The Phaeton has recieved a slight facelift. Thankfully the exterior and interior have been little changed most of the modifications are under the skin.
(http://vortex3.rely.net/gallery/albums//Events/Industry/Geneva%20Motor%20Show/2007/Volkswagen/069.jpg)
(http://vortex3.rely.net/gallery/albums//Events/Industry/Geneva%20Motor%20Show/2007/Volkswagen/071.jpg)
(http://vortex3.rely.net/gallery/albums//Events/Industry/Geneva%20Motor%20Show/2007/Volkswagen/074.jpg)
(http://vortex3.rely.net/gallery/albums//Events/Industry/Geneva%20Motor%20Show/2007/Volkswagen/072.jpg)
The V6 TDI now produces 233hp.
Very nice! I don't see many Phaetons around, but when I do see one, I always think how smart it looks.
It's a cool car. Do any of the other big luxo-barges hide the vents behind wood panels?
Not Stateside anymore is it?
I always liked the Phaeton.
However, American's were too hung up on brand names and badges to buy it.
How to ruin the Phaeton's interior #1: Use Pine-Lime leather and black shoe polish.
They still make the Phaeton?
I have seen more Porsches/Lamborghinis/Ferarris than the single Phaeton I've seen...
Good luck VW
Incidentally, I love the look of the exterior, I love the look of its interior in proper colours, and I wish for the featured Phaeton to reverse over the ghastly silver Eos nearby.
Quote from: sportyaccordy on March 06, 2007, 08:04:50 AM
I have seen more Porsches/Lamborghinis/Ferarris than the single Phaeton I've seen...
Good luck VW
In some markets when it first came out the Phaeton and A8 combined sold more units then the 7er and S class combined.
Quote from: omicron on March 06, 2007, 07:35:09 AM
How to ruin the Phaeton's interior #1: Use Pine-Lime leather and black shoe polish.
Here are some more examples of how to ruin it. This is the? negative aspect of bespoke cars.? ;)
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Sterling_3.jpg)
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Dark_Poplar_wood_extended_leather_package.jpg)
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Best_Link_1.jpg)
The lack of taste of some people. :banghead:
This on the other hand.....
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/VW_Individual_White_6.jpg)
:mrcool:
It looks gorgeous. I've always loved this car.
I'd rather have an A8L, S550, or LS460... but this is a wicked car.
Yup, it's still a nice car I have no desire to experience.
Quote from: 93JC on March 06, 2007, 07:42:30 AM
They still make the Phaeton?
I was thinking the same thing.
Quote from: JYODER240 on March 06, 2007, 10:42:04 AM
I was thinking the same thing.
So was I.
V10 Phaeton is my taste.
Quote from: 93JC on March 06, 2007, 07:42:30 AM
They still make the Phaeton?
What I thought to.
:huh: I thought they stopped production
Anyways, I've always liked the Phaeton. It's a beautiful luxury car. But I really can't pay that much for a VW ;)
I thought it was selling well elsewhere other than NA
Quote from: M_power on March 06, 2007, 04:28:30 PM
I thought it was selling well elsewhere other than NA
As I mentioned it was selling quite well when it was new but sales numbers have dropped of considerably in the last year.
Quote from: 93JC on March 06, 2007, 07:42:30 AM
They still make the Phaeton?
According to reports ex VW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder und the head of the VW group Wolfgang Bernhard wanted to stop Phaeton production but ex CEO and current head of the supervisory board Ferdinand Pi?ch apparently had a class three meltdown apon hearing the news. Pi?ch is also one of the the largest shareholders in Porsche which conviently is the largest shareholder in Volkswagen.
Quote from: CMan on March 06, 2007, 07:22:14 AM
I always liked the Phaeton.
However, American's were too hung up on brand names and badges to buy it.
well, yes and no imo. maybach sales have never met expectations despite the exclusivity of this historic brand and it's highly unique badges. i, too, liked the phaeton after driving one. however, it's highly conservative (passat-like) looks turned me off when factoring price.
