This car is almost becoming ancient in its basic shape, yet I still find it more attractive than an Audi.
But I do not see the US embracing such an expensive car with a VW logo no matter what engine they stick in it.

I personally would embrace a $60,000+ VW …………. if they discount it $30,000.

It is not a bad looking car and great value for the money. However, the previous generation was a terrific car full of innovative content (W-12 engine for example) and a great value and it could not sell… What have changed since past model?

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

If at first you don’t succeed, get drunk, go ugly early, sleep it off and be thankful that at least you didn’t just blow 60k on a VW.

I’m sorry, what lesson did they learn from the last go-around? It was a spruce goose then, and it appears to be the same now….

It’s like the Hyundai Genesis . . . except that Hyundai is able to use favorable economic conditions and, probably (I don’t have any proof), some subsidies to make the Genesis one heck of a bargain. Hyundai will likely have more success lifting their brand image because once they get people to own their cars then those folks will likely become fierce proponents of the products (we all like to pretend our decisions are infallible and smarter than those of others). Unless VW finds a way of getting as many adopters for the Phaeton as are buying the Genesis, then it’s unlikely VW can expand their image upscale with the same speed as Hyundai.

I really don’t understand the appeal…. the whole point of buying a big expensive luxury car is getting the best…. there should be no place for “value” in this segment…. For those with taste at least…

I kind of like the big VW, think it is very classy. Not sure where it is supposed to sit in the VAG family though as it is an outright competitor to the A8 in an already crowded executive market. I read the next generation will be slightly smaller, positioning it between the A6/A8. That might make sense.

OK, serious here – the real issue VW faced with the Phaeton was not value or class but rather at that price the typical buyer saw an A8 which seemed very close to being the same for most any intent but with brand cache, service, and a badge too boot. I know the stories about platform differences but 99% of buyers in this price range wouldn’t know or care about that. They are superficial nits who will say it looks the same and costs the same but has a lower class badge so they buy Audi. You wont flip a bimmer or benz buyer into a VW either.

VW needs to bring this in as a $15-20k cheaper A8 to make it work. The dressed up Passat W12 plan flopped as did the “get a VW for the price of an Audi” plan. Hyundai’s Gen-sedan plan is the “most of what the luxury brand gives you for the price of a Buick” plan which makes sense because they are transforming the image over time. Just jumping in with the big guys doesn’t generally work unless you offer something radical that they don’t.

They can make it here in the American market. We are the toughest crowd to convince amongst the masses. The thing that made Hyundai successful was that they played it safe and used many design cues that would catch the eye and with a $27k starting base price. And even at $40K its a bargain to high end luxury that would start around that price or even higher. VW had better play they’re cards right and prey like hell that this succeeds here the second go round. But they should only expect about 1,000 a month vs. what they previously expected.

If you want incredible value for money, but a used 2006 Phaeton. That’s all.

^if you want incredible value, go to mexico and buy a car at costco.

Too many problems. Arm-and-a-leg for parts and labour. I know first-hand (well, maybe second-hand… no make that third-hand, whatever I know what I’m talking about).