The Volkswagen Phaeton W12 Was a $120,000 VW Ultra-Luxury Sedan
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- čas přidán 13. 05. 2024
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The Volkswagen Phaeton W12 is one of the craziest Volkswagen models ever -- a 12-cylinder Volkswagen luxury sedan with a $100,000 price tag. Today I'm reviewing the Phaeton to show you why the Volkswagen Phaeton is one of the most interesting cars of our time.
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DOUGSCORE CHART: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/... - Auta a dopravní prostředky
![How Expensive was it to own a VW Phaeton W12 for 4 Years? Total Cost of Ownership [TCO]](/img/n.gif)
Yes, I am saying "Phaeton" correctly. No, it is not "fay-tin." Yes, it has three syllables.
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phaeton
Click that link and there's a little voice that will even sound it out for you. You're welcome ;)
Doug DeMuro Thanks Doug!
Thanks for awesome video! Big up!
LOL, do You remember Bentley Azure?
no you're not
Yep, I forgot to add that agreement to my list... though I never did hear anyone pronounce the Duesenberg Dual Cowl Phaeton properly at Harrah's.
“You don’t find these things in any other car!” Features: 6/10
The Imfotainment sucks, and i think that is what he focusses on
@@bosh6604 yeah but ... For infotainment he could have gave it 8/10 or even 7 cz this thing is more luxurious than a S class or a rolls.👍
At its days and today a very excelennt car
It's a good score tbh. He gives most other early 2000's cars like a 3 or 4. Lot's of tech but it's mostly outdated tech
He ranks it by modern standard witch sucks
HI, I'm Doug DeMuro and I'm 6'2, 6'3, and 6'4.
Depends how I'm feeling
hahah omg :D
Hahahah so true
He depreciated 1 inch in 2 years
Being 6’2 to 6’5 is the most awkward height. I know first hand. Everyone literally gives you different measurements of your height. I’ve been told 6’3 by some doctors and 6’6 by others. I know his pain.
@@ryanhodge2721 Youre taller in the morning when you wake up then in the night after youve been walking all day. Maybe getting measured at diffrent times of the day affected the results
As a Phaeton owner 10 years ago, I must point out you missed a few luxuries .
Adjustable ride suspension, heated steering wheel, adjustable ride height, etc.
I say one hell of a car, to bad it ended
that is amazing! what do you drive now? (Ps I have a Phaeton TDI video on my channel if you wish to see it)
Only in the U.S. where sales were abysmal.
Today this is scrap at todays fuel prices !
But that was standard, he was talking about "special" things
@@curtisducati On the other hand, can't the same thing be said about any full-size luxury car from that era?
Phaeton is one of the most underestimated luxury sedans on 2000's
*The...
@@claudiocatarino4909 *the
True that together whit the Toyota century
Exactly. The cup holders and vents are amazing and should be replicated
@@yes8032 century is from the 80s-90s wdym
Only seen a Phaeton ONCE over the years but I immediately knew it wasn't just a Passat because it was THE biggest Volkswagen I'd ever seen and could immediately tell it was a luxury car.
Once? I see this car pretty regularly here in Germany. Surprises me how many of these things are actually on the road here...
@@jonass961 It stands to reason a German car could be more popular in Germany than in the USA but I really like it's features and would love to have one myself.
I found one down my street, a 2006 one. Owner was a legend lol heck he loves the thing
I only saw that once too
There used to be 2 in the town where I live. Haven't seen either in a few years now.
I’m surprised you’ve gone over this car without telling the story behind it. Namely that Ferdinand Piëch was getting ready to retire, and he wanted to create his idea of a perfect Car. It had to be able to 186 mph for 2 hours in 110 degree weather while the interior never got above 76 degrees. The head room you were impressed with is because Herr Piëch is also really tall and he did not want to bump his head. Lastly those trick vents were because he hates drafts.
Didn't Ferdinand Create the Buggati Veyron and the Porsche 917
And wasn't he the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche the founder of Porsche
Wasn't his first cousin Ferdinand Porsche III the man who did the Porsche 911
Wasn't his dad Anton Piech
Wasn't Ferdinand Piech president of VW Group?
There are so many people named Ferdinand in Ferdinand piech's family
@@shahsafwat7249 That is all correct. He also tried to get Porsche to do a hostile takeover of VAG, but then VAG turned around and did a hostile takeover of Porsche. He was the real life Mr. Burns
@@mydsmber05 The Porsche Family according to Wikipedia are the 8th Richest Family in the World
Not 2 hours, 24
My uncle had a Phaeton and I was amazed on how good it was. I thought it was some special VW only offered in China, but the experience inside the car is nothing like an typical VW I find in the states. I really think it's for rich folks that does not want to show off their wealth, yet they want a car that's on par with the Bentley Flying Spur. I don't think any other car can present itself as understated wealth than a Phaeton. But most people in the states don't have that desire to do so.