It's a great looking car with the wrong badge.
Quote from: Raghavan on March 06, 2007, 05:31:10 PM
It's a great looking car with the wrong badge.
there
i love the interior but the exterior is just too bland for me...boring! Give me an audi a8 anyday
This needs to find it's way into the thread.
(http://www.sniffpetrol.com/PicMonth01.gif)
Quote from: JYODER240 on March 06, 2007, 10:42:04 AM
I was thinking the same thing.
They still make them on the European market.
Quote from: Galaxy on March 06, 2007, 04:44:59 PM
According to reports ex VW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder und the head of the VW group Wolfgang Bernhard wanted to stop Phaeton production but ex CEO and current head of the supervisory board Ferdinand Pi?ch apparently had a class three meltdown apon hearing the news.?
:nutty:
old Fred is seriously off his rocker. this lovechild of a car of his has become a laughingstock of the car industry. I can't even tell it was facelifted by looking at the pics.
I will admit, though, that it's a very attractive car with a nice interior. if this car were priced against the E550, 550i, etc. with the W12 within 10k higher, it would've really been something. but priced against the 750i and
higher than the current LS460? the Phaeton starts to look like a Jetta in a tux :rolleyes:
it should've been no surprise to VW that people in this market, especially in the U.S., shop for badges. at least Toyota knew that the LS can't wear the same badge in America as a Corolla :praise:
edit: great. now I'm mad that I wasted my 300th post complaining about a dead (in the U.S.) VW. thanks alot, Fred. oh, well. it could've been worse.
The problem for me with the Pheaton is what about it makes it better than the A8?
Quote from: sportyaccordy on March 06, 2007, 08:04:50 AM
I have seen more Porsches/Lamborghinis/Ferarris than the single Phaeton I've seen...
Good luck VW
I'm pretty sure that the one I saw was the one that C/D tested.
This could really overfill a Passat-shaped hole in someone's life :partyon:.
Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on March 06, 2007, 09:12:52 PM
This could really overfill a Passat-shaped hole in someone's life :partyon:.
:lol: :lol:
Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on March 06, 2007, 09:12:52 PM
This could really overfill a Passat-shaped hole in someone's life :partyon:.
If only it weighed 2000 pounds less and had a stickshift!
Yours doesn't have a 5MT.
Quote from: ro51092 on March 06, 2007, 09:43:28 PM
Yours doesn't have a 5MT.
What does that have to do with anything?
I wish it didn't look like a Passat.
Had it not been for the long wheelbase Passat with the W12 presented here, there'd be no such thing as the budget Bentley, the Continental GT. If you haven't seen one in person, it has a lot more pressence than you'd think by seeing it in just a magazine.
Quote from: the Teuton on March 07, 2007, 01:54:20 PM
Had it not been for the long wheelbase Passat with the W12 presented here, there'd be no such thing as the budget Bentley, the Continental GT.? If you haven't seen one in person, it has a lot more pressence than you'd think by seeing it in just a magazine.
I'll admit that the Bentley Continentals owe their existence to the Phaeton, but I have to disagree with the latter statement; I've mistaken all three I've seen on the road for other VW's (honest to God, I mistook a Phaeton for a Jetta from a straight-on front angle one time)
I saw a sky blue one in a back street in my city during summer and I almost missed the stop sign. I thought it looked stunning.
Quote from: Vinsanity on March 07, 2007, 02:11:25 PM
honest to God, I mistook a Phaeton for a Jetta from a straight-on front angle one time
I have more than once. :lol:
Coolest bumper sticker I saw was on a Phaeton. It said KEEP RIGHT in yellow caps spelled in reverse, placed on the left front corner of the car. When seen in the sideview mirror, oyu could read it perfectly :lol:
Quote from: 93JC on March 07, 2007, 02:20:02 PM
I have more than once. :lol:
So have I. I looked at it and thought, "The Passat got a lot bigger." I had to see the "Phaeton" on the back before I realized what it was.
