I love it...

[joshwa]

Pictures of the Dresden factory where the VW Phaeton is built:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1837641

see the pictures titled "Final Visual Inspection"

"The Phaeton story also includes how Volkswagen drew an ambitious set of benchmarks it had to achieve, such as the W12 version being able to cruise at 186mph in a temperature of 50 degrees centigrade whilst chilling the cabin to 20 degrees (using the four-zone climate control system). Or how it had to have the stiffest body in class; apparently, you could attach a Golf GTi to a three-metre steel pole, bolt that to a Phaeton and the body would only bend by one degree." from here:
http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature...re.jsp?id=1131

everything about the VW Phaeton is just awesome!

and second hand prices are nearing £20k - perhaps in 5 years time I'll be able to buy one for £10k ?

What I also love is the styling, like a big b5.5 Passat (2001 - 2005 model), it makes my passat look like a mini Phaeton

[Moby-Dick]

A friend of mine has the diesel one - its an amazing car.

[madmaca]

That's one impressive setup. A tribute to German engineering and efficiency...

Kinda makes the likes of, what were, Longbridge and Dagenham pretty much stoneage... :s

[GeorgeTuk]

Thats a helluva lot of work for such a boring looking car.

I mean i knows its a very smart car but so boring to look at!

[madmaca]

Thats a helluva lot of work for such a boring looking car.

I mean i knows its a very smart car but so boring to look at!

Yeah 90% of German cars are boring to look at, but you can't deny the work that goes into making them...maybe they have got a little too "anal" about the engineering and they should send some of their people back to design school...

[dave87]

I think the v10 diesel sounds like a very interesting car me.

[Rave]

and second hand prices are nearing £20k - perhaps in 5 years time I'll be able to buy one for £10k ?

There's no perhaps about it- it'll take less than 5 years if you ask me. All luxury cars depreciate like crazy, but the Phaeton is one of the worst just because it doesn't have such a prestige image as Merc/Audi/BMW.

The worry with buying a Phaeton at 5 or 6 years old is the sheer overload of electrics and electronics it contains. Albeit that they seem to build it very carefully, there's still a hell of a lot to go wrong with one.

I wouldn't buy one personally, because they're too damned heavy- 2300kg! This year or next I plan to buy an E38 BMW 740i (or iL if I can find one) and run it into the ground. When it dies I'll replace it with an E60 730d or, even better, a Jag XJ 2.7D.

[dave87]

I'm thinking 530d when I leave uni - should cost around 10-12k for a decent model, new shape aswell (first year of uni, so 2and a bit to go)

[arbitor]

looks bloody good to me, i wouldnt say all german cars look boring, some mercs and bmws look awesome...

[Howard]

I'm thinking 530d when I leave uni - should cost around 10-12k for a decent model, new shape aswell (first year of uni, so 2and a bit to go)

I'm thinking 530i to copy the Fox man, cos those cars are just uber sexy, much more so than the evil looking (but good, admittedly) new one.

Only problem right now is money, and age/insurance implications. Oh how I wish I was born a couple of years earlier!

[dave87]

530i didn't impress me much with its 23-25mpg range (probably lower with my right foot)

The other car that really impressed me, and I have actually driven it, is the v70 d5. (that will be in the same price range when I leave uni, we lost 14k over 4 years on the current petrol v70) Such a great engine, wallows a bit round corners, but the Geartronic box is simply divine.

That said, the BMW tiptronic is meant to be very good (and I'm lazy).

[Nemeliza]

The new 5 series does have some serious attitude to its look, but there is something about the older model that still appeals to me - they are very nice cars. If i had to choose i'd have the new one though.

I'm still not sure about tiptronics, the only tiptronic car i have driven is a Lamborghini Murcielago (i love saying that!) amp the only thing i can remember from that experience was the road dissappearing very quickly and my briefs suddenly gaining weight...

Friend of mine has an R reg 730i and all he ever says about it is 'i need to fill up again', drives very nicely though.

[shelley bda]

Those pictures are stunning! and the workspace looks as clean as an operating theatre... reminds me of seeing pictures of the inside of Pro-Drive's workspace! all stainless steel so clean you could eat your dinner off it

Some would make lovely wallpapers, I really like the storage tower pic.

[dave87]

Nemeliza - Dad had the old shape 523i - loved that car to bits, couldn't understand why he got rid of it until he picked me up from school in the Boxster (after driving it back from London). That was a tiptronic, and cruising down to the south of France was oh so effortless, given the opportunity the dark side of 100 was easily achievable.

I like the styling, I must admit, but the new car came with improvements over the older shape, in terms of comfort, security, and even the engines. The new shape 530d is supposed to be even better than the old shape one, and the 535d is meant to be immense.

You mentioned the 730i - before the 523i Dad had a 525tds, and to everyone that drove it (mechanics included) they said it was like the 7 series should have been, nimble, quick and oh so comfortable. We sold it to some friends, I think he took it to 130+k miles, and all that was wrong with it by the end was the padding in the seats. I think that says something.

Anyway, I think we've gone waaay off topic....mmm V10 diesel

[chriswood_7]

That is excellent. Top quality engineering, manufacturing and efficiency in a super organised environment. As a design engineer I am very impressed by this, I think every engineering company could take a leaf out of their book.

Impressive pictures too!

[Butuz]

The 535d is immense. Different league to the 330d / 530d

Butuz