Rolls-Royce Phantom 2007 Review

You do not arrive at your destination. It's too harsh. Too usual.

One delivered. One materializes. One comes out.

Indeed, you find yourself speaking "one" and generally using more polished diction than is perhaps customary. A car (since "car" is an adequate noun) has this effect. Among others.

Carsguide can say this with no small amount of smugness, debuting our Rolls-Royce last week in an act that can only be described as Trivett Classic's most extraordinary noble commitment to us ink-fingered proles.

For Rolls-Royce is an everyday reality for those for whom the purchase of a car for $ 1 million is no more (perhaps less) than a Mazda6 for most of the rest of us. John Lowes recently acquired another one, as did Lindsey Fox.

Trivett's Bevin Clayton, a man who counts both the retired TV host and trucking mogul among his clients, rarely considers requests for access to his precious automotive art. Having sold six Rolls this month to celebrate shipping his 50th Phantom to Australia and New Zealand in four years, he really doesn't need it.

However, smiling at us, Clayton says that we were going to board his Phantom demonstrator, "then it became available."

This is the Phantom Tungsten, the third model from the brand's Bespoke Collection. With barely two digits on the odometer, it is the only one in the country.

Based on the 101EX Coupe shown in Geneva last year, the Tungsten with its deep metallic hue and contrasting brushed aluminum hood is immediately eye-catching, as are the new seven-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels. Slim double chrome tailpipe trims further emphasize the show car.

With a quick swipe, Clayton opens the front and classic rear suicide doors (lined with carbon fiber umbrellas on the inside).

It's insanely rich. Lush black pile carpet and smoky navy leather contrast with straight-grained East Indian rosewood (Rolls still poach their woodworkers from yacht builders in Southampton) and metal paneling.

No modern vulgarity spoils the traditional vibe of the slim steering wheel. The voice-activated media screen and phone remain invisible behind the old world facade unless called upon.

Clayton says, contrary to the cliché, that nearly all the Rolls he sells are driven by those who paid for them: "Why pay $1 million for a chauffeur to enjoy?" However, there is a lot to be said for sitting on two tall rear thrones.

In addition to the digital screens that fold out of the back of the front seat and play with the volume of the stadium, above them is the completely unique Starlight headlining. A "stunning yet elegant" Rolls commercial aptly names the fixture, in which 600 fiber-optic lamps embedded in the black leather roof lining create a divine display that also provides reading light.

But Clayton's clients love to wrap their manicured mittens around that scrawny tiller, so it's ahead for us as he leads the 2.5-ton colossus through East Sydney's painfully narrow lanes to William Street.

At least it looks like William St - only the sharpest sound penetrates through the double-glazed window. And the engine doesn't interfere. If the Phantom didn't respond to the gas pedal with such incredible speed (5.9 seconds is the claimed 0-kph time), one (you, all) would swear power was lost. This 100-litre V6.75 sounds softer and more refined than the hybrid.

When Clayton suggests that you drive with slightly sweaty hands (nails were cut with wife clippers just last night), you can understand why Lowes and the others leave Jeeves at home.

Once the crippling nervousness wears off, the Phantom turns into a fun ride in its sophisticated way. From an almost SUV driving position, the steering is so light and direct that you can steer something a ton lighter. To reach your destination faster, press the L button, located to the right of the steering wheel, and this land yacht will fly away.

As Clayton says, the word "waftablity" will not be found in the dictionary, but will remain in the Roll-Royce lexicon. That floating ride element is largely present, though not to the point of causing seasickness, an advantage of the air suspension that BMW has acquired property. In fact, it's so nice that you'll never know that another hallmark of BMW, run flat tires, is in place.

Another less quantifiable but very real impact of the video comes home when I decided to take it home from a photo shoot at the old Redfern Carriage Works through the streets realtors believe are in Surry Hills. Perhaps if the Phantom had been done in blue and white checkered with light on top, it might have drawn less comment, but I doubt it.

The Tungsten still had double digits on the clock when I — by now emboldened — crammed it into Trivett's garage, but that spin was enough to show why Rolls-Royce's are so addictive for so few.

My most significant achievement was the use of 39.5 liters of premium unleaded petrol per 100 km, a realization that was the only discouraging aspect of the experience. Not to mention the seven-figure price, I could only occasionally afford to refill the Roller's tank.

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

Cost: $915,000 ($1.095 million EWB)

Engine: 6.75L / V12; 338kW / 720Nm

Economy: 15.9 l/100 km (claimed)

0-100 km / h: 5.9 seconds