Quote from: HEMI666 on March 07, 2007, 02:38:00 PM
So have I.? I looked at it and thought, "The Passat got a lot bigger."? I had to see the "Phaeton" on the back before I realized what it was.
Me too. I'm surprised at how many I've seen, to be honest. At least four or five.
Granted, for one reason or another, Calgary seems to be a Mecca of big VWAG luxury cars. I've seen four Bentley Continental Flying Spurs (four different ones, as they were all different colours) parked outside the building I work in, in addition to the other half-dozen or so Continental GTs and Flying Spurs I've seen.
Still having seen any Bentleys older than that though. And only two Rolls-Royces, neither of them new (Silver Spirit II and III, I think...).
I don't get the "looks like a Passat" statements. In my opinion this..
(http://www.vwvortex.com/gallery/albums//Volkswagen/Passat/Passat%20VI/Passat%20Sedan%20(Europe)/002.jpg)
has no more resemblance to this...
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Aubergine_2.jpg)
then this.....
(http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3060406.001/1008big.jpg)
has to this....
(http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3070118.001/1002.jpg)
I personally like it when a manufacturer has a design signature instead of starting from scratch with each car.
:confused:
Are those Mercedeses two different models?
Quote from: the Teuton on March 07, 2007, 02:19:25 PM
I saw a sky blue one in a back street in my city during summer and I almost missed the stop sign. I thought it looked stunning.
The most stunning thing on the Phaeton IMO is the Heliochrome black paint and the piano paints offered.
The Heliochrome photographs poorly the best picture I have found is this, taken by Pan European from VWVortex.
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Lux_Black_5.jpg)
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Lux_Black_8.jpg)
As you can see the base color is black but depending on how the light hits it it can take on a shade of purple and green without being as obnoxious as some flip flop paints. Someone described as looking like the neck of a mallard duck. That is an excellent description.
Quote from: 93JC on March 07, 2007, 03:42:44 PM
:confused:
Are those Mercedeses two different models?
S and C class.
Oh. :lol:
To be honest they look more alike than the Phaeton and Passat. A very poor example: you proved my point.
Quote from: Galaxy on March 07, 2007, 03:36:14 PM
I don't get the "looks like a Passat" statements. In my opinion this..
(http://www.vwvortex.com/gallery/albums//Volkswagen/Passat/Passat%20VI/Passat%20Sedan%20(Europe)/002.jpg)
has no more resemblance to this...
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Aubergine_2.jpg)
You can't be serious. The bumper vents are the same with foglights in the same place, the headlights are nearly identical, the grille is identical, and the hood even has...oh nevermind. You're right, they look nothing alike. :rolleyes:
Quote from: 93JC on March 07, 2007, 03:48:54 PM
Oh. :lol:
To be honest they look more alike than the Phaeton and Passat. A very poor example: you proved my point.
OK, now I am lost unless your point is that the german car industry as a whole makes designs which are to similar. You said it looks like a Jetta, while the majority says it looks like a Passat. My point was that they are no more similar then other german cars, which
you proved. :praise:
Quote from: HEMI666 on March 07, 2007, 03:54:37 PM
You can't be serious. The bumper vents are the same with foglights in the same place, the headlights are nearly identical, the grille is identical, and the hood even has...oh nevermind. You're right, they look nothing alike. :rolleyes:
And that differs from the S- C class in which way? Granted the fog lights are different but the general theme is the same.
QuoteYou said it looks like a Jetta, while the majority says it looks like a Passat. My point was that they are no more similar then other german cars, which you proved. :praise:
I said Jetta? When, where?
If I did I meant Passat. :lol:
You're right, they don't look any more alike than the S- and C-classes do. That said...
Quote from: Galaxy on March 07, 2007, 03:56:36 PM
OK, now I am lost unless your point is that the german car industry as a whole makes designs which are to similar.
