Roberto, I think what you say about the Chinese is true. My dad has always reminded me that once the Chinese are rich, they'll never buy anything less than an Audi. He does business in China and he has learnt much from their culture there.

Well, we'll have to see how the Phaeton facelift comes along. I hope they don't go ahead with the 'hatchback' concept! They intended to bring the Phaeton downmarket to compete with the E-Class and the A6. I say, keep the sedan!

The Transparent Factory is absolutely awesome.

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i agree, and i know what you meant, i wasnt arguing your point.

Just saying all those Phaeton owners with new cars that arent going to be produced anymore, spending so much money on an obsolete car, is a horrible feeling.

Iv'e seen the car, and like it as a sedan, but i wouldnt have went for one no matter what. No value, major depreciation and now this! Damn...

Although the quality might be as good as the A8, if you had a choice between the two would you buy the Phaeton? In this sector of the car market, the image is at least 30 percent of why people buy an +$60k car.

Think of it this way... If Benz made a horrible W222 or BMW made a horrible 2007 7er, people will still buy it because it's a status symbol. But if VW on a luxury car this expensive, there will be no mercy.

Yeah usually when people are going to buy a 30k+ they want it to look good and to be premium and VW is not a premium brand. Many people wouldn't mind buying a passat instead of a 3er or A4 but from many it is impossible to choose a Pheaton a freaking VW over the luxury symbol itself the S-class.

Instead of jumping right into the top luxury segment VW should have instead produced a A6/E-class competitor. Their jump from Passat to an S-class competitor has simply been too big.

Sad but not unexpected. The US market is very brand conscious especially in the upper end of the price spectrum.

It's all about profits. Nothing else!

I read somewhere about a year ago that the teams and resources (including all R&D) for the Phaeton were being slowly 'realigned' to focus on their more upscale niche: Bentley.
This may indicate that they are planning to eventually get rid of the Phaeton (or maybe just keep the name and dress up an Audi A6 with the VW badge to clearly steer away from A8s playing field).

not just the US... anywhere in the world, when all that money is involved. Remember, cars in the US aren't exactly expensive as taxes for cars in other countries are much higher.

If you thought 80 grand for VW is bad, it's probably worst in places like South Africa.

Well as per the VW forums, its only being discontinued in the US market.

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Meh, why pay for the Phaeton when you can have the lighter and better looking A8 for a couple thousand more? If you want the comfort buy the cheaper LS.

When I say brand conscious, it's kind of US biased. Brand conscious in one country may mean something completely different in another in terms of which brans you would buy over another. In the US, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are kind of the yuppie cars with Audi slowly gaining in the market. As much as I want Audi to succeed, I also feel more special being an Audi fan since we're the underdog that only people in the know are aware is a good brand (or at least it used to be this way). The day I see an A8 chromed out in a rap video I'll have to kill someone.