Test drive and walk around of a 2006 VW Phaeton 4.2 4MOTION with Chris from Chicago Cars Direct. The days when Volkswagen translated to “people’s car” are over. This car, the Phaeton, stretches to 199.0 inches in length, is powered by a 12-cylinder engine making 414 horsepower, and features an air-conditioning system so complex it splits the interior into four separate zones. When this humble VW goes on sale in the US next year, top-of-the-line versions will cost $85000. Maybe more. Yet just like a $15600 Golf, the Phaeton wears Volkswagen badges. VW’s new luxury sedan takes on the Mercedes-Benz S-class, the BMW 7-series, and the new Audi A8 and Bentley GT Coupe, in-house rivals that share many of the same mechanical components. Masterminded by Ferdinand Piëch, VW’s recently retired chairman, the Phaeton set out to be nothing less than the best car in the world. The key is turned in the dashboard-mounted ignition. Nothing. Only after sighting the tachometer needle trembling at 640 rpm do I realize the engine is alive. With the windows up, it’s so quiet you can’t hear the W-12—effectively two narrow-angle V-6s bolted onto a common crankshaft at an angle of 72 degrees. Give it some gas, and the engine emits a distant burble. At 80 mph it remains mute, unheard over the hum from the 255/45R-18 Bridgestone Potenzas. At 100 mph, wind noise from the exterior mirrors begins to intrude. You only hear the engine as a remote purr when you step up the pace. Opening the aluminum hood …
June 20th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
its OWdi not AHdi
June 20th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
you really need to pronounce your cars correctly
June 20th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
@Stig140 did you make that username from what is currently up your ass?
June 20th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
This is an amazing vehicle! I took me two year to find a phaeton on used car lot. I had to drive it. It was an amazing experience. This is the number one car on my to buy list. Which will hopefully be summer 2012.
btw. I haven’t met many people who know more about cars than I do. Whenever I go to car dealerships and I have questions about the cars (that I already know the answer to) they never seem to know.
I have been ’studying’ cars since 2001.
AND… You have my dream job.
June 20th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Love your reviews!
However, Bentleys are supposed to be sporting, so the Flying Spur should be as sporting as it is. It fits the brand’s mission. The A8 is supposed to be a sportier take on the large car as well, so the VW’s role as the cushiest is fitting.
But you have the experience with all of these cars, not me.
June 20th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
umm is this an Audi A8…umm so yah just give it the damn symbol. Why would they make it for a VW.. its an audi. same frame engine. jsut different alloy.
June 20th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
This car is my favorite car man !
June 20th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
he says audi wrong
June 20th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
@2iBMX Because most dumb Americans only consider VW being only one car. The beetle…
June 20th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
American car makers could learn a thing or million about making good cars.
June 20th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
@2iBMX Especially since these cars are made by same engineers with the same parts and technology. Just a better trim inside + an Audi Badge.
June 20th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
@julianshield1
of course you didn’t understand it. what was i thinking?? your 1000s of miles from civilization and have a barbie stuck between your ears.
June 21st, 2010 at 12:19 am
It kind of looks like my 2007 Audi A8 …..
June 21st, 2010 at 1:00 am
@Veyronp87 Sorry, i couldn’t understand that, did you have a cheeseburger shoved down your throat?
June 21st, 2010 at 1:15 am
@julianshield1
Australians need to learn to shut the fuck up
June 21st, 2010 at 2:00 am
Americans need to learn proper english.
June 21st, 2010 at 2:42 am
@smczack1 LOL
June 21st, 2010 at 2:59 am
@Stig140 If it wasn’t for us Yanks the world would be lost and broke !!!!!!!!!!
June 21st, 2010 at 3:07 am
im pretty sure if the changed the badge from VW to Audi it would sell better than the 7 series and an s-class combined
June 21st, 2010 at 3:32 am
yeaa i like the us version. we got alot of the over here in germany!!!
June 21st, 2010 at 4:04 am
@mooazz
June 21st, 2010 at 4:08 am
@mooazz learn to type moolee
June 21st, 2010 at 4:24 am
hold it I hated vws cause of NAZI hertiage,but the nazis didnt build that car a jew did the nazis stole it
June 21st, 2010 at 5:14 am
didn’t audi build cars for vw in the 80s
June 21st, 2010 at 6:00 am
this is a great luxury car…