... you're right, the German car industry has an awful penchant for making cars that look too alike for my tastes. Honestly, I have problems telling an A4 and A6 apart, and from a distance an A6 from an A8. They're just too alike!
Quote from: 93JC on March 07, 2007, 04:04:38 PM
I said Jetta? When, where?
If I did I meant Passat. :lol:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vinsanity on March 07, 2007, 02:11:25 PM
honest to God, I mistook a Phaeton for a Jetta from a straight-on front angle one time
Your reply:
Quote
I have more than once.
Quote
You're right, they don't look any more alike than the S- and C-classes do. That said...
... you're right, the German car industry has an awful penchant for making cars that look too alike for my tastes. Honestly, I have problems telling an A4 and A6 apart, and from a distance an A6 from an A8. They're just too alike!
OK I disagree but perfectly understand and respect your point of view.
By 'Jetta', Vinsanity meant 'Passat'. :lol:
I meant Passat. I don't confuse Jetta with Phaeton. From a distance Jettas look a lot like Corollas though... :mask:
I'm with JC. The Jetta is basically the best Corolla ever (design wise)
Quote from: 93JC on March 07, 2007, 04:16:13 PM
By 'Jetta', Vinsanity meant 'Passat'. :lol:
I meant Passat. I don't confuse Jetta with Phaeton. From a distance Jettas look a lot like Corollas though... :mask:
I did? :confused: :lol:
A nice car indeed. A bit bland from a design POV but comfortable and I guess good value for money compared to the other Germans.
Personally, I like the fact that the German car industry has a uniform theme look for their cars. I always hated that every car in the Americans and Japanese lineups look completely different from each other. There's no brand continuity - it's a smattering of vehicles rather than a vehicle line.
The Phaeton has always been a beautiful car to me. Like it or not, you ain't getting a 12cyl engine for that price anywhere else.
Quote from: Galaxy on March 07, 2007, 03:36:14 PM
I don't get the "looks like a Passat" statements. In my opinion this..
(http://www.vwvortex.com/gallery/albums//Volkswagen/Passat/Passat%20VI/Passat%20Sedan%20(Europe)/002.jpg)
has no more resemblance to this...
(http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Aubergine_2.jpg)
They look the same.
Quote from: Galaxy on March 07, 2007, 03:58:04 PM
And that differs from the S- C class in which way? Granted the fog lights are different but the general theme is the same.
The difference is that the MB's are both very expensive. The Phaeton looks like a car that cost less then half it's price tag.
Quote from: TurboDan on March 07, 2007, 05:45:41 PM
Personally, I like the fact that the German car industry has a uniform theme look for their cars.? I always hated that every car in the Americans and Japanese lineups look completely different from each other.? There's no brand continuity - it's a smattering of vehicles rather than a vehicle line.
The Phaeton has always been a beautiful car to me.? Like it or not, you ain't getting a 12cyl engine for that price anywhere else.
The people who love the design continuity the Germans offer are the same people bitching about how all of Ford's cars have the 3 bar grille.? THese are the same people who would complain if Ford made all their cars look like smaller or bigger Fusions.? Or if GM made all their cars look like bigger and smaller Impalas.
I've never seen one outside of an auto show.
Or maybe I have and just thought it was a Passat.
Quote from: HEMI666 on March 08, 2007, 01:47:30 PM
The difference is that the MB's are both very expensive. The Phaeton looks like a car that cost less then half it's price tag.
A base C class is less then half the price of a base S class to say nothing about the S 63 AMG.
Quote from: Galaxy on March 08, 2007, 02:49:59 PM
A base C class is less then half the price of a base S class to say nothing about the S 63 AMG.
True, however a C Class is a luxury car already whereas a Passat is not. The point I'm trying to make is that VW's luxury sedan looks just like their run of the mill family sedan. The Passat starts at 15,495 GBP and the Phaeton starts at 42,220 GBP and can go all the way up to 73,770 GBP. If I was spending that much money on a car I wouldn't want it to look just like a car by the same manufacturer that goes for 80% less.