My friend thought I was crazy when I random found one on the and street and yelled, "dude look at that VW phaeton"
you understand the true meaning of the pheaton and I respect you for that
The main China-only VW was the LWB Passat, which morphed into the Skoda Superb. Another brilliant car for the money.
It's not just made for China. From the beginning, it was pretty obvious that it was not gonna sell well. It was one of the private projects of Martin Winterkorn, the Ex CEO of Volkswagen AG, to have his own luxury cruise made by his company.
yes its truely german u have money yes but u dont need to show off
sure, this VW is better than any BMW or Mercedes nowadays models!!!!!
Doug the type of guy to buy a car just to get back massages
oh hey it's the jacksfilms domino guy
This car has a certain Eastern European crime boss feel to it.
But they do prefer maybachs and bmws or G-klasse. Or even used Chevy Express. Not the phaeton, come on- this car is for pragmatic clerks who succeeded little bit more than usual
@@maxmize00 a Chevy Express van??
xfr 510ps exactly. Office on wheels
Eastern Europe is the best!
Let me guess you live far away
I bet Doug wore shorts at his wedding.
Tool0GT92 legend has it he did. And two shirts underneath the button up.
Daniel Villa 🤣🤣🤣
HAHAHA. dude....i almost sharted laughing to this.
If his wife was lucky. And on that day he went fool awesomeness, and wore socks ending right above the knees with a retainer for no apparent reason. ;D
Tool0GT92 lmao
Doug= but back to the glove box, you’ll find something interesting in there..
Me= THE BOOK OF MORMON
Doug= pulls out navigation cds
Me= :(
Book of Mormon...ugh!
Father Brigham!!
Actually I rode in one when it was new. It was delivered as a wedding limo by a local Volkswagen dealership to a colleague who got married. I was invited and they picked me up in it on the way to the ceremony. It was like an airplane on wheels. :) Loved it! :)
This car was meant to be hotboxed if it has 4 separate ash trays
Jacob Solis 💀😂😂
The car with 420 horsepower?
Exactly
I had to google 'hotbox'!
Newton ouu u innocent
7:02 Ah yes, the most important feature, the glovebox to store my copies of the Book of Mormon.
What's with Mormon joke? (Serious question)
KA01 if you think thats bad look at any other comment section from a vid w mormon related stuff
i looked to see if anyone commented this lol
@@kaohsiung99 Atheism is a joke only to those who cannot use reason and logic effectively.
@@kaohsiung99 I've got a feeling you don't know what "worshipping" means.
Also, Atheism is not a thing, it's the absence of a belief. If you believe in Christianity you are an Atheist towards all the other religions and gods.
Rather than be offended that most Atheists find the believe in superstition ridiculous (hence "joke) focus on educating yourself what words actually mean before you get your panties in a bunch. And yes, in my personal opinion, all religions require superstitious beliefs that does not reconcile with the real, physical world.
"All religions are a joke" is an obviously opinionated statement with which you can or can't agree with. What REALLY is silly or a "joke" is that you ask people to provide "peer reviewed scientific studies" on an opinion.
"Justin Bieber sounds like shit to me" - "Show me peer reviewed scientific opinions that prove your position!"
Yeah, pretty fucking silly, innit?
I owned an 05 V8 from 2007-2012. What an amazing car. So incredibly over engineered. An absolutely wonderful car. It got very expensive to run and maintain. The finest car I’ve ever owned and I still miss it.
I owned one these. I purchased it with about 28k showing. One the nicest most reliable vehicles I ever owned. Much better than the 7 Series BMW I had. Beautiful car and a pleasure to drive. Can you imagine what type person wouldn’t buy one because of the VW badge…”oh, nobody will be impressed with VW” what a world we live in… “please, please look at me”
I have a V8 Touareg from the same era. Awesome as well
The type of person forking over 120 grand wants to be looked at, just how the market is
that is so true. I believe VW went above too much ''understatement'' with the Phaeton, since the target audience (including me) who want luxury without wanting to show off at all is very small. Which is very sad, but goes to show how much people buy things just to impress others. I think they should've enabled optional upgrades on the outside, that could turn it into a bit more of a ''loud'' and ''show-off'' car, while retaining the option of pure understatement and hidden luxury for those who want it that way.
Doug is the type of guy to make a 30min review of a volkswagen that is better equipped than an s-class and then give it 6/10 on features
he is the type of guy to step on a bug and laugh and say ''wow this is amazing.''
well. the features in compared to cars today, not when the Phaeton came out...
