My new car, again... again

Soldato
Joined
16 Jul 2004
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Hi there

As a follow on from: https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/my-new-car-again.18930379 and https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/my-new-car.18880013/, you may recall my thread earlier in the year when I purchased a used Rolls-Royce Ghost to complement the Aston Martin V12 Vantage. The intention was to run both cars side-by-side, using the Ghost as the ‘every day’ car and the Aston for Sunday drives, special trips etc.

Soon after purchasing the Ghost we found ourselves hardly using the Aston, in fact really having to try hard to use it. The Ghost is such a good car and suited our every day use in and around London brilliantly. With a weekend spa break to Falmouth coming up we decided again that we would be using the Ghost. However, a poorly timed flat tyre meant this was impossible, and we made the 650-mile round trip in the V12 Vantage. In a way I was quite excited that we’d been forced into rediscovering the romance of the Aston on our trip to the Cornish coast. Unfortunately, while still ‘loving’ the Aston, it proved itself not the best tourer for British roads - much time spent in traffic and on the not-so-brilliantly-surfaced M25/M3/A303, together with quite a loud exhaust note at cruising speed, meant we didn’t enjoy the journey as much as hoped, or as much as we knew we would have in the Ghost. I decided then that it would be sold. It was around this time that I also started speaking to our Rolls-Royce dealer about a potential upgrade to the Ghost.

Fast forward to 23rd December, and we collected our Rolls-Royce Phantom VII Series II Extended Wheelbase:

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Our Phantom is a 2015 with just under 7,000 miles on the clock, and so feels as much a new car. It is painted Midnight Sapphire II and upholstered in Creme light with Navy blue contrast. It has a lovely crossbanded wood veneer all around the car that I think really sets it off.

The car is everything the Ghost was, but more “Rolls-Royce” in all dimensions. Softer, more comfortable, more luxuriously appointed, higher quality, somehow even thicker rugs, more serene, more imperial and stately, more insulated - and so on. With a new price nearing £400,000 it’s easy to understand why.

Being the extended wheelbase it is also enormous, measuring 6.1 metres long. I believe it is the longest car ever produced by Rolls-Royce, and one of the longest production cars to grace the roads. So long, in fact, that in China it is in the same vehicle class as a 20-passenger bus, and per UK traffic regulations it has orange side lights towards the front, middle and rear that are always-on at night, like a truck would. You can see the orange lamp on the bottom sill in line with the B pillar. Slightly odd but also slightly cool, the car appears as if it should have a motorcycle escort.

We’ve only had the car a couple of weeks but are thoroughly enjoying it. It’s a pleasure to drive and be driven in. The car will be back with the dealer soon to have a few preparatory works we were too impatient to wait for, the side marker lenses made clear, and a custom coach line added. I will add some new photos then, as well as update the thread from time-to-time with anything exciting!

Lastly, if anyone would like to buy the V12 Vantage or the Ghost, they are currently for sale here at £84,950 and £99,500 respectively

V12 Vantage: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070306415
Ghost: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201051017611
 
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Soldato
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Gorgeous. Looks more comfortable than my house. Probably bigger, too.
So this will be your only car, or will you be looking for something "fun" to complement it with again? Or is that not a priority anymore? Amazing as the Phantom is, I can't imagine it's much of a driver's car.
 
Soldato
OP
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Gorgeous. Looks more comfortable than my house. Probably bigger, too.
So this will be your only car, or will you be looking for something "fun" to complement it with again? Or is that not a priority anymore? Amazing as the Phantom is, I can't imagine it's much of a driver's car.
For the forseeable future it will be the only car.

There's a good short review here from Matt Prior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2e0LTQnniY It describes the driving enjoyment you do get, and how it steers beautifully accurately, and has perfect control weights. While at a 2745 Kg kerb weight it's not a sports car, it is incredibly nice to drive, and with a 460hp V12 mated to the ubiquitous ZF 8-speed automatic, it's not "slow"!
 
