Volkswagen Phaeton: Guilty Pleasures
The Phaeton has recently been axed from the UK, and many won't miss it - Matt will though
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.
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?]
Matt - I know you said you're looking for V10 experience, but you're welcome to prod around the W12 if you'd like!
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)
It has always had a strange apeal to me but as yet I have never taken the plunge, although this has got me thinking...
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.?
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.
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!
Who wrote this? Phil Space, on a quiet Weds afternoon?
Matt
Matt - I know you said you're looking for V10 experience, but you're welcome to prod around the W12 if you'd like!
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