RE: Rolls-Royce Dawn: Review
Discussion
Absolutely fantastic.
However, if I had that much spare cash to spend on a car I don't think I could bring myself to buy a new car.
I think I would have this instead...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C756501
However, if I had that much spare cash to spend on a car I don't think I could bring myself to buy a new car.
I think I would have this instead...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C756501
Dan Trent said:
toppstuff said:
What a cynical review.
The review said:
Credit where it is due though; from its whisper-quiet tickover to its cultivated whoosh under power, this V12 carries off the character required of a Rolls-Royce powerplant ... there's an elegance and simplicity about the driving experience that enables you to relish in the finer details and unabashed opulence ... the amount of time you find yourself in the upper reaches of the 'power reserve' dial indicate just how under-stressed the engine - and indeed driver - are most of the time ... it's measured, elegant, restrained and a lovely way to make progress ...
Yup, dripping in cynicism. 
Having lived with it for a few days though the point has to be made you cannot just use this as a normal car and do day-to-day stuff, or expect to waft about and not have people notice you. It IS the definitive conspicuous display of wealth, for which some will love you and others will not. You get the same in a supercar of course but at least there's a pretence they have another purpose - that being out and out performance - whereas in the Roller that is its entire raison d'etre.
Ta,
Dan
However, let me offer a counterpoint.
PH editorial in my humble opinion, too often drifts in the language of cliche. It is lazy and, frankly, just bad writing.
A Bentley Continental review is certain to mention footballers. A SUV review is certain to disparage the chelsea chariot and orange women on the school run, while remarking that you like the car "in spite of it being an SUV'. etc etc etc...
This RR review falls into precisely the same journalistic trap.
After all, plenty of Caterhams, Ferrari etc etc, are driven by people with " all the gear and no idea" but this trope is never mentioned. Bring on an SUV or a Bentley / RR and the cliches run with boring predictability.
I just think the writing could be better. There should be a cliche jar in the office. Revert to the old hackneyed stuff and the writer has to put a tenner in the jar.
You can be better than this.
toppstuff said:
I just think the writing could be better. There should be a cliche jar in the office. Revert to the old hackneyed stuff and the writer has to put a tenner in the jar.
You can be better than this.
Always inspired to be and you make some fair points - when I used to work on a games magazine we had a wall of cliches folk got picked up on if they used. For instance, nobody was able to 'don' anything (ie, Here's the latest driving game, Dan Trent dons his racing suit and helmet to see if it's a Gran Turismo beater) and the rest. Handily these days we have Sniff Petrol and the ever present reminder of the dangers of 'going a bit Queef' over something. You can be better than this.
There is a degree of method in our madness though and it's kind of an application of reverse psychology. Because if we DON'T acknowledge the stereotypes, be they orange millionaires in Rollers, yummy mummy SUV drivers or whatever, you can be sure someone in the first few comments will. And that tends to overwhelm the conversation. Better we do it so you don't have to.
And, hand on heart, I do find the gulf between the image Rolls portrays - the jet set life and all that - and the reality of a large portion of the actual customer base, be they Bernard Manning types or orange bling people, genuinely amusing. More interesting than all that stuff about the erotic tingle of the dawn light and all that!
Point noted though.
Dan
Dan Trent said:
There is a degree of method in our madness though and it's kind of an application of reverse psychology. Because if we DON'T acknowledge the stereotypes, be they orange millionaires in Rollers, yummy mummy SUV drivers or whatever, you can be sure someone in the first few comments will.
I think this approach has the opposite effect to that you describe. Writing in cliches only legitimises them and sets the tone for the forum debate that follows. 
I dunno. If I slag off fast SUVs for being footballer chariots I'd rather the forums then said 'hang on, lazy stereotyping, I've got one and it's brilliant!' than I say it was the best car ever and get a roasting along the lines of 'pah, what are these monstrosities doing on PH, they paid you to say that, pah.'
Though, in all honesty, I should have realised long, long ago that you can't possibly win!
Would have been easier to avoid the orange people stereotypes in this case if they'd sent us the press car Autocar had with the rather more tasteful navy blue paint and pale leather too!
Dan
Though, in all honesty, I should have realised long, long ago that you can't possibly win!
Would have been easier to avoid the orange people stereotypes in this case if they'd sent us the press car Autocar had with the rather more tasteful navy blue paint and pale leather too!
Dan
jdw1234 said:
Absolutely fantastic.
However, if I had that much spare cash to spend on a car I don't think I could bring myself to buy a new car.
I think I would have this instead...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C756501
What he said. That Corniche is magnificent However, if I had that much spare cash to spend on a car I don't think I could bring myself to buy a new car.
I think I would have this instead...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C756501
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