considering buying a phaeton

[h999@fsmail.net]

I'm sorely tempted to buy a used Phaeton, as they seem remarkable value for money. I had a jaguar XF for a few months and it was a bit of a disappointment. Too many faults identified by other owners got me worried about reliability and long term costs and the ride was harsh on 20" wheels on South Yorkshire roads. I also felt a bit flash and the anonymity of a Phaeton is an attraction. I would be grateful for an overview from current Phaeton owners re satisfaction levels / relisbility / costs etc. The road tax is the first blow and I would need to be able to accepy paying out over £400 before turning a wheel.
thanks in anticipation of your views

[gartracescort]

I did, in April. A nervous decision. My previous was a W140 S500 Merc (not counting the LDV) which was amazing until it started to die, but it was 13 years old and high mileage/city/pool car use.

This car (V10 diesel) is far better, as quiet, faster, far more economical and seemingly more solid (10 years more development potential) and so far 100% fine, but I have bought a warranty for the first time.

VW, 48,000 miles when bought. Merc, 145,000 miles; not a particularly fair comparison for reliability.

It is very greedy on front tyres and I really miss the self-closing doors.

[towcestervag]

my freinds 3.0 tdi is amazing
bought at 6mths old at a snip
now had 3 yrs and the only thing ive had to do is servicing
never had anything go wrong !
did put a chip box on it and it improved performance/economy by miles
BUT do beware as if anything engine/gearbox wise goes wrong there is a special jig to remove these and will cost dearly

[swerve]

Looking at a 55 plate & a 56 plate phaeton and there is a £200 difference in the VED duty so if interested in a phaeton and cost of tax is a barrier do a check on the direct gov web site. Also can't believe that a car with this sort of technology is using a timing belt and not a chain.

[DSG4ME]

This is a very desirable car, i.e I really want one but can't justify the running cost's, well actually I can't but I would, the thing that puts me off is the repair cost's, from what I managed to obtain it's 3k for a hazzard light switch because it's integrated into the whole infotainment console, and 5k for 4 air shocks, alright if it's not you who pays, not so if it is though, still a beaut of a motor though, and the other thing is, a 300C looks like a Bentley, a Phaeton is a Bentley.

[green A8]

We've had six of these on our company fleet. All 3.0TDi's since the 55 plate. Seems like every time they fall due to be replaced at two years old another Phaeton with the current plate arrives in the car park. I had a chat to our fleet manager who is a man of few words. It would seem that there are no plans to replace the Phaeton's with anything other than another Phaeton! In six years not a single car has broken down , and just as importantly none have had to have anything other than menu services. The only other cars we run that can compete with that impressive record are the Lexus 600h (three on the fleet) and the Rolls Royce Phantom (Two on the fleet) . Neither of these do the miles that the Phaetons rack up (between 50-70K P/A) A magnificent car.
Hope this helps.

Kind Regards.

Paul.

[Crasher]

Looking at a 55 plate & a 56 plate phaeton and there is a £200 difference in the VED duty so if interested in a phaeton and cost of tax is a barrier do a check on the direct gov web site. Also can't believe that a car with this sort of technology is using a timing belt and not a chain.

Going back a bit BUT-only the 4.2 V8 has a timing belt. The 3 litre TDI has a pump belt but all the rest are chain or gear driven cams.

[WeegieBob]

Well after nearly 3 months, 5 'cold call' phone calls from various sales personel at the dealers trying to sell me an unrepeatable deal not one of them has returned their call when I raised the subject of the Phaeton as they promised and not a single returned call from the salesman who I bought the Golf off.

Disappointingly it appears that none of them can be <removed> to try, preferring to drop me as my question apparently is too hard - so tomorrow I go to my local Jaguar dealer to order a new XF. Sad really, I have the money, they have the car I wanted - all it needed was a bit of customer service and effort to meet in the middle of the shortfall and they could have moved on a car that's been sitting there for nearly 11 months earning absolutely nothing for them. :(

[Crasher]

I currently have charge of a 2004 LWB V10 TDI at the moment which I believe is for sale. These are extraordinarily complicated cars that require a USED purchase owner to exhibit a tremendous amount of patience and financial clout to be able to run, They are, in my honest opinion, the most sophisticated and describable exclusive saloon car every made but they do require continuous ownership. At the end of the Phaeton story you MUST remember that it gave birth to two new Bentleys which albeit half built in Germany are keeping many British artesian's in work and the Conti, Spur and Phaeton are utterly fantastic cars for the money, I personable am totally in love with the Phaeton and I wish I had the cash to throw at a LWB W12, fully loaded-absolute heaven on wheels...

