2004 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 01:27:13 pm
content: My colleague bought one based on Top Gear's review and due to the huge value loss they suffer.The car is amazing, full of every equipment and luxury you can imagine. The engine is awesome. Driving in it, you feel like a minister.But every month something new broke or failed... and every part is extra expensive due to all the sensors. Also, parts are hard to get and need to be back ordered.Finally, no or only few mechanics at VW dealership are trained to do maintenance on this model.As a result, this car will be sold ASAP.Cheers,Vitor

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 02:38:40 pm
content: I think this was the Volkswagen Group's precursor to the Veyron. They wanted to build a car that showed they could engineer the pinnacle of road transport. Obviously, they soon realized that an understated car like this wasn't going to end up on any boy's bedroom wall, so they shifted gears and started the Bugatti project.It's a brilliant strategy. You show the world you can build the world's most advanced cars, depending on your metrics of course, and it's a lot cheaper than something like participating in the formula 1. Much more effective than traditional advertising and cheaper too, despite losing a lot of money on every car.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 05:18:41 pm
content: Rip out the guts and swap in a smallblock V8

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 05:48:15 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on December 26, 2017, 05:18:41 pmWhy on Earth would you swap a W12 for a smallblock V8? Even though the latter can be a lot of fun, that doesn't sound like an improvement.

author: TassiloH
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 08:39:13 pm
content: I once read a report that said the Phaeton was relatively popular in China among officials who wanted a luxury car but didn't want to be seen in oneThat report also said that to change the timing chain tensioner and similar things, one has to remove the engine from the car due to space contraints...

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2017, 08:49:32 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on December 26, 2017, 05:48:15 pmHUGE boost in reliability and HUGE reduction is costs of repair parts. Plus a million independent mechanics know how to fix small block V8s. And if a modern small block that's not tweaked for the utmost in power output, it probably will get far superior fuel mileage as well.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 03:09:10 am
content: Quote from: Bicurico on December 26, 2017, 01:27:13 pmSo typical of VW these days.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 03:11:42 am
content: UGLY.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 11:23:19 am
content: Quote from: rrinker on December 26, 2017, 08:49:32 pmI think the W12 is one of the parts without much issues. I'm also not sure a small block and the somewhat more sophisticated Phaeton are very compatible, even if just because the car expects all sorts of sensors to talk to it and those would be gone. I doubt the fuel milage would be much better or even better at all. These are fairly nifty engines.The W12 is the main attraction of the car. Though a V8 can be a lot of fun, I'm not quite sure this is the car to put one in.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 01:46:36 pm
content: These are called "premium wrecks" in my country. All the BMWs and Mercedeses that were used for 10 years, 350.000 KM. Even if it was on the Autobahn, it is still just too much. And every day, there is something failing, that cost half of the worth of the car. This car (V6 version) is sold for 4000 EUR. But when you need new shock absorbers they cost 6000 EUR.And leasing a new car ends up costing the same. Except you have a new car.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 03:37:16 pm
content: Quote from: TassiloH on December 26, 2017, 08:39:13 pmCars which are complicated cost a lot to maintain (which was my reasoning for not getting a Subaru WRX).

author: Brutte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 05:27:37 pm
content: Hereis a list of VW's Self Study Programms (pdf-s) and those related to Phaeton (SSP 270 is a good starting point):250 - VW Phaeton W12 - Engine Management270 - VW Phaeton271 - VW Phaeton - Air Conditioner and Heating272 - VW Phaeton - Board Net - Part 01 / Part 02273 - VW Phaeton - Comfort and Security Electronics - Part 01 / Part 02 / Part 03274 - VW Phaeton - Infotainment System275 - VW Phaeton - Air Suspension with Regulated Damping - Part 01 / Part 02 / Part 03276 - VW Phaeton - Automatic Distance Rregulation (ADR)277 - VW Phaeton - Chassis280 - VW Phaeton - Auxiliary heater Thermo TOP C and supplementary heater Thermo TOP Z - Part 01 / Part 02