Volkswagen Phaeton

When at the turn of the century Ferdnand Piech (grandson of the founder of the Porsche dynasty) went on a well-deserved rest, he wished to leave something unusual behind. At his request, Volkswagen made an attempt to create the best car in the world. Pieh made a list of 10 requirements that the project had to meet. Most of these items will never be disclosed, but some things are known for certain. For example, the car had to be able to travel all day at a speed of 300 km / h in a heat of 50 degrees, keeping in the cabin 22 degrees Celsius. Another requirement is the torsional rigidity of the body at 37,000 Nm/degree. The body was built on the D1 platform, later given to the Bentley Continental GT and the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. The plan was very simple. Volkswagen wanted to create a sedan that would compete with the luxury Mercedes S-Class, rather than the sportier BMW 7 and Audi A8. The latter even shared some of the components with the Volkswagen Phaeton.

Luxury first and foremost

This is how Phaethon was born in 2001, named after the son of the sun god Helios. The German vision of the best car in the world was based on the big four-door sedan. To prove its absolute superiority over its competitors, the car had to overtake Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jaguar and Lexus, both in terms of design and equipment.

Inside the limousine got the latest gadgets available in 2002. Among other things, you can find a phone, satellite navigation with a 7-inch widescreen (16:9) display, a TV, heated and ventilation seats, windless four-zone climate control and a humidity control system, thanks to which the glass inside never fog.

Rich equipment, with the ability to create almost any configuration of the cabin in accordance with needs (including the selection of leather upholstery and finishing materials), made the Volkswagen Phaeton one of the most luxurious sedans on the market. The comfort of the driver and passengers is taken care of by seats with 12 electric adjustments. In the W12 version, the settings range is increased to 18.

Any irregularities on the road are effectively absorbed by air suspension. The cabin is incredibly cozy for all five, and in the case of the extended version of Long, all four persons. Inside, there is silent silence even on the highway at a speed of 300 km / h.

Engines

The dynamic movement is taken care of by four petrol and two diesel units. Among the latter, only the 5-liter V10 was available at the very beginning of production. It developed 313 hp and 750 nm of torque. Thanks to him, the more than 2-ton giant accelerated to the first hundred in just 6.9 seconds and reached a top speed of 250 km / h with limited electronics. Over time, the list of offers was replenished with the popular diesel - 3-liter V6, initially available with 224 hp, and later with 240 hp.

For the driver, for the screwdriver hell - repair work on the V10 TDI is damn expensive.

Among gasoline units, the weakest 24-valve V6 with a volume of 3.2 liters. It has a recoil of 240 hp and 315 Nm of torque. Sprinting to the first hundred in 9.4 seconds is not impressive.

For those who like to travel on German expressways at a speed of 300 km / h, VW has prepared a completely different modification. Especially for her from two petrol V6 "blinded" a real monster - W12 volume of 6-liters. 48-valve engine developed 420/450 hp and 550/560 Nm of torque. The potential of the power unit allowed to reach the first hundred in 6 seconds and accelerate to 300 km / h - with the speed lock disabled.

Design features

The first instances of the VW Phaeton could be either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Since 2005, all modifications have been completed with all-wheel drive. The engine torque is converted using 6-speed mechanics, or 5- or 6-speed automatic. Front and rear suspension of multi-link type with pneumatic shock absorbers.

Phaeton paradoxes

Excellent equipment, incredible engines and assembly in one of the best factories in the world. The glass factory in Dresden is a place where everyone who ordered a car could watch the entire production process. Volkswagen has created a truly utterly stunning car that unfortunately has not been market-successful. One of the reasons is pedigree. No one wanted to pay nearly 70,000 euros for a Volkswagen in the base version. The limo doesn’t stand out in the crowd of cars standing in traffic. Most passers-by do not pay any attention to the sedan, resembling the Passat in its appearance. In 2007, five years after the start of sales, the Germans conducted a facelift. At the same time, a 5-liter turbodiesel was withdrawn from the range of engines. The reason was a small interest in this unit and its low reliability. Just a year after the modernization, Volkswagen decided to make another change. But soon it turned out that they did not bring the desired results. In this regard, in 2010, the model has undergone a more significant modification: the shape of the headlights was adjusted, the old grille gave way to a new - larger, and the front and rear optics received a set of LEDs. Did Arab sheikhs, Russian oligarchs or German businessmen prefer to buy Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW for the same money, or even add a little more to the more prestigious Bentley? The phaethon was appreciated primarily by those who did not seek to stand out from the crowd.

