Its very sad since you could have gotten a W12 Pheaton for $80k for the first year and 90k after with normal V8s for less and it was utterly superior to anything close to it and 40k more expensive even. I'm still amazed at just how well thought out the car is and the quality of materials and integration of systems is like nothing I've ever seen.....

Too bad Americans can't see past a badge or perceive quality lol!

The W12 fleet consists of the 04 Phaeton, 09 D3 A8, and the 12 D4 A8.

The D4 is the weapon of the group, fastest, insanely fluid, and feels like an extension of you when driving. Interior is highly integrated, I have electronic control over all other seats, all the sunshades and both sunroofs/roof sunshades and all features of the car from my seat alone. Seats are the best, stupid amounts of adjustment and auto air bolsters and the best massage of the 3 of them. Rear seat is the weakest, worst legroom, angles, headroom, and control ergonomics plus I feel like the armrests are too low.

The D3 is more relaxed and deliberate but in a good way, tracks the road well, materials are the best of the group and the door cards are the most intricate, control ergonomics are great and the amount of special features and items you can get are the best of the group,

The Phaeton is the most well thought out in terms of comfort ergonomics, materials are amazing but not as good as the A8s because we never got the max leather packages here (import is in progress already) and it is the best ergonomically for comfort of the backseat passengers and controls for them. It also has the best integration of subtle nuances like lighting and ventilation etc....driving is the most relaxed and it has the smoothest shifts. The shifts are the most insane part of the experience, it's mesmerizing how it just pulls to 130 just an EV. No feedback at all, just utterly smooth and unrelenting. Delimited it will do 186 at 120* degrees external temp with the cabin cooled to 72* and you don't need to raise your voice to talk to someone.

I like them all, the D4 is the solidest and best to drive and has the most control over systems from my seat and best audio system. I like the look the most and the seats are the best for the driver but it has the worst rear seat IMO even if the massage is the best of the 3.

The Phaeton is the one I will passenger in and it holds the same place in my mind as the LS430 did as a technially brilliant engineering example and statement of what is possible that to this day is beyond what many makers offer at all. It's like an LS400 but better in every single way possible in terms of attention to detail and cost no object ergonomic features. Even today, 20 years later you just glide past the lesser cars in silence and comfort. 1000% a Bentley with a VW badge

 

Striker, that is a really neat collection in the pic of cars in the driveway that you posted.

 

I think you covered this but the Phaeton had cool motorized hvac vent covers.

 

I think it's been 1750 for a few years now. BMW is pretty cheap when it comes to std upgraded paint. Still 650. They save it to hit you for individual colors which makes sense. But 1800 is not too bad. Tesla wants 1500 for their white and 2500 for new silver on S. I can't see how many can drive G05 on 22" and not be concerned.

 

I refuse to go up to 20's.

The 19's on my 5 series are the biggest rims I've ever had.

 

I had 19s on my first gen GS300 followed by 2 sets of 20s. We used to not have terrible roads in SoCal, but that’s no longer a reliable assumption. I had 19s in my IS250 and IS350. It was the same set of wheels but I probably mentioned before that they needed a spacer to clear the larger front brake calipers on the 350. The same 19s are on my DD Civic because my brother is a wheel maker. He made the wheels originally. He opened up the hub bores and changed inner barrels to make them fit the Civic. Roads are in worse shape and aren’t getting repaired. When I got to my corporate office, there are potholes that could swallow cars, but they would also be a threat to damage the factory 18s as well.

 

I wish my 500 came with 18's from the factory. 18's are plenty big enough.

 

My 5 series has 19's too. For me they're a good blend of ride, handling and standing up better to potholes.

 

@Striker223 Can you show us how the cupholders work on the VW?

 

Now, for something different...

Loaded up the truck and dragged the trailer over the mountain pass and to the other side of the state. Such a great few days away!

 

Thanks, exactly the kind of information I was curious about, especially the rear seating information.

 

Its not that we can't see past a badge or perceive quality. Its that a car like this is often a capstone car, something that someone works to achieve and being able to get one is as much about being successful enough to be able to have that car as it is the car itself. Thats why Americans have a hard time buying a Phaeton or a Genesis G90 etc. Lexus did a really good job of creating that prestige quickly.

I think once people get to a point where they have had that and they are no longer wowed by a car being "an S Class" etc, they are more open to something like that.

The other thing is resale, a Phaeton had such terrible resale that buying and owning one or leasing one was actually more expensive than buying or leasing the "real thing"
.
Yeah Its been $1,800 since 2021. I have no problem paying $1,800 for a great color...but white?!

 

Yes sir, of course.

That's not much for a fancy paint job extras.
They should have given it a better name to sell the sizzle like maybe "diamond white" or something that suggest the extra bling for the silver sparkles

 

Thats exactly what they do call it, Manufaktur Diamond White lol. Its still white.

 

Will do! I just got done removing all 4 and cleaning them/relubing the guide rails so they are working very nicely