EandGWZ

Any car enthusists has got to love this! I guess you get what you paid for.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1837641

moRotorMotor

Holy moly! That is more like art than an assembly line . Are they building those cars on hardwood floors?

BlueEyes

Isn't that the place where you can pick up any volkswagen and drive around a track, see how the cars are made, I think there is a museum there too etc...

I think it's part of their european delivery program.

EandGWZ

Yep, but that is the actually production facility. I was curious, how could they make money building each car by hand and then I saw the price. 100K

jsh1120

Doesn't mean that they have "made any money." The Phaeton has been an unmitigated disaster for VW as, I believe I read, the new chairman has indicated. Look for Phaetons to be collector vehicles in practically no time.

truemagellen

The reason why they can have such an expensive innovative building is because land is cheap...Dresden was decimated during World War II after a directive from Churchill to bomb the place into oblivion...to bad he didn't vett the intelligence and killed civilians...hmmm sounds like something else that is going on as we speak

"On the evening of February 13, 1945, an orgy of genocide and barbarism began against a defenseless German city, one of the greatest cultural centers of northern Europe. Within less than 14 hours not only was it reduced to flaming ruins, but an estimated one-third of its inhabitants, possibly as many as a half a million, had perished in what was the worst single event massacre of all time."

BlueEyes

That's a World War for you.

Overport

if you think thats clean, you should see what the mclaren slr factory looks like.

you could eat off the floor in that place. amazing.

EandGWZ

Just for ***** and giggles, I have the utmost respect for you as a contributor to this forum, because you have added and continue to add tons of valuable comments and suggestions....but

I'm not sure where you get your research but I can tell you less than 100,000 civilians died in that bombing (If you give me the source of your quote I can back reference to see whose figures they used), more like 40-60 thousand. Second, there is evidence, being examined currently that Hitler knew about the attack and didn't tell his people for propaganda reasoning.

Source: My best friend talks to Erwin R's grandson on a weekly basis.

tjklein

This is a factory, but it is also a car dealership and they have two huge glass towers where they hold every VW model. They then have this car elevator if you will that hauls them down for customers. The Phaetons are the only car built on that ritzy assembly line.

Also, there is a main huge showroom, and then there is a research area, a huge lounge, shopping stores, restaurants, and a VW future area. I saw it on the Discovery channel, and then I went there last time to Europe.

It is truely like nothing else I've ever seen when it comes to cars.

ptiemann

It is astonishing, yes - breath taking, but obviously also advertising themselves and I have read before what JSH stated, that this model is a loss for VW.

PetersonPeleRx8

Did they really expect this car to make money? Or was it built to be an icon that was meant to bring class to the VW line? I thought most "flagship" cars that are way over-priced for the brand weren't meant to make money, but create an image.

Anyway, I think these are great cars that would be a viable alternative to the others... I would take the Phaeton over the S-class or 7 series, but not over the A8. JMO. And I still haven't seen one on the road.... so the exclusivity would be cool!!!!

ptiemann

I saw one Phaeton so far, abour 4 months ago.

On highway 17 through Los Gatos, home to many Ferraris etc.

You really have to look twice to distinguish it from a PASSAT.

That highway is part of my commute to work and I am confident I will see another $100k+ car or whatever in an hour from now, it's nothing special there. It won't be a Phaeton though.

policyvote

I've seen a Pheaton up close. The Passat taillights make it a real sleeper . . . not exactly what you want in a $100K+ car, but . . .

Peace
policy

truemagellen

I can't remember why I posted that info :p really I just dislike Volkswagen and I was trying to bash them...but instead left a cryptic post that made everyone think I'm a wacko :p :D

Gambit

That place is gorgeous. The cars must be sad when they hvae to leave it.

Pkskull77

What’s the deal with the doctor evil henchman operating the cpu?

termigni

I was there last year. one of the nicest features was that in the basement, they have a virtual show room. you get to drive one of those phantoms in virtual reality. you get in the car, and select the road/track you wish to drive on, and you drive like how you play in arcades.

it's actually cheaper to buy the Phantom from that facility than from the dealer. because they don't charge destination fee. from what i remember, it takes about 4 weeks for completion.

the experience is really cool, if you are in Germany, you should take a visit there.

John Paradise

Are you sure those pictures are not from the future? I saw this movie about the future one time and it looked a lot those pictures.

LucasET

I saw one in November around Thanksgiving this past year. I wasn't sure when they were released to the US, and at first glance, I mistook it for an A8. It is a truly beautiful car. There is a certain elegance in design that the big Audis (obviously more so) and VWs have that makes them more European (to me) than any of the other Euro carmakers. There's a certain intelligence in the design that only Germans seem to be able to harness. I suppose working in a facility like that one would be a good breeding ground for perfection. I wish I could work someplace like that instead of a freaking lab with no windows and way too much flourescent lighting.