A score that's produced by judging all cars (no matter the age) by today's standards is absolutely worthless. It doesn't mean anything and ranking those cars based on an obviously flawed set of rules is pointless.
fischkopp1234 maybe its not worthless but i think doug should give extra points for UNIQUE features on a car especially practical and/or luxury features (the side windows defoggers, the magnified mirror and the rear massage seats for example here)
But the sclass is a better looking car over the boring Supersized passet
Ahh, the engine makes 420 HP, now all the ashtrays make sense
Tobias Schneider Lmao it took me a sec
Midnightblew23 same LOL
*Slow clap*
Tobias Schneider knew someone would comment this😂😂
Artemis Fowl Mind explaining, for idiots like myself?
If I found one with low miles going for dirt cheap because of a few minor repairs that I could handle, I'd go for it.
If you have a car that most people have never even seen, with features that rival ultra-luxury brands, I can see the Phaeton becoming a collector's car if it isn't already. It's aged very gracefully.
hands down THE BEST vehicle I've ever owned for highway travel in the best or worst conditions the upper Midwest can produce. Quiet, heavy, SO comfortable, dependable (mine was bulletproof), and the premium sound with DSP was amazing. 260k and I reluctantly sold it. Moved to a fully loaded Audi A8 D4. It was a little more nimble and the new cabin tech was fun, but it was no Phaeton. I've been in the S Class and for whatever reason, I don't care for them. Never drove Series 7. Either way, I get the horrible feeling that the value and quality of the Phaeton will never come around again.
What year is that a8?
Honestly I've always wanted to scoop one of these up, but if it breaks I'd have to triple mortgage the house.
What the heck kind of mouth diarrhea was that? I'm not even sure what to say.
Jeff Lee that doesn’t even make sense you absolute mongrel, don’t reply as it’s clear you have no concept of how to structure a sentence
Probably cheaper to buy a second donor car, They’re selling for around 10 grand
It won't break down if you keep regular maintenance on time
This is built to last thing bro
Surely it's more reliable than merc or BMW
Not worth it
I’ve owned a silver 2005 V8 Phaeton since 2008. Stickered at $80k, and I bought it fresh off a lease for $17k from a dealer who just wanted to get rid of it. It’s been the most reliable piece of technology I’ve ever owned, and the most affordable. Only $$ is brakes/rotors every 20k miles, one timing belt, and usual service. Granted, those and tires are pricey but I don’t put that many miles on it. Stereo (w/ aftermarket iPhone adapter) is sublime, Italian leather still smells awesome, and the AWD with Blizzaks and adjustable ride height kills it in the snow. Rear leg room is off the charts. My wife drives a Merc R350-I call it my Island of Misfit Toys-and that’s been a far worse money pit. I don’t know how long this party will last but I’m in it until the bitter end. ✌🏼
ericadams321 are you riding the brake?
John Smallberries no, that’s standard for that car, given its weight. Like clockwork generally but I’ve usually been able to stretch it just by going easy on them.
Like the Touareg, the Phaeton has thin brake pads for less unsprung weight.
ericadams321 Jesus Christ, every 20k miles? I went 60k miles on my 2003 Ford lighting brakes(went 13.2@114 fresh off the dealer floor) and I currently own a 2014 300c with 30k and the brakes are more than half life left. Vw must use some dog shit brakes or you tailgate/ride the brakes
Eric - I used to sell VW's back in 05-07 and had the pleasure of driving the Pheaton and fell in love with it the moment I got in. I would love to own one but just don't want to be stuck with a paperweight if something were to ever break on it. We had 5 in stock for the 06 year and were able to lease 4 and I sold the last one we had. It was a silver/anthracite base V8. Guy came in and bought it for his wife. The manager sold it at invoice just to get rid of it. Enjoy your Phaeton! I know what you mean!
I miss your DougScore debrief at the end (2023 comment), I get you might feel it doesn’t seem important but it rounds off your videos so well and your summary thoughts are always great!
I love how he gets really excited over a mirror. Imo, the coolest thing is either the power-adjustable seat belt heigh or oviously, the fact that it's got masaging rear seats.
Lexus has been doing the power adjustable seat belt since 1990's
@@midlajmuhyaddin3807 facts
If that car is 8/10 in comfort, my pickup truck must be about -57...
my miata about -350
My Audi Q5 -95
The comfort can even be 10/10 even if its not a new car.......
Steve yes! I thought the same. I rode a phaeton and it’s so relaxing und smooth(in comfort). After you road it every car feels uncomfortable even if it isn’t
my base model saturn Ion without A/C would probably be a -999 lmao
The w12 phaeton may not have been succesful, but vw made their money back when they turned it into the bentley continental gt
maxxjett films the continental GT was developed before the Phaeton
TheAmazingMrMcFlyy, Volkswagen owns Bentley.
in your dreams
True but there is more namely VW Phaeton, VW Touareg, Audi Q8, Porsche Cayenne and Bentley GT have almost identical undercarriage and many electronic parts, AC... are the same.
