Wednesday 8th July 2015

Volkswagen Phaeton: Guilty Pleasures

The Phaeton has recently been axed from the UK, and many won't miss it - Matt will though

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Despite the opinions of an unfair few and a weird obsession with America, I am not a flashy person. Reserved, diffident and subtle is just fine actually, which is why the VW Phaeton appeals so much. Well it's one of many reasons actually, but the rather dowdy appearance seems like as good as place as any to start.

Nondescript? Fine. Good, in fact

As luxury cars, indeed all cars, become visually more dramatic and bold, there's something increasingly quite plesant about the plain old Phaeton. For ultimate under the radar luxury, surely there's little to match it. The conservative look, combined with the VW badge, didn't help new sales; it hardly screams wealth and success, does it? But even from launch I've had a soft spot for its incredibly understated opulence, the ability to deliver the full luxobarge sensation behind a fairly humdrum badge. The Bentley link only strengthens the appeal, the impression of the poor old VW never quite getting the credit it deserves because of a perceived image problem.

I should qualify this by saying I've never actually driven a Phaeton. However, having consulted What Car? (a sensible sort of car deserves a sensible sort of opinion, right?) there's good news: "A superbly built, reliable and understated executive express." Apparently it's not the most dynamic luxury saloon - who cares?

The involvement of Ferdinand Piech in the project is another key factor of the Phaeton fascination. Of course it's not remembered as well as his other successes but that same meticulous attention to detail is there in its development: a Phaeton W12 had to be capable of driving at 186mph in an extenal temperature of 50 degrees while maintaining an interior temperature of 22 degrees. Allegedly. But I love the idea of it being overengineered, of incredible development goals being set and eventually reached.

Who cares about the badge, look at this!

Rumour goes as well that the Phaeton was a response to the Mercedes A-Class; that car was seen as Merc infringing on VW's domain and the Phaeton was intended to steal a few luxury saloon sales from Benz. Obviously that didn't quite work out, and it could all be hearsay, but it's a nice story nonetheless.

And there's a V10 diesel. As cars continually move to a powertrain uniformity, that period in the early 2000s where daft engines found their way into strange vehicles looks even better. V6 in a Clio? Nice. Passat W8? Even better. Rotary engines? Who cares about fuel, feel the smoothness! The V10 used in the Phaeton and Touareg is one of those engines. Today 300hp diesels are more plentiful but 313hp was really something back in 2003, or so it seemed. There was 553lb ft also, a sub-seven second sprint to 62mph and, er, 25mpg. Oh. But, personally speaking of course, the curio appeal of a 10-cylinder diesel still hasn't waned. I would love to know to know of any PHer experience with them.

So that's it really. I like the Phaeton because it's largely unloved, because it was developed by one of the world's greatest engineers and because it can be had with an interesting engine. I even think it looks good, especially on BBS wheels. But a disturbing fondness for the Euro scene is a discussion for another blog...

[Source: What Car?]

 

[BIRMA]

I've run a V10 5 litre twin turbo as a University Taxi for nearly a year and I love it. If you need a long distance wafting power barge this is it. It's anonymous on the road despite having monstourous torque at just over-tick over. On my 400 mile round trip to Norwich I get 35 MPG keeping it to motorway limits. The cooling massage seats along with double glazing and near silent travel make the initial 200 mile journey like a trip to the shops. I paid £10K for a four seater LWB version from a bunch of idiots up North and will keep it until I throw it away.

Edited by BIRMA on Wednesday 8th July 16:48

Edited by BIRMA on Thursday 9th July 08:00

[Magnus-2tdbl]

Nice to see a Phaeton article - I've owned a W12 for the past three years, one of apparently only 5 450PS cars on the road in the UK (according to howmanyleft.co.uk). It was VW UK's demo car originally, one of the cars to wear the W12 VWW plate, so it's got most of the kit one would want. It's a great car - not flawless, but every time I think of replacing it, I go for a drive and am reminded that there's really nothing for the money that would be a more pleasant experience.

Matt - I know you said you're looking for V10 experience, but you're welcome to prod around the W12 if you'd like!

[davea18h]

It is a shame as it seems a great car in a lot of respects. But at that price point people want something that looks special And at least a little bit different from a mainstream car, in an understated way, not like an upmarket Passat..... Take note Ford trying to sell an upmarket Mondeo as a Vignale!!

[C7 JFW]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who absolutely loves these. Ruddy superb piece of kit!

W12 for me please, no question about it. Possibly one of the most efficient vehicles for covering ground comfortably without even a glimmer of attention.

[don logan]

I bought a 2007 V10 Toerag in December, the idea being to use it for trips to the Alps over winter and then sell it but I`ve now done 11k miles in it since then and no way am I selling it!

