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<p dir="ltr">The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.</p>

<p dir="ltr">However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.</p>


VOLKSWAGEN

PHAETON

<p>The Volkswagen Phaeton is well engineered, but a lack of kudos may be crucial</p>


Used Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon 2003 - 2010

<p>Despite what we have said about the Phaeton suffering terrible depreciation, it's not a cheap car to buy. You could argue that it's a bargain, but only next to cars such as the S-Class and 7 Series.</p>

<p>It's a big, heavy car, too, so its fuel economy is pretty frightening. An Audi A8 3.0 TDI quattro returns 32.8mpg, but the heavier Phaeton with essentially the same engine does only 29.4mpg - and it's slower to 60mph. Diesel S-Classes and 7 Series don't have four-wheel drive, and are even more frugal, and it's same story with other engines - the VW is almost always thirstier.</p>

<p>At least it can recoup some of that extra cost with lower insurance groupings and cheaper maintenance: most Phaetons are in group 45, while servicing on a VW is much less than on a Mercedes.</p>

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The Volkswagen Phaeton is well engineered, but a lack of kudos may be crucial

<p>The Phaeton reached the UK in June 2003, but it was two years before our favourite engine arrived. The 3.0-litre TDI diesel has the most attractive blend of performance and economy, if not the cheapest prices.</p>

<p>If you're looking to spend the absolute minimum of cash, go for the 3.2 V6 petrol, which was on sale from day one and has had longer to depreciate. It's our second-favourite engine overall, but the only one to choose on an early car.</p>

<p>The next cheapest model has a V8 petrol engine, but its price and running costs are very high. Still, next to the V12 petrol and V10 turbodiesel, it looks positively sensible. They're prohibitively dear to buy and run.</p>

<p>VW also sold long-wheelbase models from mid-2004. If you have a choice, it's best to save a few quid and stick with the shorter car, which is perfectly large enough.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

<p>If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.</p>

Luxury

<p>Even now, the Phaeton is a rare sight in the UK, and we've heard of no major problems. What's more, there have been no safety recalls.</p>

<p>The over-riding impression is that it's a superbly built, reliable and understated executive express. It's true that the earliest models seem to have suffered some teething troubles, but the later cars seem more sound.</p>

<p>The Phaeton has never appeared in the JD Power survey, but the anecdotal evidence above seems to be confirmed by Volkswagen's performance: the company's customer satisfaction rating has improved in recent years.</p>

<p>Finally, Warranty Direct says that, in general, VWs are pretty reliable, with claim rates very much on a par with those for BMW, Audi and Mercedes.</p>

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<p>The VW Phaeton's ambition was to attack luxury saloon cars such as the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series, but as a new car it just never had the necessary prestige to succeed.</p>

<p>As a used car, much of that remains true, of course, but that relative lack of desirability does have one very welcome side effect: incredibly cheap prices. Compared with those rivals, the Phaeton is several thousand pounds cheaper.</p>

<p>That doesn't mean it's missing out on comfort or equipment, though. It has enormous space in the cabin (for rear-seat passengers in particular), a huge boot, superb build quality and pretty much every piece of luxury and safety equipment you can think of.</p>

<p>If there is a disappointment, it's that it isn't more exciting to drive. Instead, the emphasis is on smoothness and refinement, with a comfortable ride rather than sharper handling, and steering that's short of feel.</p>

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Used Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon 2003 - 2010 reliability

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Used Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon 2003 - 2010 review

Even now, the Phaeton is a rare sight in the UK, and we've heard of no major problems. What's more, there have been no safety recalls.,The over-riding impression is that it's a superbly built, reliable and understated executive express. It's true that the earliest models seem to have suffered some teething troubles, but the later cars seem more sound.,The Phaeton has never appeared in the JD Power survey, but the anecdotal evidence above seems to be confirmed by Volkswagen's performance: the company's customer satisfaction rating has improved in recent years.Finally, Warranty Direct says that, in general, VWs are pretty reliable, with claim rates very much on a par with those for BMW, Audi and Mercedes. 

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