(see link)

Reading a magazine recently I came across an ad for the VW Phaeton with the headline THINK BIG...same layout, typeface as the famous THINK SMALL ad for the Beetle in the '60s.

The attached link gives some info on what looks to be trying to be VW's "Maybach". Frankly, doesn't do a lot for me, and I think that calling this model the "phaeton" will be a marketing turnoff. Very few people will be familar with the story of Phaeton in mythology, and those hoping for an "open" sporty five-passenger car will likewise be dissapointed.

According to the attached, Phaeton will be available with a V10 diesel engine "...the most powerfull in the world."

The car looks neat, but honestly, I doubt how well it'll sell in the US considering that Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus all offer superbly competent products in that price range with a MUCH classier brand image. In the gool ol' USA, that brand image REALLY matters to people plunking down 70-80K on a new car!

I didn't see the link.
But I was speaking with an individual that has a new-ish VW. His rear wheel bearings went out at 30K miles. The car is less than a year new.
I told him I had the rear bearings in my 220 changed, after 30 years I figured it was time to replace them, I was putting in new rotors and half-axles anyway. He is not a happy camper, the rotors had to be replaced previously under warranty. I suspect the failure of the bearings was somehow connected to the dealer service.
Give me a Benz diesel over any European-made diesel !
Dieseldiehard
1971 220 (gas) 4-spd manual 104041
1979 300TD w/ ’85 turbo engine 289560
1983 300D 237490
1985 300TD 206150

I'm very surprised VW is going to sell this car (I believe the Phaeton will sell for $80,000+) under their name-VW. It's true, people have an image of cars. VW doesn't fit that image of very upscale expensive cars. Toyota doesn't fit that image either, that's why they call it Lexus instead.

suppose it's an ego thing for VW to have a toe in the near-three-figure niche of the market. I would have thought they would have a better chance flogging it as an Audi.

Also remains to be seen how long Maybach will stay on the market, or even if the "new" Rolls-Royce and Bentley will be able to make a go of it commercially.

There was an interesting article on VW's diesels in the Toronto Star last Saturday, that also covers the diesel's comeback in Europe.

If the link works it's here:

http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1068117069130

Otherwise search with the word "Diesel" at www.torontostar.com and up it comes.

John

__________________

My 240D Gallery http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=290

Hi.

.Dieseldiehard MB is(was) a German company,
last time I looked Germany is in Europe.

But we all know what you meant.

Louis

A friend with a very nice '84 300D just relocated to your area and would like the name of a local shop...thanks for any help.

If vw wants to sell more cars here, they need to invest in selling the polo and other "really frickin small" cars HERE in the US. I'm thinking of the $8000-12,000 range

(quality of VW's left for another thread =)

Why sell subcompacts? when this is the land of the 2ton suv ?

1) Lots of college kids and 'non-suv-owning income bracket'-types could get a new car.,,new car warranty, new car paint, new car safety, new car smell...

2) VW HAS a reputation for (good???) small cars. Beetle, Rabbit, Golf (yeah, same thing, I know =) ...most people know these names.

3) Rice. If Mitsu can sell a lancer evo-ricerocket for $30k, then I'm sure there is a market for roller skate w/ vw's 1.8T motor...it'd scream. (or god forbid a TDI...yum yum...). I wouldnt tint the windows or put a loud stereo in, but VW could undercut all the honda civic's that are being bought for this purpose. Call it the "youth market" =)

It'd take some investment in redesign for crash protection and emissions...oh..they'll have to dumb down the headlights too... Crash protection is the only weak link in this scheme of mine.

Instead of looking upmarket where they have to invent an image, why dont they look down and make a market...they have done that well in the past.

-John

__________________
2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Hi Jim.

Unfortunatly due to financial retraints I'm
forced to do all the maintenance and other
repairs myself.

But I pass-by the place in this link
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=62241
the one in Little Ferry,by the circle on RT46,everyday.
They do seem to have alot of work but they also
work on Porche to.

There is one other one that I pass on a regular
basis,and they service only MB's.
I have no idea how good they are,they seem
busy.
But then again,this is the Beverly Hills of the
east.
Lotsa $$$$$$$$$.


The name and address:

WOLFGANG'S INC.
265 County Road.
Tenafly,NJ
201-568-7003

Hope this helps.

Louis.

The wife and I honeymooned in Germany back in '97. We drove a brand new VW Polo and absolutely fell in love with that car! The size of a four door Geo Metro, but the similarity drops off precipitously after that...

VW's current strategy was envisioned by former chairman Ferdinand Piech, an ego-maniac, who successfully brought VW back from the brink of financial ruin. Unfortunately he's saddled the company with a bizarre strategic plan that spells big trouble for their long-term viability. Audi was the obvious brand to utilize for their upmarket approach....silly, just bleedin silly to try to sell the "people's car" as a leisure class plaything...

- a hybrid jetta tdi with regenerating braking.

That would make the jawes drop on all 'green' people in america.

Personally I hope MB brings some diesels over here.

Jari

The Phaeton is not being so well received in the auto press, but it is pretty. Personally, its too much to spend on any car. well, almost any. Also, I think VWs in general are way overpriced, and they seemed to have snaged a lot of people in my generation in particular with their fashionably hip advertising.

A friend just bought a turbo Jetta and loves it to death. I like it, but its such a small four door. I'd rather have a 190 Sportline or a 16v-2.3 for less than half the money, not to mention a used Audi S4. Its also a little "plasticy". Another friend has a Jetta TDI, which is also nice, but her repair bills so far are just too damn high. I don't think VWs are particularly good cars and I'm not a fan. The GTI VR6 is overpriced (I'd actually rather buy the new Dodge Neon VRT-4 or whatever for less $), and I wouldn't want a Jetta or a Passat. Too bad they stopped making the Corrado. Not the best car but a worthwhile niche to develop into something really cool to hang with that Suburu/Mitsu/Neon pack and add a european flavor. Just my two cents. Oh yeah, and my '74 MGB-GT with some suspension mods out-cornered, but did not out pace, a friends '92 VW GTI.

The Phaeton is going to be in the 60K range, not 80K. Maybe closer to 70K with the V10 Turbodiesel. It is the same vehicle as the Audi A8L and is priced about 8K less. I believe it comes standard with AWD.

__________________
2002 500SL(Black/Black)
1992 300SE(Black/Black)
1992 190E 2.3(White/Navy)
1999 VW Jetta TDI(Pearl Green)
1986 SAAB 900 Base 3 door(White)
1983 Porsche 911SC(Chiffon)
1977 VW Scirocco(DiamondSilver)

http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2031010.001/page/6/volkswagen/1.html

The range is $65K to $80K. That can put you in a Lexus LS430, MB S430 and almost an S500, or a BMW 745Li.