Monday 31st January 2011

Twin Test: Ferrari California vs Rolls Phantom

Open Season: Speed matters at the traffic light grand prix

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The things you do when the pub's shut...

The PistonHeads twin test. A classic battle between two iconic luxury performance cars, tested to the extreme by a hard-nosed and incisive team of automotive writers who've been there, done it all, and then invented that T-shirt wearing metaphor that everyone goes on about nowadays. (Have you seen our latest T-shirts?)

And now here it is. PH proudly presents the automotive head-to-head you've all been waiting for.

Forget the McLaren 12C against the 458 Italia, and witness Ferrari's stunning convertible California (£212,349.36) battling for line honours with the fabulous Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe (£332.400.00).

Filmed responsibly at the PH private test track this very morning (yes - don't try this at home folks), there could only ever be one winner.

Gentleman, start your engines. Ready, Steady, POSE!

 

[jake15919]

A rather undignified pulling away by the Rolls driver. The guy in the Toyota kit-car seemed to be in a bit of a rush as well.

[Harry Monk]

Gaudy vs crass. What wins?

[robman23]

silver ferrari looks poo, thats all i have to say on this lol

[ZOLLAR]

Not Loving the California in silver

[mmm-five]

Are you sure that's a real Ferrari and not some Rinspeed/Mansory prototype

[Beefmeister]

Jesus that's a lot of spec on that California!

List is £147,000 so it has £65,350 of extras?!?!

[W00DY]

Petty embarassing for Ferrari to see that a new California already needs the sills painting with underseal.

[louismchuge]

That was the worst 'News' item I've ever seen on this site!

[AA355]

And here is one in a prper colour...

[BBS-LM]

That was riveting, dam, PH news just gets better and better. You should make an animated gif from that video and put it on the internet.

[Guvernator]

That silver colour isn't doing the California any favours. I'd still take the Cali over the Rolls any day of the week. That deck finish on the Roller (shudder). I'm sorry but wood belongs on boats or 80's Mercs.

[Chris-R]

louismchuge said:

That was the worst 'News' item I've ever seen on this site!

Really? The worst ever? You mean we can't improve at all..?

[y2blade]

BBS-LM said:

That was riveting, dam, PH news just gets better and better. You should make an animated gif from that video and put it on the internet.

[thejudderman]

Christ why do people keep adding the carbon 'extras' on Ferrari's? Those sills and filler flap look completely naff. Saw a light blue 430 Scud at pageant of power that had the same 'extras' and it just cheapened the whole thing for me (still took a photos of it mind!).

[Minel]

AA355 said:

And here is one in a prper colour...

I'll take 2 please

[y2blade]

Beefmeister said:

Jesus that's a lot of spec on that California!

List is £147,000 so it has £65,350 of extras?!?!

proving that you can't buy "taste"

[sidaorb]

Having seen that Ferrari at Sunday Service @ the Mini factory, it actually does look very nice in silver.

[georgetuk]

I like it, good little bit of fun.

But for the amount extra the Roller is, it gives plenty of time to ponder exactly why you did spend all that extra money.

But to be fair the Roller is not all about speed.

[RichB]

Both ugly as sin, both footballers cars which I wouldn't be seen dead in.

[Chris-R]

BBS-LM said:

That was riveting, dam, PH news just gets better and better. You should make an animated gif from that video and put it on the internet.

We have. There's a prize for whoever finds it first - good luck!