Volkswagen Phaeton – The Classiest Car in the World
By AJ | April 26, 2010
What kind of car do you get if you want to get pampered, have loads of money, AND you don’t want anyone to know you have a 6-figs car? The answer is simple – It’s the Phaeton!
What do you think of when you hear Phaeton? Our guess is:
- Flop
- Failure
- Bad business decisions
All of these are true of the Phaeton, but they are a result of sales numbers, and don’t necessarily reflect the car itself. Let’s go over what makes the car so classy.
Understatement – How much more understated can you get than a car virtually indistinguishable from a Passat that has all the posh of a Mercedes S or a Bentley Continental? Phaetons are the ultimate in understatement.
No Fakin’ – Guaranteed, if you own a Lamborghini, you are tired of gawkers asking you questions at the gas pump, pretending to be your friend. There are an elite few in the population who would ever recognize the Phaeton.
Respect – Imagine the respect that comes when someone does find out that you own a rare piece of automotive history? It says a lot about someone when they have money and don’t have a need to flaunt it. Like when you found out the super nice guy that lives next door was a multimillionaire – that guy becomes instantly classy.
It’s a Volkswagen – If the badge mattered to you, you would not be buying a Volkswagen with your $100,000.
Classy people don’t flaunt how much better they are than everyone else. They aren’t concerned with how they appear – they’re happy, so who cares what anyone else thinks?
Just the Facts
- The kind of person who bought a Phaeton is ultra classy
- 90% of the people who own exotics can’t really afford them
- No one who owns a Phaeton has ever been called a douche
There’s nothing classier than a successful person who doesn’t care who knows about their success.
::Raises Glass:: To Phaeton Owners!
5 Comments
Eran Bair on April 27, 2010 at 12:39 pm.
I think it was a bad business decision. An ultra-high class Volkswagen? Who would buy it? When I worked for Sundance VW was a sponsor of the Film Festival and they lent one to Robert Redford. It was extremely nice but it was still a Volkswagen. Its tough to make the transition from the peoples car (an affordable car) to an ultra-luxury car. They should have created its own brand.
WilcoxAJ on April 27, 2010 at 1:00 pm.
@Eran – but see? That’s exactly my point. The kind of person who buys a Phaeton doesn’t care about what other people think. You are correct it was not a hot seller, but the underpinnings are now shared by the Bentley Continental GT – a car we can all agree has seen great sales.
nsimps on April 27, 2010 at 10:13 pm.
Great post! I agree with the “No Fakin’” part. It is a rare occasion that a Phaeton is seen on the streets, and it turns my head every time. Not to say my head isn’t turned by a Bently, but there is an added appreciation for the Phaeton which my wife hears about, every time.
WilcoxAJ on April 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm.
For sure Nick! The problem with the Phaeton is that it doesn’t draw your attention like a Bentley, so I end up whipping my head around for every Passat that rides by. When I do spot one, I gawk just like a Bentley.
FB_1234097888 on April 28, 2010 at 12:05 am.
I like this post. Well said.