You also may know Volkswagen for the diesel-gate scandal.
Nobody -
Doug- “I should record myself moaning in the back seat of someone else’s car”
My das is on his fourth Phaeton right now. He got one of the last ones build in 2015/2016. He wanted to replace it before but he just can't find a car that makes the switch worth it. The Phaeton is one of the most underrated cars ever and the quality is just amazing.
The W12 Model was made till when ?
@@intel2133 only until 2011
I absolutely love the styling of this car! It's like an undercover Rolls...
Schaub Schaub it's a poor man's Bentley
@@sebastiansoliz7625 it's the ultimate stoner bently
Sebastian Soliz well majority of people are poor so fuck it
It's actually an undercover Bentley.
@@sebastiansoliz7625 It's the smart man's Bentley.
Doug the type of guy to call the tripod his cameraman
Shantanu Sharma i just fucking lost it LMAO good job!
The best one so far
Danut Magda glad i could make you laugh xD
travos k haha thanks brother
Not even kidding dude, I'm in the army and was watching this video, saw your comment and smiled and the commanding officer came and asked me why l smiled, showed him your comment and he smiled too haha
Everytime I see this car in my country (the Netherlands) I feel obliged to take a photo. Seeing a VW with such a size and exhaust pipes is always mindblowing.
*Pulls up in Ferrari*
So what kind of car do you drive?
A Phaeton
Oh a Rolls Royce Phantom?
No...A Phaeton...
Huh?
When you say bigger VW: 😱
When you say phaeton: 😏
i actually told a lady that it was a phantom. I had her in bed the next night. lolz
@@errolmcinnes7938 well lemme try it out
🤣
Hahahahahaha. Pathetic. A Volkswagen. The People's Car.
The Book of Mormon in the glove box. Does that come standard?
Dave Long It does for you, bud.
Only if you order it in the _"Tea Party Configuration"_ including the National Rifle Association-licence plate frame.
No the book to how to become a nazi
Which is funny, given that most religious germans are protestants
@@AlmightyJ97 It's very true, lol?
I had a phaeton w12. Easily one of the finest cars i ever owned, biggest drawback was people mistook it for the passat. You forgot he sunroof solar panels, that would keep the battery charged so you could keep the airconditioning on while the car was parked, it would never get hotter than what you wanted, not even after a full summer day in the sun. Also people wanting to race a “passat” (mine didnt have any of the w12 labels) and completely smoking their asses on a 1/4 mile.
Patrick Thonies that’s my problem with the phaeton you can get a good looking car that looks like it’s worth the 90 thousand dollars unlike the phaeton which as you say looks like a boring Passat
But you can't SEE the car when YOU are driving it. I like the idea of a simple car on the outside, but kick-ass on the inside.
succesful people in germany like understatement, no one needs to brag here except some new rich.
This was my dream car in 2004. I remember checking it out at the VW dealership on Camelback Rd. in Phoenix. It was amazing! Still is.
CrazyWedz that’s where the famous sleeper status comes from
16:07 whats more crazy about this IMO is that theres one on EACH SIDE OF THE CAR so you can tell if you're backing in straight.
Never bored with your stories, really good 👍
Doug the type of guy who can’t determine if he’s 6’3” or 6’4”
He was 6'2" in his earlier vids..
It's determine on whether he's slept that night. :) He's a big guy that is certain. I've heard someone has met Doug in person, and they say he nothing if he is not 7'4" barefoot not feet, but FOOT!
He sleeps hanging upside down like a bat to elongate his spine. He used to be 4'6, but after 15 years he has grown.
Chilly lmao😂😂
@@Otmjv he is 30 years old so you could be right
I think the intention of the phaeton was to look like a normal car with incredible luxury inside
A luxury sleeper
Why would you spend 90000 dollars on a car and want it to look like a humdrum Passat
@bmwman1981 because you can!
and bc someone people dont want to drag attention of random ppl of the street but want to have luxury
@@Lambullghini thank you! Finally someone understands
THIS is my ideal car. Something that looks like an unsuspecting normal car on the outside but is one of the most luxurious cars on the inside with a good amount of power.
My dad had one of those, it was his favorite car for years!
Lmao the Book of Mormon in the glove box.
I think it's important to have a religious text handy if you plan to frequently drive a Phaeton W12.
Doug DeMuro HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH legend
Hahaha that's funny
Such a radical difference from the hand mirror in the Countach you reviewed!
Funny enough, there was a Book Of Mormon in my Grand National when i bought it. And it is still in the center console, just in case.
