The finest life coaches often advise their pupils that we should compete against no one but ourselves, trying solely to be a better version of ourselves than we were yesterday. Similarly, at over $450,000, the Rolls-Royce Phantom seems to compete only with the previous Phantom. This is a very unique car that functions as a luxury sedan and a status symbol in equal measure. It pampers its passengers like no other vehicle, glides over the road with silky smoothness, appears as luxurious as it is, and now incorporates the newest driver-assist and entertainment systems. The driving experience has been improved over the previous Phantom; this current model is 10% quieter than its already silent predecessor (due to 330 pounds of sound insulation), while allowing a little more driver participation. Although it is not nearly as enjoyable to operate as the Bentley Flying Spur, the Phantom's feeling of occasion goes much deeper. It's tough to rationalize a car at this price point, but where words and reasoning fall short, the Phantom speaks for itself (or is that whispers?) by giving an unmatched level of tranquillity.
Unlike previous Rolls-Royce automobiles, the new Phantom series is not entirely defined by its name and image; the remainder of the vehicle is designed to specifications set while the Queen was still in her thirties. BMW's meticulous engineering has resulted in a vehicle that perfectly combines the advantages of a contemporary German automobile with the flair and elegance associated with a traditional British luxury cruiser. By contrast, it renders the Bentley Arnage technologically Jurassic and the Maybach banal. Even in this rarefied air, nothing quite compares to the 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom.
