Been looking and this 45k new executive can be had from 12k on a 54 plate, I'll be looking at a slightly newer one if I can find the right deal, I also need to sit down long and hard to challenge myself over the fuel bill on a 3.0 V6 Diesel unit, so before I do I have some questions I think some of you may know the answers to

1 - Chain or Belt drive

2 - Mid 20's consumption

3 - Special tyres

4 - Overall drive

5 - Reliable

I know I could choose a Merc for this money and although the badge prestige comes into play I really like the VW the way it looks and is laid out, any advice?

You could have a Merc. But it wouldn't be anywhere near as well engineered as a Phaeton. If you prefer the daddy of all VW's then go for it! Mercs are ten a penny these days anyway. I would look into servicing costs though, as I doubt there are many independants who could service a Phaeton. Good luck!

Supurbia, I have seen that car in Blackburn at that Car Sales place. It looks awesome and the guy who runs it is a decent bloke.

Edited 29 September, 200817 yr by peterg1965

Mmm... Phaeton.

Yeah, I'd love one as well, and the depreciation on them almost makes them a great mid to high mile second hand choice. You can pick up motorway miles, just out of warranty cars for around the 12k mark. (Last time I checked)

I'll have a stab at a couple of the questions, although most of this is based on what I've found out when I was trying to justify buying one to SWMBO so may not be true

1) I think the VAG V6 used in this is a huge belt, but I'm not 100%

2) Almost certainly, they carve Phaetons out of blocks of stone with their bare hands

3) I would suspect the most "special" they'll be is run flat. Tyres are tyres. Anyway, it's not the tyres that's the problem I suspect it's parts & servicing - only certain VW dealers will touch them, which ofc makes it a bit tricky when the engine management light comes on...

4 & 5) - Pass although I suspect 5 is yes. You never see them on motorway hard shoulders, do you?

There's a thread somewhere on VW Vortex with a tour of the factory, makes for interesting reading. One of my mates posted it on my Facebook page over the weekend, which I can't access from work - so I'll update later with the link unless someone beats me to it

The 3.0TDi in the Phaeton is a little down on power as the Phaeton is very heavy, the 3.0TDi works well in the A8 though.

Don't go for the Mercedes the W220 S-Class isn't built especially well and if you're looking at a high mileage one the airmatic suspension is going to fail and will cost about £2,000 to put right.

What is your annual mileage and where do you do most of your miles?

If it is relativley low and all on motorway it may be worth considering a petrol.

Useage will be 80% urban, servicing won't be a problem as far as brakes filters and oil go because I will do them myself, the belt is the main issue because I fear it will be a grand + at a VW dealer to do, I'm also looking into a 3.2 petrol and have an LPG conversion done as I'm led to believe LPG behaves itself better on V6-V8 cars, saw one listed for 8k on an 04 add in 2.5k for the conversion and it sort of brings it in line with a fuel bill for the diesel V6 with a puchase saving of 1.5k over the more desired 3.0 D models, I think it's gonna have to wait until Madame Superb is paid for and I'll have 2.5k px money to soften the blow, I think it will happen though because I'm a creature of desire and once I see something I fancy I normally hang the cost and go for it, I even compared it with thew A8's and still want the VW.

Another thing I noticed, I posted a thread here sometime ago regarding the new Superb rear styling, I did a quick phot job on the picture of it and got told thank god i'm not part of Skoda's design team, well having seen the Phaeton I know why Skoda didn't design the rear as I would've liked it, and the reason, cos it was almost identical to the Phaeton from the C pillar back.

Servicing youself with an executive barge is a no no, unless you plan to keep it until it dies. Buyers will expect to see a full dealer history, making it impossible to sell without one. Same goes for Mercs, Porsches etc... If you cannot afford the dealer servicing then this proberbly is not the car for you.

Servicing youself with an executive barge is a no no, unless you plan to keep it until it dies. Buyers will expect to see a full dealer history, making it impossible to sell without one. Same goes for Mercs, Porsches etc... If you cannot afford the dealer servicing then this proberbly is not the car for you.

Your probably right, but it would be a to the death car so S/H won't really matter to me, and ime dealers will only give rock bottom book on anything, the superb proves this in that you can buy one from them for 11k and 2 yrs later they expect you to give it back for 4k so they can sell it again for 8k, this is really evident in Skoda dealers tbh, when I was looking for mine about a week after I bought one the dealer I had seen first rang because they had a potential car coming in, when I saw the salesman a few mths later he told me some guy who had one had come in to get an Octy but the main guy had bid him **** on it and he walked away, from this I gather the guy paid 20k for it a year earlier and they probably bid him 9k on it hoping to sell it to me for 14k.