Remember when this was featured on top gear, that was one of my favourite episode. What an amazing car
My grandpa, current owner of a V10 models,there are some things u missed:
Adjustable ride height ,heated steering wheel
there also was an executive package,with a rear infotainment screen
First of all: Thank you for this great video, loved it! I live and work in central Berlin and can still remember a time when many politicians had Phaetons (among A8 and 7 Series) and I also saw W12's! I remember thinking "Isnt that a bit too much?" NOW I absolutely know it was too much
It was a true successor of the BMW 750IL
Doug DeMuro
I had one of these but with the V10 TDI (insane engine btw). The one you drove was missing some features:
1. Adaptive Cruise Control (yes, they did have this already in 2003!!) - you mention it's missing on this model, but they had it. Controlled by radar in the front grille. Very nice feature on the auto bahn. It even did auto-braking, although the system warned you to take over very swiftly due to it not functioning under 30 KMh (about 20 MPH).
2. Solar sunroof - this keeps the air circulating through the cabin even when the car is off to keep the interior from getting insanely hot in the sun. Comfortable if you get in it on a hot day
3. Auto adjustable rearview and side mirrors. Maybe the one you drove had this and you did not go over it, but the mirrors adjust seperately when in the R gear versus the D gear - it even stores it with the memory seats. This allows you to point the mirros down or up or more to the side etc depending on with gear you are in.
4. Not sure if the model you drove had it, but mine had Snow Mode. This allowed you to raise the vehicle a good few inches and redistribute the power more evenly across the wheels to allow better driveability in the snow.
5. Stand Heating - this allows to set the a time on the infotainment display. The car will then ensure to be nicely warmed up for you, seats and engine included, by that time. Very nice feautre!
You did not mention in the video how the seats are 18 way adjustable - you can adjust A HELL OF A LOT on the seats! Perhaps worth a mention.
The only feature mine was missing was the heated steering wheel, since mine had the wooden wheel. The wood on steering wheel looked wonderful BUT IT ALWAYS STAYED SO DARN COLD. I would have gladly traded the wooden wheel for a heated leather wheel.
Anyway.. nice car, just very expensive to maintain. Mine developed gearbox issue over time and that got very very costly. It was wonderful being able to do an easy 275 KMH on the auto bahn while being in an ultra quiet and comfortable cabin.
How bad were the maintenance costs really? Considering these can be had for less than 10k at ~100k miles in the States, just putting away say another 10k for maintenance/repairs would still leave it a decent value.
Doug is type of guy to order through the drive thru then park his car and eat inside the restaurant
Thanks for another great video, Doug.
5:07 the day doug lost his virginity
doug the type of guy to call an owners manual "literature"
The category is literature, you might notice that in any car parts websites as well.
Also the wrning labels
Lol
Wtf I always thought the phaeton was like a 5 series/E Class. You actually see them somewhat regularly in germany, a rare sight, but they're there.
It's actually a great car and you can get them used for ridiculously little money.
How can you see something regularly whilst it also being a rare sight?
Soligen Music I mean that you see them here and there, just not as much as S-Classes or 7 Series.
Seki yeah the cost to maintain the car is atrocious.
Vermillion Natürlich kannst du einen Phaeton für unter 10000€ hier kaufen, und es lohnt sich teilweise. Aber dann entweder du oder die Mechatroniker haben die Hände voll. Und du musst viiiiiiiiiiiiel bezahlen :)
Vermillion you see them regularly, but they're a rare sight. My head hurts.
I love this car, and love how understated it is. It’s also crazy how many of these little features are still used on modern VWs
Doug you forgot the heated steering wheel. That always blew my mind when I figured out it did that 🤯
he also forgot to meantion that the later models of the pheaton came with a v6 and a touchscreen, also some of those late pheatons even had TVs built in the back
05:57 Can't even tell how many times I've been forced to stare at an empty cup holder and how much trouble that has given me throughout the years...
Oh yes my greatest struggle.. an empty cup holder
That goddamn empty cup holder.
The air vents look like they are more expensive than my entire car.
Lol
That's the Volkswagen magic, they are fairly cheap cars but are made in such a way that you get the impression, that you are dealing with a more upmarket car.
GruszkuEntertainment This is not the case.
And when the heat is on a low setting, the panels stay closed and act as radiators so as to not create a draft in the cabin.
I love them.
Excellent presentation.You have brought out all the unusual features.
Dang, all of these features are actually well thought out and useful things, none of them seem gimmicky or just a talking point. Honestly all things I could see myself actually using
This car is a perfect example that badge does matter
Adithya Krishna Well ofc badge matters but Fail was not about badge, it was about bland Look, it looked Like every Volkswagen but it was far away from it, if Wv Made these today, I believe it would be much more succesful
Ajde Važi absolutely. They should reboot the phaeton W12 all day
Ti ko I would be interested if wag wasn't so frustrating to work on...
