Rolls-Royce has been the last word in high-end luxury automobiles since its inception before World War I.  I’ve always gone beserk upon laying eyes on anything they’ve made, from the breathtaking Silver Cloud to the modern, yet still classic Phantom sedan.  But, I never knew that I would have an opportunity to drive one, let alone two, until I went to Monterey for the Concours last month.  I have seen the light, and it is bright and shining.

The car we have here is half a million dollars.  Yup, adjust your glasses, refresh this page, do whatever that’s needed to get that across.  The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is the most expensive car Rolls-Royce sells.  It weighs close to three tons, seats four in glamorous comfort, and has more presence than pretty much any car on sale today.  Needless to say, I was excited to drive one.  It is truly hulking to look at–this car doesn’t hide its weight or size, with thick roof pillars, heavy fenders, and massive 20-plus inch rims.

Finished in a clean dark red with a light tan leather interior, this particular Phantom came with power everything, including the doors–at a press of the button, the doors motor themselves shut.  Of course, the requisite umbrellas pop right out of the door, and the amount of room inside would put a Ford Excursion to shame; I’ve ridden in an Excursion quite a few times in my life, and the Phantom has more legroom up front.  The seating position is a bit shocking at first, as it is higher than one may expect for a convertible.  But, once I switched on the big V12 and got underway, everything felt just fine.  From the passenger seat, the ride is absolutely serene, and even with the top down, wind noise is incredibly low.  Rolls-Royce put their development cash in the way the car feels on the move, and it shows.

The interior is nothing short of perfect–all the switches and dials are surrounded by veneered panels on the dash that flip backwards upon touch, revealing the controls for the radio and HVAC.  A leather panel on the console flips up at the press of a button to reveal the seat switches and roof control.  The rear shelf is adorned in teak, and all the switches are finished in a high polish.  Even the gearshift feels well-constructed (despite being plastic and mounted on the column).  The leather feels soft, buttery-smooth, and the floormats, while not the trademark lambswool, were a beautiful weave pattern, and felt befitting of the convertible body style.

From behind the wheel, the Rolls feels massive.  The hood is very tall, unlike anything else I’ve ever sat behind the wheel of, and just staring at the Spirit of Ecstasy from the driver’s seat .  The seat, while no racing seat, is supremely soft and comfortable, and the instrument panel itself belongs in a museum.  I especially enjoyed the “Power Reserve” dial, which displays the amount of engine power (in percentages) available to the driver at any given moment.  That dial gave me peace of mind, knowing that at 45mph on the 17-Mile Drive, I still had 90% of my horsepower available at my disposal.  The Phantom DHC gets off the line without much fuss and builds speed easily.  As for handling, though, things aren’t exactly racecar-like.  The body leans into corners when pushed overly hard, but the car never feels like it will snap out of control.  The steering is light and easy, but could offer a little more feedback in turns.  Then again, this is a big Luxury convertible, so the dynamics suit it perfectly.  The brake pedal is soft, but never feels at all inadequate.

The Rolls drives in a very dignified way, and for the people it serves, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I described it to the representative as being “smooth, like a knife through butter.”  That, though, is an understatement.  You could drive this car hard, or soft, and it still feels just about perfect, never asking for more, and never giving less than it is asked to.  The Rolls-Royce Phantom DHC is not exactly a driver’s car, but it certainly won’t disappoint its driver if the road suddenly becomes a spaghetti strand.

The sheer amount of appeal this car has is hard to really gauge. It’s not for the subtle, this is a brash statement of wealth that wears its money on its sleeve.  But, that’s exactly the point.  If I were able to afford this car, I wouldn’t have a problem flaunting it for all to see–a Rolls-Royce puts a smile on the face of those who see it in addition to the owner–but of course, the owner has the biggest grin of them all.  In any event, the big Phantom Drophead Coupe is a tremendous automobile–no other word truly could suffice.

-Al