[WeegieBob]

Hi Crasher,

I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to get over to me if your previous post is aimed at me.

The Phaeton is brand new, not second hand, I have the money to run the car, I have the understanding of the trade having worked in it (allbeit part-time) for 40 years and I have the patience of a saint when it comes down to the people who make a living in the motor trade as I know just how difficult it can be, however that does not excuse anybody in the trade from ignoring a potential customer because there are 'easier' deals to be made out there, which in my opinion is happening here. If VW sales staff prefer to ignore a customer with £35k to spend then so be it, I'll go somewhere else.

With regard to 'continuous ownership' - if VW deemed that desirable then why offer Phaetons on personal lease terms to ordinary punters like me? I'm sure many Phaetons in use just now by local authorities for example are tied into some form of limited term lease, not outright purchase.

(And I would apologise for the use of a word that apparently is deemed foul language on this web site, but just for the record for readers of this thread I didn't use anything that would obviously be considered by all sections of society as foul, it was a word which has common useage here in the West of Scotland and is part of day to day conversations. That said I will not make that error again and will mind my p's & q's in the future. :) )

[Crasher]

I was only narrating the experience I have just had with the owner of a seven year old Phaeton, I don't think I even read your post, it was just that a reply notification to the thread popped up in my mail box and I punched in what I had been through that day and how I felt plus it was well past midnight and I was surrounded by the warm comforting glow of a bottle of fine Sicilian red and a couple of large shots of Jura so to be really honest I can't even remember making the post in the first place... From reading your last two posts you do, pardon me for saying this and don't take it the wrong way, seem, well a little-sensitive maybe? As I said, I love the Phaeton but I have to admit I would not buy one new as they have knocked all the decent engines on the head for the UK market and even in Germany the biggest lump is only the V8 petrol and I want the W12, well a 6 litre version with twin turbos actually but I would have to build that myself. Personally if I was blessed with the funds I would buy a fully loaded Audi S8 when they come out this year but within your budget area I would buy an A5 Sportback although I would be frustrated at not being either able to get the V6 petrol (S5 aside) you can have in Germany or being able to afford it or the diesel V6 but I don’t like diesels. Saying that I would feel terribly guilty spending my money on a foreign car in such straitened times and even doing what I do for a living, the pull towards a Jaguar showroom would be irresistible as I love everything Jaguar and I think the XF is lovely. The other thing, the Phaeton starts at £45K so how are you gong to get one for £35K?

[WeegieBob]

Hi Crasher,

Thank you for your considerate and detailed reply - and yes, perhaps my posts may have read a 'little sensitive' to you, however they were not both intended that way, particularly my last one relating to your previous post, it was I just couldn't understand your drift, thinking you were trying to give me some advice. I never realised it was completely unrelated and you were only adding to the content of the thread.

As for the sales personal - yes, I would grant you I am sensitive, but as a paying customer the least I expect is promises kept and good service, as I have mentioned previously they are not doing me a favour by selling me a car. Please don't get me wrong, I don't have it in for all car sales staff, quite the opposite in fact as I have had some experience in retail car sales and some customers can be right idiots, but on this occasion I believe the sales personel could have done better.

With regard to the Phaeton price, we originally agreed a price of £35k without too much trouble on my part, however the final price I wanted to pay would have resulted in the saving difference going towards a service plan and accessories I wanted. Greedy perhaps, but its a buyers market, today Jaguar for example knocked £3k off immediately just because I'd done my homework, knew what I wanted to pay and knew the options I wanted, so they stepped up to the mark and after a little more negotiating they got the sale.

I'll be sorry to see the Golf go as its been a wee star and wouldn't hesitate to recommend or buy another, its just a pity VW have such a price gap between their top line 'regular' models and the Phaeton - they really do need to bridge the executive gap in my view, however I also accept they know their customer base.

