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I’m not so sure if I’d add this humongous Anglo-German two-door to my fantasy garage. It’s just not . . . something enough. And a little too . . . you know. More to the point, a nice 1935 Auburn Boattail Special can be had for roughly the same money. I know, I know: at that level it’s not either or. Still, I’d rather go motoring in something with more pizazz or, alternatively, less likely to attract the wrong kind of attention (e.g., Mercedes CL65 AMG). You?
34 Comments on “Ask the Brightest: Rolls Royce Drophead Coupe?...”
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It’s just not . . . something enough.
Classy? Stylish?
It looks like something that rolled out of “The Peoples Automobile Factory No. 7”
It’s just not . . . something enough.
Not enough brushed stainless steel bodywork. That hood just isn’t sufficient to stand out in the Starbucks parking lot anymore.
I’ll take a 2004 – 2005 MB CL 600 for around $30k. Or something from the early – mid 1930’s (Packard, Chrysler or Buick).
Twotone
Nope, I can’t see myself driving around in one of those. Way too gaudy. At that level, I’d have a Bentley Brooklands instead.
Someone will buy it. Someone always buys everything.
I like it… I’d buy one in a heartbeat, if I had the money to spend. If you talk about “Überholprestige”, there is nothing better. It’s either this one, or an M10 Tank.
Or I’d have an early fifties Bentley R-Type Continental, and have it refurbished with a modern Bentley Turbo engine. It’s certainly more class, and more style.
You’re telling us it’s not a parody of a pimpmobile?
It’s like it was designed specifically for MTV’s Cribs.
Ah, but to have Jeeves re-oil the teak convertible top boot…
No thanks. I’ll take an Audi A7.
Just the ticket for when I have to explain to my tenants why I need a rent increase.
My ultimate strike-it-rich car is currently a Bentley Brooklands, in dark emerald green, with dark chocolate brown leather and dark stained wood.
The Rolls doesn’t do it for me, too ostentatious, too flashy, too pimp. The Bentley is delightfully old-school in all the right ways, with just enough pop and pizazz to get noticed by those worth getting noticed by but not so much bling as to have everyone think you just produced the next hit single on BET.
Funny but contrary to just about everyone else I think it’s plain jane looking and not at all pimpmobile. To me it completely lacks pizzazz.
I agree the Bentley is a far better looking car.
They botched the front end on this one, too.
I’ve seen one in Blue with teak deck, it looked beautiful. Does not do it for me in Black or Silver, tho.
ROlls? Really? I thought it was the new Wartburg!
To quote the line…
“It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. ”
It is just sexy. As long as it’s stock. Put ANY wheels on it and you ruin it.
The Auburn would only impress people who visit sites like these, and if you have that kind of money you can’t be bothered with us. The people at the club don’t know Auburn, but they know Rolls, and they certainly would be impressed.
Hell, I’d be giddy as a teenager to have even the 3/4 reproduction of the Auburn.
“It’s just not . . . something enough.”
Perhaps the word you’re searching for is “attractive”?
If you’re dropping this kind of money, only one car will do if you must buy British: Aston-Martin DBS Volante. It gets my vote for the most beautiful car made today.
Plus, I’ll wager it’ll kick that pimpy Roller’s ass.
NulloModo :
September 5th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
My ultimate strike-it-rich car is currently a Bentley Brooklands, in dark emerald green, with dark chocolate brown leather and dark stained wood.
Tha Brooklands is beautiful, but apparently it handles like a ’75 Lincoln.
Aston Martin DBS, all the way.
paint it pink, add another pair of front wheels, and sell it to lady penelope.
Turns out the MINI dealer in my area is also the newest Rolls-Royce dealer. Pictures don’t do these cars justice. Seeing them live, they look different. The car is huge, but the proportions are actually rather attractive for those who can appreciate this type of car. They are not GT racers in the category of Aston Martins, Porsche Panamera, MB CLS, etc. I couldn’t help but think that these cars have luxurious presence. The first thing that came to my mind was you would need to have a lot of money to get one of these. Most of us can never truly appreciate these cars because, well, we’re probably just not in that social class.
Maybe if you buy one, they’ll throw in the MINI for free.
Well, of all the BMW era Rollers, it has the least ugly front end, but it’s still kinda funny looking with beady eyes and LED eyebrows.
Why would anyone buy one when they can spend as much on an Aston Martin and get a stunningly gorgeous car that can literally drive rings around the RR and is just as exclusive?
As a car guy, I’m still impressed with the engineering and build quality of RRs, but they’ve long been more about wealth display than anything else.
They were ugly, got better, got great but are losing the plot once again.
They’ll overrun Malibu and Dubai again.
If you want old-school luxury, why not go old school luxury instead of this watered down, modernized interpretation of that sort of design? To that end, the Auburn would win my vote. Of course, my personal choice would be more along the lines of the 1930’s Mercedes-Benz 500K or anything from Duesenberg.