Phaetons are awesome, would still love one someday.

I agree though, dealer servicing is a must, and indeed not all VW dealers can do the Phaeton/Tourag.

If you get the 3.0 V6 TDI or the 3.2 V6 petrol, both engines are relatively commonplace and shouldn't be too specialist to maintain.

I seem to recall a TV programme a while ago (Stars in their cars?) where some Duke or Lord, had a V10 diesel Phaeton, he said he loved the car, and he liked VW's sense of humour, that unless you looked twice, most people would think it was a Passat, thereby saving any worries of where to park it. I like them a lot, but I doubt I'll ever take the plunge.

Good luck if you get one & bring it to a Brisky meet

My advice is get an Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro.

Phateon -yes with the V10TDI that it used to have, or the V12TDI that it still might have in futrure, but the 3.0V6 TDI is an underpowered unit for Phaeton the elephant.

Here is the breakdown for the configurations I looked at (my needs are cross-continent high speed drives, so long range+economy+speed)

stlg50k VW Phaeton: 2,372kg, 0-60 8.5s, 80l tank

stlg37k Audi A6 3.0TDI: 1760 kg, 0-60 7.3s, 80l tank

stlg20k Superb 2.5TDI: 1750kg 0-60 9.5s, 62l tank

I can still argue the case for Audi vs Superb, especially that the B5 Superb is not made anymore - Audi has very good interior, quattro drive and a much better engine. It is also 80% more expensive, so I'll buy it only when the Superb has had enough high speed driving (120k-180k miles / 6-9 yrs of age or so).

In town, Audi will use 25% less fuel easily and will feel lively to drive. The Phaeton will feel like velvet coffin... and use 25% more fuel to haul all this weight.

In town, Audi will use 25% less fuel easily and will feel lively to drive. The Phaeton will feel like velvet coffin... and use 25% more fuel to haul all this weight.

I realise that perhaps Superbia has a plan for his (should he get one) - and of course there are more worrying implications these days (think tax on a petrol W10 :eek::eek:) - but isn't this kind of missing the point of the Phaeton?

Wasn't it the brain child of Ferdinand Piech - the then VW chairman - as his swan song? A similar feat of engineering along the same lines of the Veyron (or at least, it was then) seems to be jist. Or at least it was on an article I read on it a while back.

My point is this. Why buy a Phaeton with your sensible head on? It's a no expense spared car (in terms of a "normal" manufacturer, anyway) why why try to justify it financially?

Just a thought

I've always liked these too:thumbup:

Got me looking the ads now though - not a good idea if the wife sees me!!

41k 05plate

Auto Trader UK - VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 4dr [5 seat] Auto,Sta Nav=

or a cheap 3.2

Auto Trader UK - VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON 3.2 V6 4MOTION 4dr [5 Seat] Auto=

As Tesco think it's not too early to sell mince pies, maybe I could ask Santa?

:wmann3:

The silver one looks a good buy if you plan to use it moderately at 9.5k + I reckon you would shave another 500 quid off it if the seller knows you are serious, I'm gonna wait until the road tax thing kicks in properly and it becomes just like the Superb, i.e worth half of it's real value because nobody will want it cos of expenditure, I've been here before tbh when the Omega's were only a couple of yrs old, I laid out 13k on a CDX V6 auto, at the time the petrol bill was a mare as she only returned about 17mpg, and my repayments were mid 350pm over 4 yrs, this time I have to prepare an overall weekly cost budget for both a loan and total fuel, if I can get this to a reasonable figure I will just simply have to have one, so right now I reckon it will be a goer in about 18 mths time, I see a 56 or 07 plater with 50k on it being had for 8k or less, I'm also going to have a compare of the kerbweight against an Omega as this should give me a rough idea of real world consumption, and lastly, does anyone know if the lump is a VAG one or a buy in like VX do with the Isuzu V6 D ?

I've always liked these too:thumbup:

Got me looking the ads now though - not a good idea if the wife sees me!!

