossal statement. Draw a breath of the finest leather, run your hands along the stitching, across the dash and you will feel the quality infecting the senses with the pride that the company takes in it’s building.  Wooden panels with almost 3D effect decorate a dash that highlights years past. Dials with elements of classic time pieces and such a fine feel too the thin pencil like stalks and switches, elements of Art Deco.  I felt stately, lest of course the manor house to drive majestically from.  I could imagine deer roaming the estate, Grounds Man trekking around with shot guns and tweed caps on shouting ‘Good Morning’ as the Rolls passed by. Your mind and imagination are thrown back 80 or more years.  Though this car may have been built with some of the latest technology, its hidden and the effect deliberately turns back time the moment you close the door.

Push the key into its place; press the small pearled effect start/stop button and the Phantom wakes as if to have been woken by soft music and a warm glow of sunshine through soft fabric covered windows. There is no movement, hardly a noise. I chose not to use the stereo; the sensation of quiet and majestic movement on the road was a treat indeed to the emotion the car gives. I didn’t need to hear the engine, this is a Phantom and I wanted to feel this in true Rolls Royce style.  The car feels close to floating, a magic carpet ride and masking imperfections from the road. The faint wind noise helps highlight there is movement but a movement you need check.  To hear the wind noise you need to monitor the speed.  With such a quiet, calm ride you can find yourself doing twice the speed you thought the car was going.  Cruise control was the best cure for this.

The power of this machine could run a country.  The V12 turbo engine, which seemingly has been bolted in with marshmallows is amazingly well tuned. You feel hardly a vibration in the car during any action.  If to put the 569bhp to a heavy foot, you will feel no less aware that the power has been placed. No lurching, no obvious turbo lag can be felt, just the caution to understand that this is a heavy car. Cornering at speed and the car sticks, braking and the car will stop extremely well, it’s going nowhere but you can feel the weight of the car.  It’s not a sports car though; this is not a car to throw round a race track as many wish to do in review. Mature understanding here is the key. This has some of the latest tech and suspension under the cover and all together highlights that you and your important passengers are safe. 

The Phantom has an array of personalised features. You may change the leathers, the woods, the colours of the fine wool car mats and so on.  Whatever your choices this car will no less than make you feel fresh and confident when you step out after your journey.
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Rolls Royce sales are forever increasing, 2014 having been one of their best years.  It shows that they are still following the essence and passions of the Founders, something that many car makers fail to do.  The innovations of the present are still in this car, without the need to compromise the true essence of Rolls Royce. A trait lost by many car manufacturers.