A brother from another mother.
 

This heavy, steel bodied thing parked next to me. Anyone had any experience of the Phaeton, would be interesting to see how they compare to the 8.

Phaeton was built side by side in the factory with the Bentley Flying Spur. Aluminium was Audi's thing so it is quite a bit heavier than the A8, as you say.

http://i64.tinypic.com/dcrojp.jpg

I've always had a niggling temptation to go for the V10 TDI Phaeton if the right one came up. There is a lurrrrvly LWB one just come up for sale. LWB ones are pretty rare, V10 diesels are even rarer, and LWB V10 diesel 4-seaters with the rear centre console and almost fully spec'd are incredibly rare. It's getting close to being able to count the amount of 4-seater ones left on one hand.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ize=5.0&page=1

In my eyes, that is the 'right one' but the mileage is making me uncomfortable. I'm going to go and have a look at it this week though.

As far as the diesels go, early ones are pre-DPF which straight away eliminates certain issues, but some expensive problems can pop up such as new turbos, diesel injectors and suspension air struts. The air struts are all linked as well so I think I'm right in saying they all have to be replaced at once.

That does look very good. 5L, 10 cylinders, what’s not to like? The interior isn’t to my liking, but that one is about as nice as they get. Do it!!!!

I wouldn't worry about 137k on that engine, assuming it's had what it's needed. Probably another 300k left on it at least.

I've looked at Phaetons in the past. But having had a few 8s now, for me, a steel bodied car just seems like a step backwards.



A VW badge on a high-end luxury vehicle just doesn't seem right either.

It'd be like .... oh, I dunno ... putting your Marks and Spencer's shopping in a Lidl carrier bag. When, clearly, this is the right way round to do it ...

Attachment 19628

:ROFL:

Ha ha ha ha ha. I can neither confirm, nor deny where the said bag or shopping is from.

The aluminium did bring me to my previous car (A2) and now my A8, and the extra weight and potential for rust does indeed seem a step backwards. Still, I am drawn to them. A bit.

Every question you could ever imagine asking is listed in this thread

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...AQ-by-Category)

I had a look at one before I bought my A8. I've always liked the look of them (the facelifted ones less so).

Good bits:
I think they look elegant
19" Helios wheels
Interior is well-made and sound system was good
Double glazed too, IIRC.

Bad bits:
Much heavier than the A8

Ugly bit:
They used aluminium strips around the windows on top of the doors and they react with the steel on the door tops, causing the paint to "Blow". Not sealed away from each other properly. There were instances where VW replaced all the doors under warranty but as this is an inherent design flaw, how long etc... The one I saw had bubbles on the tops of all the doors and on the boot handle (which I've seen on A8's too).

You might get one which has been done properly but keep an eye out for it. Shame, it put me off the car as it'd be a Forth Bridge job keeping on top of it.

Oh I don't know - the new paint on the Forth bridge is supposed to be good for 50 years :D