VW Phaeton. Why Shouldn't I buy One?

[Blib]

I own a 2006 Honda Civic I-Drive. I hate it. I especially hate Honda's fking useless excuse for an automatic gearbox.

So, I got to thinking about trading it in. I reckon that I could get roughly 12K part exchange for it as it's fully loaded and has low mileage.

This got me thinking about what I could change it for. I had a look at Auto Trader and I've seen a few VW Phaetons for not much more than my car's worth.

Now, I'm no expert but I believe that the Phaeton is one of those cars that slipped under the radar and didn't sell not because it was a bad vehicle, but because of badge snobbery.

I'm seriously thinking about trading my Honda in for one.




However, before I go any further with this, I'd like to hear your views good and bad. Have I missed something? Is it not as good as I have heard? Is servicing, and/or insurance prohibitively expensive?

Any views from you lot would really help me in making a decision.

Thanks in advance.



Oops...MODs I posted it on P&P by mistake?

Edited by Blib on Sunday 5th October 21:13

[Steamer]

If you want one, which you obviously do = buy one!

I've worked along side VW for a while now and had quite a bit of exposure to the Phaeton, if it yanks your chain... bag a bargain!

[BlueCello]

I don't know if they have changed at all since they started making them, but I was poking around a spankers one the other day at the dealer, and to be honest, it was beautiful inside. If thats the interior you can get for 12K, and its for cruising, I can't think of a better place to put the money!!

[Blib]

So, are they reliable? Have you heard anything negative about them from the VW people?

[VxDuncan]

Handsome looking car - we had one at work for a while. I dont believe VW ever intended them to sell in large numbers - it was a technology proving platform for Adaptive Cruise Control, the "W" engines and the other bits and pieces that would be used on the Conti GT and mainstream Passat.

[Steamer]

VxDuncan said:

I dont believe VW ever intended them to sell in large numbers..

I was told something similar from a VW bod, wasnt it one of the head honchos swan song projects before he left? The brief was to produce a car that was above the levels of luxury ever offered before with a VW badge on.

Edited by Steamer on Sunday 5th October 21:23

[Olf]

Whats the spec of your civic?

[Blib]

Olf said:

Whats the spec of your civic?

It's an EX. It's got everything but the parking sensors. (£300 option when I bought it! ), and the multi cd changer.

Why, you got a Phaeton you wanna do a deal on?

[tomTVR]

Because its a bland looking car which is very heavy, dull to drive and will cost a bloody fortune to repair?

On the other hand 6.0 W12

[Olf]

Blib said:

Olf said:

Whats the spec of your civic?

It's an EX. It's got everything but the parking sensors. (£300 option when I bought it! ), and the multi cd changer.

Why, you got a Phaeton you wanna do a deal on?

No - was just trying to find a way of breaking the news to you about your civic. Your PX estimates is, I fear, somewhat optimistic.

[Blib]

tomTVR said:

On the other hand 6.0 W12

Not in my price range it doesn't.

[Blib]

Olf said:

Blib said:

Olf said:

Whats the spec of your civic?

It's an EX. It's got everything but the parking sensors. (£300 option when I bought it! ), and the multi cd changer.

Why, you got a Phaeton you wanna do a deal on?

No - was just trying to find a way of breaking the news to you about your civic. Your PX estimates is, I fear, somewhat optimistic.

I've always been a glass half full type of guy.

I also reckoned that with the car market as it is at the moment a dealer would prefer a little Honda to a big, gas guzzling VW.

[Olf]

Blib said:

Olf said:

Blib said:

Olf said:

Whats the spec of your civic?

It's an EX. It's got everything but the parking sensors. (£300 option when I bought it! ), and the multi cd changer.

Why, you got a Phaeton you wanna do a deal on?

No - was just trying to find a way of breaking the news to you about your civic. Your PX estimates is, I fear, somewhat optimistic.

I've always been a glass half full type of guy.

I also reckoned that with the car market as it is at the moment a dealer would prefer a little Honda to a big, gas guzzling VW.

Unfortunately there's a lot of empty glasses out there at the moment in car valuations. Generally it seems P-EX values are being pitched universally at the poor end of the glasses guide range.

Check out vauxhall website under 'owners' value my car for a glasses 'guide'.

[ehyouwhat]

Mine went wrong. A lot.

[Blib]

ehyouwhat said:

Mine went wrong. A lot.

Ooh, really? Such as? Was it expensive to fix?

[Olf]

ehyouwhat said:

Mine went wrong. A lot.

I bet it was always a pleasure dealing with VW though?

[Balmoral Green]

VxDuncan said:

it was a technology proving platform for Adaptive Cruise Control, the "W" engines and the other bits and pieces that would be used on the Conti GT

Don't go saying stuff like that over on the RR&B forum, you'll get torn a new ahole.

Not by me btw, I can handle the truth.

[XB70]

There is an excellent forum (google - VW PHAETON FORUMS)

Had a good look into one last year - decided that there were too many computer/electrical issues to justify at the then price.

They have plummeted but a very large engined 7 series (760li anyone) is a better option if you want to go for a massive engined barge.

[Blib]

^^^ Now you mention it. My daughter and me once stood in a VW showroom for nigh on 15 minutes without being approached.

Was looking to buy a new car but walked out.

O.K. so, not a Phaeton, what instead? Comfortable, mile eating, fully loaded, reliable, roughly 15 - 17 K ?

[Olf]

Blib said:

^^^ Now you mention it. My daughter and me once stood in a VW showroom for nigh on 15 minutes without being approached.

Was looking to buy a new car but walked out.

O.K. so, not a Phaeton, what instead? Comfortable, mile eating, fully loaded, reliable, roughly 15 - 17 K ?

You can get yourself a nice 730d se for that money now. Be cheeky with your offer. There's enough around. You could probably get a 2005/6 with lees than 30k on the clock.