@@privatniprofil5762 za taj novac niko nebi uzeo vw kakav god bio
It failed because it was as most German cars; Slovakian built crap. Cooling system life
Nobody:
Not a single soul:
Doug: hmm, *_m a s s a g e_*
you are awkward
Yummy Bread you’re *
@@rcwintersoldier5642 wash your ass before bed, timmy
5:07 😆
I was literally looking for this comment
I never even heard of this car, it looks so comfy and from your impressions, surprisingly quick!
This might still be my favorite Doug video. Such an Everything but the Kitchen Sink vehicle and Doug covered it all.
Ahah
Doug I'm disappointed you didn't mention it's limiter removed top speed of 201mph, or the fact half the engineering team responsible for this car walked out because the requirements set by the leader were near impossible; a vehicle that can travel 186mph in 50C heat while maintaining a cabin temperature of 22C. The person overseeing this car's development wanted to make a zero compromise car, which was this (same crazy dude responsible for the V10 tdi taureg), and this was the result. Look at the trunk hinges for god sakes they belong on a space shuttle
+1 for impressed by the trunk hinges
devster 117 That's awesome deep knowledges, nice when people so impressive informing, infrequently case.
It wasn't "some crazy dude", it was the CEO of VW, who was about to retire. And, therefore, he wanted to make a statement before he stepped down.
All this fiasco was done just for him. And also, because VW had shit loads of money to spend of an eternity or R&D.
P.s. - There's an old top gear episode (about 2004-05) which explains all these things.
Parag D he wasn't "the CEO of VW," he was the Chairman of VW Group.
Source that this car could do 201 mph? Can't see a car this heavy making less than 420hp at the wheel doing 201.
The way Doug's face goes from delighted to serious at 22:22 in quite incredible.
I'm dead 😂😂😂😂😂
Bro i died holy shit *crying*
Was an Audi fan when this car was around and loved it. I mean TWELVE CYLINDER! Funny the only person i know who owns one is a certified VW mechanic who's family owns a VW based used car place. Beautiful car, always told him how jealous i was. Really wanted a standard S4 back then though. Sweet drive
But at the end of 2003 also the new Audi A8 w12 was introduced...i think it was even better than the phaeton w12
@@mortensenvick5711 true but the Audi was a bit bigger and pricier I'm sure. Don't get me wrong id still welcome either to my garage.
I can't find it anywhere, but I worked for a VW importer in Europe and I remember a guy from VW showed all the quirks and features, like for example how you open the trunk with the logo, but also that the wipers shouldn't make any noise at a certain speed etc.. But I also remember that this car, or at least the version that I saw, which was I think one of the very first cars, it also had an umbrella in the door.
The only thing with more wood than the Phaeton is Doug when he’s talking about it
5:07
I’m dead
No one ever expects the Book of Mormon
Godwyn Zarate why's that?
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition !!!
I've sorta studied about that and honestly I don't know what to say. To each his own I guess.
William Oquendo Warren Jeff’s was not LDS he was RLDS, a branch that broke off from the church because they wanted to continue practicing polygamy
Subliminal advertising.
4:17 Did you noticed the headrest moving?
one feature i didn't see you mention; if the starter fails due to battery, turn the key the other direction and it switches batteries. Built in jump starting feature. It works in the event either battery dies.
I love how everything looks so expensive, but then you see the steering wheel
and the entire exterior
And the badge
They don't create cars like this anymore
When I was in the garage to let put new tires on my car, a Phaeton was the next car to the left and I took a closer look. What shocked me was the amount of rust under the paint, forming a dozen bumps on the doors on the left side. And my car was 10 years older and has no corrosion at all.
The steering wheel looks like a Ford Tempo
Can we crowd fund and buy Doug some pants, he only appears to have one pair of shorts.
and one pair of shoes: New Balances
Wonder what happen to the old jeans and Nikes he used to rock!
Dude needs a tailor and someone to help him shop for clothes in the worst way.
shut up and take my money XD
I'm pretty sure with 1,1M followers he doesn't need our pennies and dimes.
My dad bought a 2015 full option phaeton today and its pure luxury. I love it!!
W12 ?
My 2009 Audi A6 prestige had individual child lock buttons on the door also, loved that feature.
The "blandness" of the Phaeton's styling was a valuable unique asset. In case you're not a person who want's to broadcast to the world that you spent 6 figures on a full size luxury sedan, this VW let you fool most people into thinking it was just a very nice Passat. IIRC, this car not only shared the same W12 engine block as the Bentley, but it also shared the Bentley's steel chassis as well. This made it heavier than the A8 (aluminum), but meant you were getting a "bargain" Bentley, that you could park at work or anywhere else in public, and not worry about being perceived as some rich a-hole. I don't think there has ever before been such a unique stealth luxo barge on the market. I'm sure all those interior electronics will be fun to replace when they break though.
Quincy James vw phaeton for the rich guy who has all of his clients in the bronx
Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. A great car, but you'd have to be crazy to buy one now, if something breaks you're going to pay out of your ass.
