2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom?
All-new last year, the Phantom is unchanged for 2005.

Advantages of the 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom:

• BMW engineering underneath the sheetmetal
• Bold yet elegant design forms
• Traditional cabin appointments combined with modern technology

Objections to the 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom:

• Hard to objectively justify a price tag that's three times as much as those of the top conventional luxury sedans

Editor's Advice:
This is a car with presence. It has imposing size (it's 10 inches longer than a Chevrolet Suburban), a 2.75-ton curb weight, a front grille the size of a big-screen TV and a price tag higher than most American homes. While other premium brands are trying to extend their reach by producing more niche vehicles, Rolls-Royce has just one product (for now, anyway). The Phantom undoubtedly represents automotive excess. For the same price, one could purchase a BMW 760Li and have enough pocket change left over for a very fast Italian sports car. But "value" in the traditional sense doesn't really apply to the Phantom. This is a car that transcends its price tag and provides an experience worthy of the world's most prestigious luxury name.