Rolls-Royce claims used Phantom values “will not drop further” following price reduction of the new model.
In Australia, price cuts of up to $280,000 – perhaps the largest price cut in Australian motor industry history – seem bound to have an impact on used vehicle values, but Rolls-Royce is attempting to refute this, saying, “The market already reflects the reality of the new transaction pricing and we do not think it will drop further.”
Is this then the bargain of the year? An ex-demonstrator 2011 Phantom Drophead convertible with just 850 km on the clock has been advertised in Melbourne at $897,848 – a difference (or “loss” if you were the first owner) of $452,152 from the original list price.
Roller going cheap?
OK, that’s for a secondhand demonstrator, but the new price structure is also cheaper than before. As a result of the price changes, a new Phantom is now (only) $855,000 for the standard sedan – a $213,000 saving.
Of course, some of the astronomical pricing for this iconic brand (and these days owned by BMW) comes from the customer options, such as 44,000 exterior paint finishes and “limitless” interior options for wood veneers, leather styles and colors, plus monogrammed embroidery and fiber-optic ‘starry sky’ roof lining with a choice of constellations.
The new Series II Phantom also has more on-board technology such as LED headlights, upgraded sat-nav, and an eight-speed automatic transmission that R-R claims reduces fuel consumption by 10 percent. (As if owners of these cars costing just short of a million dollars would really care about fuel consumption!)
Rolls-Royce says the decision to cut the pricing of the RR brand reflects the sustained strength of the Australian dollar, which despite sometimes awkward decisions by the political party in power, has held its head up in the world financial markets.
