My new car, again... again

[PMKeates]

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:







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

 

[PMKeates]

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"!

 

[PMKeates]

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

 

[PMKeates]

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.

 

[PMKeates]

Do you mind sharing what you do for a living if it's not too personal a question? Crypto richo? Banking? Lottery?

I'm a senior executive for a medium sized international company.

 

[PMKeates]

Wow Sam, what a car, that is hilarious. I bet that thing is absolutely beautiful to use, I love huge cars, the size wouldn’t put me off at all. Amazing

Nothing else to add, hilariously awesome stuff.

Hah thanks Jez! I did think it would be right up your street It's hilarious how it makes a 'big' car like a 7 or an S-Class seem small.. it's about a metre longer than both in regular form, which is about the difference between one of those and a Fiesta

This is amazing, why the long wheel base if you are upfront driving? When you say “we” is this you and one other person, or are there more than 2 of you?

If you want an excuse to drive it I’ve got a few events coming up in London where myself some ladies could do with getting dropped off in extra style rather than in an Uber Exec

Hah, drop me a line with when and where and I'll see what I can do

It's just for me and the BF. To be honest we weren't looking for an extended wheel base in particular, it just came up and we loved it... so bought it! It's "only" 25cm longer than a regular car, but makes for a nice back seat experience for whoever we may be with.

 

[PMKeates]

Not the kind of car you drive in your jeans, hoody and dirty trainers Given your senior exec position at work (Are you still at/associated with Parkers?) I guess you also wear the uniform for the job, because I'd have to dress for the occasion behind the wheel of that, hat and all

Hah, you say that but if you look closely you can see my jeans and vans in the reflection of the paint! We went to a Christmas event at the dealership and met a lot of other owners and customers, and while there were a few well-to-dos, most people were really quite normal and down to earth

That's a really special car, well done. I can imagine that even the most boring drives must feel like an event behind the wheel of that.

Indeed it does. The Ghost also had the effect of making every drive feel special, but the Phantom is that taken to another level. It attracts quite a lot of attention, you notice a lot of people looking over to see who you are, and quite a few taking photos and videos, you get comments when parking and at petrol stations etc. It's all pleasant though.

Just wanted to check, does it have DSC?

It does indeed, it was another condition of purchase



And talking of the manual, check out the girth on this: https://i.imgur.com/L0f1Pwb.gif

Beautiful car, congratulations! - I also recall you having an e46 back in the day, a nice upgrade

Be careful of driving agencies, I accidentally fell into a little bit of chauffeur work a few years back, I given an assignment in which I was told to put on a suit, look smart and go to an address in Wilmslow, got there to be presented with the keys to an Alpina B12 e38 (which cemented my love of e38’s to this day) and drive a large PLC CEO to the Belfry Golf centre for an evening,the agency never even mentioned I’d be driving a car, I thought it was a posh truck job!

One job I did a few times involved a 7th generation Phantom , an 04/05 year I think, drove it on three occasions and will never forget it, I found it big - but still wonderful - to drive even though I had then not long passed my Class 1 hgv license, with hindsight I wish I’d diversified into it as the tips were amazing, especially when the Phantoms owner realised I was just a truck driver trying to earn a few extra quid on the side to support my then young daughter…

Alas, 20 odd years on, I’m still trucking and running around in old cars.

Enjoy.

Thanks, and yes I wouldn't use an agency, or at least I'd want to know specifically who the driver is and have some personal recommendations before choosing them. You could easily mash it if you were careless in the West End etc.

I love this recollection of an E46 when its actually in his signature

And there forever it will remain!

And to think the OP was wheel spinning a xsara at 120mph on some mud back in 2005ish iirc.

Top work @PMKeates never doubted you for a second .

The Phantom just has a regular open differential and I think you can turn the DSC off, so I imagine we can go off the clock with the big V12

 

[PMKeates]

It would certainly be a different sight for sure, suspect after a track day he would be needing new disc and pads all round in a car that heavy, but at least 4 people could go round in comfort.

Hah yes I'd hate to think of the wear on consumables time on track would create! Interestingly discs and pads are covered under the two year inclusive warranty and service package from Rolls-Royce Provenance...

 

[PMKeates]

Probably some small print somewhere which says "does not cover use on Nordschleife, Donington Park".