False
Rich people are not A holes in general.
orbits2 I agree, but unfortunately it's quite a common misconception.
orbits2 I also agree. However, even driving a BMW like I do, I feel like there is a common negative perception of people with nice cars. This is especially true of cars like Bentley, Rolls Royce, which I see as cars for rich people who feel the need to show off their glutinous opulence, with a very flashy status symbol. That's exactly why I like the VW Phaeton, as it allows you to have almost as nice of a car as a Bentley, but without the social stigma. The VW is understated, without the excessive flashiness of cars like the Rolls or Bentley. Unlike in the Phaeton, I would feel very self conscience if I were to go to work or the store in one of those "top shelf" sedans.
I want to see Doug review a really basic car like a Toyota corolla or a Ford focus and just see what crap he can come up with
I recommend watching RegularCarReviews. They have a ton of those
He has.
JJ Thor Well he has reviewed the Ford Focus
Doug has reviewed the Ford Focus...RS :-D
He should do a 90s Saturn S-Series that would be interesting it doesn’t get more 90s GM than that
It is a gorgeous machine! I drove one and I loved it.
Great video Doug, the W12 is quite rare in Scotland. I recently reviewed the 2008 3.0 Tdi Phaeton.
How it was the experience, too heavy for the engine ?
@@intel2133 it was alright tbh! Most big sedans/saloons in UK are 3.0 turbo diesels (from S class to A8 to the XJ etc). It wasn't fast but could pull in traffic and get 30mpg+
Styling 5?!?!? Wayyyyyy too generous there, Dougster!!!! You gave the 348 a measly 6! I'm never going to let you forget that.
Jacob Frey hahahaha dougster. Legendary
It balances out, because after spending 20 minutes talking about all the features that this car has but no one else does, he only gives it a 6/10.
Book of Mormon, NRA license plate, Phaeton. Who the hell owns this thing?
thebikevoid A hipster Mormon republican lol
Mitt Romney.
Someone that's probably just an average Joe and appreciates our 2nd Amendment, enjoys shooting sports and values protecting those liberties. I'm not a Mormon or a Republican and I don't have an NRA plate, but there's millions of Mormons, tens of millions of Republicans and between 5-6 million NRA members. The only uncommon thing in the video is the car.
Sweet mother of monkey milk that was a poignant comment with just the right amount of "wassup now?!".
Doug should have taken the book out and removed the plate holder. I've never seen religious or political crap in any of his other videos
My Mk6 GTI trunk badge is sort of similar. If the car is unlocked it'll swivel upward, and becomes a handle that unlatches the trunk. Pretty sweet touch.
Doug was the type of kid to have a Phaeton poster in his room
Doug the type of guy to think VW is a luxury company
Just Your Average Cat Eater well they are the largest car company in the world, they own lambo, Bentley, etc.
damn you gave me a good laugh
My grandpa had one since 2006 he recently sold it but it was a very cool car and you really don’t see any of them here in Canada he was the only one I ever saw, but he only had the V6 at the same time. Also had a Bentley flying spur which is funny because they’re basically the same car built in the same factory on the same chassis. I remember they had the exact same infotainment system and all but also sold the Bentley too he got a Lincoln Corsair once he retired and moved into a smaller house.
I saw one once in Menlo Park, CA in 2009. It was a W12 in a very pleasant brown type of color. Just a beautiful car and the customer I was delivering to actually let me sit in it and then pop the hood. Really a magnificent car with huge amounts of headroom and a beautiful interior worthy of Bentley Flying Spur or Rolls at that time. She said her and her husband drove it from El Paso, TX back to Menlo Park and this car is just meant to consume these miles hour after hour, similar to the Autobahn in Europe. Superb German engineering.
I owned a 2004 W-12 for 10 years. I sold it when I moved to the countryside. The car really needs to be driven regularly, or it will deteriorate, and I knew that my pickup truck would be the daily driver, so I got rid of it to someone who was thrilled to get it.
I am surprised that Doug never mentioned the adjustable suspension when he talked about handling. When in Sport mode, the car's handling was very precise. I used to love whipping around the curves on California's Hwy. 1. It also has an adjustable suspension height, just like the Rolls Phantom. So I really have to disagree with his negative comment about handling. I've driven a fair amount of large cars including luxury ones, and I think the Phaeton in Sport mode was at the top of the list. Same for acceleration when in Sport-Drive mode, although I can believe that the Flying Spur would be faster because of the turbo.
I also depart from him on styling. True, it's an exercise in stealth wealth, but it has classic lines that were "borrowed" by many other auto companies. The one that comes to mind immediate is the Toyota Avalon, which is a slightly smaller knockoff. There is a Phaeton cult out there, and it was big enough that my car got more comments from strangers than any other car I've owned.
