2010 VW Pheaton to see US Market

Jeeper · #1 (**permalink**) 07-19-2009, 03:34 PM

VW's Phaeton was not a success for VW in the U.S. The company planned on only selling 20,000 of them, but they only managed to sell a quarter of that amount when they pulled the car in 2005. Even with though the car barely managed to register on the sales screen, the company is moving forward with the next version of the car.

The next 2010 Volkswagen Phaeton will use many of the same parts as the Audi A6 according to VW boss Martin Winterkorn. This means that the new car will be smaller and cheaper than the first generation. This should bring it closer to the most expensive Passat and close the current gap in the Volkswagen line-up.

VW has learned from many of their mistakes with the first Phaeton and they will not repeat them with the 2010 car. The previous car weighed too much, had poor performance and gas mileage. The VW name also does not have the same prestige as the Audi name, so it was harder for them to sell an expensive luxury car under the VW name. The new Phaeton will also not compete with the Audi A8, since the A8 will be a lot larger.

Read the whole post at: Volkswagen shrinking next-gen Phaeton - MotorAuthority - Car news, reviews, spy shots
I think the the older Phaetons were awesome.

sccavette · #2 (**permalink**) 07-19-2009, 05:45 PM

WOW I can not believe they are going to try to sell that car again here in the US. The older ones have the worse resale value of any car. A 1 year old one was selling for under 20K after paying around $80K for it. I do not see this car selling any better than the last, it is too much money for a VW.

Johnnyboy · #3 (**permalink**) 07-19-2009, 06:02 PM

We just don't understand luxury without bragging rights around here. I personally like keeping a low profile.

apolloGT · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnyboy

We just don't understand luxury without bragging rights around here. I personally like keeping a low profile.

well said. It is worth noting though... why not just get an Audi A8?

Jeeper · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2009, 02:02 PM

I drove a phaeton once. And I loved the car. So fast and powerful. I loved the interior too.

mesarius · #6 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 11:40 PM

I saw one on the interstate a couple months back and I seriously had to do a double take because those old ones looked like a big Passat with a funky rear deck. It had a nice engine in it if you went for the top spec W12, but a car like that is Mercedes money without the Mercedes name or styling. It would honestly sell better as an Audi IMO.