Jalopnik 
Enter your username and password.
Detroit, 12:56 PM
Tue Nov 24
24 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip your editors:
tips@jalopnik.com
Editor-in-Chief:
Ray Wert | Email | AIM
Road Test Editor:
Wes Siler | Email
Weekend Editor:
Murilee Martin | Email
Associate Editor - Houston:
Matt Hardigree
Associate Editor - Detroit:
Ben Wojdyla
Editor-at-Large:
Mike Spinelli
Contributors:
Mark Arnold
John Krewson | Email
Andy Didorosi
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
If I were a real estate agent and had to tote people around in a car that was supposed to be nice, it'd be one of these or a 5 series wagon.
The 5 series only for the sake of having a stickshift.
09/17/09
09/17/09
According to the various dealerships I've talked to, every Phaeton they've ever brought in has sold almost instantly; all they had to do was advertise that they had one, and it was gone. Perhaps VW did a better job of informing the Canadian market of what they were buying? It also sold reasonably well in Europe, but was a horrible flop in the United States.
In a sense, this remains an economy-brand car. It reminds me of President's Choice up here in Canada. It used to be a "no-name" brand for a chain of grocery stores, but the products they started producing were better than the real products they were imitating or replacing. Now, it's not uncommon to see the PC brand on a $1200 stainless steel barbeque. Similarly, this is an upgraded Bentley Continental with a pricetag lower than some Audi A8s. Anyone with half a brain looking for a luxury car would realize that there is nothing wrong with having a VW badge if you're getting that kind of bargain.
Unfortunately, most people shopping for luxury cars do not have half a brain available to them.
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
It just seemed to be a repeating theme, and when you see it often enough, you wonder if it's true. I suppose a few days of test driving should help determine whether the rumor is true.
09/17/09
* A well-kempt man in a clean Audi polo shirt came out to greet me, introduced himself, shook my hand and gave me a business card.
* He politely asked me a series of detailed questions and took notes to help diagnose the problem.
* He asked if there were any other service needs without trying to upsell me, and as it turned out I was due for an oil change.
* He gave me a detailed cost estimate, including a breakdown of what was and was not covered under warranty.
* He gave two precise time estimates, one assuming replacement of the compressor (covered under warranty) and one assuming no replacement (might not be covered).
* He offered me a coffee.
* He offered shuttle service.
* He called me twice during the day to update me on the progress and inform me that they would indeed need to replace the compressor, and that they did not have it in stock.
* They overnighted the compressor at no additional cost to me.
* He called me the next morning to confirm they received the compressor and that I could expect to pick up my car that evening.
* He called in the afternoon to confirm that the car was ready.
* At no point did he "find" another "problem" requiring urgent attention.
* The bill was clear, on estimate, and there were no hassles about what was and was not covered by warranty.
* When they brought me my car it was washed and vacuumed.
Here is would happen if I dropped off a Phaeton at the VW dealer:
* A dirty man in greasy coveralls would greet me without shaking my hand (for which I should probably be grateful).
* He would grunt a few questions and ignore my answers.
* He would point out a nearly invisible scratch and suggest fixing it for an additional $500.
* He would give me a vague cost estimate and tell me it should take about a day.
* He would laugh at me if I ask for coffee.
* He would point me to the nearest bus stop.
* I would call him 3 times during the day without reaching him, and he'd finally call me back after hours to tell me they didn't have the compressor in stock and it would take "a few days" to get it. And by the way you should desludge your engine.
* I would call the next day and not reach him.
* I would call again the following day. At 5:00 he'd call me back and tell me they hadn't ordered the part yet.
* On the fourth day, I would get angry and tell him I'm coming to pick up the car. He'd tell me they "found one in the back" and that the car would be fixed that day.
* It wouldn't be.
* On the fifth day I wouldn't hear from them, and I'd head over and someone else would claim that the car was done 2 days ago.
* They would attempt to charge me for leaving the car there for 2 days.
* When I finally get the bill, it would be full price - nothing covered under warranty.
* When I complain they would tell me my warranty was voided because I hit the rev limiter.
* I would tell them that's crazy, and what the hell does that have to do with the air conditioner anyway.
* I would have to speak with a supervisor.
* After 15 minutes of angry dialog they would indifferently call someone at VW Corporate.
* VW Corporate would tell them of course it was covered.
* There would still be things on the bill I never asked for, but I would be too tired to complain.
* When they finally bring out my car, it would be neither vacuumed nor washed, and it would have 50 miles more on the odometer than when I left it.
So you tell me - if you were the kind of person who wanted a full-size luxury car, would you pay up for the A8 or save a few bucks on the VW? I thought so.
09/17/09
And having brought my Corrado to several of them, my experience has always matched your former description, and never the latter. So I don't know what VW dealer you were experiencing, but in my experience, it's an exception, not the rule.
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
It may be the most fabulous VW ever made, but the company that built its reputation on being everycar for everyman shall find very little, seeking to be the ultracar for the ultrarich. Heads everywhere asplody at the very idea.
09/17/09
Damn I need to get back to work... or need some of engineered's brefas scotch.
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
I really hope it comes back to our shores, because right now I can't think of any car I could possibly trade it for.
09/17/09
09/17/09
/1990
09/17/09
A LINCOLN BLACKWOOD!
Now THAT's a hen's tooth.
How long until the VW Phaeton Exclusive is puking confetti all over the comments?
09/17/09
Actually, I've seen it a couple of times. And I'll tell you, I laughed very hard when it pulled in at the Wal-Mart parking lot.
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
09/17/09
I kinda hope I never find one which I could convince myself to purchase. There are two Phaetons on the D/FW CL, both around $30K, which is more than I plan on spending for vehicles in the next 40 years, total.