Phaeton Owner GTG in Auburn Hills, MI - April 23 and 24, 2005

[WISVW]

Great time everyone, thanks! My wife will never complain about me and my car "issues". You all convinced her there are people crazier about cars than me!

Glen

[PhaetonChix]

Glen,

Glad we could help. And you missed the real hard core Phaeton-phanatics in action on Sunday.
~PC

[rmg2]

Quote, originally posted by WISVW »

Great time everyone, thanks! My wife will never complain about me and my car "issues". You all convinced her there are people crazier about cars than me! Glen

It was great to me you and you wife, also.

[vwguild]

And given the unpredictable weather in Michigan, I would like to suggest Bermuda...we wouldn't have a VAG workshop, but we've done that...

[Paldi]

Bermuda? Ask David Duty about the Bermuda Triangle weather before you set that up.

David sent me photos showing the devastation a little water and wind can wreak on a lovely home. Trust me, stay out of Florida and its environs during hurricane season.

Modified by Paldi at 9:10 AM 4-26-2005


Modified by Paldi at 10:01 PM 5-10-2005

[viscount]

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. Its good to know that they are not being ignored, nor will be let go. I've already decided what my next car is going to be ...
Its great that we have such dedicated people who made this event possible, and the prospect for another!

My hat's off to you all who planned, organized and went to the event!
Ed.

[vwguild]

I am thinking of something closer to Hamilton...And the "triangle" does not include the panhandle of Florida...

And, Fred...This is supposed to be funny, and what happened to David and his Family ain't no joke...

Modified by vwguild at 8:41 PM 4-25-2005


Modified by vwguild at 9:00 PM 4-25-2005

[PanEuropean]

Thanks to Rick for mailing me this group photo, taken in the lobby of VW Headquarters:

[chrisj428]

Aw flip. All you can see is my left eyeball... Of course, having seen the other pictures, not having a "full body shot" in Driver Magazine is probably a blessing in disguise.

[jmdpjd1]

The GTG was a great time. I want to express my gratitude to P/C and Michael for the work the did putting on a fantastic event. thanks also goes to David for his teachings at the garage on Sunday. The event was more than I expected. It is of great value to know the others on the forum and know who they really are. The VAG-COM session was incredible. I will be ordering mine this week. It is soo nice to open the door and hear silence, the to have to step into the car about 10ml less. I can't wait till the next one, I want to see the faces of the Adi and Jetta drivers then.

Thanks again for putting forth such a great effort to make this event Phaentastic.

[chrisj428]

Quote, originally posted by bobschneider »

Thanks to Michael and PhaetonChix for organizing an excellent weekend.

HEAR, HEAR!!! What a fantastic time -- well done and many thanks to PC, Michael and Dave!

[uberanalyst]

Maybe this question belongs in another thread, but the photos here suggested that a new wheel alignment is needed after lowering the car 10mm to European ride height.

Is this in fact the case? Will I now experience abnormal tire wear and/or handling problems because I lowered my Phaeton? How much difference does a 10mm drop make in the camber, caster, or toe-in?

- Dave

[PanEuropean]

Hi Dave:

What we learned at the Auburn Hills GTG was that any form of change to the ride height of the vehicle will affect wheel alignment. This is a geometry issue. Whether a 10 mm change will knock the alignment out of the allowable range or not, we don't know, because we don't have enough data to make a conclusion that can be supported with fact.

The general agreement, it seems, was that if you make any changes to the ride height of your vehicle, you should have the alignment checked. Hopefully, we will start to get some reports in over the summer, and from that, we can see how much these changes do affect alignment. It's not a particularly difficult or time-consuming task to check alignment, although special tools and platforms are needed for the Phaeton and Touareg.

When the vehicle is built, they set the default ride height first, then they align the vehicle.

Michael

[PhaetonChix]

Quote, originally posted by PanEuropean »

Thanks to Rick for mailing me this group photo, taken in the lobby of VW Headquarters:

Hi there,

Could those of you in the photo please IM me with contact information (phone & email address). I failed to collect all your numbers at the event. Driver's magazine wants to do a story on the Phaeton Owners Group visit to Auburn Hills.

I'm hoping the article will dispell the myth of the Phaeton being cancelled.

Thanks

~PC

[BeechSierra]

Could someone put some names with the faces? Those of us who couldn't make the GTG would like to know. TYIA

Chris

[PC Dave]

Quote, originally posted by BeechSierra »

Could someone put some names with the faces? Those of us who couldn't make the GTG would like to know. TYIA

I'm the really handsome one.

[PhaetonChix]

And humble too!

[dcowan699]

Well, I'm the big one 2nd from the right , front row, next to my son Andrew. I need to lose about 30 lbs.!!!

Dentistry has been bad for my health.

[Paldi]

Quote, originally posted by PhaetonChix »

Hi there, Could those of you in the photo please IM me with contact information (phone & email address). I failed to collect all your numbers at the event. Driver's magazine wants to do a story on the Phaeton Owners Group visit to Auburn Hills. Thanks ~PC

It will be great if Driver's Magazine puts names to all those smiling faces - a fitting way to end this thread.

I was on the other side of the lobby, hiding in a planter.





Modified by Paldi at 8:47 PM 5-13-2005

[chrisj428]

I'm the tall one in the back just to the right of Len Hunt as you look at the photo. Thankfully, I'm obscured from the nose down, so I'm showing my best side.

[PanEuropean]

Hi Eve:

Thanks ever so much for organizing all this information, that is really nice of you. I am the 6th person from the left in the photo above.

Michael

[PhaetonChix]

I'm the woman in the light colored jacket, hiding in the center of the picture, second row. I'm between Glen, WISVW and Paige from PCC. All you can see is the top of my head and too red checks. It was COLD out that day.

*No comments please on the lovely shop picture of me from the tech event the next day. I had just finished pushing a bunch of 911's and a 928 out of the way to make room for the Phaetons.

~PC

[geowben]

I am to Eve's immediate left.

[bobschneider]

I'm 4th from the left, in the light shirt

[PC Dave]

Okay, I'll 'fess up. I'm third from the right, standing between and behind Dave Cowan and Peter Savale (VW Guild). I guess that "really handsome" ruse is blown...

[chrisj428]

Michael,

Photo rehosted, please, so I can link to the photo of the Silver Phaeton with the lower valences painted.

Thanks!

[rmg2]

Bump!

3yr anniversary of the first National GTG coming up.

maybe VW will contact all of us for a sneak peek at the new Phaeton . . .

[IMBILL]

I am in North Carolina and am tempted to head west if you are still planning the gala event. Can you repost some of the pics from gtg's past?
Thanks, Bill

[PanEuropean]

Photos re-hosted.

It's hard to believe that it's been 7 years since this GTG. The Auburn Hills GTG was the first time we here in the forum ever organized a GTG - following the success of this one, quite a few more were held in North America and Europe.

I'll try to rehost the photos on some of the other GTG threads as time permits.

Is anyone else - other than I - from the Auburn Hills GTG still participating in the forum?

Michael

[Phaeton2005]

It would be nice to know other phaeton owners around me in auburn hills mi. Any meetings happening soon?