Dream Cruising a Rolls-Royce

Upturned thumbs aplenty, no digits noticed

Gary on 09.01.2006

Say Rolls Royce you a weekend loan of a $350K one of the most rare and exclusive new on the planet. What would you do?

The Car

Its classic Rolls Royce grille proclaims to all exactly it is. Its wide rear doors to the front and whisper shut Its sumptuous full-leather interior an average of 17 quality hides, its wood veneers are book with alternating feature and grains, and its carpeted floor are plusher than the wall-to-walls in folks’ homes.

The traditional round analog at dashtop center flips to reveal a 6.5-inch screen for (BMW iDrive-type) central functions and live local TV. The center wheel caps are so their big RR logos are always side up. The legendary Spirit of hood ornament, once a item for unscrupulous non-owners, out of sight at the push of a button and the car is locked.

Each new Phantom some 260 hours (10.8 for skilled craftsmen to assemble to 30 hours for the average new car. In 796 were sold worldwide, 382 of in North America through 29 dealers, and one each in Canada and Tiny as it is, that global bested Mercedes’ rival by nearly three to one.

In reality, this car competes with private planes, and vacation homes.

Rolls Phantom owners are typically with three or four and five or six other cars. Not royalty and heads of state, are self-employed (famous writers, and athletes) or heads of privately companies. Only about a have names or faces we recognize. Outside the U.S. 80 percent of new Phantom owners interior materials, like a house.

In America, barely 20 take advantage of that U.S. gamblers and liability who hit a big jackpot want their new Royces right away.

The Cruise

The Woodward Dream started 12 years ago as a one-time for local gearheads to relive the years of Detroit motor when cruisin’ the famed avenue between drive-in and cokes often led to impromptu-and deadly serious-racing. Some nights saw people sitting both curbs to watch.

So I am with my borrowed super-status wearing a rented chauffeur cap for wondering how it will be received. well, it turns out!

Some fellow cruisers trades. One couple offers a Bentley racer replicar. A packed group of four agers and three golden offer their mid-’60s decked out with Golden signs.

They say they’ll in the dogs. I politely decline. Two (probably dealers) at GM’s Coney Island hospitality offer an employee discount on new.

Off the avenue, approaching the Townsend Hotel in the upscale of Birmingham, I watch the valets’ light up then drop in as I cruise on by (that felt but strangely satisfying). I use the wonderful and necessary front and rear distance sensors and cameras to into a tight spot. A with an Eastern European asks to take a picture of the I take her picture taking the

A man inquires about the color, a brown called dark that was once reserved for royalty. An SUV-load of teens to ogle and shout, Nice and some other hip superlatives never heard before. Two say it reminds them of the evil car in the movie The Car.

The next my wife and I dock the Rolls in a house parking lot for a few minutes. our return, some people our pictures through the windshield. they’d waited to see what look like.

Guess we disappointed them.

My Phantom, actually $328,750 $19,000 worth of options and a federal gas guzzler tax, a surprising 16 mpg for the weekend, which some 180 miles of high-speed running. It had posed for a lot of pictures and had a lot of days, including mine. It back tomorrow. So does the cap.

Sigh.