US to say goodbye to Phaeton?
It was a wild idea. Design and engineer and uber-sedan with a price tag that starts at $66,700 and a VW badge on the
grille. If an article published on the German website
Speed Heads and translated by The
German Car Blog is true, then the Phaeton's wild ride will be coming to an end in sometime in the 2007 model year.
The article states that the reasons for yanking the Phaeton from the Yanks are the high costs for market development
and fulfilling US standards. Those are vague reasons and we're forced to trust a translation, but behind those words is
undoubtedly the Phaeton's lack of profitability. While press reviews were generally positive for the Phaeton, its close
family resemblance with other VW models and inability to stand out in a segment crowded with unique vehicles possessing
proven track records and distinct heritages seems to have inevitably led to its departure.
Related posts:
VW will try absolutely anything to move Phaetons
VW Chairman verbally abuses Phaeton
VW begging customers to buy Phaetons with new lease
incentives; customers laughing maniacally in response
$10,000 off and other ways to get people to buy a VW
Phaeton
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
lw 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Not sure of its authenticity (but considering the current speculation, it makes sense), but for what its worth:
http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/AH_Letter_1.jpg
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Christian 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
The story is also reported by German car magazine "Auto Motor und Sport", a very reliable source for news. So it doesn't seem that you just have to "trust" our translation.
AMS is saying that the end of the VW Phaeton in the US is as soon as summer 2006!
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Christian 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
And here is the link to the "Auto Motor und Sport" story. Sorry, only in German:
http://www.auto-motor-sport.de/news/wirtschaft/vw_phaeton_rueckzug_aus_den_usa.95912.htm
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Corey W. 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
So to summarize and keep this simple........Not too many people in the US were going to shell out $67k+ for a VW.
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CJ 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Its dead will be announced today 11/14 - will run untill next spring (will take that long to unload whats in the pipeline....
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VW-Guy 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Yes, kill this puppy off now! Why VW would want to compete with itself (A8) has never made sense to me. Stick to the basics and what you know VW!!!
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Hank 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
It is a fantastic car, there are several seen around here. But in the end, why buy it? A8's already exist, and if you have to buy a Phaeton because an A8's too $$$, you shouldn't be buying either one.
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JZed 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
its also 1000 pounds heavier than an A8... which u suffer in the corners, at the pump and god knows where else.
If ive got 67k for a sedan, ill buy a used A8 before a new Phaeton. But without the Phaeton we wouldnt have the Bentley Continental and Flying Spur, so I guess it wasnt a total waste.
Note to VW: what about some efficient and cool real-people's cars for a change?
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Jim in Tampa 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
The only person I knew that drove a Phaeton also owned the VW dealer. Everyone else I know with money has Audi's, BMW's and Lexuses.
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Erik 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Stupid idea from the start - good riddance - no one will miss this failure.
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Inthebiz 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
The Phaeton was dead before it hit the shores of the US. I was at the actual dealer meeting in Pheonix, where it was introduced to the dealer body. Great car...but. This car was already a complete failure in Germany. Then to expect a dealer network that is used to selling Jettas and Golfs to sell 75k to 100k car is ridiculous. Also, not all dealers were invited to sell this vehicle. They were the lucky ones. Next, the dealer network was forced to spend up to 20k in infrastructure improvements to handle servicing. VW's training procedure for the sales force was appalling. Match that with a vehicle nobody asked for and the outcome was set in stone. But the worst mistake VW made was their target audience. I will never forget the ad agency explaining we are not going after BMW or Mercedes clients because they were too brand contious. No, they would go after somebody who wanted an 80k car, but without the badge. What an absolutely rididculous concept. Peolpe buy BMW's and MB's because they want brand recognition! These cars are rewards for hard word and/or luck, but they are staus symbols.
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LoneWolf 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Ok, you have to notice that in the "Auto, Motor & Sport, are the german Cars _ALWAYS_ the best. By several times, the author of a Story about US-Cars have no knowledge of what their speaking.