I’d rather drive my Mazda3.
i don’t like the whole concept of ‘luxury personal coupes’… it stems back to the Mercedes 560SL types
they are just two door S class sedans
i also don’t get the whole 2.5 ton “land yachts” like they above cars… especially the Bentley Continental GTs and those Bentley ‘rapper’ cars.
The only people who really ‘get’ them are 50 cent and all those kinds of dudes.
I’d rather have a Aston Martin or maybe a Lamborghini Gallardo convertible.
I think there’s just a adverse reaction against overt and tasteless wealth.
At least a Porsche or AML or Ferrari is ‘sporting’.
What are these? Gauche?
I had a crush on Rollses in high school, would draw 3-d Silver shadows and corniches, came close to buying one.
I have no doubt this one is big, heavy and imposing, has excellent materials and BMW mechanicals, but is it really as beautiful as the old corniche, with all its faults? No. And neither is that Phantom.
Symbolically these cars are great. Spare no expense, made large, polished, and tight. Practically thought they make a relatively weaker impression. Although I think it may be much better then an SUV in a lot of ways. Interior finish, comfort and engine wise for example. Still its ironically a very compromised vehicle. Its heavy, complicated, and limited dynamically. I’m sure I can appreciate this car at special times, but the majority of the time, I think its too narrow focused for me.
A 3 series coupe, E550, Ghost, and Cayman (combined) will cost less then this car and although they won’t have the special presence of this car, they will perform a much wider range of tasks under most circumstances . Ok, so what? The Drophead is an awesome car, I’d be in arrogant perhaps if I said it was not, knowing what I know, but I’d be in denial if I picked it over the cars I mentioned, or would I?
I agree with the comment that seeing them in the flesh is very different from the pictures. The car has a massive presence, truly unique proportions (as opposed to the Brooklands, which is much more like a regular car but bloated – don’t get me wrong, I actually do like the Brooklands but it does not really do it’s brand justice), and it’s very rare (at least in the UK). On the other hand Aston Martins are thoroughly ubiquitous, depreciate quite quickly, and while the design is nice, they are not in the same league as this car (well, retailing for half the money new, or less kind of guarantees that right from the start).
My gripes with it would be that like MB, BMW did not understand the different economics of cars like this and insisted on too many common parts with the 7 series, like plastic buttons for seat controls, etc. It’s not nearly as attrocious as the Maybach in this respect (and the buttons are hidden behind panels most of the time) but it is an opportunity wasted.
Where they have probably made the bigger mistake is by giving the new baby Rolls an engine much more potent than what’s found in the flagship. While the Bentley Arnage managed well enough with a less potent powerplant than the Flying Spur for some time, it was the completely different characteristics of those two engines that carried it off – the ship diesel type unit in the Arnage with a red line around 4000 rpm and massive torque from low down could well do without the top end power of the twin turbo W12. In the Rolls there is now little reason for the NA engine of the Phantom.
My problem with this car is that Rolls Royce has always been about having an unparalled luxury experience inside the car but a drophead coupe is by definition about the exterior and about driving rather than being chauffeured.
I can only assume that the reason the Phantom gets away with having less power is that it is primarily angled as a chauffeur driven car, whereas the Ghost is meant for the owner to drive.
These super-lux coupes occupy the same space above the CL class, 6 series, and A5 as the Aston Martins, Lambos and Ferraris do above Corvettes, 911s and GT-Rs. Some people value amenities, quiet, ride quality and luxury over handling, speed and sportiness.
Another benefit of the Rolls/Bentley experience is the level of customization available on each car. Where Mercedes or BMW might give you the option of three or four shades of leather, a dozen exterior colors, and a couple different wood or metallic interior trim bits, a Rolls of Bentley gives you ten times the option on each, and any one can be combined with any other without having to go by what the manufacturer thinks should be optioned together.
I like big squared off cars, something about that styling speaks to me. I love old Lincolns, Caddys, and the boxy era Crown Vics and Grand Marquis. These cars have that same aesthetic but far more refined, and interior apointments that look nicer than my living room. This post has had me trolling ebay for deals on such cars, and unfortunately I found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Bentley-MULSANNE-S-RED-BLACK-INTERIOR-LOW-MILES-100-PICS-UNIQUE-RARE_W0QQitemZ180401906262QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item2a00caa256&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245
The biggest problem I have is that I have vacation time saved up so I could conceivably go to see said car in person, and I could afford the buy it now price. So far only worries about huge repair bills keep me away, but half of me says that if I just keep the oil changed I won’t have to worry about any…
A car so overpriced compared to the 7 series from which it originates (mehanically, platform etc), selling for 2-3 times the price of the even more competent 760iL V12, NEEDS to be BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL inside and out, far more beautiful and appealing than any “cheapo” M-B and BMW will ever be!
Do you seriously like the exterior styling of this car? I’d rather have the 95-01 BMW 7, of which I am the pleased owner of a 98 740, which I bought 4 years ago at 1/10th (!!) of the price of the “small” Rolls! Or, to put it in perspective, I paid one fifth of the Rolls’ depreciation in its first year alone!
Saw one of these @ Limerock this week end. Big and ugly, bugly?