When it was launched at the beginning of 2003, I’d never have picked the Rolls Phantom as my car of the decade.
You need a few years to see how such an extraordinary machine settles into the society of cars, and to drive a few examples to be sure they work according to the high-sounding claims.
Vote for your car of the decade here
You also have to know, before you lay your £264,000 (plus options) on the line, that its looks and reputation satisfy your peers as well as yourself. It’s too much money to risk being laughed at.
Nowadays, I’m entirely confident of the design and role of the Phantom, especially since they’ve sharpened the styling and made some discreet improvements to a fundamentally marvellous design. I now view the Rolls as one of the most desirable cars on the road.
Join the debate
RS_Inc
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
I'm shocked and disappointed by the views of some people on this thread reguarding Rolls-Royce's 'Britishness.' BMW have performed an exemplary job with the custodianship of Rolls. They gave it the massive investment it required, offered it technologies that upto the Phatoms conception that would be considered a pipe dream for the Vickers run outfit.
It seems to be suggested that BMW engineered this car, which is catagorically untrue. Any German engineering involvement was under the employ of Rolls, not BMW.
If you want to pick a fight with BMW, may I suggest aiming your venom towards Mini. Simply a German car, built in the UK. Mini has no R&D or Design base in the UK. Infact their more likely to be designed in California(?!) And this is why Mini will ultimately fail, the British success stories work best when the foreign firm stumps up the readies and let's us get on with it - MK1 New Mini, Rover 75, RR Phantom, Bentley Continentals, Range Rover, Aston Martins DB9 & Vantage... We have an intrisic understanding of our companies and thus produce cars with the history in them, without becoming a pastish; step forward Mini Mk2 & Countryman.
Let's face it unfortunately we just can't do it on our own these days, but I'm not complaining when we're producing cars of the calibre of the XF, Range Rover and Phantom.
vole
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
tcy148 - Yup, you got it. The Veyron looks like a monkey's bum (some might say) but its technological abilities and engineering put it on a different planet to any other car. Definitely my Car of the Decade too.
jl4069
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
Maybe steve will win one of those fancy automotive awards- and the fancy ceremony that goes with it, for being so bold and perceptive to award RR the car of the Decade.
surely its time to start giving awards for giver of the best award, no? J
crashbangwallop
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
Nothing innovative or interesting about this car. At £264000 it is irrelevant to almost all drivers and unless you are the Duke of somewhere you look a knob driving around in one.
Try something with reasonable mpg
tcy148
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
The Phantom is undoubtedly an amazing car.
But I think the only car that deserves car of the decade is the Bugatti Veyron.
It is the motoring world's Concorde moment.
There is nothing else that demonstrates how far the motoring world has come. The Veyron pushes the boundaries beyond any other car has ever managed.
Enough said.
That's my opinion tho.;D
TheOmegaMan
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
Poor choice.
I'd pick the VW Phaeton ahead of this overpriced ostentatious waste of space.
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I'm The Ωmega Man, always talking to myself
jl4069
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
Most people are lucky if: in this decade, they are born healthy, or have enough to eat; or can get an elementary school education. In the context of human beings the nomination is plain wrong. Steve, make your context cars as they relate to human beings.
roverfan1984
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
(sorry, sentence which reads "ie either down the swanny" was going to carry on "or manufactured abroad", before anyone points out my deliberate mistake.) =D
currently a happy owner of a Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin :)
roverfan1984
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
Its a phenomenal car, & it completely justifies its price tag, much more than the short-lived Silver Seraph or the Silver Spirits of the 80s/90s. People can reminisce about Rolls Royce being an independant British company, but in all honesty had BMW not stepped in then Rolls-Royce may well have gone the same way as the rest of the British motor industry, ie either down the swanny.
I think BMW have actually shown massive respect to the "Britishness" of this brand, & havent compromised Rolls-Royce's core values or brand at all. They havent tried to make a "sporty" Rolls with a firm ride etc, I think theyve absolutely respected Rolls-Royces heritage & the Phantom is not only a credit to that but I would go so far to say that it is probably the companys saviour & one of their best models in their entire history.
currently a happy owner of a Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin :)
Uncle Mellow
re: Rolls-Royce Phantom is my Car of the Decade
jonfortwo December 17, 2009 7:54 PM
"A car that has little or no impact on the vast majority of peoples lifes cannot be thought of as "Car of the Decade".
Plus the fact that its newly announced little bro just shows this up for the fat and bloated barge that it is."
I'm with you here. Plus I still see it as a Rolls-BMW , not a Royce.
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