F?ie Deutschen: "AMS" ist der "Spiegel" der Autozeitschriften^^
By the way: The Design of any VW (except the Beetle or T1) sux!
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tbyron 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
These are going to be GREAT used car buys. A few are already crossing the wholesale auction blocks with sub-$30k prices. Twelve months from now, when it is an officially discontinued vehicle, that will be a common retail price range.
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Big 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
The Phaeton was always a bad idea. A great car but a bad idea. This car made VW's more luxurious but it made VW think they were Mercedes Benz lite instead of the German Toyota they could have been. I think that if you want a Mercedes Benz you are going to buy a Mercedes Benz, and if you can't afford a Mercedez Benz buy a Toyota. I know that it has to suck being the cheap German car, but I would have thought you could sell more cars that way. Even Toyotas aren't that cheap anymore. Toyota does a great job of making a decent product at a decent price. That is what VW should have tried to do. The Phaeton was always way off the mark.
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sirAQUAMAN64 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
This marks a sad, sad day for me.
What's wrong with developing a common platform and bringing out different cars using it? I think the Phaeton is very different from the techy-modern A8 and very old-world luxury in the way Benzes used to be. The car is ultra heavy (probably only second to the RR Phantom), hand assembled in it's own Transparent Factory, rare, and had the attention to detail, features, and engine ANY other car would be envious of. It was and remains an engineer's marvel, and would be my personal choice in the segment - it even represents a good value for the goods it is, badge notwithstanding.
I don't approve of the new leadership at VW AG or VWoA. VW's won't ever be bargain priced machines, and so it doesn't make sense to try discount to come down to the level of Toyota/Hyundai/Nissan/whoever else. What VW's have had is the quality and design/execution to maintain a somewhat premium ambiance with thier products, which makes them look like value-packed, solid vehicles. The Phaeton was that to me in it's category. I'm afraid once Piech is forced from his position, things will change further and not for the better. Honestly, will a rebadged Chrysler VW van bring anything new? Could VW compete with it without discounting like Chrysler? VWoA is nearly half-assed at everything they do, and Phaeton is no exception. Zippo marketing presence, accessories, Individual models, no TDI engine, and no imagination. It's a disgrace.
I wanted the product to prove people wrong, but it won't happen here in North America.
Hopefully in other world markets Phaeton sales continue to grow - these things DO take time, but I'm sure once Piech is shown the door the Phaeton will disappear.
Sad. Just sad.
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Blake 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
"if you have to buy a Phaeton because an A8's too $$$, you shouldn't be buying either one."
Thaks for the crass elitism, Hank.
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G 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
This car had the word "DOOM" all over it before the actual production. Only extremely stupid executive decisionn from high up can be blamed.
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Ryan 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
See ya, ya peice. Still to econoboxes VW.
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Dr. Woo 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
As much as I respect the man, Piech's idea to create the Phaeton was a waste of money. It's such a magnificent vehicle.
To those of you comparing it to the A8: Stop. It's not an A8 competitor. It's S-Class competition, just as A8 is 7-Series competition. They are very different driving experiences.
I guarantee those of you who are bashing the Phaeton hardest have never driven one.
Magnificent car...but the ends do not justify the means. I, for one, am looking forward to Pischetsrieder's VW...more niche vehicles, a return to their roots, and improved satisfaction. The GTI is a perfect example.
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Big 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Hank was right though. It would be one thing if the Phaeton was a ste up from a Passat, but it was a step down from an A8. Sorry but there aren't ebough people sitting at home saying I wish VW made a really expensive car because I don't want to drive a BMW or an Audi or a Mercedes Benz. A VW is a nice car but not an aspiration and certainly not a $60000 one.
If VW wants to be successful they should be a German Toyota because Toyota is a model of common luxuries. If there was a German car that had the same level of quality, style and performance as Toyota it would clean up. VW has slightly better style about the same performance but Toyota's reputation for RELIABILITY makes it a better buy than a VW with its excellent interiors.
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