Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

2004 Volkswagen Phaeton Black Piano Klavierlak / Sonnen Beige on 2040-cars

Year:2004 Mileage:116577
Location:

Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Advertising:

For your consideration is an immaculate 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 edition. 

Click on the link below for a walk around tour on youtube.com.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w87zTF8TL-0


Below is an Edmunds.com review and road test that is worth reading and may answer the many questions I get about this car.  Thanks for looking and happy bidding.

Sitting behind the wheel of the top-of-the-line W12 model, you would be hard-pressed to cite any reason why the Phaeton isn't as overtly decadent as its competitors. From the elegant gauges to the perfectly polished wood trim, this is a car that oozes class from every seam and stitch. And it should, considering its six-figure price tag, one that puts it into an exclusive but hardly vacant class of premium luxury sedans. For those who cringe at the thought of spending that much on a car, the eight-cylinder base model starts at a more reasonable $64,000 and still includes many of the 12-cylinder's luxurious appointments.

The peculiar "W12" name of the top-shelf Phaeton comes from its unusual engine design. Unlike a typical V12 that places its cylinders in one neat V-shaped row, the Phaeton's power plant meshes together two V6 engines in such a way that it resembles a shape more like a "W." The result is a more compact overall size despite the engine's substantial 6.0 liters of displacement.

Developing 420 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, the Phaeton's W12 delivers the kind of irresistible force necessary to get the nearly 5,400-pound sedan up to speed in a hurry. Our test numbers indicated that its quickest sprint from zero to 60 mph took just 6.4 seconds, a respectable number for any sedan let alone one that weighs as much as the Phaeton. Like most 12-cylinder engines, the W12 produces its enormous thrust in a graceful and muted manner that belies its prodigious output. It's not the kind of engine that you lay into just to hear the exhaust roar and watch the gauges swing, but it's always there with plenty of torque on tap to give the Phaeton a feeling of quickness that can be equally amusing.

Assuring that all of the available power gets to the ground in an efficient manner is a standard 4Motion all-wheel-drive system coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission. In dry conditions, the 4Motion system splits the power equally between the front and rear wheels, but if it detects any loss of traction, it can reroute power to the wheels that still have grip. The Phaeton's five-speed automatic is a traditional gearbox that also offers a manual shift gate should you care to select the gears yourself.

Unlike some all-wheel-drive systems that tend to bind up when turning on dry surfaces, Volkswagen has refined 4Motion to the point of complete obscurity. Get into some slippery conditions and it will no doubt come to the rescue, but during most normal driving conditions, you hardly know it's there. Unfortunately, such a discreet presence is not maintained by the automatic transmission, as it's often conspicuously derelict in its duties. All too often a punch of the accelerator is greeted with confusion from the transmission as it struggles to find the right gear. Even with the near limitless torque from the 12-cylinder engine, the Phaeton can feel clumsy at times due to the transmission's inability to make up its mind in a timely fashion.

You would think that any clumsiness would result from the vehicle's massive size and substantial weight, but the Phaeton's sophisticated suspension setup is able to keep the big sedan well in check when you toss it around a bend. Adjustable to one of four settings, the adaptive air suspension goes from pillow soft to noticeably firm in an instant. At its softest, the Phaeton glides along with the kind of unflappable stability you would expect in an autobahn-bred luxury sedan. Cranked up to maximum firmness, the suspension delivers a more direct feel for the road below, although calling it harsh would be an overstatement.

As adaptable as the suspension is, however, there's no denying that the Phaeton prefers a more sedentary lifestyle than one filled with back road shortcuts. It may be predictable and stable, but it never shakes the elephant-on-a-toothpick feel that keeps it from coming across as nimble. Part of the problem is the steering as it tends to feel a bit feathery even when you're going hard, but the undeniable chief culprit is weight. With well over two and a half tons to throw around, the Phaeton has a tough time duplicating the dexterity of its rivals, most of which weigh 600-1,000 pounds less. Fortunately, the Phaeton's brakes feel well up to the task of dragging the hulking mass to a stop, as the sedan was able to stop from 60 mph in a respectable 130 feet.

The Phaeton's poor imitation of a sport sedan shouldn't come as much of a surprise. It may have an exotic engine, all-wheel drive and a computer-controlled suspension, but its ultimate goal is sumptuous luxury, not overwhelming athleticism. Nowhere is that objective more apparent than within the confines of the Phaeton's lavish interior, as no expense was spared in its attempt to compete with the finest sedans in the world.

