First Drive: 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton **Updated 11/12**

[BigSmooth]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/ly/04phaeton.htm
They definitely have some mixed comments on the car:

What's surprising about the Phaeton is that the interior, a place where the company normally excels to the point of rendering every other manufacturers' efforts halfhearted, has some surprisingly cheap-feeling pieces in it, namely the huge shiny plastic buttons surrounding the 7-inch navigation/control screen and the strips on the doors holding the mirror and lock controls; the equivalent bits in Golf or a Jetta are a lot better.

If you're looking for sharp throttle response and a big luxury car that really HANDLES, you might want to visit your nearest Audi or BMW dealer instead.

It's not so much that the Phaeton can't go around corners - it certainly can thanks to its clever four-link suspension and monster 18-inch tires. It's just that it doesn't particularly enjoy doing so. The steering is feather-light, almost to the point of nervousness on tighter roads, and transmits very little road feel.

But its stiff-legged ride, even on the softest of the air suspension's four settings, is at odds with the conservative, luxury-oriented image the car projects. On any surface - fast autobahns, cobblestone downtown areas, and typically well-maintained German back roads, the Phaeton never quite settled down. The V8 version, with its lighter front end, was a bit better, but not much, than the W12, and both trail contemporaries like the S-class and 7-series in the comfort department.

The article is positive overall, but I'm not sure they thought it was a truly viable alternative to the 7ers and S-Classes of the world, even at the lower price.

Now that I've seen more videos etc. of the car I must say the styling is pretty uninspired. It's not ugly, but it's almost totally devoid of character. The front and rear fascias have little in the way of distinguishing features.

I still don't think this car is going to find a market. We shall see.

 

[ElFenix]

that is a small trunk for such a big car

 

[StageLeft]

Nice car. Stupid it's a VW.

 

[NFS4]

**Updated 11/12**

Luxurious VW Phaeton is fast, smooth, whisper-quiet

 

[conjur]

Have you seen the commercial for it?

It's teh l4m3!!!