I agree with him about the electronics world now having passed this car by. The Nav system was a pain, and worse than that when its dedicated CD player broke. The stereo was AWESOME, so much in fact that I broke a speaker or two blasting it.
The seat massagers were too weak to be useful, and the seats themselves didn't hold up very well.
All in all, it was a great car to own, and even with the dated electronics I think the Phaeton is a screaming bargain. I had a tear in my eye when I let mine go. I would enthusiastically recommend a used one.
What price do you think the is fair for one in good condition? Everything worked..
@@rogeriorizzato2660 Just look it up yourself.
If it's full extra and has been serviced recently , then they can go up to around 20k , but I would say ~15-17k (Talking about full extra)
Edit:Also , if you want it to be clean , then search for one , people never smoked in.
@@LorandHungary Nice dude.
@@rogeriorizzato2660 Btw , I don't know why , but I always start writing about something after I say look it up yourself
@@LorandHungary Hahaha...
At the beginning of the video, I said it's blaspheming to compare a VW to the all-mighty S-class, but man, this car displays an incredible attention to detail. It truly compares to the S-class.
the audi A8 - wich is basicly the same care - is in the same league. its the prefered luxury limo in germany. it also has the highest amour rating in its secure version.
Well... it is made by the same conglomerate that produces Audi's. I think the Phaeton W12 still lives on in the A8 W12
I'd still prefer the S-class
right? i found my dream sedan, and i dont care if its a VW or Mercedes anymore.
I agree, I have a 2000 S Class and I have a whole lot more features than this car. I have the ashtray in the back PLUS a cigarette lighter for each passenger, I also have had vanity mirrors even for the back passengers. The list goes on and on and on.
Doug mentioned that the glass is so thick that a toll tag would not work. That may be a contributing factor but the main reason is that some Phaetons had an electrically heated windshield. This is done by depositing an extremely thin metal film between the layers of the windshield's glass, connected electrically to provide instant heat (rather than waiting for the engine to warm for the defroster). It's this metal film that acts like a shield to the toll tag, inhibiting the toll road authority from reading the tag. A few other manufactures had this as well. Ford called their version "Instaclear" in the US and "Quickclear" in Europe. They were known to cause issues not only with toll tags but would also reduce the detection range of radar detectors.
The headrest slowly goes down on it's own while doug says "it's only getting started back here"
BMW and Daimler: I can make the most luxurious sedan ever.
Volkswagen: Hold my beer...
Daimler is luxurious than VAG and BMW
Well it was the same platform as the Bentley Fling Spur and Continental. Same engine too. Controls, switches, infotainment.
LOL!
Actually: Hold my massage seats and electronics
@@35Frost Maybach is owned by Daimler
Practicality 5/10. Are you kidding me? A completely unusable Lamborghini Countach gets a 2/10, A 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso gets a 3/10 and you said this car should get a 4/10 but was only saved by the back seats. Really now.
yeah, ridiculous, it should be at least 9/10
Practicality easily 6.5/10 in my opinion
Well it does have a W12...but still should be a solid 6
think about the length, its cost of maintancer and gas, no big loading capacity, eventhough that a 5/10 is a little too little :D
Idk what this guy expects... I'd like to see a 10/10 car by his ratings. Ridiculous
I've had the pleasure of driving this wonderful machine. It looks so cool with the Bentley mulliner wheels.
2:20 the Touareg was already on sale at the time, so they did. Unfortunately it suffered the same problem as the Phaeton, it was too expensive for most people, and people who could afford it were looking at luxury brands like Lexus, Range Rover, Mercedes Benz and BMW.
The Touareg is still sold in Europe and other places of the world, but not in the US anymore. The Atlas is big, comparably cheap and has lots of space, but in no way comparable to the very luxurious Touar3g!
4:16
headrest: “it is time for me to go down now”
Ayeee
Next Hoovies Garage video: "I Bought the Cheapest Phaeton in the USA"
Lmao 😄
I'd actually watch that!
The car that finally bankrupts Tyler Hoover of Hoovies Garage when he attempts to repair the cheapest Pheaton in the US.
I had v10 diesel 15 yrs ago...monster car
Ever since I've seen this video, I've wanted this car. If I ever get enough money to be a car collector, this one will definitely be in my fleet.
One of the most underrated luxury sedans ever made and shurely one of the most underrated VW's ...Great quality car !
I can't believe that doug didnt mention de trunk hinges, they are incredible
Hey Doug, you forgot one thing. The grab handles above you and passengers inside the car are also wooden covered
You can also buy an "accessory": A boat named "Frauscher 757 St. Tropez", along with a trailer, that has the same engine as the Phaeton itself.
who else at the end of the video looks at that list of cars and goes, "holy shit, I've seen every single one of those reviews. What am I doing with my life?" LOL
Same lol
His job is what hes doing
Alejandro Rodriguez me too me too