Interesting that Clarkson says the Phaeton has no "pizazz" -- and I would agree with him to a point, but its rivals are hardly the biggest thrills on the planet either. The Audi A8 is still the best looking car in this segment.

Clarkson is right about how the appearance of a product can make a big difference to the desirability of it. I also agree with Clarkson about the seats of the Phaeton, I have said several times in the past that I think it has the best upholstery in the entire industry, incidentally, the Quattroporte's interior is made by the same Italian company.

You know what Rob, I still think about the Phaeton a lot. The ride still amazes me especially when the A8 fumbles on the potholes where the Phaeton would just glide across them... My dad is however hardly convinced he should change from an Audi back to a VW again.

Thank you Mr.M and 450sel6.9
You both are absolutely right. I have owned my '05 V8 for 6 months now. Can't say enough about it!
Scott

As much as I like this car, let me give you my explanation to why I wouldn't take this over an S, A8 or the 7er.

My reason for not taking this car are:

1. While it looks great, it looks too much like a stretched out Passat.
2. I would have to explain to everyone what this car is.
3. I would have to explain to everyone how this car can match the rest of the competitors in features.
4. I would have to explain to everyone how this is a bargain, but then people would still give me blank stares and say "you paid how much for this VW?"
5. In essence, it's still a VW.

What do I mean by number 5? Well, let me explain. While this is a great car and a wonderful piece of engineering, here is the problem. All the stuff they've accomplished can be overlooked at the fact that if any other major company came to the same exact marketing research, they would've made a car just like that, but no one did, and that is why this car "failed". The head of VW got so ahead of himself that he decided to make this car for no real valid reason then to say "We can build one too." While that's great mister VW CEO, but so can any other company with deep enough pockets. What do I mean by that? take a look at the new LS, while it's not the best of the best, it's still a great car for anyone but an enthusiast and journalists.

Another thing to note is the VW badge. While I'm no badge whore, the normal public is. For example, when Honda decided to build the NSX. When that car first came out it bested the best of the best of that time and kicked Ferrari's ass back in gear to make great cars again. Sure, NSX got great acclaim but didn't really catch on with the public. Why? Simply because this thought ran across most of the publics' head: "A supercar from honda? That doesn't make sense". Sure, most enthusiasts fell in love with it but most people just looked at the price and said, "I'd never pay that much for a Honda". That is the same stigma that has affected the Phaeton: "A luxury car from VW? Why? I'd never pay that much for a VW when I can pay a little more and drive a BMW/AUDI/MB."

I hope you understand just a little bit of what I'm trying to get across.

^^ That is exactly the probelm Raman.

It is difficult to understand what VW was trying to prove when they already own Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti. How much more prestige do they require?

Audi faces the same problem to a degree here in the U.S. especially with the A8.

M

Everytime people discuss about the Phaeton, they end up saying the car was a failure because of the VW badge. Maybe with a Audi badge it would have higher sales fugures. Yet many people would buy a Lexus, most of them probably ignoring the fact that they are about to give away a shit-load of money for a Toyota.
P.S. I didn't mean to offent any Lexus fan.

In a similar way the LS probably would never have been such a success in the US if it was a Toyota.