The engine is NEVER stressed, it`s super quiet in comparison to a 2009 Range Rover (wind noise and engine noise) it will do 27MPG on the Mway, my combined is 20MPG because I also drive it around Central London every day, if you put your foot down from a standstill it feels like you are being ejected from a cheap cassette player to about 40MPH and the engine sound is turbine like, there seems to be no high point, the revs just increase and the car moves faster (in a good way, it DOES have character in it`s own way)

However I`m sure that the extra weight of the V10 is the cause of it not really wanting to change direction, it doesn`t fight you, it just resists you, like trying to get a tired cat off a chair! (Jazz)

It`s also nice to surprise people who think that you are holding them up (in a straight line)

Edited by don logan on Wednesday 8th July 14:55

[Witchfinder]

Would you select one of these over the equivalent D3 Audi A8? Granted, they're a fair bit cheaper than the A8, but I find the Audi more appealing.

[Emeye]

I lost interest when the writer admitted he had never driven one.

[CS400]

Due to the size of the car it has, rather amusingly, been nick named the VW 3 TON, by some people that I know.

It has always had a strange apeal to me but as yet I have never taken the plunge, although this has got me thinking...

[Axionknight]

It does seem like a pretty good bit of kit but I'd prefer a Volvo S80 V8 for my Q car fix - if one can ever be found for sale!

[daveco]

CS400 said:

Due to the size of the car it has, rather amusingly, been nick named the VW 3 TON, by some people that I know.

It has always had a strange apeal to me but as yet I have never taken the plunge, although this has got me thinking...

There is one near where I work and I find it hard to tell the difference in size between it and the Passat. However I do think it is a remarkably well designed luxo-barge, similar to the original A8.

[MadDog1962]

I've seen a few of these in the metal. Always impressed by the quality of the paint finish and the tight shut lines.

Frankly I think the Phaeton is a good looking vehicle, and much nicer than several of its conteporaries, especially the hideous BMW 7 series. The fit and finish seems to be well up to the standards of the competition. Kind of sad that the press and the snobs seemed determined to kill it from the beginning.

Maybe I'll find one for shed money if I retire back in the UK.?

[robinessex]

You can make it more interesting if you want to:-

[pjwind]

It is a spectacular used car buy. I have been thinking about one of these for years. They are beautifully built and exactly what a luxo barge should be - no hint of sportiness or Nurburgring lap times. They depreciate horrifically which is great for second and third owners.

A perfect garage for a petrol head would be:

- a V10 Diesel Phaeton for those days when you really cannot be arsed to leave the house but have to

- A Renaultsport Megane Trophy R (the full Nurburgring package) - for days when you just want the joy of driving and because you don't have to drive it every day because you have the Phaeton

- Alfa Romeo 105 GT Track Day car built by Alfaholics for joining the Goodwood Members club

Anyone else got a dream garage that includes a Phaeton? This is one of the many dream garages I have - it changes daily.

[V8 FOU]

Ermmm... Not driven one....... Consult What Car?
Who wrote this? Phil Space, on a quiet Weds afternoon?

[culpz]

It's always amazed me that these didn't sell. I think the people who are in the marketplace for something like this will always seek the equivalent with a better badge. I can only presume BMW sold alot more 7 series and Audi did the same with the A8 despite them being more expensive. Again, for the people buying them the more expensive the better.

On the upside these are an absolute bargain for the money now because of their downfall. Let's be honest are you really getting losing that much kudos with the VW badge? Looks exactly the same as the A8 anyway!

[31mph]

I agree, I love the Pheaton, but you're on your own with the BBS's...

[B'stard Child]

Been on my barge list for a while but they have yet to get to my price point.... they will....

[Matt Bird]

V8 FOU said:

Ermmm... Not driven one....... Consult What Car?
Who wrote this? Phil Space, on a quiet Weds afternoon?

Phaeton is hardly the most PH of cars, PH is the only job in this industry I've had and so I've not driven one. You can still like something having not experienced it, right? Most of the reasons for enjoying it aren't related to the drive so points still stand. Many people go ahead and buy cars doing less research than went into this story!


Matt

[Matt Bird]

Magnus-2tdbl said:

Nice to see a Phaeton article - I've owned a W12 for the past three years, one of apparently only 5 450PS cars on the road in the UK (according to howmanyleft.co.uk). It was VW UK's demo car originally, one of the cars to wear the W12 VWW plate, so it's got most of the kit one would want. It's a great car - not flawless, but every time I think of replacing it, I go for a drive and am reminded that there's really nothing for the money that would be a more pleasant experience.

Matt - I know you said you're looking for V10 experience, but you're welcome to prod around the W12 if you'd like!

That's very cool, and thanks very much! I may take you up on it one day

[Matt Bird]

Witchfinder said:

Would you select one of these over the equivalent D3 Audi A8? Granted, they're a fair bit cheaper than the A8, but I find the Audi more appealing.

I think I would. Just. A8 looks better and obviously the aluminium construction saves loads of weight but I like the VW as an underdog.