(My insurance exemptions exclude them specifically by name :s)

It would be interesting to see. My experience so far is that the reality of the service goes way above and beyond what is written down, and what is written down is not very much. E.g. I reported a rattle from the dash on the Ghost shortly after buying it. Rattles, trim etc. is not covered under warranty. They couldn't replicate it, but anyway stripped the dash down and put padding in and around the joins and touch points. It worked! No charge. The dealership I use have A-list celebrities, Lords and Ladies and royalty as their customers, and it shows in the level of service provided and how it is delivered - which is uncompromisingly professional, but at the same time very intimate, personal and friendly.

That's a lovely car. Can't help but think I'd be scared of parking it!

Hah I do have some reservations still, but no issues so far and I think it will be fine

 

[PMKeates]

Even on a vehicle that size rear view, let alone 360 camera, takes so much of the hassle/stress out of it. Even so at least personally I will still be researching/Google maps checking parking ahead of time :s

One of the upsides of the Phantom is that it's also a tall car - at 1.64m similar to most medium-sized SUVs like a BMW X3 - and you sit very high in it. It's also very square and boxy and so the corners are predictable. It's actually the height together with the 6m+ length and boxiness that grant the car its imposing stature.

I'm going to be nosey now and ask, does someone who purchases a car like this buy outright cash, or is it finance/business etc? If either, which makes more sense?

The dealer said that it's around 50/50 finance/cash purchases. Which makes most sense is a very individual question. I don't have that much cash to hand as such finance was the only option. If you are later in life and have piles of cash you aren't bothered about investing, then obviously cash makes sense. The APR on the dealer finance was quite reasonable, around 5%.

Personally, I think the Wraith would be the one for me.

The Wraith is very nice, but ultimately it's a Ghost-based car and not the same quality or class as the Phantom - hence the existence of the Phantom Drophead. The differences are hard to get across but as soon as you sit in a Phantom vs. a Ghost-based car, it's immediate.

 

[PMKeates]

In a way it seems sad that I'd have to buy a Roller, just to get the level of service I feel I should already get from Audi/BMW/Porsche dealerships.

Going to be waiting a while then

Enjoy this fantastic piece of luxury engineering.

I'd agree with you to an extent. I think the general expectation of service and somebody working in a Rolls-Royce dealership is higher than at an Audi or BMW etc. dealership. However, in reality, it's the dealership itself that determines the level of service more than the brand they represent. I was lucky really that the first RR dealership I went to is one of the best. Their motto is "attention to detail" and it shows. I think it helps they are independent and remain owned and run by the founders and their family, it's not a big glass box chain dealer.

Thanks for the reply. It’s insightful, and seems a fair apr on the sort of car it is.

Just out of interest did you not consider the Bentley Flying Spur first edition at all?

I did, but it didn’t appeal in the same way a Phantom did, and for a number of reasons:

• The Flying Spur is a segment/class below, which shows in the finer details. They’re very well put together cars with very nice materials, but the Phantom is a level above. The Phantom was built to be and is the best of the best. For example, compare the grab handles in the Flying Spur to the Phantom. One is a normal car grab handle, the other is a lovely piece of leather stitched in a strap loop, attached by a sprung metal hinge. There are many elements all over the car like this. The Mulsanne was Bentley’s competitor to the Phantom, which has now been discontinued, and they have tried to fit in the Flying Spur in. The Phantom is double the price of the Flying Spur.

• The Phantom is a much more classically designed and traditional interior. The dash is very simple and elegant, with minimal controls. The Flying Spur is an array of buttons. The interior volume of the Phantom is enormous, the floor is almost flat, the sides almost vertical with lots of glazing. It’s a much more “living room on wheels”, the Flying Spur is a low slung sports car in comparison, and I wanted comfort and luxury above everything else.

• I prefer the looks of the Phantom. It’s again a very traditional design, it was accused of being ugly when launched but I think has aged very nicely. It has an imperial and stately look, and they’re rare enough on the roads (and virtually unseen outside of West London) to still seem very special.

• I think the Phantom will be cheaper to own, amazingly. It’s an older car and out of the steepest part of its depreciation curve. The Flying Spur is just at the start, and they sell them in a volume that means that used values will struggle, making a more expensive ownership proposition. That said, a few out of warranty big issues on the Phantom could have me eating my hat!

• The Flying Spur really excels over the Phantom when it comes to technology - being a much more modern car than the Phantom's 2003 platform - and obviously performance. Much more power, better handling and grip, more dynamic and engaging. However, I wasn't after a gadget showcase - I basically listen to music on the car stereo and that's about it - and I very much wanted refinement, comfort and luxury above all else, and so the performance excellence wasn't a factor. The Phantom is not meant to be fast or dynamic, but is plenty fast enough to make very swift progress.

 

[PMKeates]

Years ago I had Mk2 -Mk3 Ford Zodiacs which were square and boxy and could park them in a gap a few feet longer than the car.

