Was the Phaeton VW's luxury BLUNDER? 

As a former Phaeton owner I can say this car was built specifically for Piech. I could say it floats like a cloud down the highway but that’s not quite the feeling because you also feel like you’re locked in on rails while going in excess of the speed limit. The car literally lowers when you hit 80mph. There’s nothing quite like a phaeton.

The Phaetons biggest problem was it looked to the untrained eye like a Passat

The fact that he told the Japanese Emporer himself his sword was a fake and it turned out to be true was pretty badass.

What an era that was, when sublime engineering was way more important than marketing! Excellent video on the Phaeton.

Pepole's Limousine? I'd rather call this perfect example of stealth wealth car.

Thank you for this video. I've driven the Phaeton many times as a chaffeur car during my university times, with different engines, body styles, colours and many many different interiors. And until this day in my opinion it's one of the best cars ever built. It rides incredibly smooth and quiet and driving it on the Autobahn is very relaxing. You can drive at v-max from Munich to Berlin and back and will get out and still feel relaxed. The seats are more than excellent, especially with ventilation. And the air conditioning is definitely the best system I have ever used. It does not create any draft which is remarkable. It's still one of my dream cars as a daily driver. One day I'll buy one.

I own a 2013 Phaeton 3.0 TDI (240hp/500nm) and absolutely love this car! It is a true continent cruiser.

My old boss used to have one. He even went to the factory to see it being made. Beautifully understated car to be a passenger in. But riddled with ongoing electrical gremlins, the dealership struggled to fix them as it was an unfamiliar model for their mechanics.

The Phaeton is still one of my two dream cars. It is the pure definition of understatement and seriousness. I love it and can't wait to finally own one.

Unpopular opinion... I think they are beautiful

Errata: The Bentley Continental GT wasn't made at the Glass Factory in Dresden. The Continental Spur was for a short time. The Phaeton was available as a front wheel drive model. Piëch retired because of VW policy, not German law. Rolls Royce plc owned the rights to the Rolls Royce name, not Vickers. The story about Piëch and the sword isn't quite right. He told a Shinto priest at the infamous Yasakuni Shrine that a sword was fake. Because of this, other VW execs made sure that he wasn't around at the 1991 Tokyo car show where they actually did meet the emperor.

What a legend of a car. Have always had a lot of respect for Phaeton, it was quite an achievement.

The problem with the Phaeton wasn't the car, it was the emblem.

The Phaeton was the rehearsal for Bentley production. As nice as the Phaeton is, it is a very expensive car to keep, especially when it costs about £200 to change a lightbulb in the headlamps. (quote from an owner).

I live in Chengdu, China and I still see Phaeton's quite often. A friend of mine used to work for VW and the most units were sold in Chengdu than any other city in the world!

Thanks for this informative insight. I was a member of the design team which manufactured the fuel tank and filler for the Phaeton (at Kautex in Bonn, Germany). We enjoyed the challenges and working closely with the VW fuel system team at VW in Wolfsburg. The Phaeton was an extraordinary car at a very decent price, especially considering the high quality of materials and workmanship. Well-kept models will surely become classics in time.

Great references to Piech. Many confirm he was an abrasive genius with almost zero EQ but both the Phaeton and Veyron had the effect of lifting the VW brand perception well above the likes of Opel, Renault, Peugeot and Ford as those brands struggled for an identity of quality and engineering. Cars like the Golf and Polo are perceived above their peers today because of halo cars like these two models. I consider him the definitive CEO for any car company and a giant in history. Yes he may have been a huge pain in the rear but it worked!! Then there was dieselgate......

The phaeton should have been an Audi A10

I drove my Phaeton to 240k miles. It is the best car I’ll ever drive. Besides it’s incredible comfort, great reliability, and amazing premium stereo, it was unstoppable in THE WORST winter weather the upper Midwest could muster.

As a VW Phaeton 2008 owner i thank you for the story. I very much enjoyed it.

Great video! I remember the Top Gear review. Jeremy Clarkson boiled a kettle inside the car to demonstrate the demister.

On the rare occasion you see one of these on the roads, They are absolutely gorgeous! Built like a tank and beautifully equipped.

Your videos are astounding. The Historical research and editing reflect the work you put in. Thanks for this and as for the ending...

