brillo

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103583

My favorite part of the article


"People in that high-price range are buying prestige and image, and want the logo to represent that."

Really? No F@$king Sh$t! I could have told you that 2 years ago. How much do you pay your marketing folks again?

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

prestige and image=VW?!? Baaahahahahahahahahahah ROFL

vectorwolf

The sad thing is, it's actually a great vehicle. Too bad brand names are the only things that sell...

BlueEyes

it's a great value on the used market. I would style one.

czr

iTrader: (3)

Well at $60k, you are competing against some strong contenders. You only buy this if you are a die-hard VW fan that's come accross some money. Then you cross-shop against the A8. Then you are thinking uh.. vw what?

therm8

Yep, slap four overlapping rings on it and whahlah...

BlueEyes

Or, Then you cross-shop against the A8. Then you are thinking, uh...pay more for the AUDI badge on the same car what?

As I recall they're pretty similar in both specs, features. I think there is a substantial difference in price between the Phaeton W12 and the A8 W12 though

TODreamer

I never understood why VW went down that path... I saw this one coming a mile away

BlueEyes

I just looked on autotrader.ca and there is a 2004 Phaeton W12, nicely optioned, for 86k Canadian. Sticker is 140k. 50k drop in 1 year sucks for the person who bought it new, but is great for the used buyers. That's a worse drop than XJR prices.

DreRX8

Yep--and considering Jaguar preowned is ranked at the top of the heap and the XJR is a helluva vehicle....VW what?

The Phaeton's styling was too derivative as well--even though it was a warmed over A8, it didn't have any presence whatsoever. Good riddance--this thing was dead in the water before it had a chance.

DARKMAZ8

Audi/volkswagon have not hit the mark for quite a while now. Audi should have developed an suv and volkswagon should of evolved with the corrado design.

TODreamer

The difference is like 27K. The Pheton W12 being 143k and the Audi being 170k. A "ubstantial" difference yes, but ultimately a nominal one for someone who is prepared to spend that much on a car.

For the life of me I have no idea why VW would want to get into that market when they already have the audi up there slugging it out with benz and bimmer. What a waste of time and money.

I cant beleive that the guy that probably gave the Phaeton the green light probably makes like 10 times what i make but still didnt have enough sense to see this coming... yeah... Captain Obvious is right... whoever it was that gave that project the green light should be fired on the spot

Glyphon

what phaeton marketing. i don't recall ever seeing any.

KYLiquid

I think the A8 and the Phaeton are both GREAT cars, it really is sad that people wont give it another look cause its a VW, oh well their mistake.

TODreamer

KY...

the average guy looking for a car like that in a price range like that is looking for more than the fact that its a "good car" at some point it becomes a "Status" thing.

right... people on the most part wont being interested in paying 143k for a VW when they can have a BMW, Merc or Audi for a very similar price... sure the Phaeton is a great car but so are its competitors and they offer more status to boot. and yeah the pheaton is cheaper but at that price point does it really matter?

Is a guy who is interested in a 170k Audi gonna say "yeah but i can this Volkswagon which is just as good for 143,000.00...yay I just saved 27k"... highly unlikely... hence the current fate of the Phaeton

Socr8tes

Audi has an SUV coming shortly. Better late than never...

BlueEyes

That's why its so great used. I couldn't care less about status. If I was in the market for a 100k luxury car, it would be a used W12 Phaeton.

TODreamer

If I had 100Gs to throw down on a car I aint buying used anything... buts thats just me

spork

But as we know, what probably happened is he got fired and was given a 100 million dollar severance package. Because as we know big companies fire higher ups by giving them 10x their inflated salary to leave.

BlueEyes

Well, work hard, get to that upper echelon, then get fired.

DARKMAZ8

You're crazy. It's one thing not to care about status but a Phaeton is probably the biggest waste of money ever. Hence why they don't sell. Also, buying a used vw is already a scary experience nevermind a W12.

BlueEyes

I really have no idea how you can justify that. Really, I don't. As I mentioned, I was talking a USED W12 Phaeton. Stickers for 136k. At 1 year of age, with 35,000 km, well optioned, desireable colour combo, and a full warranty through 2007, it was 86k. Audi A8L 4.2's go for the same with similar km. You'd have to go well over the 100k barrier to get a 1 year old, A8 W12 with the same km. Considering that mecahnical and feature wise, they are nearly identical, how is it the biggest waste of money ever?

PS. The reason they don't sell is because of their styling, which is kinda bland, and the fact you can grab an Audi for a little more dough, and their poor resale. Since most everyone who buys this type of car new, cares what others think of them, they'll opt for the 4 rings. It's a steal on the used market, which is what I was saying.

DARKMAZ8

So what happens when you want to sell it. Good luck. I know it looks like a deal on paper but the used luxury saloon market is not exactly the easiest sale. That's why you'll find 7 series for the same price as 5 series and so on. Most people buy large luxury saloons new. They are usually bought by old men and because of this, the used market is dead for these types of cars.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Good God.

That sucks.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

overpriced, fugly, and a vw= waste of time.

if you're going to spend 100grand on a veedub,at least buy an R32 and then take it over the HPA and let them have a field day with it