[Crasher]

I am extremely pleased you bought the Jaguar, every time I see an XK, XF or XJ I give a nod of approval, as long as it is not white-that is so wrong... I hope you enjoy it and the car gives you good service.

[W8CMP]

I'm considering a 2009 (59) Phaeton 3.0TDI...
Anyone have any pointers on what to look out for or to avoid etc.
Thanks in advance...
Chris

[Crasher]

There is far too much to list here, you must have it checked by a Phaeton dealer or specialist.

[W8CMP]

Of course - I would look to buy from a VW dealer as the car would then come with 12 months warranty as part of their approved used scheme. Just wondered if there were any common failures which could be picked up on while selecting a car.

[Crasher]

There are lots, many model specific.

[pwh2]

I have an A6 3ltr Quattro with 85k on now
Looking at Phaeton 57 plate with 50k mls
Can't find much info on the Phaeton
Doesn't seem to be as cost effective fuel wise although same engine size
Is it 4x4 too? Is the sat nav comparable , just bought new navigation disks
Any advice welcome !

[fotoLibrarian]

Oh dear. Seems I should have read this entire forum from A2Z before splashing out on a 2005 V10. Too late now.

[Crasher]

Don't worry, a new cylinder head only costs £4856.99 per side (there are two) plus a stupefying supplementary parts list and labour charge to fit it (them), £5500 for a complete exhaust system (not fitted) is a snip and 15 hours (at the highly optimistic VW times) to change the turbo's (no parts at all and two turbo's at £1655.75 each) seems wholly commensurate with what I would expect from a vehicle of this ilk.

[fotoLibrarian]

Well that's cheerful. Mind you, in 50 years of motoring I've never had to buy a replacement cylinder head.
Yet.

[gupsterg]

Welcome to modern motoring! :( ...

I will PM you my external email, contact me on it for perhaps some startling info ...

It's not all car's suffer x but what I think Crasher is getting at is these cars in the used market are cheaper to buy than some of the repairs on them, some require special tools and diags equipment which some indi garages may not have. Then you have the headache of finding one who can do it cheaper than a dealer ...

[Crasher]

The V10’s equivalent to a timing belt kit is £5645.57 for the most major part and the engine has to come out to fit it and it does go wrong occasionally. A set of injectors is £6293.03. The A/C compressor is £1306.49, one of my personal favourites is a front strut leg at £1392.01…I could go on…

[fotoLibrarian]

And the sky will fall in on us all tomorrow. It's lucky we're living today.

[Crasher]

Hey, I like being a pessimist, it means that I am pleasantly surprised more than disappointed.

[fotoLibrarian]

And I like being an optimist, because things usually work out well for me and I remain cheerful. Not too sure about events at The Oval today, though.

[fotoLibrarian]

Well, I've picked up my V10. It's lovely. Everything seems to work apart from the ancient Nokia phone and the analogue TV, surprise surprise, and it's comfortable and very powerful. The ride is nearly as good as my old Citroën C5 Exclusive SE, it has nearly as many toys and it's a LOT faster. The SatNav uses the same NavTech CD-based system as the Citroën but the interface is surprisingly less intuitive. And it hasn't broken down yet, after 80 miles. Next service due in 2,000 miles, which will take me through to December.

[Crasher]

Sir, you are a brave brave man....

[fotoLibrarian]

I've often been described as foolhardy. But brave? Never.

[fotoLibrarian]

500 mile report. The radio wouldn't work properly when I picked the V10 Phaeton up. It sounded as if there was no aerial signal. Took the car in to the VW main dealers in Criccieth. Diagnosis was the aerial unit needed replacing, £437.92 exc. labour but they couldn't get the part before I went off to Germany. So they put it back together again and lo and behold it now works fine.

The glovebox won't close. It needs a sharp bang once it's shut to stay shut. Any ideas, anyone?

Glanced at the speedo to see I was doing 120. Oops. It is deceptively swift, and the acceleration is prodigious. Average mpg 32.1 since I picked it up, which impresses me no end. It's more economical than my MGF. I do hardly any driving in town, it's all open road stuff. So far so good. Very comfortable, but the old Citroen C5 definitely had a better ride.

On Sunday I'm taking it for a trip to Frankfurt am Main. That should be fun.