ROLLS-ROYCE DROPHEAD

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is a unique way to travel, perhaps more like a beautifully built water craft than a car.

• Comfort

  It would get windy in the back with the roof down, and rear seat room is adequate rather than gigantic, but up front this is gorgeously sumptuous. Oh and with the roof up it's refined and quiet, a cocoon from the evil storms.

• Performance

  The 6.75-litre V12 is more than adequate, graceful and buttery-smooth. And well able to overtake when it's fitting to do so. Auto kickdowns can be a bit jerky though, and there's no tiptronic over-ride.

• Cool

  You're making yourself very obvious here, but if you have the chutzpah, the car certainly does.

• Quality

  When you really poke about the cabin, there is the odd plasticky switch. But the craftsmanship of wood and leather and metal and paint is beautiful, and the underlying solidity unimpeachable. The Phantom is a banker.

• Handling

  You don't drive a Phantom like a racing car, because it takes up so much road space. But the steering is accurate and the reactions faithful. It's fun to be brisk in; just don't bother being fast.

• Practicality

  There are few more practical convertibles: it seats four and has a big boot, the lid of which even converts to a park bench or picnic table.

• Running costs

  Well, depreciation expressed as a percentage isn't bad: it'll lose half its value in three years. Unfortunately that means a grand a week. But look on the bright side: alongside that, insurance and servicing and fuel will feel like bargains.