Rolls-Royce Phantom | High Mile Club
Very few cars seriously compete with the Phantom's regal presence - at less than £40k, none do
Last summer, devotees might recall seeing the Rolls-Royce Phantom previously owned by Mr Chris Harris in the classifieds— especially after we gestured at it in print. Less for the pleasure of owning something previously warmed by a former employee’s backside, and more for the fact that the Phantom in question combined a manufacturer service record with an asking price of less than £60k. Even with over 90k on the clock, the risk vs reward ratio seemed reasonable enough.
Well, if you felt like that car needed a water-soluble brave pill of roughly toddler dosage, this one could reasonably be said to require a horse syringe filled with liquid courage. If you thought over 90k fairly leggy for a Phantom (many are used frequently, but typically in large cities where journeys are relatively short), then the prospect of one with twice as many miles on the clock ought to have you reaching for the plunger— or possibly a calculator, if you’re inclined to wonder how many tanks of nectar the V12 has gorged itself on in nearly two decades of faithful service.
We assume faithful, because aside from the odd blip, the MOT record suggests the mileage has ticked over with pleasing regularity, this despite the car having changed hands several times. There is no practical reason why it wouldn’t, of course— you’re looking at one of the world’s great long-distance machines— but a quick survey of the other 19 examples for sale suggests that a similar vintage of Phantom would normally be showing 50-60k on its odometer. Only the next cheapest has accrued six figures.
Relative cheapness, as ever, is the yin to this yang. The asking price is currently £37,995. Roughly the amount of new-model money you might otherwise associate with a diesel Skoda Superb, assuming you’re happy with the entry-level spec. Yet here it buys the pomp and circumstance of one of England’s finest ever luxury cars, famous for grille, glasshouse, rear-hinged doors, and a perfectly adequate amount of V12 power.
Granted, the advert makes no mention of a franchise-stamped service book, and the pictures suggest that so many miles have left the occasional mark - but we’ll assume that both factors have been astutely baked into the valuation. The counterweight to any cosmetic evidence of high usage is the spotlessness of its MOT history, it having not suffered even the blemish of an advisory since 2011. The current ticket runs until February next year.
Obviously, you’d be foolish not to wield a Sherlock-sized magnifying glass at the due diligence stage, and be clear-eyed about the running costs even if nothing goes wrong (this is a car that even in the most accommodating conditions only returns 17.8mpg), but that is all part and parcel of buying and owning a Rolls-Royce. The other bit, the pay-off, as Chris discovered and as the selling dealer affirms, is ‘a truly opulent driving experience’. For less than £40k, accept no substitute.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/19799870
To be honest, any of these will be potentially every expensive to run but with those miles it s been well used and will have needed stuff doing to get to that distance.
It s just how much of it has been in the last 30,000 or so.
It s a BMW V12 and a ZF auto box, neither are particularly risky if looked after, if it runs ok it probably is ok.
Suspension and brakes can cause problems on any heavy car but the air struts can be 3 grand a corner. So I would be poring over the history for evidence of work here.
It s likely been a chauffeur car and been looked after, might actually be less risk than one that s not been used much.
You would need a 20 grand slush fund and a good independent to look after it and inspect it before buying.
No reason it can t go on indefinitely, it s just how much it costs to do so that s the scary bit.
It s an interesting contradiction, you need to be rich to run a Phantom, but rich people don t buy old ones with high mileages.
Also, is it more or less risky than a similar aged Bentley ? To be honest the Rolls is potentially a bit simpler and easier to work on being rear wheel drive and doesn’t have turbos.
unfortunately most I've ever spent on a car was just over £19,000
Back in 01.
But this cars done it with 7 owners would put me off it's had a new owner less than every 3 years & presumably the first owner had it longest. With 7 owners the history would have to be fastidious As otherwise I'd be thinking serviceing & as preventative maintenance been missed as owners have realized
You need plenty of money to run & maintain a Roller.
Would prefer the Bentley Mulsanne another member mentioned for an extra 5 grand or so it's far better value with well over 100,000 miles less & certainly not a lot of owner's.
Thank God I could never afford it.
I've read a few horror stories about some fairly routine jobs on Bentleys that require engine removal so I'd be more wary of one of those.
But in a 1 person household either would be a crazy extravagance, and wouldn't fit in a standard car park space!
I've read a few horror stories about some fairly routine jobs on Bentleys that require engine removal so I'd be more wary of one of those.
But in a 1 person household either would be a crazy extravagance, and wouldn't fit in a standard car park space!
Have a hankering over one of these- or possibly a Wraith- but it is not like when I was a kid when they were some what more simplistic, but glorious, then they would go on forever.
My biggest fear is the suspension and electric gremlins.
Still want a RR as some stage in my life , no matter how old- it and me!
t advert. But they aren’t cheap to run. At high mileage you will be looking at seals that need replacing and air struts. The issue is parts are expensive, and although some are shared with BMW, some are specific and those are the ones that really hurt. And if you need a piece of trim or interior and have to order it from the dealer / Goodwood, make sure you have a stiff drink on hand.
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