I owned 2 of these incredible cars. The first , I bought new in 2006 and did 80,000 trouble free miles and the one I have now , which I bought new direct from the Glasernemanufaktur in Dresden in 2010. I am 72 years of age and been fortunate enough to have owned many great cars including Porsches, BM's and Mercedes. However in my opinion nothing came close to the Phaeton. It had an engineering integrity and a build quality second to none. My current car has just ticked over 117,000 miles and has been utterly reliable. Now 10 years old he still drives as well as the day I picked him up with no squeaks or rattles. The Phaeton was truly an automotive phenonomen. I am sadly parting company with my beloved boy next week as I feel now it's time for a change. After considering a new Audi A8, I decided instaed to order a new A6 Allroad Vorsprunf 50 TDI. I like the " uniqueness " of the car with it's air suspension and all wheel drive. This will be my last great car and I intend to run it for 8 years and 100,000 miles. It wil be interesting to see how ell it stacks up against my Phaeton. My only dillemma was whether to pick the 50 TDI or the 55 TSI. In the end I plumped for the TDI as I drive alot in Deutschland and the greater puling power and torque of the diesel engine plus the mpg on the autobahns will be an asset. Also the new Audi diesels are very clean. In 8 years time ?....it will probably be an electric along as the range is improved from the cars that are on sale now. The A6 Allroad Vorsprung is a factory build and I have been informed that it will be in the U.K, late October / early November. A long but worthwhile wait I hope.

Loved the ending humour. Another great story

I did consider a Phaeton myself a few years ago: a huge luxurious barge for about £3k at the time. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything. Still, a beautiful car though. Thanks for posting.

i stepped into the phaeton world about 5 years ago, i bought a relatively cheap 2009 phaeton 5-seater for fun, because i thought it's a cool car and i wanted one for a while. i noticed then the decellerating nature of the car and that i spent more time in the big slow old limousine than in my much newer and faster cars. so i bought a better equipped 2012 five-seater and drive it for a while, it again satisfied me a lot. then i began searching for my final pheaton and it ended in a fully equipped 2014 4-seater which i still own. there is no better long distance travelling car in the world with all the luxury and the "no mainstream" feeling. the really special thing is not the numbers, it's the ability that a phaeton does not create any stress for the driver, it makes you calm down. in situations where you are not in the mood to drive a car, where cars annoy you, it is still a relaxing pleasure sitting in a phaeton, listening to music and let the world outside annoy itself.

The Pheadon suffered the same as the Equus from Hyundai in North America. It was the Badging...But I would drive and own both of them.

The ending almost made soda come out my nose. One of the best endings ever, thank you sir

Excellent video, beautifully researched and narrated, and a very interesting car pick. It's sad to see how great things (be it products, people or whatever) get often overlooked because they lack a flashy brand or flamboyance whereas, conversely, things lacking substance manage to catch attention because they make it up with marketing.

Honestly love these video's, as soon as you upload one I drop everything and watch it ASAP. Keep up the good work!

I own a 2008 VW Phaeton GP1 3.0 TDI with massage seats and all the options. It has been good to me and really easy to work on. recently did intake manifold swirl flaps, egr and cooler clean out. Its a good car in the snow and the summer, on the road and off the road. picking up friends or transporting old people. You name it, it does it well.

Nice, You asked the right questions and gave the best comments! Well researched and no BS. Thank you! Quality wise the Phaeton was "first class" and could easily compare to much more expensive limousines! The design and the badge is history gone totally wrong, underestimating peoples choices... rich peoples choices! ;-)

owned a 2010 Phaeton this past yr, best car (for the money) I've owned.. hands down.

Enjoy your channel very much. I lover hearing the "story of" and the history of how cars came to be, keep up the great work

I think Piech also said something to the effect that the VW Group doesn't sink money into expensive motor sports like many of their competitors do, and therefore is perfectly happy with these kinds of lighthouse projects. I think he was particularly talking about the Veyron, but it kinda puts things into perspective in general.

This was utterly fascinating! What an info-loaded video, fantastic work as ever!! Your channel is an absolute goldmine for anyone even remotely interested in cars :D

If I was to get one of these , than I would defo go with the V10 Diesel . I love powerful Diesel engines with insane Torque values

Brilliant (as always here, at Big Car!) but the final conclusion is even more! Congratulations! And thank you for the stories, facts and presentaion! Keep it that way!

I really enjoy your videos and I appreciate all the hard work you must have put compiling them. I recommend you to all my car enthusiast friends. Keep up the good work!

