Driving Impressions

We drove both the V8- and W12-powered Phaetons, and while the W12 provides nearly 100 more horsepower, we'd recommend the V8 and its more responsive six-speed automatic transmission for typical American driving conditions. The W12 comes with a five-speed automatic. Realize that all Phaetons sold here are electronically limited to a 130 mph top speed even though the car is engineered to run at speeds approaching 190 mph on the German autobahn. Volkswagen says the speed governor for American customers is in place because Americans prefer to drive year around on all-season tires (rather than switch from high-speed summer to special wet and winter weather tires, and all-season radials are only rated at speeds of up to 130 mph. Obviously, 130 is more than sufficient and well above the legal limit in North America, and with the six-speed gearbox, we found the V8 to have plenty of zip for acceleration off the line and for responsive downshifts needed for passing, whether on two-lane roads or in expressway traffic. The V8 also has more than 200 pounds less weight to move, and that weight is better balanced with only 53 percent in front versus 57 percent for the weightier W12 engine. VW claims a 6.7-second 0 to 60 mph sprint time for the V8 and a 5.9 figure for the W12. Both engines earn the Phaeton low emission vehicle certification (LEV). The V8's lighter nose can be felt in the speed-sensitive Servotronic steering system. Both versions provide confident directional reaction and excellent feedback to the driver, but the V8 steering feels lighter and thus even more responsive. However, both cars we drove were equipped with 18-inch wheels, which are optional with the V8 engine but standard with the W12. The V8 has 317 pound-feet of torque while the W12 provides 406, and provides maximum power all the way from 3000 to 4750 rpm. Still, we thought the V8 had a more pleasing exhaust note for those who like to hear their car while it's accelerating from a stoplight. Not that you hear very much sound inside the Phaeton, at least not until you reach speeds of around 110 mph on the autobahn, where you start to get some wind noise around the car's rear view mirrors. Thanks to double-pane windows, triple door seals and various other sound deadening techniques, the cabin of the Phaeton is whisper quiet even at speeds approaching 90 mph. The Phaeton's all-wheel-drive system is shared with Audi's large sedans (not with VW's Touareg SUV) and is designed for on-road traction and safety. The system features a Torsen center differential that normally divides power 50:50 between front and rear axles, but can shift as much as 67 percent of power to the wheels with the greatest grip. The air suspension can be set to comfort, normal, sport 1 or sport 2 settings. It can be set at the push of a button or continuously adjusts on its own. For example, drive for more than 30 seconds at speeds of more than 70 mph and it automatically lowers the car nearly six-tenths of an inch to enhance aerodynamics and stability. The system also can raise the car nearly an inch on rough roads, at least until you reach 30 mph, at which point it returns the car to a lower and more normal ride height. In addition to constantly adjusting the shock absorbers for ride control, the system includes self-leveling technology to provide proper ride height regardless of load. Standard electronic driver aids include ABS, EBD, EBC, ASR, ESP, EDL, and should the worst-case scenario still occur and the car become involved in a crash, the doors unlock, the heating and air conditioning system deactivates, the batteries are disconnected and the telemetric equipment automatically makes an emergency call that includes the vehicle's precise location as tracked by the navigation equipment. After driving both cars, our favorite Phaeton is the V8 with the four-seat interior and 18-inch wheels.

Final Word

A $64,600 Volkswagen? Or maybe that should be: A $64,600 Volkswagen!!! Maybe you grew up with the original Beetle, and remember how shocked you were when its sticker price finally edged up past $1,800. Or maybe your first VW was a Rabbit or a Golf, or even a Jetta or a New Beetle. Whatever your personal experience, the thought of any Volkswagen with a sticker on its window showing the sort of numbers most commonly associate with Mercedes-Benz or BMW may seem an anomaly, if not absolute blasphemy. But if you're a small town dentist or banker, you likely can afford a car with a three-pointed star or a blue-and-white propeller emblem, but perhaps you can't afford to be seen driving one, lest your patients think they're being overcharged or your depositors worry that their accounts are being skimmed. Or maybe you're an entrepreneur or executive who has made it, but doesn't need to flaunt it. Regardless, if you've arrived at a place in life where you can afford the finer things, but prefer to wear the labels on the inside of your clothing, the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton may be just the car for you.