A Used Rolls Royce Ghost is Still Hilariously Expensive a Decade Later
Depreciation is a great way to get a high-end luxury car without the high-end price tag. Not long ago, we looked at the Mercedes CLS63 AMG and its stunning fall from six-figure darling to a $30,000 bargain. But the Rolls Royce Ghost isn’t just a luxury car. These well-crafted masterpieces seemingly never age, and neither does the price tag.
How much is a used 2013 Rolls Royce Ghost in 2023?
A quick look at the online marketplace for a Rolls Royce Ghost tells the whole story. You’re not getting into a functional Rolls Royce Ghost for less than $100,000. Even decade-old used models carry a $125,000 price tag, and you’ll have to go back even further to find a quality example for below six figures. Even low-mileage examples sit in this same area. The most recent Bring-a-Trailer model went for $138,000 with just 15,000 miles on the clock.
The good part, if you’ve got that kind of scratch, is that the Ghost hasn’t aged much in those 10 years. The vertical slat grille remains a staple, as do the unique three-box proportions and squared-off front and rear fenders. From the outside, a clean 2013 Ghost will give off a similar image to one from 2023. And it’ll only set you back about a third of the cost of a brand-new model.
And, of course, the 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 under the hood makes the 2013 Rolls Royce Ghost a spectre of speed. Factory-rated at 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, the Ghost is effortlessly fast. Put your foot to the floor, and it’ll waft you to 155 mph in soft, pillowy silence.
What features come in a Rolls Royce Ghost from 2013?
It doesn’t take a long look backward to realize how far cars have come in the past 10 years. One of the newest, most exciting features in the 2013 Rolls Royce Ghost is now part of the Hyundai Santa Fe lineup in 2023. That’s the automatic trunk opener, where a wave of your foot beneath the rear bumper triggers the lid to pop open.
Other standout features of the time include a heads-up display and multi-zone climate control: features you can have on today’s Honda Accord if you’re so inclined. And though the ‘13 Ghost’s leather still puts BMW’s Vernasca leather to shame, the wood grain dash accents and adaptive air suspension aren’t nearly the high-end draw they once were.
Buy it for the image, not the function
For $125,000, you could grab a Genesis G90, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or BMW 7 Series and get all the same kit with the confidence of a warranty. But nobody is buying a used Rolls Royce Ghost for any practical reason. Those cars are all newer, with better tech and more interior space.
But a Rolls Royce is more about status than substance, for better or worse. Sure, there are better ways to spend your money, even if luxury is your only goal. But only a used Rolls Royce gives you a license to open every cocktail conversation with “I was in the backseat of my Rolls…”
And let’s not pretend that the 2013 Rolls Royce Ghost isn’t luxurious. It still has better carpeting than most homes outside the manors of southern Connecticut. And both the front and rear seats are more comfortable than a well-worn leather lounger. But when you consider the price tag of the decade-old Rolls, a modern executive luxury sedan offers almost the same experience with far better tech. But, critically, none of them carry the same gravitas.
Is a used Rolls Royce Ghost worth it?
It’s hard to say that a Rolls Royce isn’t worth whatever price is attached. And even a 10-year-old Ghost carries a sense of occasion inherent to the brand. So, is a used Rolls Royce Ghost worth the cash? Absolutely – but only if it’s exactly what you’re after.
