My Beloved Phaeton

To sell or not to sell my beloved Phaeton - that be the question!

I remember the day in November 2005 that I drove to East Grinstead to test drive a Volkswagen Phaeton at the VW dealership. I wasn’t really certain about what I was doing there, perhaps more curiosity than anything else. My friend having worked for Bentley explained that the Phaeton is really a Bentley in disguise and so having driven Bentley’s too, I was intrigued.

I had been driving Mercedes for the previous 6 years and perhaps rather snobbish about the badge on my personal transportation, so if this Phaeton was a Bentley, it was worth the drive to go check it out – ‘what a snob’ I hear you say.

Indeed, the understated lines of the VW Phaeton, offer a reassurance, to go about unnoticed, therefore less chance of some holigan ‘hoodie’ to recklessly scratch it than otherwise a Mercedes or similar prestige marque.

A Bentley Continental GT shares its basic architecture with the VW Phaeton. The suspension setup is also nearly the same, with gas air springs and multiple links front and rear. The steering wheel, 7” display, clock, switchgear and dashboard layout are all the same. So is the Bentley worth nearly double the price of the VW Phaeton? Or should you ask the more appropriate question: What’s in a name?

My friend, who advised me to check out the Phaeton, was at that time the General Manager for H.R. Owen Bentley Dealership in Barclay Square, Central London. He had commented that they had discussed using Phaeton’s as courtesy cars for their clients, Bentley advised them against this. Their reasoning being some clients would soon appreciate that they paid twice the price for their Bentley’s and the Phaeton shares so much of the same components at half the price, with all those same ‘bells and whistles’ to boot!

I test drove the car, I was sold, it was awesome, the performance, the quality, the technology and patents behind the Phaeton are so very impressive, so I actually brought the demonstrator car I drove on that day. Later did I come to appreciate what a sensible decision that had been seeing reviews such as Top Gear below.

Don’t take my word for it; see what Jeremy Clarkson of BBC’s Top Gear said about the Phaeton, video below.

So after watching this Top Gear review you’re probably thinking why would I even consider selling my beloved Phaeton after almost 3 years of blissful and exhilarating performance from its jaw dropping V10 cylinder 5.0 litre twin turbo engine, even considering its frugal diesel economy, I must be mad to even consider selling my Phaeton.

Jeremy Clarkson would be ashamed of me, being such a petrol head. I’d like to think I could do my part in reducing my carbon footprint and even with the frugal economy of the Diesel, a V10 5.0 litre engine even so make a generous footprint!

Don’t expect me to rush out and go buy a Hybrid Toyota Prius, I’ve driven one and it’s no Phaeton! You must see what Clarkson thought of the Prius; watch his review, driven whilst in the US.

Just to appreicate how powerful the VW Phaeton V10, 5.0 litre diesel engine is, how much torque is available. Fifth Gear TV show took a VW Touareg which has the same V10 engine and used it break a new world record - towing a 155 tonne Boeing Jumbo 747 airplane.

I’ll let you know if I ultimately do sell my beloved Phaeton and go Green and if so, what next? Well perhaps a Hybrid Supercar that is capable of 220 miles per gallon?

This is the supercar that can return 220mpg, but has enough power to see off a Ferrari! With it’s Porsche Carrera GT-style rear, it looks ready to take on the world’s elite motors, I think I’ll order mine now!