Volkswagen Phaeton To MSRP For $70K - How Many Takers Are There Going To Be At That Price?

Haven't we done this whole thing before? The Phaeton was a flop because it looked like a big Jetta, carried the econobox VW badge, and was priced like a premium car. Yeah, it was a good car, but stats tells us that few people are willing to pay a premium, and *look* like they're driving a car costing about 1/3 of what they paid.

Right??? And let's not forget Volkswagen, I mean Audi, can barely move any A8's to begin with, so now they want to try their luck with a VW Phaeton???

Nonsense, The Equus and Genesis are eating VW's breakfast, lunch, and dinner over less than smart stunts like the Phaeton.

True but the Genesis and Equus combined can't even outsell the Avalon so Hyundai can't exactly brag about anything.

for $70K, get an A6.

Yes they just might do that - just like Toyota and BMW joint venture; or is it Mini Cooper and Toyota; sorry I mean BMW and Mini Cooper. You get the idea of what I'm saying.

That will be a beastly TDI!

It's bad enough they have a $50k+ SUV in their lineup that doesn't sell, now they're re-adding a $70k sedan. Come on, VW/Audi, be smarter than that. It's one thing to try to do a Hyundai/Kia with their brand...if Audi didn't exist. Easy prediction: FAIL.

ZERO! if it were $45K loaded it would be wonderful. The Phaeton needs to be a VW "Genesis" not VW "S Class".

Dealers are (1) livid and (2) planning to refuse to stock it. We refuse to stock the Toerag because IT DOES NOT SELL and it's a terrible product. We will NOT accept Faketons either.

If you can't even spell Touareg, I seriously doubt you sell them.

atc9802 He means TOE RAG as it ain't the greatest; its a RAG. Jeep Grand Cherokees are far better equipped, perform better and cost less in the beginning and cost less to maintain and repair. Ergo they are better value and therefore sell better.

@atc98092 the misspelling was intentional you dolt! I don't sell VWs. I am a partner (part owner) in a dealer. We refuse to sell the TOERAG and we will refuse the FAKETON.

you can get a loaded maserati ghibli for 70k, why in hell would anyone take a vw phaeton for the same money ??
im not saying the maserati is the best car in its class, not even close, but if you are looking to get something different and risky like an equus, k900, or even phaeton, you would have to put the maserati before those !!

AMEN and the Maserati "300" will have better reliability.

When you drive a VW it just screams I'M NOT AN AUDI. I'M NOT A PORSCHE.
They have worked harder than ever to ensure that it will NOT be confused with Audi. They have succeeded? Are they trying to go for the abandoned Cadillac crowd? Will you pay that much for this VW-trying-too-hard-NON-AUDI?

If 70k is in 2018/19 dollars, maybe. Personally, I think it needs to be about 10k less. If it came out today at 70k, nope. There are too many other choices available, even with diesel.

It needs to be $40K base and $50 loaded or stay the hell away from the market. No premium buyer sees VW as a quality product. The Hyundai Genesis is infinitely higher quality than a VW and THAT is the Phaeton's problem. VW's component failures, reliability issues, and quality glitches CANNOT justify a pipe dream the the Faketon.

Far fewer than needed to cover the investment to produce it. The world does not need or desire this car versus prestige brands available at the same cost. This car's second generation only exists because Ferdinand Piech's ego will not accept that he was wrong in introducing the first generation. No one at VW can question his will or decisions
..."Damn the cost full speed ahead. I'm right !" attitude. This will the first model canceled when Piech's run is over.

And the TOE RAG will be the second!

Amen and amen followed by the Tiguan and the CC

It's a world wide model that VW may or may not package as described here. Its success or existence is not hinged on the US market. The article doesn't even say if it's going to be the traditional sedan or possibly a smaller five door rumored.

You are nearly all flaming bonkers! Bunch of idiots. How many Americans even know or care there is another planet out here? How bloody dare someone compare that Jeep heap of junk with a Touareg? What kind of dealer are you? No wonder people detest VWs in America. Over in Europe we love these cars, our dealers are courteous and knowledgeable, understand cars. In the tiny Swiss village next to ours we have an old Czech guy who used to be officially hooked up to VW importers and now does his own thing and completely understands the whole way VW constructs its cars, the whole group. Lazy shits can ruin a good car company's reputation. He sees everything that needs doing, runs his garage as a labour of love. We bought our three and a half year old V8 Phaeton for about what you are quoting, secondhand, and we absolutely adore it. it does not shriek 'fashion' or rich stupid pig who knows only what everyone else buys and follows the crowd. baa,baa,baa'. Mercedes have become utterly vulgar, like BMWs, they exist only on 'brand image'. Have you seen inside the A class? Fake wood plastic on BMW steering wheels, crappy levers and springs to change the seatback angle? The day America makes one single decent domestic car apart from the Corvette or perhaps Caddies if they can rescue themselves at the last minute, you will have room to criticise VW. Out here this is a real premium marque. Why? because VAG cars are well made and last longer, eschew cheap fashion, are well though out, practical and are timeless. The Phaeton, as is, exemplifies this. America does some things famously well, after all, but cars are not one of them, like politics. The Audi A8 is a sports saloon, the Phaeton is a discreet limousine, a Bentley Continental for those of us who love luxury on long journeys but like to surprise. I love the B5 Passat - we had one for 12 years, flawless, and the Phaeton carries on that simple curvaceous, typical bauhaus VW styling, so damned sexy over the front wheel arch. People who 'don't know' , our friends, for instance, all love it. What is wrong with you people? Even Jeremy Clark, that, funny, silly man who adores cars even more than women, loved it.