VW Phaeton
- Thread starter Bryan330i
- Start date
![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]"){kind=icon}
i think its kind of sad the way people are willing to pay less for a crap car like a 1 (or 2) series BMW just because of the marque, whereas they are not willing to pay more for a highly refined and very very very well built, luxurious, and quite decent in performance VW just because of the badge.
well i guess thats how the middlemen, in advertisers, get to make their big bucks....
branding is a wierd phenomenon![[:p]](/images/smilies/tongue.png "Stick Out Tongue [:p]")
well i guess thats how the middlemen, in advertisers, get to make their big bucks....
branding is a wierd phenomenon
See, normally, I'd agree with you. However, in VW's case, they already own Audi which plays in the same sandbox as BMW and MB. VW going up just eats into Audi's territory. Part of VWs success was that people who wanted a German car but didn't want to pay BMW or MB prices could buy a Jetta or Passat. Those that wanted the prestige and stuff could buy an Audi. Worked great.
People who buy these cars for status prolly aren't too happy to see the same car with a better warranty and traditional status "name" across the street for the same price. Plus, if you bring it in for service, you gotta rub elbows with Golf and Bug drivers? Worse, your loaner (if you get one, and you probably won't) would be that Golf or Bug.
People who buy these cars for status prolly aren't too happy to see the same car with a better warranty and traditional status "name" across the street for the same price. Plus, if you bring it in for service, you gotta rub elbows with Golf and Bug drivers? Worse, your loaner (if you get one, and you probably won't) would be that Golf or Bug.
![[;)]](/images/smilies/wink.png "Wink [;)]")
![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
The problem I see is that, at least initially, they might wind up cannibalizing their own families. That is, since Audi already plays in the luxury market area, they are competing with themselves in different divisions. The same issue with the Touareg and the Cayenne. BMW doesn't do this. Look at what happened to GM when they got to carried away with multiple brand names that competed with each other.
In my first post I put the Phaeton in the 5 class after first seeing the car. I even said that I would go for the 540 before the VW.
For some reason, in my mind, I just cannot put the VW in the 7 class after seeing it. I am sure that is where it is intended to be, or close to it, but I don’t get the same feeling about it. When I see a 7, and yes even the new ones, I see a richer, more refined car. I did not get this from the VW. I just cant see it in the 7 “class.”
For some reason, in my mind, I just cannot put the VW in the 7 class after seeing it. I am sure that is where it is intended to be, or close to it, but I don’t get the same feeling about it. When I see a 7, and yes even the new ones, I see a richer, more refined car. I did not get this from the VW. I just cant see it in the 7 “class.”
![[werd]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_werd.gif "Werd [werd]"){kind=icon}
![[:)]](/images/smilies/smile.png "Smile [:)]")
If you were going to spend $70k on a "large family sedan", what car would you choose? I wouldn't think the Phaeton would be on many lists, but I could be wrong.Do you think they would have been better off creating a NEW brand, perhaps a luxury division simlar to Nissan/Infiniti or Toyota/Lexus?
But, I think it is a very solid car! They built a brand new manufacturing facility in Germany...the whole building is made out of glass...very clean and modern....they featured it on R&T Television (Discovery)...Probably has crappy resale value?
But, I think it is a very solid car! They built a brand new manufacturing facility in Germany...the whole building is made out of glass...very clean and modern....they featured it on R&T Television (Discovery)...Probably has crappy resale value?
I drove a Phaeton for four hours two weeks ago.
I have to say I like the car... but I didn't like it $70+K worth.
I think VW is making a big mistake. First with the Toureg ($50+K) and now with the Phaeton (up to $96K).
It has a very luxurious feel when you drive it around town (I was fortunate enought o drive it in San Francisco), and it definately is going up against the Mercedes S-Class or the BMW 7-Series... NOT the BMW 5-Series.
Many of the features on the car are "interesting"... for example, there are no air blowers for the climate control (unless you purposly turn them on, and then they are revealed behind the dash trim by a motorized door)...
There is an adjustable suspension (like the Toureg) which can raise or your lower you car in a speed sensitive manor or manually (I adjusted to Sports Suspension, and it lowered an inch).
The reason I think the Toureg and Phaeton are mistakes, is the market expectes VALUE from VW. The Jetta, Golf, Passat, Beattle, Eurovan, GTI all have one thing in common... 20-somethings want them. They want them because they deliver extreme value for their price segment.
The Toureg and the Phaeton are aimed at graduating 20-somethings (30 or 40 somethings), and cost more to show for it... but isn't that what Audi is for? It would serve VAG much better (IMHO) to "sex up" the Audi platforms (the A6 may be the most boring looking car ever produced), and leverage the brands that have been in the world market for the last 40+ years.
VolksWagen = People's Car (auf Deutsch). This is the line we all could afford. Even as a first car
Audi = luxury sports sedan. This is the line we all yearn for when we can afford it. Put the Toureg and the Phaeton in this brand, change the styling. Improve the A4/A6/A8 styling, and put your racing and touring heritage into this brand... You don't see VW at 24 hours at LeMans do you? You don't see the VW North American racing series do you?
Anyhow... that;'s my $0.02. Nice car. Horrible brand positioning... too costly (zu teuer). Buy an S-Class.
- matthewk
I have to say I like the car... but I didn't like it $70+K worth.
I think VW is making a big mistake. First with the Toureg ($50+K) and now with the Phaeton (up to $96K).
It has a very luxurious feel when you drive it around town (I was fortunate enought o drive it in San Francisco), and it definately is going up against the Mercedes S-Class or the BMW 7-Series... NOT the BMW 5-Series.
Many of the features on the car are "interesting"... for example, there are no air blowers for the climate control (unless you purposly turn them on, and then they are revealed behind the dash trim by a motorized door)...
There is an adjustable suspension (like the Toureg) which can raise or your lower you car in a speed sensitive manor or manually (I adjusted to Sports Suspension, and it lowered an inch).
The reason I think the Toureg and Phaeton are mistakes, is the market expectes VALUE from VW. The Jetta, Golf, Passat, Beattle, Eurovan, GTI all have one thing in common... 20-somethings want them. They want them because they deliver extreme value for their price segment.
The Toureg and the Phaeton are aimed at graduating 20-somethings (30 or 40 somethings), and cost more to show for it... but isn't that what Audi is for? It would serve VAG much better (IMHO) to "sex up" the Audi platforms (the A6 may be the most boring looking car ever produced), and leverage the brands that have been in the world market for the last 40+ years.
VolksWagen = People's Car (auf Deutsch). This is the line we all could afford. Even as a first car
Audi = luxury sports sedan. This is the line we all yearn for when we can afford it. Put the Toureg and the Phaeton in this brand, change the styling. Improve the A4/A6/A8 styling, and put your racing and touring heritage into this brand... You don't see VW at 24 hours at LeMans do you? You don't see the VW North American racing series do you?
Anyhow... that;'s my $0.02. Nice car. Horrible brand positioning... too costly (zu teuer). Buy an S-Class.
- matthewk