Used 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton

"Stealth Wealth"

"I bought my V8 Phaeton three years ago after looking at comparable Audi, Acura and Mercedes. I got it at a deep end-of-year discount that made it a steal compared to the competition. Even my MB salesman told me I should buy the Phaeton. The car has been flawless in operation and is an absolute pleasure to drive. The secret that no on wants you to know is that under the hood, the Phaeton is the same car as the Bentley Flying Spur minus the twin turbo W12. It has all the same mechanicals and the same interior features except the Connolly leather. The same double pane glass, the same motorized rear sun shade, the same motorized front air vents, the same motorized sunshade cover, the same TPMS... well, you get the picture. So Bentley accessories, such as the 19" wheels and Pirelli tires, readily available as takeoffs, fit. You will not find a smoother cruiser. The cabin is so quiet that at 80 you think you're doing 50 and at 120 you think you're doing 75. As another poster mentioned, I get over 24 mpg averaging 75 mph on the hiway and I average 18-19 overall. Not bad for a 5300 lb car with a 345 hp V8. The interior fit and finish exceeds the MBs I've had and is right up there with Lexus and Audi. The wood paneling and the many controls are about as good as it gets for a car of this complexity. The paint and panel alignment are perfect. The upgraded stereo system is by far the best I've ever heard in a car and exceeds most home systems. The console information display is miles ahead of anything else in its model year and puts iDrive and all the other user hostile system to shame. The rear seat is so roomy that the kids play hockey. The cons are few. The Nav system is CD based an does not display street names unless you have programmed a destination. The car is big and you cannot see any of the corners. By far the biggest concern is that only a few VW dealers can properly service the Phaeton. Even many of the Phaeton certified shops are clueless about how to treat a car of this complexity or a luxury car owner. Which leads to the real issue in owning a Phaeton. It is no longer sold in the US and its price as a used car is significantly lower than any comparable car. This makes it the best used luxury car value on the planet. Just remember that its maintenance expense is still that of a complex luxury car. VW inexplicably prices their extended warrantees the same for all models. So get the Platinum level VW real warrantee; your first covered repair on the Phaeton will more than pay for the cost. The bottom line is that if you want to drive a car as good as a Bentley but don't care that most people think it's a Passat, get a Phaeton. Just make sure you get a warranty and a dealer who can service it properly."

"Best car I've ever owned"

"I bought this automobile nearly three years ago, and it has been trouble free. The performance is outstanding as is the handling. It's fun to drive, and handles like a much smaller vehicle. The fuel economy isn't too bad either. On longer road trips I'll average nearly 24 mpg and that's staying at about 75 mph. I'm sure the mileage would improve at lower speeds. That's pretty good for an automobile that weighs nearly 3 tons. Comfort is also outstanding, and the base Phaeton has many standard conveniences that are usually expensive extras on the other luxury cars. I haven't seen a better value. Ther interior trim, fit, and finish is beautiful; in particular the wood trim. I can say the same for the exterior fit and finish. The paint job is as good as I've seen. I have so many "pro" comments I could add that I feel guilty mentioning any "cons." I guess the rear visibility could be better, but it would be at the expense of that sleek styling. To sum it up, I'd never hesitate to purchase another Phaeton. Unfortunately that won't happen since VW stopped importing them to the USA. Too bad, they really did a great job with this one."

"A great car!"

"This car is simply amazing. It is fast, the power deliver is so smooth, and cabin noise is virtually nonexistent. I chose the W12 for the extra oomph and the rarity. The purchase price may be low but it's repairs can be crippling if you aren't prepared. It also sucks gas like few other cars, but if you can appreciate that it is essentially a Flying Spur in Volkswagen clothing, you'll realize the gem in front of you."