Hi and Welcome.

My name is Ed Barrett, and I’m an auto enthusiast who has been reviewing new cars in magazines and newspapers for nearly 20 years.

Like my columns that appear in print, my reviews in this blog are designed to help you make a well informed decision when buying a new car. I hope you find them informative and entertaining.

Look under the “Categories” listings along the right side of the page and select the make or year of the vehicle you’d like to learn more about. To find my latest reviews, check the bottom of this page.

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When Price Is No Object

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive a Rolls Royce? Well, I have too.

Although I have driven hundreds of new cars over the years, not one of them was a Rolls Royce—that is until now. Through a stroke of good fortune, I participated in a Rolls press event, and got to drive their 2009 cars.

The current model of the Rolls is called the Phantom, and it comes in four versions. The most popular being the Sedan, but there is also the Extended Wheelbase Sedan, the Coupe (pronounced “Coo-Pay”) and the Drophead Coupe.

The first thing that you notice when you get up close to a Rolls, is that it is very big. These cars are larger than life. The grille is huge, the wheels, 21 inchers, are massive and the overall length of the Rolls can extend up to 20 feet. And then there are the doors. They are king size, and are hinged at the back, so that they open at the front. (Suicide doors, we used to call them.) The doors are designed for ease of entry and exit. Switches inside the car close the doors for you.

Once inside, you are surrounded by acres of wood paneling, and countless yards of Connolly leather. Cashmere cloth graces the headliner, and deep-pile lambs wool cushions your feet.

In the driver’s seat, I found myself at a loss locating the controls. The starter button was out of sight to the left of the steering wheel. The seat adjusters were concealed in the center armrest. But with some help, I found everything. However, I have to say that I was disappointed with the steering wheel. It was large, but unusually thin for such a big car. I was told that it was designed that way so that you could steer with your fingertips.

Once under way, the Rolls was quiet and stately moving down the road. The 453-hp, V-12 engine purrs. It never sounded stressed, even when it was rushing me onto the freeway. The steering was fairly sharp, and the ride was well controlled. A Rolls does not wallow.

The Rolls is a car that virtually screams, “Look at me.” People who buy them really want to be noticed. Of the 1200 cars that Rolls sells annually, about one-third are purchased here in the U.S. The starting price is $350,000.

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