Volkswagen to yank slow-selling Phaeton from U.S. market next summer

[NFS4]

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103583

The Phaeton's U.S. sales tumbled to 686 in the first 10 months of 2005 from 1,433 in the year-ago period. That's a 52.1 percent drop.

VW prices the Phaeton at $68,655 for a V-8 model, including a $1,300 gas-guzzler charge. The 12-cylinder version starts at $100,255, including a $3,000 gas guzzler charge.

By contrast, the most expensive four-door VW Passat sedan starts at $32,515 for a 3.6-liter VR6 model.

VW plans to announce the Phaeton decision to dealers today, Nov. 14. Wolfsburg expects Phaeton sales to end in the U.S. market next July or August.

 

[Fenixgoon]

yeah, no one's going to buy a 100k VW when you can get an A8L for the same price

 

[kogase]

I never even asked.

 

[natto fire]

Didn't a lot of the Phaetons "luxury features" trickle down to the Passat and Jetta anyways? Can't say I'm suprised in the least. Cars that expensive are mostly about status. Tycoon convention: "I say wadsworth, I just got the neatest VW. Why's that Arnsley? Is it your rental while the Audi is in the shop, I say"

 

[RagingBITCH]

What did you tell us exactly? Common sense?

 

[DivideBYZero]

What took them so long?

 

[Ryan]

Thank god - that turd's been ripe for a flush.

 

[nwfsnake]

1. Non-reliable cars made
2. Non-inexpensive non-reliable cars made
3.
4. Non-profit!

 

[UNCjigga]

Well they plan on replacing it with a Mercedes CLS-like "4 door coupe" version of the Passat next fall, so this makes sense. That new car will be priced under $40k (V6) or around $45k with the W8 engine...pricing that's a lot more reasonable for the VW brand.

 

[UNCjigga]

I wonder what the used market for these will be like...ya think it'll have piss poor resale value?? I'd love to pick up an old Phaeton for like $35k used...that'd be sweet.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
I wonder what the used market for these will be like...ya think it'll have piss poor resale value?? I'd love to pick up an old Phaeton for like $35k used...that'd be sweet.

They already have piss poor resale value - you can probably pick up a used one for that amount right now.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I've been the "Glass Factory" in Dresden where the Phaeton is assembled. Quite impressive. The Phaeton is a solid car. I've never heard a better car audio system. But, it's still no Audi A8 in terms of performance and value.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
I wonder what the used market for these will be like...ya think it'll have piss poor resale value?? I'd love to pick up an old Phaeton for like $35k used...that'd be sweet.

i know they are already down to like 52k for a used one, not sure the specs or anything.

 

[nakedfrog]

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't mind having one.

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Well they plan on replacing it with a Mercedes CLS-like "4 door coupe" version of the Passat next fall, so this makes sense. That new car will be priced under $40k (V6) or around $45k with the W8 engine...pricing that's a lot more reasonable for the VW brand.

W8 engine?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Well they plan on replacing it with a Mercedes CLS-like "4 door coupe" version of the Passat next fall, so this makes sense. That new car will be priced under $40k (V6) or around $45k with the W8 engine...pricing that's a lot more reasonable for the VW brand.

W8 engine?

Two four cylinders mated together, IIRC.
Wikipedia says...

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Well they plan on replacing it with a Mercedes CLS-like "4 door coupe" version of the Passat next fall, so this makes sense. That new car will be priced under $40k (V6) or around $45k with the W8 engine...pricing that's a lot more reasonable for the VW brand.

W8 engine?

The cylinders are arranged in the shape of a W instead of a V.

 

[pbaker]

i saw one on the road the other day, didn't look that great, especially not for $68g.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: pbaker
i saw one on the road the other day, didn't look that great, especially not for $68g.

Similar concept as the BMW M5... nothing special to look at, it's what's inside and under the hood that makes it special.

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: Random Variable

Originally posted by: scorpmatt

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Well they plan on replacing it with a Mercedes CLS-like "4 door coupe" version of the Passat next fall, so this makes sense. That new car will be priced under $40k (V6) or around $45k with the W8 engine...pricing that's a lot more reasonable for the VW brand.

W8 engine?

The cylinders are arranged in the shape of a W instead of a V.

so like this:

C--*--C
C--C--C
C--*--C

 

[Accipiter22]

I read about them a few years back, had never heard of it before.....though the article spoke of it liek it was already in the U.S.....3 years later and i've still never seen one on the road.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt



so like this:

C--*--C
C--C--C
C--*--C

no

a normal v8 would look like this
C | C
C | C
C | C
C | C

with cylinders on each side and the crank in the middle. the 90 degree spacing of a V8 means that there is a lot of unoccupied (well, not by cylinders, anyway) space between the two banks. a W8 looks like this

CC|CC
CC|CC

its much more compact, like the VR6 is.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
I read about them a few years back, had never heard of it before.....though the article spoke of it liek it was already in the U.S.....3 years later and i've still never seen one on the road.

Which is pretty much why they are being pulled
If I could get a used one cheap, I certainly would. They are pretty cool, but the idea of a high-end VW was just not a great one.

 

[maddogchen]

I've never seen one on the road before.

 

[Genx87]

I didnt understand the concept of this car. VW owns Audi, why create a car that competes with your own product(A8)? On top of that the name brand of VW doesnt exactly spring to mind an 80,000 dollar vehicle.

Not surprised at all this thing is being yanked.