That was amazing! Never fails to both be informative and get a chuckle out of me. Better than some so-called car shows on TV.

I'm on nights tonight. That's my break sorted. Big VW fan👍

Your videos are always wonderful and absorbing to watch. Thanks so much.

Your voice is so calming and your videos are so informative.Great job as always!

Always excited to see a new video from Big Car.

One of the most enjoyable car channels on youtube 🙌

Wonderful vehicle , I got one (2013 Vers) for 13.5k with 45k miles TDI and get 38mpg with great comfort. It is like perfect watch. Great seats, sound system , safety - hard to beat. And best of all it is discreet. Everyone thinks its a Passat.

Great to see the story behind this car, which I've admired for years. I had a tour of the glass factory in Dresden when the Pheaton was still in production, Bentley Flying Spurs were going around on the same line...

Had they sold a V8 one in the UK I would've bought one, but they only sold a V8 one in the US. I also prefer the first iteration, it has purer styling. These also have gorgeous interiors imo.

If I was the manager of a car company and I had some disposable cash, I'd run it like Piech. By the way, when's the Lada episode coming out?

Wow! Very informative. Thanks for putting out these videos

I had one for 7 years, awesome space, comfort, unobtrusive, cheap to service, reliable and relaxing to drive - I had to V6 3.0 diesel.

I absolutely love this car! its a bucket list motor! I can see it becoming a modern classic in a few years time!

"420 expert hands." Nice. 0:10

I heard a story once that the boot hinges on the Phaeton reportedly cost more to develop that the revision of Polo at the time. Having owned a 2011 Phaeton V6 I can confirm that the hinge mechanism on the boot lid was a thing of beauty.

Although I don't own one, I love the Phaeton and if I had to buy a 2000-2015 ultra-lux sedan, the Phaeton would be my number one choice because it's understated and has this cool discreet look that only the people who know their cars can recognize. I love the idea of a high-end vehicle that doesn't show off its value to everyone.

I've always been in love with the fully optioned Phaeton W12. Those cupholders are far fancier than anything before or since - at absolutely any price point. Bentleys have cheap looking open cupholders. Piech should have blazed the four door coupe trail before Mercedes did and styled the Phaeton after the Passat CC. Would have undercut the competition and probably sold significantly better. Nobody would have resisted a four door coupe with that interior in 2003. Piech was too conservative for all his innovation.

Piekkkk! Love it. Dimeler. Love that too! Great video!

I owned and drove a 2004 VW Phaeton W12 from 2005-2008 in Dallas, Texas. Phenomenal car and engine! Black with tan interior, it was a special USA launch model. Bought it sight unseen on eBay from Michigan where it had been a VW USA executive’s car for 8 months. I put a ‘W12 VW” Texas plate on it and made it my daily driver. Ended up selling it for $8,000 more than Blue Book value at the time to a wealthy Dallas family who approached me online to buy it because their 20-something son just had to have it - just before the global financial crisis. Impeccable timing.

Your channel is great, and I enjoy every single one of your videos. There is no need to lay a guilt trip at the end and squander all your hard earned approval while you're at it. I assure you that people will subscribe without it.

Great story :P FYI: "Diesel-gate" was not just VW. It was ALOT of manufactures involved in it. But only VW got the attention of the media and the people for some reason.

I just hope they don’t lie about the emissions. It is a nice car.

We own one, 2004, Expensive to keep up! And we do. But what a car! It just feels like class when you’re in it! Not an everyday car, but a car to be saved. Love it!!

A car of exceptional build quality and a technical marvel but I never understood what roll it was supposed to fill for VW. Audi had the A8 for the premium luxury sedan segment. It almost seems like Skoda hit the mark with the Superb for what the Phaeton was supposed to be, something in between an A8, A6 and a Passat. I still love the fact that the Phaeton came to be without ever needing to.

Now I want the Citroën BX next, sometimes regarded as the car that saved Citroën

It sold well in China, that’s all that really matters now.

This was a great video. Well done! Someday, I think I will buy one of these luxurious Volkswagens.

OOOO listen to her at the end talk about touchy lol. That was another fine video, informative, detailed, clear, comprehensive and accurate kind Sir. Ps just to let you know if your feeling unappreciated, you are without doubt one of the finest reviewers on this platform and do us proud with your presentation and well researched knowledge.

