Cornelius Scriptor

Just read the September C&D reviews of the VW Phaeton and the Audi RS6.

On the Phaeton, despite 12 cylinders, 5100 lb (!) of car with all the refinement and toys you could want, the main questions seem to be why? and who?

On the RS6: "What we have hear is a grand German game of wonderfully irrational one-upmanship." And that is the problem -- how the heck do you play with it (outside of Germany)?

P.S. They also mentioned it maintaining an indicated speed of 174 mph with supernatural ability, but still seemed to believe the Audi press bumph about adhereing to the 155 limit.

LMGotts

5100? OMG! 4ME:S6 WINS. ;-)

Sleestack

other than a wealthy VW freak (but then, if you were wealthy why would you be a VW freak?), who the hell is going to buy that thing. It looks like a big passat, only uglier, and is ridiculously heavy. It scares me that a car like that can even make it into production...eeehhh.

Nefilim

That's a highly subjective opinion....

Griff

The press was saying they were just expensive Toyotas. Now people seriously look at a Lexus on the same shopping list with Mercedes-Benz & BMW. Lexus had to earn the prestige they now enjoy.

Don't sell VWAG short. If you look past the "badge bias" you may be suffering from you must admit that VWAG is capable of producing some impressive luxury hardware (the A8, for instance). IMHO, the Phaeton is one very nice piece of engineering (executed with some style) calculated to draw in those who can recognize substance, and not just go for the badge with the most "status". They're trying to win customers and build a reputation in the marketplace. They want to tread a path similar to the Lexus brand to gain respectability over the long haul.

I, for one, wouldn't bet against VW getting there eventually.

Definitely

That is one heavy car - 600 pounds MORE than an S600. Looks well executed though, but it is much more a luxo-barge than a luxury sports vehicle. My guess, though, is over time they will establish a market. Probably with the same type of comparisons to Audi as you now see in the post below about the A6 3.0 vs. W8 Passat. We will know the difference but it won't be as apparent as they would like us to believe, to the general buying public.

CEB

Seems like it is outselling the S series in Germany....

ZCD2.7T

Amen, brother. It'll sell - good product usually finds its own market.

Griff

I agree - VWAG is going to have VW sell luxury & Audi sell performance (life is good!)