When your mind drifts to Miami, you may picture the beach, or the clubs, or the armada of yachts floating around in the city’s vast waterways. With events like the Miami Grand Prix, U.S. Open, and various music festivals, there’s also plenty of reason to head down to Miami. That’s not even scratching the surface of the various cultural gems the city has to offer. No matter your reason for heading to Florida’s most famous city, you will need a decent set of wheels when you get there. If you could choose absolutely anything, then you should probably choose a Rolls-Royce Spectre.
Here’s why Rolls’ first electric vehicle not only fits in but also stands out on the streets of the Magic City.
The Spectre stands out like nothing else
Miami is one of the places many people go to catch the eye. It’s not a vacation spot for those looking to blend into the background. Instead, it’s somewhere you can head to show off a little. But how do you show off somewhere like Miami where everyone and their mother seems to have a corvette, all varieties of Porsche 911 are regularly making the rounds, and even see the occasional Ferrari 458 Italia?
But when it comes to standing out, the Rolls-Royce Spectre is in a league of its own. During a recent trip to Miami, I borrowed one in possibly the most inconspicuous color possible, a fairly classy shade of grey. The color paired well with the interior and had a lot of elegance about it, but it didn’t exactly scream “look at me” like some of the more outlandish Spectre color combos do. Despite this, every other person seemingly stopped to take a photo or video of the vehicle driving by. People shouted compliments from across the street. Folks even posed with it when it was parked. If you want attention, in a city full of people jockeying for attention, just buy a Rolls-Royce. It’s really that simple!
It also blends in oddly well, especially in the art-deco district. Despite being electric, and having plenty of elements that could be described as “modern styling” it still has a bit of an art deco appearance about it. It all fits in an odd way, it’s a car inadvertently designed for Miami. Even if EV charging is a bit of a pain down there.
There are a few potential hotel perks
In many Miami hotels, and indeed hotels based in other major destination cities, valet parking is almost the norm. Valet parking also has its own levels. For a little extra cash, you can have your vehicle placed in one of the spots right out front of the hotel. Alternatively, you can roll up in something impressive, and there’s a good chance that the valet will leave your car out front anyway.
Certain vehicles, like a Rolls-Royce Spectre, have an excessive amount of prestige. This means having one essentially on display makes the hotel look pretty good. So the hotel looks like somewhere people with money and taste like to stay, and you get to step right into your vehicle instead of waiting five to ten minutes for a valet to retrieve it from a parking garage. It’s a win-win.
The same also applies to the many bars and restaurants offering valet parking in South Beach. They tend not to move the more expensive stuff, as it makes the establishment look more desirable. Though certain attendants may spot the fact you’re driving something in the half-million dollar region and try to inflate the parking fee a touch, so watch out for that.
It’s not the worst thing to hit traffic in either
When you think of driving in Miami, you may picture cruising past palm trees, parking in front of an art deco hotel, and looking out over the beach. While you can do all of that, it’s not exactly representative of the actual Miami driving experience.
In reality, driving through Miami usually means heavy traffic, and the Spectre is oddly ideal for that too. To start with, it’s a very pleasant place to be. While the exact decorations vary and can be tuned to your own particular tastes if you purchase a Rolls-Royce, it’s guaranteed to be pretty exquisite. You have heated and vented seats, both of which kick in instantly. Those seats are also excessively comfortable, you can sit on the high quality leather for hours with no ill effects, and even get a near full-body massage with a few taps on the center console.
If you’re not sat in traffic, the other side of the Miami driving experience could best be described as “total chaos.” People are either speeding or doing 20 below the posted limit for some illogical reason. Vehicles will dart between lanes at random. The road layout itself can be confusing too. Luckily, the Spectre has a first-class array of drivers aids designed to help you stay safe when all around you has gone a bit Floridian.
In Miami, you do need a car (so make it something special)
While Uber is certainly a thing, a well-placed hotel helps, and the free trolleybuses are certainly worth a ride, you do need your own transportation if you want to make the most of Miami. It’s not New York or London, so you can’t just hop on a subway and zip between various areas of the city for very little money.
So if you want to spend the morning on Miami Beach, grab a sandwich in Little Havana, head further out to experience tourist attractions like Coral Castle, then find somewhere with a bit of atmosphere when the sun goes down you’ll absolutely need your own transportation.
Miami doesn’t have to be about excess, but when you’re surrounded by multi-million dollar condos, superyachts, and a general party atmosphere, you’re always looking for ways to fit in. A Spectre won’t make you fit in, it goes one better, it makes you stand out. As for where to get one, Miami has a Rolls-Royce dealership, so if you’re lucky, you may be able to arrange a test drive. Some companies will also rent out an ultra-luxury vehicle like the Spectre. Finally, you could always buy one and either drive it down there or have it shipped. You need to use that yacht for something.