41k 05plate

Auto Trader UK - VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 4dr [5 seat] Auto,Sta Nav=

or a cheap 3.2

Auto Trader UK - VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON 3.2 V6 4MOTION 4dr [5 Seat] Auto=

As Tesco think it's not too early to sell mince pies, maybe I could ask Santa?

:wmann3:

You might find santa would struggle to fit it in his sack!

The black one with light interior is stunning, however, if ever there was a car which suits silver - this is it!

The silver one looks a good buy if you plan to use it moderately at 9.5k + I reckon you would shave another 500 quid off it if the seller knows you are serious, I'm gonna wait until the road tax thing kicks in properly and it becomes just like the Superb, i.e worth half of it's real value because nobody will want it cos of expenditure, I've been here before tbh when the Omega's were only a couple of yrs old, I laid out 13k on a CDX V6 auto, at the time the petrol bill was a mare as she only returned about 17mpg, and my repayments were mid 350pm over 4 yrs, this time I have to prepare an overall weekly cost budget for both a loan and total fuel, if I can get this to a reasonable figure I will just simply have to have one, so right now I reckon it will be a goer in about 18 mths time, I see a 56 or 07 plater with 50k on it being had for 8k or less, I'm also going to have a compare of the kerbweight against an Omega as this should give me a rough idea of real world consumption, and lastly, does anyone know if the lump is a VAG one or a buy in like VX do with the Isuzu V6 D ?

Sounds like a wise plan Supurbia, I like the logic.

A while back I looked at the new shape Audi A8s, they are a bargain now but will be a stratospheric bargain in another 18 months or so

All the Phaetons are VAG engines.

Just moved this to General Car Chat too as thats more appropriate than the Superb forum

My point is this. Why buy a Phaeton with your sensible head on? It's a no expense spared car (in terms of a "normal" manufacturer, anyway) why why try to justify it financially?

Just a thought

Even with "sensible hat off", would you buy a more expensive car with similar interior to A6 but sluggish to drive in town (which was the main application I believe)? That's why I suggested A6. A8 fits the bill even better (but costs more), then you really compare like for like interiors.

Phaeton actually does make sense with a big diesel - but they're not sold anymore with the V10TDI. Another application where it makes sense is if you armour the car - the frame is strong enough to put a lot of protection. Again, a larger engine required.

For my needs (quite different than Supurbia's), the next one will have to be the A6 . Reason? Of the entire VW range this one has biggest fuel tank (80l) with the smallest 200bhp+ diesel (3.0V6TDI), so it has both power for high speed drives and extended range. Quattro is also welcome for handling, reduced tyre wear at high speeds (130mph-140mph-ish across DE with the Superb nowadays) and for winter.

I want but can't afford a Phaeton

Phaetons are awesome, would still love one someday.

Step away from the cheque book!

carbridge trade centre : AUDI A8 3.0 TDI QUATTRO AUTO SAT NAV

Something like that would do me

carbridge trade centre : AUDI A8 3.0 TDI QUATTRO AUTO SAT NAV

Something like that would do me

I have been watching that on Pistonheads over the last 4/5 weeks. It was at £15995 at the end of August, My guess is that the trader will make v little profit, it could probably be bought for £13.5K which is probably still quite high in today's market. It is a lovely car but would be better still with the Audi 19" multispoke rims.

Even with "sensible hat off", would you buy a more expensive car with similar interior to A6 but sluggish to drive in town (which was the main application I believe)? That's why I suggested A6. A8 fits the bill even better (but costs more), then you really compare like for like interiors.

Phaeton actually does make sense with a big diesel - but they're not sold anymore with the V10TDI. Another application where it makes sense is if you armour the car - the frame is strong enough to put a lot of protection. Again, a larger engine required.

For my needs (quite different than Supurbia's), the next one will have to be the A6 . Reason? Of the entire VW range this one has biggest fuel tank (80l) with the smallest 200bhp+ diesel (3.0V6TDI), so it has both power for high speed drives and extended range. Quattro is also welcome for handling, reduced tyre wear at high speeds (130mph-140mph-ish across DE with the Superb nowadays) and for winter.

That's a fair point. I was being followed by a 3.0 TDI A6 on the way home, and I think you're right in terms of a drive, especially with the Quattro.

In any case, perhaps the 3.0 TDI Phaeton doesn't illustrate my point - a V10 TDI (which as you say is sadly now unavailable) or a W12 petrol would be more suited.

Anyway. I'll stick leaving my sensible hat to cover by greying hair.

All the Phaeton engines are chain driven