Ahh. Interesting. I had a 2004 W12 for a year and a half. The car was built so well and had a great ride on open interstate, but the ride was harsh at low speeds along any bumps or rough road. The Phaeton was so close to being a perfect car but it was always slightly deficient in many areas but yet so close to being just right.
For example, here in the US, they would not provide a phone for the car yet a "phone" button was on the dash The phones available in the Euro spec cars were designed very, very well and should have been available for America.
The car also had a nice large nav screen but used CD based navigation whereas the exact same car (the Bentley) used DVD. Why did they do this??????
Also, the Phaeton could have had keyless start added from the factory (which I myself added to the car) but yet in America they wouldn't add it because of "legal issues". Funny how on one VW model you get DVD nav and a cell phone but on another , more luxurious model, you can't get either The OnStar (GM product) was the only phone-like feature available to us in America. Horribly behind the times for a 2004 luxury car.

For many reasons such as this, the VW Phaeton flopped in America, especially when an Audi and a Bentley could easily out-equip it. I hear though that in 2013, the Phaeton may return as a diesel. For those looking for a well built, solid luxury auto that doesn't scream "look at me!" , the Phaeton was almost ideal. That was why I gave it a try because in my profession you are frowned on and criticized for making a good living but I eventually decided to tell the community "Go to H*ll" and went back to Benz.

 

trumpet, if you dont mind me asking of course, what profession are you in? any profession that frowns upon an 07 s600 doesnt seem to SANE to me haha

 

Dentist.
My lifestyle is too exposed to the public and they immediately assume every penny I must collect for a crown procedure or a filling goes straight to that car or that I'm making up stuff to do just to make the money. I've got too many real problems hour by hour to take care....I don't need to make up any!!!! I'm 44 y.o. and the older I've gotten , the less this has been a problem. It's not always a problem and in fact, many patients love what I drive and high 5 me for it. So as I've gotten older, I just ignore the immature comments. They keep coming back so I guess it's not that much of a hangup for them.

If I worked in a corporate world, had a garage at work to park in, and never had any interactions with the local public's monetary affairs, then it's OK to drive whatever you want because it's a mystery as to where your income comes from.
In fact, I would find it assuring if my dentist had a nice car. Shows he/she must be doing something right.

It's funny. The same person complaining about the cost of dentistry is usually the same person that wants their daughter to marry a dentist.

Sorry, I know this got but to some degree this is a part of car ownership, especially with high end luxury cars.

Ironically, the VW got MORE attention than the Benzes!!!

 

Thats actually funny as I just had that discussion with my dentist (who also drives a new S class!). I was getting the 2nd of 4 canal/crowns and i jokingly asked him if he picked out his new boat

Seriously though, I dont think most people believe that dentists do unnecessary work to pad their bills. The big issue is that procedures like the ones that I am having are simply too expensive for most people to afford and for the work involved. For example (and to keep the thread relevant) All of the work I have had done to my S so far including the super-technical one-of-a kind engine computer mods cost less than this years dental bills. Im not having any new or exotic procedures either: I just paid $850 for a root canal (40 year old standardized procedure) taking 1.5 hours; that works out to $550/hr. The guy who reprogrammed my fuel/timing maps who was the only guy who could do it and had to fly in with his own equipment and special software only charged $275/hr.

That is the disparity that I am taking about: I am 41 years old and have decent insurance and can afford to pay for healthcare for my family and myself but that was not always the case and I remember being younger and not able to afford what really should be considered basic care. Alot of people today are in that position.

 

I test drove the phaeton as well and I have to agree with you on that: It seems as though the designers got it to 95% and then had their timeframe cut short and couldnt finish it up properly. Also it amazes me that they would make their marquee vehicle a VW rather than an Audi.

 

You're dead-on right about the Bentley: My boss had the Arnage and things constantly rattled and fell off in it. The last straw was when he took a client out to lunch in it and came back riding shotgun in tow truck with the bentley in tow. Needless to say he did not land this particular client.

 

OOO! that had to be embarrassing.

 

im glad you bought what YOU and not what was accepted by your colleagues. im 19, soon to be 20, and im the vp of my fathers company and hes gonna buy me my first benz(08 s class) and his older brother(not as succesful as my father) always scrutinizes my father for giving me and my elder brother luxury vehicles at such young ages, but as you said, its about what you like, and not what other people do. have fun with your v12 beauty trump!

 

It amazes me how so many people can't seem to stay out of the business of others. Family especially!!!! What kind of business do you have? If that is too touchy of a question please don't answer or IM me if you like. It's just I'm always looking for ideas for my sons.

 

Hmmm I knew somebody like that, they ended up choking on the silver spoon they were born with.

19 and a VP of a company, obviously it isn't a fortune 500 company, but what I would like to know is what can a 19 yr old VP actually do? unless you graduated Harvard or MIT at 13, what can you possibly VP? At 19 most are in their first year of college, have no people skills whatsoever, and have yet real world business (and the political aspect of it) Skills or management?

It seems you were handed down your fathers success.

I am not hating either, nor jealous, nor anything else, I just have the nuts to state the obvious.

 

 

ditto...im calling bs.....i dont want proof either. I just dont believe everything i read on the internet.

 

wait wait guys... come on now.

I was the VP of my dads accounting company when i was 19... of course my only job was to make sure my dad always had his hot coffee in the morning before I took his BMW out for a drive

 

Yeah I was a VP of my dad's small company at 18 as well.
I really tried to be a boss/supervisor of others but could get no respect. At that age you will be hard pressed to gain respect from the other workers you are supposed to be supervising regardless of your position in the company.

I think it is best to get a real job for a few years then go work for your dad and not be a boss of others right away.

And I'm totally against working with family in any way as well.

 

It verges on being something that should be against the law. I'm sure many cases of domestic violence is due to sibling jealousy within a company/business. I'm sorry I got this thread off topic with the dentistry thing. It's funny how the interior of a Maybach led to shooting and killing

 

Ahhh....the life of an S-Class owner.

 

Lmao.

 

my dad owns a few Valero gas stations in the philadelphia area.

 

i finally saw a maybach on the road... I-5 north carlsbad area.

 

One Maybach sits in autobahn motors. I like its interior over W221.

 

Awesome!!! That is a perfect job for hiding your source of income. You can always be vague in answering people as to where you work. Even though you take people's money from them daily, they don't have direct interaction with you,the owner, and if you live a few miles from your gas stations, you can be very mysterious as to your description of your employment and exactly how you make your money. (Heck, now you just pass your credit card at the pump and don't even have to go into the store). If asked, just simply say you work in the fuel industry and they just say, "OK" and leave it at that. No direct judgement or criticism is made and you can live your life freely. I'll have to pass that idea on to my boys.

 

Yes but you could have 99% of the Bentley and not have the neighbors bat an eye in your direction, simply buy the Phaeton. I had a W12 car and it was a better car than the old S class car. the Phaeton was really a world class build quality car.

 

I also had a W12. At the time, yes, the Phaeton was far better than the S class

 

I drove the new S class for the first time last leek. WOW!!! The car is light years better than the last S class. I think it will be my new long distance hauler.

 

Get diesel version for long distance to do not stop too frequently.