Rolls Royce Automobiles.

[hypersonic]

Originally Posted by rossi

I've driven the Bentley Turbo R, it is wicked! 300Bhp. And there is plenty of headroom for me! (nomatter where I sit -front or back- my head is almost always against the ceiling because of my long torso.).
You can get righthanddrive ones for 15.000-25.000£.
No doubt I would rather drive this than ie an old M3 or similar.

Aha ...the first car I ever drove when I was about 15. I have a sentimental fondness for that model.

 

[hypersonic]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I've always wanted a Corniche and tool around playing punk and post-punk really loudly in an urban downtown
He he ....I share your sense of ironic humour LK

 

[epb]

Originally Posted by rossi

I've driven the Bentley Turbo R, it is wicked! 300Bhp. And there is plenty of headroom for me! (nomatter where I sit -front or back- my head is almost always against the ceiling because of my long torso.)

Headroom shouldn't be a problem in older Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. The design specs called for enough room for a chauffeur to drive with his cap on up front, and a lady to drive with her hat on in back.

There was a Turbo R on eBay a while back that used to belong to Nicholas Cage, back when he was dumping a lot of his collection (Cage now only collects Italian marques). It was nice, and had a custom compartment for M&M or Reese's Pieces or something.

The 80s and early 90s cars are so non-descript, I never cared for them. The Silver Shadow strikes the best balance between modern and tradition RR. The Silver Cloud is beautiful, but I can't see myself driving one day-to-day like I did the Shadow. And despite the size difference, there's more interior room in the SS.

 

[zjpj83]

Old Rollers and Bentleys are a service nightmare, no?

 

[Corniche]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

I would definitely drive one, especially a late 1980s Corniche convertible, preferably in white with tan leather. If I lived in the British countryside I could see myself driving a sedan such as the one you posted above.

Unfortunately the Phantom is one of the ugliest motor vehicles I've ever seen.

Look at my nick

 

[LabelKing]

What is the "image" of Rolls Royce in the U.K.?

 

[Sherlockian]

I would have to say it has diluted somewhat since the ownership changes of recent years. They used to be quintessentially British, in the old-school, stiff upper-lip aristocratic way, and their shortcomings were accepted as beloved eccentricities.

Nowadays I would venture that they're largely seen as little more than upscale BMWs, mainly bought by nouveau riche poseurs like footballers and manufactured pop 'musicians'. Same with Bentleys, though maybe not quite as universally admired by the bling/chavvy demographic.

To be honest, I don't see many of them where I live; Astons are ten-a-penny and Ferraris/Lambos are frequent sights, but of less sporty expensive cars, I'd have to say Range Rovers dominate.

 

[LabelKing]

In the past, were they primarily bought by aristocratic sorts or those who wished to appear so? Of course, corporate types probably bought them but they couldn't have all been bought by businessmen.

I imagine Bristol was more the in-the-know car.

 

[Christofuh]

Originally Posted by Sherlockian

Nowadays I would venture that they're largely seen as little more than upscale BMWs, mainly bought by nouveau riche poseurs like footballers and manufactured pop 'musicians'. Same with Bentleys, though maybe not quite as universally admired by the bling/chavvy
demographic.

 

[Jerome]

If I inherited some new looking RR I'd drive it very fast down a muddy lane so that it would soon look dirty and ****** that it couldn't be mistaken for a newly acquired one...

 

[hypersonic]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

In the past, were they primarily bought by aristocratic sorts or those who wished to appear so? Of course, corporate types probably bought them but they couldn't have all been bought by businessmen.

I imagine Bristol was more the in-the-know car.

Rolls-Royce has always been seen as a slightly ostentatious choice. Traditionally, the most aristocratic limousine was Daimler (the British company). The British Royals used Daimlers for formal occasions almost exclusively until after WW2.

It should be said though that "aristocratic taste" is mostly a myth. Real Connoisseurs are very rare regardless of rank or wealth -- many people with all the right social credentials are completely tasteless.

Lovers of savoir vivre belong to a group of their own.

 

[hypersonic]

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost ....possibly the most conservative Rolls-Royce ever.

 

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by hypersonic

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost ....possibly the most conservative Rolls-Royce ever.

In a realistic picture like this this one (not the "show" type pictures) it really looks like a diluted version of the Phantom. There is really nothing special about this car, except that it is more affordable.

 

[hypersonic]

Originally Posted by Dragon

In a realistic picture like this this one (not the "show" type pictures) it really looks like a diluted version of the Phantom. There is really nothing special about this car, except that it is more affordable.
Yeah, I feel the same about it.

However, the Phantom makes a very bold statement; this is much more toned-down ...and that is not a bad thing at this time. I think Rolls-Royce will do well with this model -- it is reasonably handsome (even if a little bland) and very well made. This is not a traditionalists Rolls-Royce -- this is a thoroughly contemporary luxury car -- and that is the best thing for the Rolls-Royce brand if it is to remain relevant.
Rolls-Royce, like everything else, must adapt to the realities of the market.

 

[zjpj83]

I like it