Just looked up some used Phaeton's, the depreciation on these things is mind-boggling. But anyone wanting to take a chance on them could have a car that drives and feels like a Bentley for the cost of a used Honda Civic.

I always liked the Phaeton. I liked the way they promoted quality over speed

Love your videos, I watch them eating my breakfast before I go to work here in NZ. Nice to have some facts to start the day, and the next time I see a car you've featured I gurgle out facts to my girlfriend who does a great job of being really, really interested! One day they'll be a question at a pub quiz, and then she'll thank me! Thank you!

Loved the extra bits about Piech ! how about doing an interview with Bob Lutz? Ford, Chrysler, etc? Put in as many extra bits as possible! Incuding Bob's moments with other car people!

I'd own one if they sold them here in Australia. A great car now for the 2nd hand market.

Hey there, I don’t know if you’ve done one on this (I haven’t been able to find it if so) but you should do an episode on the Studebaker Avanti. This was another great episode too!

Nice production mate.... nice video!

Love this, I am always delighted if I see a phaeton knocking around, a decent secondhand but with a service history but lacking tech toys

Hey Big Car, I have a suggestion for you: Do you think you can perhaps make a video on Merkur? I find it interesting because Merkur was one of the shortest-lived car brands in modern history (they only lasted 4 years!). Thank you for another awesome Big Car video, as always! Cheers! :)

I work for A VW dealer in germany This car is Amazing V10 TDI !

Good video, especially the bit at the end about Piech. I first saw one of these "Uptown" in NYC in it must have been very early 2004. In fact, there was two together. I am surprised that I noticed them at all amongst all the other Eurotrash (Mini's, et al) that they drive there, but I had a Passat B5 estate at the time, which is probably why I looked.

Your channel is very informative, thank u. Interesting to know all this details of a VW Phaeton. Such a shame a luxurious refined car with only a 70% price tag of similar competitors didn’t get the proper recognition which it deserves. Low market demand leads to slow, unenthusiastic development.

I've got one and I love it!!

Why would a company, allready owning very high end brands like Bentley and Lamborghini even try to make a competetive car for BMW, Mercedes and so? The outside was like an upscaled Passat. In my opinion the ideal car for someone who wants to drive, or be driven, and wants to stay anomynous.

The Phaeton is one of my favorite cars, and I love the story behind it. It’s also gorgeous!

I'm a proud owner of the 2010 model, 3.0 TDI (the very last model before the last one). Except that I avoid going downhill if it's too steep on icy roads, because of it's weight, the rest is perfection. 👌 And yes, I've lost control at 5-10 MPH going downhill in the middle of the city, and only experience with ice and a bit of luck helped me. This car at 2.5 tons in the UK where winter tires aren't compulsory, you will have to really think before going downhill if it's too steep and you encounter traffic lights or an obstacle on that stretch.

I loved these! The V10 TDi looked especially interesting.

I had always thought the Phaeton used the Audi D3 chassis as it's basis. Particularly as it basically used the same range of engines (except the V10 diesel). I suppose Ferdinand got his value out of the Bentley chassis then!

What a fantastic video ! Thank you BC !!!!

Great video! I think Phaeton is still a really cool and important car, no matter what the sales numbers said. Once got a backseat ride in a LWB W12 during a Volkswagen dealer event back in... 2005 or 2006. Too bad I was too young to have a more detailed memory of this.

When I'd first saw the VW Phaeton in a Car Magazine it almost looked like a VW Passat in a expensive luxury car version.

You’ve got it backwards…the Bentley was built on the Phaeton platform. Piëch wouldn’t go to the parts bin for his swan song.

Great video, I can see you put a lot of passion and work in these videos. For some reason yt unsubscribed me from you.

Another interesting and insightful look at the most interesting cars. Thanks

Love this car , drove in one and it was a blast !

I can confirm that the Phaeton is very luxurious and nowadays, you can get a mid 2000s Phaeton V6 with many options for quite cheap, id recommend the Phaeton. Awesome video too!

I have two, a 04 and 06. Love this car and I have tried them all at one time or another. Life is good..

I just wanted so say I love your content just realized I wasn't subscribed! I love these style videos.

Who else searched for a used Phaeton after watching this?

I still have a w12 from 2003 bought in 2006. Hard to fix in spain... Took it to change front window shield in 2009 and they brought a passats front windshield .. jajaja

Another excellent video! Please keep producing.

Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