Rollin’ in a Rolls: A Review of the Dawn

Rollin’ in a Rolls: A Review of the Dawn

By Megan Busch

I’m not a girl who knows a ton about cars. I’ve driven Jeeps all my life (as has my mother), and I really haven’t veered off that track—ever. So, I’ve teamed up with the group at Baker Motor Company to try new things, namely cars outside my norm. A few times each month, I’ll be driving one of Baker’s cars and letting you know what I think. This isn’t going to be a series of Car and Driver or Motor Trend reviews. It’s just a girl sharing her honest opinion about some nifty vehicles.

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After a year of driving cars and writing reviews for Baker, I finally had the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat of the pinnacle of vehicles—a Rolls-Royce. On a sunny afternoon, I slid into a Dawn Drophead Coupe, put the top down and turned the radio up. Overall impression? It really doesn’t get any better than this.

Ultimate Luxury

I feel as though it’s nearly needless to say that the Dawn was incredibly luxurious. After all, that’s what should be expected from a six-figure vehicle. Still, I have to tell you about it because the experience was magnificent. Let’s start with the leather—it was smooth and white and it felt like I could just sink into the seats. It’s the finest of leathers, and the difference between this and the leather found on any ol’ Honda is palpable. The car felt solid, too. I once had a Nissan Sentra as a rental car to drive from Miami to Key West. It was windy that day, and I could feel the vehicle pulling left or right under the force of the gusts as I drove down the Overseas highway. There is no way this wind could be felt in the Rolls-Royce. The tires were firmly planted on the road and the weight of the car made me feel like I was driving something substantial and safe. Plus, the vehicle is almost-eerily quiet. Of course you hear more noise with the Dawn’s top down, but with it up, it’s silent. David Ogilvy, the father of advertising, said, “At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in [a] Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.” And it’s true.

The Dawn didn’t lack any technological advances, either, and these luxuries, such as the hologram of a head-up display and high-end infotainment system located in the center console, help to keep drivers safe on the road and fully entertained.

No expectation that I had was unmet, and there were even a few surprises. My favorite? A little button in the door jam. When I pressed it, the Dawn handed me a classic, black umbrella. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left home without one on a rainy day. Rolls-Royce won’t let you be so unprepared.

Just that Feeling

So of course the Rolls-Royce is nice, but really the thrill of driving it is that rush you get knowing you’re behind the wheel of the most prestigious vehicle on the road. It garners stares—the good kind. And it offers this “top-of-the-world” feeling. I was only test driving—I can’t imagine how cool it must be to drive away in a Rolls-Royce knowing that at the end of the day, you’ll be parking it in your garage—not the dealership’s showroom.

Drawing Conclusions

The Dawn met all the expectations I had for a Rolls-Royce and then some. It has been, by far, the most exciting vehicle I’ve driven around Charleston. I think, if you’ve reached the point in life where a vehicle of this caliber is financially attainable, why wouldn’t you buy one?

About this Rolls-Royce

This Rolls-Royce Dawn is owned by Rolls-Royce’s corporate office and unavailable for a test drive at Baker Motor Company today. However, the dealership has several models in stock, and you can completely customize and tailor a model of your own through the manufacturer’s Bespoke program. To learn more, visit Baker Motor Company’s Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Charleston on Savannah Highway.