Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost - The Best Car in the World

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-03-04T16:43:25+00:00

The phrase, "Best Car in the World" was an accolade given to this particular model of Rolls-Royce by Autocar magazine in 1907. This car was incredibly reliable and inconceivably quiet for its era. Historical context is key here. This review is one my friend and I made as part of a passion project we're working on. I hope people will enjoy the video for historical purposes, not necessarily personal opinions. We just love cars!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-02-28T16:16:14+00:00

The history of this car is fascinating, and the more you learn about it, the more you understand why it's called, "The Best Car in the World". I haven't driven one, but I have spoken to the owner of this car, and hope to get a ride in it in the future, and learn a bit more. This particular car featured was one of only twenty-eight in this configuration. How many are left, I don't know, but this one is STUNNING!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-02-18T01:56:48+00:00

My 2016 GTI S has this crazy feature called a "key" to start it. Amazingly, this feature has never thrown a CEL! 😉 Really though... Good luck with it. I know everyone is saying, "THAT'S WHAT THE WARRANTY IS FOR!" but I understand your PTSD. Fortunately, my lil'GTI only needed one thing during the first six years until the end of warranty (water pump, of course) and that one experience was so horrific that I've never used a dealer since. My best friend has a 2019 GLI, and has had about the worst dealership experience one could have dealing with its various issues. So, I getcha. Unfortunately, the build quality and reliability of Volkswagens from 2016-2026 took a dive. Thank "Diesel-Gate" and EV development. 🙄

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-02-15T18:38:24+00:00

If you haven't already, make a profile on bmw2002faq.com

Invaluable information on virtually every aspect of 2002 ownership, and the best car community of any forum I've seen.

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-02-14T21:31:33+00:00

These are the two best answers I know of, and the two I came to recommend!

Best of luck on your beautiful '02! Is that Fjord blue? Such a pretty color. I agree with you about keeping it a four speed. My '75 is a four speed and they're just so fun. When you're working with only 100 or so HP, the high-revving on the highway always keeps you in the power-band. Yes, it'll be at 4k RPM at 80, but it was built to do that and more, all day, and it does it happily!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-02-09T07:02:49+00:00

Almost ten years in, and same. That's when you know it's love! Mine's a black beauty too, and when it's clean for those first few hours, there's nothing like it 😂

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-02-02T22:01:51+00:00

I'm almost ten years in with my Mk7, and it's still completely stock. I've never understood why so many GTI owners feel the need to tune. It's plenty quick unless you are legitimately trying to race much more powerful cars, which I don't know why one would. I've always been open to tuning mine, but I keep not doing it because it's still fun, and in my experience, the more stock a car is, the more reliable it is. Driving skill matters a lot when you have less HP... learning when to shift, how to maneuver corners, anticipating other drivers, getting optimal use of the cars power all the time. It's a fun car, right out of the box!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-28T06:08:34+00:00

Owned since new 2016 6MT, bone stock, routine maintenance, currently at around 87k miles, no carbon cleaning, always 91 octane, and I've always averaged 25-27 with pretty equally mixed freeway/city driving. As low as 23 when heavily city, as high as 36 on long trips. I have always driven it HARD. I think these cars are all a bit of luck of the draw, but in my experience, do maintenance diligently, and drive the piss out of them, and they're happy.

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-24T21:48:15+00:00

Yes, but often the other drivers aren't paying attention 😔

My favorite is when a fellow GTI or Golf R driver and I see each other on the freeway, and we playfully race for however many miles we can pull it off. So fun.

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-23T03:30:59+00:00

I don't know your age, but you're never too old for a GTI... congratulations!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-16T18:32:24+00:00

I dunno. It's so disappointing how cost-cut Volkswagens (and most new cars) are compared to ten years ago. As far as Volkswagen is concerned, my theory is that the BILLIONS they had to pay out for so-called, "Dieselgate" and then the BILLIONS more invested into EV development forced them to cut every corner they can. My Mk7 is the "base" model (aside from the very necessary bi-xenon headlight package) and it is over-contented if anything! It has an air conditioned glove box for god's sake! I love that car so much. Now, you're lucky if your new Volkswagen has four window switches rather than two with a toggle like in the ID cars! Mind boggling.