Now with my Focus I can't see any corner and struggle to park it.

Indeed. The Spirit of Ecstasy also helps - it sits probably 6" away from the front of the car, so it gives you a very pronounced sense of where the front is without having to use the parking sensors or the cameras.

He already said I think, was close to 400k. It is a big comfortable car you could even live in, worth every penny.

It was around that new, I paid less than half that It was relatively close to a swap, and factoring in the reduced cost of parking, road tax, warranty, servicing and insurance for the one car versus the two, it represents a bit of a cost saving compared to having the Ghost and the Aston!

 

[PMKeates]

hahaha... man love it... man logic it's what I'd say to the wife as well lol But yeah it will be... it's kinda like the best of both worlds in one package. a lot of coin... they hold their prices well long term? Might have a look at Autotrader hahaha... wondering what a 2004 jobbie goes for now.

Good Phantoms hold their values well, and by good I mean nice specification and colours, low mileage, excellent condition and a fully serviced and in-network car. There are just not very many of these about.

 

[PMKeates]

Hi all

Yes it’s mine Was great fun to film, and am enjoying reading the comments. James also a nice guy and would recommend anyone with something he hasn’t filmed to reach out and offer it.

For anyone who is wondering what the hell we’re talking about:

 

[PMKeates]

Whilst I don't comment much in motors forum I do browse for interesting threads and this is one of those. The Morrisons photo is simply brilliant

Whilst not everyones cup of tea I'm sure, this is an epic purchase and one to be proud of. certainly a bucket list tick

Whilst I'm sure you're enjoying this car, a question I have is. What car purchase could replace this?
Would you go the other end of the spectrum and have something completely old school and a rare collectable?

Well, in terms of replacing there is nothing else other than another Phantom - potentially a Phantom VIII. No other car is at the same level as the Phantom. For the moment I want just one car, and so it needs to be relatively modern in order to make sure it's reliable. In future I can imagine an expanding collection that will definitely include a few classics

 

[PMKeates]

We were delighted to be able to support Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee by showing our Phantom VII on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle in a display of 70 years of British motoring, as part of the Party in the Park. Thousands attended, and I decided to be brave and let people sit in the car and pose for photos etc. - it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say several hundred people took advantage of it, and for most of the day there was a long queue!

Here's a photo of the car moved in to position in the morning, which was a bit drizzly, but the weather brightened up around lunchtime and it was extremely busy in the afternoon - as can be seen from the photo on horseback!

 

[PMKeates]

It was good fun. Most people were very respectful, asking if they could have a sit etc. Met lots of interesting people... a Queen's Guard, the Queen's painting restorer, people working for Rolls-Royce, some lovely folks from Yorkshire - all sorts. There were a few wellies-on-the-seats moments with the younger kids, but in the end there was no damage to the car and just a few sticky fingerprints that will wash off, so all good

 

[PMKeates]

lovely car/venue didn't see much coverage on the tv.

The elephant in the room - you'd given your phone to a policeman on a horse ? or ... you participated in the equine event.

It was just a photo I'd seen published - horseback photo isn't mine

1) Congrats on your continuing success.
2) Beautiful machine.

I couldn't imagine owning one over here with all the inattentive drivers. I regularly watch people crash, go into telegraph poles etc.

The car is really quite big, it's almost impossible to miss!

 

[PMKeates]

oh oh

This vehicle's MOT is overdueYou can be fined up to £1000 for driving without a valid MOT
This vehicle may be MOT exempt, for more information refer to MOT exemption guidance

Except it isn't. The MOT History website is not correct. You can check the government's own MOT Check site and it shows as MOT'd: https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status

You can check the MOT History for the car by searching with the plate IIL8. I've no idea why the government can't keep their own databases synchronised.

 

[PMKeates]

Stunning motor... Does it feel that big on the road... My M5 feels huge.. Feels bigger than our X5. Country roads are twitchy and dont try Hardknott and Wrynose.... That was a mistake in the M5

It doesn't feel that big on the road, no. It's about 2 metres wide which is similar to most 'big' cars. The length of 6.1m is much larger than most, but that's only really an issue parking and slow manoeuvring. You feel the long wheelbase a little when driving enthusiastically, but it's not super noticeable. You do notice you are driving at a similar height/seating position to a mid size SUV, though, which is quite funny for what is a traditional saloon car You can park it next to anything and it commands attention.

Some examples of parking problems due to the length, nearly touching the wall one side and starting to go up the kerb on the other...



Does mean it's easy to spot in a car park though