Typical problems and malfunctions

When choosing a gasoline engine, the best option will be versions with atmospheric 3.2 and 4.2 liters. These are very reliable engines that do not create serious problems in the operation. A much grimmer picture with 3.6 FSI with multipoint direct fuel injection - on the valves and sockets of the valves, soot is formed. In order to remove deposits, it is necessary to disassemble the engine, and this procedure requires large costs. Regardless of the selected version of the engine, from time to time there are failures in the software of the engine control unit. Another common drawback is the small resource of ignition coils. The most powerful W12 with more advanced attachments is much more expensive, not only in maintenance and service, but also in operation - due to the high fuel consumption. Diesel units are perhaps less reliable than gasoline ones. Some will be tempted by the 5-liter V10 TDI. But the decision to buy this would be wrong. The engine has a lot of weaknesses. The most important are the low life of turbines and cases of turning the liners. Not distinguished by strength and drive timing system through the skittish gears. Relatively quickly fail and pump-nozzles. And after 150-200 thousand km, it is possible to sprinkle spraying from the walls of the cylinders. If you really want a diesel, then it is better to choose a 3.0 TDI equipped with a Common Rail injection system. Unfortunately, this engine also has its drawbacks. Failure of the upper tensioner of the timing system chain is a fairly common phenomenon. Trouble can also be delivered by flaps in the intake manifold.

Prices for some spare parts

Lever of the front independent suspension - $ 80;

Luxury first and foremost

• Among other things, you can find a phone, satellite navigation with a 7-inch widescreen (16:9) display, a TV, heated and ventilation seats, windless four-zone climate control and a humidity control system, thanks to which the glass inside never fog.

Engines

• For the driver, for the screwdriver hell - repair work on the V10 TDI is damn expensive.
• The potential of the power unit allowed to reach the first hundred in 6 seconds and accelerate to 300 km / h - with the speed lock disabled.

Phaeton paradoxes

• Unfortunately, because of the VW badge, the prestigious sedan has another drawback – a quick loss in value.

Typical problems and malfunctions

• These are very reliable engines that do not create serious problems in the operation. A much grimmer picture with 3.
• In order to remove deposits, it is necessary to disassemble the engine, and this procedure requires large costs.
• In addition, the injection system may fail.
• For example, various sensors, electric windows fail and buttons on the multifunction steering wheel cease to respond.
• In addition, there are malfunctions of the power steering.
• Rusting moldings are a typical Phaeton problem along with corroding aluminum doors.

The Volkswagen Phaeton is a prestigious luxury sedan that offers very wide possibilities and a huge amount of space, both in the cabin and in the trunk. It is docile on the road and provides an excellent level of comfort. However, the car is very expensive to maintain and is suitable only for those who want to have a representative sedan and are willing to pay for its maintenance. The low cost attracts, but the older the copy, the greater the amount will have to be paid at the initial stage.

• Luxury First: Among other things, you can find a phone, satellite navigation with a 7-inch widescreen (16:9) display, a TV, heated and ventilation seats, windless four-zone climate control and a humidity control system, thanks to which the glass inside never fog.
• Engines: For the driver, for the screwdriver hell - repair work on the V10 TDI is damn expensive.
• Design features: The first instances of the VW Phaeton could be either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
• Phaeton paradoxes: Unfortunately, due to the VW badge, the prestigious sedan has another drawback – a rapid loss in value.
• Typical problems and malfunctions: These are very reliable motors that do not create serious problems in operation. A much grimmer picture with 3.
• Prices for some spare parts: Lever front independent suspension - $ 80;

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