Soldato
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For the forseeable future it will be the only car.

There's a good short review here from Matt Prior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2e0LTQnniY It describes the driving enjoyment you do get, and how it steers beautifully accurately, and has perfect control weights. While at a 2745 Kg kerb weight it's not a sports car, it is incredibly nice to drive, and with a 460hp V12 mated to the ubiquitous ZF 8-speed automatic, it's not "slow"!

Oh, I didn't mean to imply it wouldn't be beautiful to drive or not fun. I just got the impression that the reason you switched from the M5 to the Vantage was to have something manual you could use as a bit of a toy to take for a B-road blast or something.

Do you have someone to drive you in it sometimes? Looking at the room in those rear seats, I think I'd like to spend as much time there as I would behind the wheel.
 
Soldato
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Oh, I didn't mean to imply it wouldn't be beautiful to drive or not fun. I just got the impression that the reason you switched from the M5 to the Vantage was to have something manual you could use as a bit of a toy to take for a B-road blast or something.

Do you have someone to drive you in it sometimes? Looking at the room in those rear seats, I think I'd like to spend as much time there as I would behind the wheel.
Ah sorry I see what you mean. I very much enjoyed owning the V12V and managed around 7000 miles in 2.5 years, including trips in France. By comparison, I managed 5000 miles in the Ghost in 7 months without leaving the UK. I just felt the desire to drive the Ghost much more than the V12V. I liked the idea of having a sports car for the B-road blast as you mention, but the practicalities of living in London mean it doesn't really happen very often. So, for now, no strong plans to add a second car. Perhaps when I move out of London.

In terms of a driver, no I don't, though getting someone for nights out has crossed my mind, as I'd much rather be driven to a bar or dinner in our Phantom than an Uber :p
 

mjt

mjt

Soldato
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Where on earth do you park such a gargantuan beast?!
Looks absolutely lush, but as @Conscript said, surely the EWB is best being in the back?

Either way, congrats. I mean, it's no Arizona Sun E46, but I guess it'll do for the modern age :D
 
Associate
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Was interested in the Vantage (Corsa + cash?) but your scathing review changed my mind. :p

Amazing cars all three though and the must be the envy of even the most prosperous of posters in this place! Do you mind sharing what you do for a living if it's not too personal a question? Crypto richo? Banking? Lottery?
 
Soldato
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My thoughts too.. Mutli-stories/ Tesco car parks etc must be a bit of a chore??
Funnily enough, one of the conditions of buying it was that I could park it easily in our underground space, and could park in the Canary Wharf parking. The dealer brought the car down to test both before buying, and it passed the test... though I does stick out of the bays a little bit!

Manoeuvring is surprisingly okay given the dimensions, there's very good steering lock, plus the parking sensors are accurate and the 360 cameras also useful.

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Soldato
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Ah sorry I see what you mean. I very much enjoyed owning the V12V and managed around 7000 miles in 2.5 years, including trips in France. By comparison, I managed 5000 miles in the Ghost in 7 months without leaving the UK. I just felt the desire to drive the Ghost much more than the V12V. I liked the idea of having a sports car for the B-road blast as you mention, but the practicalities of living in London mean it doesn't really happen very often. So, for now, no strong plans to add a second car. Perhaps when I move out of London.

In terms of a driver, no I don't, though getting someone for nights out has crossed my mind, as I'd much rather be driven to a bar or dinner in our Phantom than an Uber :p
Happy to oblige as long as I can get 4 weekends a year out of it :D
 
Soldato
Joined
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21,950
Funnily enough, one of the conditions of buying it was that I could park it easily in our underground space, and could park in the Canary Wharf parking. The dealer brought the car down to test both before buying, and it passed the test... though I does stick out of the bays a little bit!

Parking is surprisingly okay given the dimensions, there's very good steering lock, plus the parking sensors are accurate and the 360 cameras also useful.

GjJ1fMS.jpeg
When you say passed the test.............

:cry:
 
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