One Doesn't Simply Drive A Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead; One Wafts Like A Boss

Last week, I was invited by Rolls-Royce to attend the launch of its revised, £300,000 Ghost Series II, a luxury land-yacht that weighs more than two VW Golfs, but which can hit 62mph as quickly as a Porsche 911. On the same Rolls-Royce event, I was also given the keys to a Phantom Drophead Coupe, a car I've been eager to get behind the wheel of for a while now.

After climbing into the driver's seat, the first thing that stood out was the plush interior: expensive chrome door handles, a leather driver's seat that sits high above the road and the large, thin steering wheel that dominates the view in front of you are all things that take getting used to when you're more familiar with the surroundings of a sporty Focus ST.

Then there's the dashboard, which is covered in wood, machined metal dials (including a 'power reserve' dial) and the smell of success.

But enough touchy feely, onto the wafting. When you select 'Drive' using a surprisingly flimsy stalk on the right of the steering wheel, the Rolls silently begins to creep forwards. On the criss-crossed, narrow and potholed roads, the 6.5-foot wide and 18-foot long Phantom feels as massive as the figures suggest; for reference, that's a full two feet longer than a Ford Mondeo.

Beneath its exquisite bonnet sits a stonking 6.75-litre V12. It makes 435bhp, which will whisk the 2.6-tonne barge to 60mph in 5.6sec. But to discuss performance figures in a Rolls-Royce write-up is a bit like discussing your favourite McDonald's burger at a Michelin-star restaurant. So we'll move on...

Mile-munching is the Drophead's forte. Out on the open road as you push your foot further towards the plush carpet, the engine surges you past the speed limit in sumptuous comfort. It's almost surreal how quiet and calming this thing is at high speeds. Even if you plant your foot there's barely a fizzle through the throttle pedal - the speed just quietly increases at an impressive pace.

At speed, however, and with the roof down, your coiffed hair is going to have a bad time simply because the Phantom doesn't offer enough wind protection.

But overall the car is incredible as I was expecting. The way the engine caresses you to terrifying speeds and the way it has been brilliantly engineered not to be intimidating almost justify the Phantom's enormous price tag. Then there's the way the Rolls makes you feel; everyone I wafted past stared, small children pointed with glee, and the local hoodlums even shouted abuse. It's a car that makes you feel special, and it's for that that you spend your hard-earned cash.

Would I sell my house for one? Probably not, but if you do I'll be first in line for a ride.