Quote from: Tave on March 08, 2007, 02:21:50 PM
I've never seen one outside of an auto show.
Or maybe I have and just thought it was a Passat.
I personally see nothing more than a family resemblance. I can point them out easily on the road.
Quote from: HEMI666 on March 08, 2007, 03:13:34 PM
True, however a C Class is a luxury car already whereas a Passat is not. The point I'm trying to make is that VW's luxury sedan looks just like their run of the mill family sedan. The Passat starts at 15,495 GBP and the Phaeton starts at 42,220 GBP and can go all the way up to 73,770 GBP. If I was spending that much money on a car I wouldn't want it to look just like a car by the same manufacturer that goes for 80% less.
The base Phaeton was around 70K, and you can easily spend over 40K on a Passat 3.6 4Motion.
Phaeton base was $83,000 CAD new
I just built a 2007 Passat Wagon 3.6L 4Motion + DVDNav + BiXenons + Side Airbags + Sirius for $56,425
Quote from: Raza ?link=topic=8015.msg382890#msg382890 date=1173398273
and you can easily spend over 40K on a Passat 3.6 4Motion.
and that's a whole nother problem for another thread
Quote from: Raza ?link=topic=8015.msg382890#msg382890 date=1173398273
The base Phaeton was around 70K, and you can easily spend over 40K on a Passat 3.6 4Motion.
Yes but a loaded Phaeton is over $100K.
Besides hasn't VW stopped selling the Phaeton in North America? I can't find it on either the Canadian or US VW sites. If that's the case, then European prices are what matter in this conversation.
Quote from: HEMI666 on March 08, 2007, 03:13:34 PM
True, however a C Class is a luxury car already whereas a Passat is not.
A C180 is more of a luxury car then a loaded Passat? :huh:
At least the Phaeton does not have to share his badge with a garbage truck. :evildude:
Quote from: Galaxy on March 09, 2007, 12:00:37 PM
A C180 is more of a luxury car then a loaded Passat? :huh:
At least the Phaeton does not have to share his badge with a garbage truck. :evildude:
He should have worded it is
considered a luxury car whereas a Passat is not. There's no question that one without the high-end badge can be considerably nicer than the other, it still boils down to brand perception and status. Volkswagen isn't considered a luxury brand by the mainstream public, while Mercedes is, so one justifies the price and the other doesn't, in their minds, regardless of how the cars compare.
Quote from: thewizard16 on March 09, 2007, 12:03:57 PM
He should have worded it is considered a luxury car whereas a Passat is not. There's no question that one without the high-end badge can be considerably nicer than the other, it still boils down to brand perception and status. Volkswagen isn't considered a luxury brand by the mainstream public, while Mercedes is, so one justifies the price and the other doesn't, in their minds, regardless of how the cars compare.
True, but I live in a country where it is not uncommon for an S class to have a Golf as a stablemate.
Quote from: Galaxy on March 09, 2007, 12:12:48 PM
True, but I live in a country where it is not uncommon for an S class to have a Golf as a stablemate.
well, in this country, S-classes commonly share garage space with Camries and Expeditions; that doesn't make the Toyota and Ford brands any classier :rolleyes:
Quote from: Vinsanity on March 09, 2007, 12:16:33 PM
well, in this country, S-classes commonly share garage space with Camries and Expeditions
You mean Lexus ES and Lincoln Navigator. ;)
Seriously a large percentage of american S class owners also buys Camaries?
from what I've seen, yes
alot of financially-savvy S-class owners will also have a Camry in the driveway as their 'errand car' that eventually gets handed down to the next kid that turns 16
conversely, do a large percentage of European S-class owners seriously also buy Golfs? ;)
Quote from: Vinsanity on March 09, 2007, 12:35:40 PM
from what I've seen, yes
alot of financially-savvy S-class owners will also have a Camry in the driveway as their 'errand car' that eventually gets handed down to the next kid that turns 16
conversely, do a large percentage of European S-class owners seriously also buy Golfs? ;)
They do, although it has gotten less. There is a reason cars like the A class exist.
