Used 2013 Rolls-Royce Ghost

To the average consumer, the 2013 Rolls-Royce Ghost’s $260,000 asking price might seem exorbitant, but to the ultra-rich, the 6-digit price tag is a real bargain. The Ghost’s massively powerful twin-turbocharged V12 engine and copious array of high-technology luxury and safety features places this "baby" Rolls-Royce at the top of the luxury car pecking order. And, with the extended-wheelbase model, even the tallest of titans can find a comfortable place to rest their long limbs. What most sets the Ghost apart from lesser luxury offerings is the unquestionable attention to the customer’s needs. Owners can choose from a number of luxury options, and can even have the car custom-built with whatever color or interior material they desire.

Piloting the Rolls-Royce Ghost is an absolutely sublime experience. The Ghost provides one of quietest, most comfortable and composed rides we have experienced in a car. This aspect of the Rolls-Royce should not be a surprise, but rather expected of a car costing a quarter-million dollars and whose very brand name is equated with the finest things in the world. What delightfully startled us is the car’s performance. The Ghost’s massive, 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine propels this sedan rapidly yet smoothly. Like a razor-sharp knife gliding through butter, the Ghost has a silent swiftness that is nearly unparalleled. In the past, it was unbecoming to mention performance figures in relation to a Rolls-Royce, but nowadays the automaker is happy to report that its hand-built car can hit 60 mph from a standstill in a mere 4.8 seconds – fleet enough shame many sports cars. Cornering is just as pleasurable thanks to a sophisticated air-suspension system that keeps the Ghost planted.

There’s one word you need to know when it comes to the interior of your Rolls-Royce: Bespoke. In other words, the interior you want is the interior you get. Because these cars are handmade in limited quantities instead of rolled off an assembly line en masse, Rolls-Royce vehicles can be highly customized to a client’s taste. Generally speaking, though, you can expect to find the finest leathers, cross-banded interior wood veneers, and built-in umbrellas housed within the Ghost’s front doors. The driver’s seat provides a commanding view, and passengers will feel like they are traveling in a private jet. Rear occupants enjoy superb legroom and can be further coddled with heated and ventilated seats that massage their back, plus an integrated chill unit with integrated Champagne glasses.

The 2013 Rolls-Royce Ghost is a hulking piece of metal with a massive front grille and soft curves front to back. But its most defining feature is seen upon opening its doors, specifically the rear ones. The Ghost uses wide-opening rear-hinged doors in back, sometimes referred to as "suicide doors." In addition to making for easy entry and exit, they can serve as protection from paparazzi or something worse hurling toward VIP passengers. When the occupants are safely inside, the doors self-close at the touch of a button. Back up front and prominently displayed is the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament guiding the way. Upon stopping, she automatically retracts into the hood, lest this spirit become the spoil of some passing miscreant.

AIR-SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The 2013 Ghost’s ever-adapting air-suspension is so sensitive that it can detect a rear passenger moving from one side of the seat to the other. The result is a Rolls-Royce that can take corners at speeds much higher than you’d expect.

MULIPLE CAMERA ASSISTANCE
If you own a Rolls-Royce, it is an unwritten rule that you back the big car into a space when parking. That feat is more easily accomplished with the Ghost’s multiple camera system, which combine to create a virtual birds-eye view of the car and its surroundings. The system also is a help when going around blind junctions.

As noted, each Rolls-Royce Ghost can be configured to a customer’s taste, but each comes with a V12 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, multiple cameras, separate climate zones, a heads-up driver’s display, and an upgraded audio system with a 10-channel amplifier, ceiling mounted "exciter" speakers and built-in 12.5-gig hard drive for music storage. A rotary dial on the armrest controls functions such as navigation and audio.

Yes, even a Rolls-Royce can be optioned up. Among the extras you can add onto your Ghost are tech and safety features like lane-departure warning, active cruise control and even a night-vision camera that can detect objects nearly 1,000 feet away. In the rear passenger compartment you can have climate-controlled seats, veneered picnic tables and twin 9.2-inch LCD screens for a private theater. For those who must watch "American Idol" or the Super Bowl live, a TV tuner can also be had.

At 5,545 pounds, the Ghost is a heavy car that needs a big engine to push it. That push comes in the form of a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 that puts out 563 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque, the latter from just 1,500 rpm for a broad path of power. All that gusto finds its way to the rear wheels via a buttery-smooth 8-speed automatic transmission. It all works to make the Rolls-Royce Ghost wickedly quick for such a car, with a stated top speed of 155 mph.

6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12
563 horsepower @ 5,250 rpm
575 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/21 mpg