Soccer_playa1579

http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/598385126.html

Ive never seen or heard of this car in my life... im sure a few of you have. when did they stop making this?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

It's the Phaeton. I believe it halted production in 2006 b/c sales were low. They are talking about revamping it and bringing it back again.

Happy Reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Phaeton

TheMirror

Think Audi A8 with a VW badge.

Soccer_playa1579

thanks.. it looks really nice and has got alot of power under the hood... probably just not suitable for most people due to the price tag on that car.... who in their right mind would spend 75k on a vw???

Soccer_playa1579

yea thats exactly what i was thinking.. but i would rather get the audi a8 than the phaeton... Although it is a very nice car no doubt.

Costco

They stopped making it because Americans are badge whores and we'd rather get an A8, because we're too good for a Volkswagen. We are embarrassed that our friends will tease us for buying a $60,000+ VW so we simply don't ever consider it.



See: every Hyundai thread on AZ

TheMirror

Exactly. It was a couple steps too far for VW at the time, and they sold a trickle of them before pulling the plug.

Got very good reviews in the European press though.

Actually, now that I think about it, current Toureg V-10 TDI's sell for about that much.

Costco

....

Exactly what I meant... it is a nice car, but if they changed all the VW badges to Audi or even Porsche it definitely would have sold more.

phile

Meh, IMO the A8 looks better, both inside and out, although the VW is good looking in its own right. It's just that these are fraternal twins, and one definitely looks better than the other.

Crazy Bimmer

Didnt it sell well in Europe?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

^ I think it did well in Europe... just not here where people would rather spend $75k on an Audi.

The first time I saw it my jaw actually dropped. The sound out of that thing was awesome. But then I said what most people did... "I'd never spend that much on a VW"

carguyrob

One other problem with the VW Phaeton...they have absolutely horrible reliability. A number of car magazine editors wrote articles about how they wanted to love the car, but things would constantly break on the car!

CLpower

You can get these for an absolute STEAL now......but make sure you get a warranty

GIBSON6594

I thought it wasn't that great looking for the money, regardless of the badge

Dan Martin

They're a great buy! You can even find a few W12's for a steal. These cars were hand-assembled in Germany at VW's Transparent Factory then flown over here on a customized airplane.

charliemike

ANNNNNDDDD ... FALSE.

That car didn't sell because you had to take it to a VW service department run by the monkeys in the Careerbuilder commercials and sit for hours while you listen to them whack at your brake calipers with ballpeen hammers and cackle maniacally as they gave each other melvins and competed for fewest teeth.

And the A8 is a better car.

nokiaman

I hesitated on a W12 Phaeton before pulling the trigger on the A8.Reliability is way too risky on the Phaeton though. I find it to be a pretty attractive luxo-sedan though, stylish enough inside and out..A neighbour down the street has one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmGNRMOpg7E

Costco

So the service departments in Europe are just as bad as over here? It sold pretty well in Europe I think, I believe its still in production and on sale over there.

The Phaeton looks way better and is a lot less especially now that its used. The A8 looks like another typical boring luxury barge. Its rarer than the S-Class which you see two of around every corner but the Phaeton is almost never seen on the road.

Better car as in......? What does the A8 offer that Phaeton doesn't? I honestly don't really know all that much about either car but it seems like the Phaeton is better so far.

SakiGT

charliemike

Honestly, I don't know what the service departments are like in Europe. I would think it would take a concerted effort to be worse.

Looks are subjective but the A8 is a better car because it has far fewer problems. That's what I meant. I haven't driven either of them.

nokiaman

Worldwide
2001: 371
2002: 4,262 [3403]
2003: 7,314 [5885]
2004: 9,034 [5485]
2005: 4,809 (Excluding Europe Sales) 4,414 Europe [6001]
2006: [5021]

Europe
Denmark 2002: 2
Denmark 2004: 6
Denmark 2005: 5
Denmark 2006: 9
Denmark 2007: 1
France 2004: 126
France 2006: Oct 7
Finland 2003: 5
Finland 2004: 2
Finland 2005: 1
Finland 2006: 9
Germany 2002: 1,994
Germany 2003: 3,104
Germany 2004: 2,678
Germany 2005: 3,211
Germany 2006: 2,371
Germany 2007: 2,892
Germany 2008: Jan 302
Greece 2002: 3
Greece 2003: 5
Greece 2004: 7
Greece 2005: 7
Italy 2003: 153
Italy 2004: 115
Italy 2005: 190 (188 old figures)
Latvia 2003: 5
Latvia 2004: 4
Netherlands 2002: 15
Netherlands 2003: 44
Netherlands 2004: 40
Netherlands 2005: 69
Netherlands 2006: 46
Netherlands 2007:Jan-May 20 July 2 Aug 2 Sep 4 Oct 3 Nov 2
Netherlands 2008: 14
Russia 2003: 10 (1st Qtr)
Russia 2005: 79
Slovakia 2003: 4
Slovakia 2004: 9
Slovakia 2005: 14
Slovenia 2003: 4
Slovenia 2004: 5
Slovenia 2005: 11
Spain 2006: 229
Spain 2007: Jan-May 60
Sweden 2002: 4
Sweden 2003: 11
Sweden 2004: 9
Sweden 2005: 6
Switzerland 2006: 36 (Jan-Sept)
Switzerland 2007: 57
UK 2004: 213
Europe 2002: 2,261
Europe 2003: 3,838
Europe 2004: 3,646

North America
Canada 2004: 93
Canada 2005: 34
Canada 2006: 7
USA 2003: 265 (343)
USA 2004: 1,939
USA 2005: 820
USA 2006: May 17 June 25 July 9 Aug 11 Sept-Dec 31 (233 Jan-Dec Total) Official 235 2 remain after 2006
USA 2007: Jan 2 Feb 4 March 3 April 3 May 4 June 1

Africa
Angola 2004: 38

Asia-Pacific
Australia 2004: 1
China HK 2006: Oct 35
New Zealand 2005: 4
New Zealand 2006: 5
North Korea 2005: 5
Singapore 2005/06:50
South Korea 2005:284
South Korea 2006:776
Taiwan 2004/2005: 300

SRK85

They advertise it a lot in Germany but I only saw one Phateon in Europe so far.

evilone

saw one last week while i was back in NoVa

TheMirror

Really? I didn't know that. Wow.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, just about every one imported appears to be for sale:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/search...sfyc=&systime=

mrmako

When I worked in Stuttgart a few years back, the Audi/VW dealer was nearby. We (the wife and I) would always stop by just to look (ok, gawk) at the new vehicles. the Phaeton is really impressive to see in person. I loved the interior, very classy...But......

For the money, a 2004 Audi A8 would be the ticket. Newer look, and man, nice interior. I like the luxobarge that has a bit of get up and go.....And these have always looked better than the Mercedes.

fast-tl

It's also pretty universal that the V8 struggles to pull around this car, even with its 335hp. I live in Dallas, and I did some research based on this CL ad, but the electrical gremlins and underwhelming performance reviews scared me away.

Dan Martin

The V8 does 0-60 in 7.0, or for $10K more, you can get a W12 and get to 60 in 5.7...

is300eater

what ever happened to the W12 engine? Did VW/Audi give up on it?