My First Love

[Victor R]

Hi Guys,

Back in January, I posted on my "Sunday driver". Now, as Spring is starting to peek out here in the Northeast (and after a brutal week trying to earn a buck), I took my "Daily driver" out after I got her all pretty and decided to take pictures.

Here she is at six years old and 100,000 miles. Not exactly perfect, but she has aged quite well - much better than I have, in fact. I still have 23,000 miles on my Real Driver warranty left on her, or up to April of 2013.

Color is Coucou Grey - many people see this as blue, but, to me, it is more green:



She came with chromed Challenge wheels which inspired me to do the same on my Sunday driver:


Interior is Anthracite with Chestnut wood:


She's a five-seater:


She came with the intergrated phone package:


Actual mileage this morning:


They say you never forget your first love. She is still the lady.

Victor

[johnt26]

She looks gorgeous Victor!!

I'm always amazed at how well the Phaetons age, it's a testament to the quality and engineering that went into producing them!

Now back to finishing up the DSG transmission and engine oil change (on my Jetta TDI).

[Victor R]

Thanks, John.

Yes, Phaetons hold up unbelievably well with a little care and maintenance. In fact, when driving this one with >100,000 miles compared to the black one with <13,000 miles, I can't tell the difference in terms of engine feel and sound and body quietness and stability! Unbelievable how well she has held up.

Once again, VW is missing the boat in their marketing. Even though the car didn't sell here, the quality and longevity of the Phaeton should have a halo effect for the whole company. I am sure many of us here would be lining up to give testimonials as to our experience with our Phaetons and our love for them.

Victor

[MichaelGa]

Hi Victor,

How did you get "her all pretty?" Did you get the car detailed or do you do the work yourself? I'm waiting myself for warmer weather, clay, polish then wax.

Which W12 will you bring out to the GTG? Bring both and leave me one!

[Victor R]

Did you get the car detailed or do you do the work yourself?

Hi Michael,

No, nothing so fancy as "detailing".

I took her to a brushless car wash , and then used a Sham-Wow! cloth to wipe her dry before I took pictures, cleaning off most of what the car wash didn't get in the process. Because my Sunday driver took her garage spot, she is living outside at the moment, though I did get her a car cover. I am having a new garage built which is nearly done.

The look I got from the real lady of the house when I floated the idea of using her garage spot for the Phaeton was bone-chilling, so, needless to say, I did not pursue that idea...

I planning to have the Daily driver detailed once I move the Sunday driver to the other garage and she gets her spot back.

Which W12 will you bring out to the GTG?

I've actually been thinking about bringing both to the GTG, if I can talk my son(s) into coming along...

Victor

[MichaelGa]

Victor,

looking forward to meeting you and your W12's. I'm sure with all those that plan to attend we will have more than enough to VAG-COM, look at after market options, European options that some of us have installed on our US spec cars and other activities worth sharing including detailing tips

[sjglaser]

Hi Victor,

I have followed your post with interest. I have a 2004 V8 Reflex Silver with 89K miles and a 2004 W12 Premier Edition with 62K miles. They are well maintained, kept clean, the leather is periodically treated with Lexol, and the cars reward me with looking new. The leather and the interior is fresh, the paint is brilliant, and they remain tight and responsive. No noticeable degradation in performance.

Think of it.. These cars are seven years old, and they look better than other 2008/09 "lesser" cars. You are right, US/Canada owners would line up around the block with testimonials.

Makes you wonder, what will they look like when they are 10+ years old, and have 200K miles on the odometer?

[Victor R]

Hi Steve,

...what will they look like when they are 10+ years old, and have 200K miles on the odometer?

I hope to find out....

I tend to be a guy who falls in love with his cars and keeps them for a very long time. Over the years, I had a 1978 Cadillac Seville that lasted until 1991. (As an aside, that was the only car I ever drove where people would regularly honk at me and give me "thumbs up" signs. More remarkably, I even had people on three separate occasions roll down their windows at intersections and ask if I would be interested in selling the car...) I eventually replaced it with a 1991 "Touring Sedan" that lasted until 2003. I replaced that one with a 2003 DTS which is doing well and looking good at 60K miles, and I also have a 1998 Suburban with >100,000 miles on it that is still going strong (and looking pretty good). While those cars lasted (and are lasting), none of them looked or feel like the Phaeton does at 100,000 miles.

As you say, the Phaetons look and drive like 2-3 year old cars at 6-7 years old. I think they should easily make 200K miles; in fact, I'm thinking 250K. The only problem I see is availability of parts and cost of repairs as the years go on...

That is why I believe the extended warranty is so important. I think anyone buying a Phaeton now needs to seriously consider such a warranty, because the cost of repair vs. the replacement cost for the vehicle given its staggering depreciation is becoming an issue, as noted by multiple threads on the forum.

Victor