Playing Wedding Chauffeur In A Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge

Upon our arrival, it was time to escort the bride and groom from their hotel to the wedding venue. But not before the obligatory pictures. This particular Ghost should be called the "Wedding Specification" because aside from the red brake calipers, there isn't an ounce of color anywhere on it. The simple Arctic White paint is paired with body-colored wheel centers (a $1,350 option) and a matching interior in black and white. It perfectly matched the bride and groom, blending into the photos without drawing too much attention.

With my chauffeur hat and white gloves on, I escorted Gerick and Samantha into the car, shielding them from the scorching Florida sun with the Ghost's built-in umbrellas. A quick tap on the coach doors closes them automatically. Once inside, the potent air conditioning poured out of the metal vents, quickly cooling off the bride and groom after hours of outdoor wedding party photos.

The ride to the venue was brief but gave them time to enjoy the many luxuries, like the rear entertainment screens, massaging seats, cooled drinks cabinet, and lambswool carpets.

For someone who has never been chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce, it is easy to wonder why these cars are priced so highly. Having me as a friend, Gerick and Samantha are fortunate enough that this was the third Rolls they've experienced (the others being the Cullinan SUV and Dawn convertible).

鬼是理想的辊等场合as a wedding. It marks a comfortable middle ground in the lineup that is spacious for passengers but not too cumbersome to drive around or park, mainly thanks to the excellent rear-axle steering. A Cullinan is more practical but lacks the grace and style of the Ghost. A Phantom is larger and more comfortable but less youthful.

Unlike a Phantom, which I believe is best enjoyed from the back seat, the Ghost can be enjoyed equally from both rows, especially with the Black Badge Package. Opting for the Black Badge dials the output from 563 horsepower to 591 hp and recalibrates the eight-speed transmission. It's not a radical transformation, more so visual than mechanical. For buyers who prefer ultimate comfort over performance, Rolls also sells a Ghost Long Wheelbase with a more spacious back seat.

Though nothing would stop us from ordering a Rolls-Royce Ghost if we won the lottery tomorrow, no car is perfect, and we see room for improvement in a few minor areas. Our first complaint is negligible, but it impacts this writer, who likes to travel with his emotional support water. A large Yeti barely fits into the Ghost's cupholders.

The second area where we see room for improvement is the cabin technology, particularly in the back seat. Rolls-Royce uses a slightly older version of BMW's iDrive software, and we have absolutely no issues with it in the front seat. Rolls kept the one-through-eight favorite buttons on the dash but still incorporates modern tech like wireless Apple CarPlay.

The rear entertainment screens, however, are relatively basic and only allow guests to control in-car functions like the radio and navigation system. Where is the built-in streaming? Even a Kia Carnival has that. Are we to believe rich people who ride in the back seat don't watchSuccessionlike everyone else? When viewed next to the BMW 7 Series and its jaw-dropping 31-inchtheater screen that drops down from the roof, the screens in the Ghost feel unimpressive. It may not arrive immediately, but we have no doubts Rolls will co-opt this feature from BMW.