I see million dollar homes in Calgary with a BMW or M-B and a Chevy Cavalier in the driveway.
Quote from: HEMI666 on March 09, 2007, 01:30:48 PM
I see million dollar homes in Calgary with a BMW or M-B and a Chevy Cavalier in the driveway.
The nanny has to drive something to work...
http://www.leftlanenews.com/surprise-vw-phaeton-to-return-to-us-market.html
Surprise: VW Phaeton to return to U.S. market
Volkswagen intends to reintroduce its Phaeton luxury sedan to the U.S. market, according to VW of America spokesman Andreas Meurer. Mr. Meurer made the announcement during an interview with Bloomberg.
Adrian Hallmark, the company's Executive Vice President, said VW expects its U.S. operations to break even in 2009. He said sales in 2007 would be flat, while the company focuses on preparing new models for 2008 and 2009.
Volkswagen pulled the Phaeton from the U.S. market in late 2005 due to poor sales. It's unclear when the Phaeton will return to America. Meurer said it would be reintroduced when the next version goes on sale worldwide.
It's not known if Meurer was referring to the facelifted 2008 Phaeton ? revealed last week and on sale this summer ? or the next-generation model due some time after 2009.
If you can't tell a Phaeton from a Passat you must be blind. The Phaeton is a much bigger car and exudes much more road presence than a Passat. It's only in the nose I see more than a passing resemblance.
I like the look of the Phaeton. Were I to buy a $70K Euro sedan (not likely), it'd probably be between an Audi or the Phaeton.
Quote from: The Pirate on March 11, 2007, 07:57:37 PM
I like the look of the Phaeton.? Were I to buy a $70L Euro sedan (not likely), it'd probably be between an Audi or the Phaeton.
Which explains why I will be kicking you out of the Mustang club. :lol:
Hey now, my statute of limitation on buying a Mustang hasn't run out yet! Besides, I'm going to need something for my future bride to drive.
:lol:
Quote from: HEMI666 on March 12, 2007, 09:00:35 PM
Which explains why I will be kicking you out of the Mustang club. :lol:
wanna be the Head Bouncer of the Anti-VW Club? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Quote from: Vinsanity on March 12, 2007, 09:13:33 PM
wanna be the Head Bouncer of the Anti-VW Club? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hehehe, I have to respectfully decline. You see, I secretly pine for a B5 Passat wagon. :mask: Call me a closet VW lover, I guess. :lol:
Quote from: The Pirate on March 12, 2007, 09:17:14 PM
Hehehe, I have to respectfully decline.? You see, I secretly pine for a B5 Passat wagon.? :mask:? Call me a closet VW lover, I guess.? :lol:
lol I was talking to Hemi, VW lover :evildude: ;)
:mask:
C'mon... VW's aren't THAT bad...
Oh wait. Yes they are. :lol:
You know you're all just jealous and you all really wish that you had VW products. They're all better than your cars anyway.
Are you trying to not get beaten by Raza's shovel???
VW is awesome. They graced me with my A4. :praise:
I just loaded up a Passat 3.6 4Motion at $44,283. If we all think these VWs are expensive, could you imagine if they would have come out with this:
(http://www.madle.org/ms02idnardo.JPG)
It was very close to making it to production, thanks to the eccentric psycho genious known as Ferdinand Piech.
I think that morphed into the Veyron.
I was thinking the same thing...
ah the vw nardo concept... good thing i drove it before they canned the idea. great car.
btw, i drove it in GT4, haha
Quote from: the Teuton on March 24, 2007, 03:55:23 PM
It was very close to making it to production, thanks to the eccentric psycho genious known as Ferdinand Piech.
calling the person who forced the Phaeton into the market a genius is a bit of a stretch :nono:
^^^ he may not a marketing genious, but he is a visionary. he thinks of something and makes it happen.