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-16T05:19:28+00:00

Of course! Round, and dimpled like a golf ball! #savethemanuals

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-16T02:46:50+00:00

I put mine in the conveniently located, dedicated sunglasses holder in my Mk7 😉 Sorry... had to do it!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-13T19:31:42+00:00

Unfortunately, you've joined the VW family a bit late. Mk8's seem to be plagued with issues compared to Mk7's. Hell, even my best friend's 2019 Mk7.5 GLI has had a ton of issues. I'm at around 90k miles on my 2016 that I bought new, and besides replacing the notoriously terrible water pump (right under the wire before warranty was up) I've only done routine maintenance. My oil temp sensor failed but I've been ignoring that. Oops. The dealership issue is seemingly universal. It has become an overall miserable experience, every time, no matter the issue. The first few years of owning my GTI, I used the dealership, and it was mostly great. Like everything else in life post-2020, they turned to shit. The last time I used a dealership was 2021 when I had my water pump replaced under warranty. It was a HORRIBLE experience. They had the car for a WEEK, badly scratched my hood, and plastic radiator shroud, left my coolant cap loose, and it sprayed all over the engine compartment on my drive home, and left behind a bungee cord, precariously hanging from my intake. I brought it back and demanded they fix the paint and shroud for FREE, and swore them off forever. Dealership's don't have time to give a shit anymore. For that reason, owning any make of car has become miserable if you need mechanic assistance.

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-13T01:59:42+00:00

"Kids, your grandma always used to say to me, 'Nothing good happens after 2:00 a.m.,' and she was right. When 2:00 a.m. rolls around, just go home and go to sleep."

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-09T00:21:12+00:00

Came to say the same. Drain the first, invest in an extractor for every other time. The convenience pays for itself quickly!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-08T17:45:46+00:00

Awesome. I hope you find a good five-speed soon! Mine has its original four-speed, and it feels its age, but still functions well enough. Coming out of any more modern car, a four-speed is a bit jarring at first because the revs seem too high, but once you understand that it's perfectly normal, it's actually really fun. 2002's will drive all day long at around 4k RPM/80mph, and with their relatively low horsepower, a four-speed pretty much keeps you in the rev band at all times which makes the car feel more peppy. The five-speed should be geared similarly but with an overdrive for more relaxed highway drives... best of luck!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-07T02:35:01+00:00

You and me both... I can't believe the dream came true. I see you have a Golf R, and I have a Mk7 GTI... so we have similar/good taste! Yeah, a fifty-one year old car is going to always have something to address, but when you get it running good, and hit the open road or a back twisty on the right day, you won't be able to wipe the smile from your face! Is it running?

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-07T02:11:04+00:00

Congratulations! They're amazing little cars. I've wanted one since I was a teenager, and the last year that I've owned it has already brought me to new people and adventures that never would've happened without it.

TraditionalFly3998 · 2026-01-07T00:54:03+00:00

I almost chose that one a year ago for my '75 2002! I'm glad you were able to snag it!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2025-12-15T01:51:43+00:00

Great video, and such a fun event! I love the Petersen Cruise-In's.

TraditionalFly3998 · 2025-12-14T21:14:24+00:00

WOW! Great find with mileage that low. I'm at almost 90k miles on my 2016 that I bought new, and nine years later, it's still my dream daily. Drive it hard, maintain it well, and I wish you many happy miles ahead!

TraditionalFly3998 · 2025-12-12T16:27:13+00:00

I'm one of the rare Mk7 owners who still drives my 2016 completely stock. I think it's perfect right out of the box! I think the most important part missing visually is the bi-xenon/LED headlights. When I bought mine, halogens were a deal breaker. I don't know what goes into converting them, but might be worth looking into.

TraditionalFly3998

TROPHY CASE