Now not many of us will ever be in the position to purchase an automobile the price of the average house. But if the chance arose, there is no doubt you would probably buy a Rolls Royce.
The Ghost is the entry level into the brand, a snip, starting at £222,888. This Ghost however was optioned up to three bed semi-detached money – £281,184 to be precise.
So for the price of family living you get a 5.4 metre long, 2.3 ton, 593 BHP, 780NM of torque, 6.6 litre, V12, private jet on wheels. And it’s nothing short of that.
Interior
Climbing into the driver’s seat feels like an event in itself. Opening the heavy door with a resounding click, the cabin is already illuminated as if it was sitting in a showroom.
Your eyes are met by the cross banded Paldao veneer, a wood found throughout Indonesia and the Philippines.
Next you notice the stunning white leather and dark blue stitching. RR monikers sit proudly centred on each headrest.
Sit yourself down and feel the comfort of the seats, it’s like sitting in the comfiest, most supportive armchair ever. Thick lambs wool carpet envelopes your shoes.
The headlining is lit up as if it was the night’s sky as seen from the International Space Station, dark black, pierced by different sized fibre optics. It can be brightened or dimmed with a push of a switch.
Outstretching ones arms your hands fall upon the impossibly thin steering wheel. It really is delicate to touch, and your movements have to be equally light once in motion.
Moving to the back seats and the experience becomes even more luxurious. Reclining, heated seats, infotainment displays and full control over the cars sound system. There is enough leg room to stretch out without touching the front seats, even for the more vertically stimulated.
Drive
Retrieve your foot from the deep pile, press the brake pedal and then the start button to the left of the steering wheel. The gauges fire into life, there is a very faint sound of life from under that gargantuan bonnet, but apart from that the Ghost is…well…Ghostly.
It’s practically silent in most circumstances. The only time you can coax it into anger is with foot fully to the floor, then you are met with a thrumming as the twin turbo’s spin up and the revs rise.
This thing can shift though. 0-60 is achievable in 4.7 seconds. That is as quick as the new Ford Focus RS.
Thing is, you lose all notion of speed…you are so well insulated from the outside with double glazing all round, swathes of wood, leather, and metal cocooning you it’s hard to grasp the sense of speed you would normally get a feel for.
You end up approaching stationary cars at 50 as it feels like 30, thank Christ for the head’s up display – you soon adjust.
Luckily the Ghost has equally massive 395mm front discs and even bigger 402mm rears, and weighing in at 2.4 tons it needs them.
You would never really want to come to an emergency stop in a Rolls, it’s just not the done thing, but it’s nice to know you can if the worst ever happens.
Steering is little finger light. You can actually use said finger to steer the Rolls. It’s exactly how a car of this ilk should be, effortless. You get no feeling through the wheel at all.
Pot holes are taken with a dull thud that doesn’t trouble the cabin, it glides over the road as any Rolls Royce should.
Since 1998 Rolls Royce have been owned by BMW, and a few things do taint the Ghost’s appeal. The reskinned BMW iDrive infotainment is simply superb, why would you even attempt to outdo what has already been done – that I can let pass.
But for this money there should really be no tell-tale signs that the Ghost is related to a 7 series.
But look under the boot carpet at the spare tyre kit, and you find a warning triangle in a black plastic casing with BMW stamped on it in big letters.
Peer through the grille and catch a glimpse of the top of the radiator and you see a small BMW logo…it’s the little things.
When so much attention to detail has been given throughout the Ghost, you cannot help but think they should have extended it to omitting any and all BMW branding. Especially for a car costing over £220,000.
Exterior
You can spec your Rolls in any colour on this earth, ours was in a rather refined and sensible dark blue, finished off with a two tone satin silver bonnet and hand painted pinstripe running along the side.
It looked incredible, the silver bonnet really makes the Ghost stand out, especially when matched with the highly polished front grille.
Yet more chrome can be found on the mammoth 20” alloy wheels, they won’t be to everyone’s taste but they were rather dignified in appearance. You can’t not love the self balancing centre caps as well, very classy.
Conclusion
After 5 days in the Ghost’s company you can see why the very rich buy them. It’s a statement, a work tool, a way to be ferried from London to Edinburgh in utmost comfort.
Yes, it may be the price of a house, but it’s a damn sight cheaper than a Learjet.
Carwitter Summary:
Rolls Royce Ghost – Supreme luxury, effortless pace, ultimate in customisation, cheaper than a Lear jet!