Given the fact that Volkswagen's entry-level cars have a reputation for upscale cabin designs, the Phaeton's plush interior is almost a given. Unlike some of its competitors, the Phaeton's cabin manages to offer all the latest electronic features without resorting to an overly complex or distracting design. The classically styled gauges look proper for a car in this class, while the rest of the dashboard remains relatively free from clutter. The center stack control center has its share of gadgets, but once you become familiar with its topography, the controls seem logically arranged.

While both Phaeton models come standard with an 18-way power-adjustable driver seat and a 16-way adjustable front-passenger seat, the W12 one-ups the base model with driver and front-passenger seats that also include multilevel ventilation and massage functions. Each of the sculpted rear seats can be equipped with similar climate control functions, but their range of adjustment is limited to a 10-way system. Further comfort is provided through a four-zone climate control system that allows varying degrees of temperature for each of the four seating positions. Despite a wheelbase that's several inches shorter than a Mercedes S-Class, the Phaeton offers more legroom front and rear than both its Mercedes and BMW rivals.

You don't have to compare the numbers to get a sense of the Phaeton's spacious accommodations. Even with the driver seat adjusted for an over-six-foot pilot, the rear seat still yields more than enough room for a tall passenger to stretch out comfortably. Up front, the nearly infinite array of adjustments for the front seats makes getting comfortable a simple matter of taking the time to find just the right setting an then saving it into one of the three memory presets. Visibility is good in nearly all directions, although the slim rear window cuts down on rearward visibility somewhat. Optional front and rear parking sensors assure worry-free parallel parking.

The Phaeton's cabin displays flawless build quality and materials indicative of its price. Pushing and tugging on the various dash and door panels reveals construction so solid you would need a well-placed crowbar to budge them. The standard walnut wood trim has perfectly matched grains and a rich finish that adds some polish to the interior without looking overdone. For those who prefer a more personalized look, Volkswagen offers three additional choices of wood trim and five different interior colors.

Other than choosing your preferred interior colors and trim, there are few options as the standard features list is extensive. In addition to the previously mentioned items, the Phaeton also comes standard with a 270-watt audio system, OnStar emergency assistance, xenon headlights, rear sunshades and a CD-based navigation system among others. It's an impressive list, but the Phaeton is missing a few key features that its competitors have already embraced, such as adaptive cruise control, an up-to-date DVD-based navigation system and a keyless ignition system. If you have to have the latest gadgets, the Phaeton will disappoint.

The absence of perfection extends to the execution of the interior as well, as there are some elements that prove annoyingly out of place. Although the vast majority of the hardware looks and feels top-notch, a few choice control buttons feel flimsy and look less than substantial. The window switches for the driver are buried so far down in the door that even the tallest drivers are left stretching to work them. The shifter handle also showed signs of looseness that was hardly pleasing, given its role as the most direct link between driver and drivetrain. The motorized vent covers are a neat trick, but should a fuse blow on a hot day with the covers in place, the novelty of the system will wear off quickly.

Dissecting the Phaeton's minor flaws may seem like a concerted attempt to discredit its luxury pedigree, but when it comes to cars of the Phaeton's caliber, nitpicking is pretty much all that's left to do. Like every other $100,000 luxo-cruiser on the market, the Phaeton W12 delivers heaping amounts of power, faultless construction and enough luxury amenities to keep four passengers content even on the longest of trips. There's a reason it costs as much as it does, and those with the means to buy it aren't likely to be disappointed.

Auto Services in North Carolina

Willmon Auto Sales ★★★★★

New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers, Wholesale Used Car Dealers
Address: 229 W Meadow Rd, Eden
Phone: (866) 595-6470

Westend Auto Service ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service
Address: 8345 Nc 27 W, Linden
Phone: (910) 893-8600

West Ridge Auto Sales Inc ★★★★★

Used Car Dealers
Address: 1511 Patton Ave, Mountain-Home
Phone: (828) 252-2126

Valvoline Instant Oil Change ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Auto Oil & Lube, Automotive Tune Up Service
Address: 201 Turnersburg Hwy, Olin
Phone: (704) 872-6588

USA Automotive ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Inspection Stations & Services, Auto Oil & Lube
Address: 1620 Trawick Rd, Cary
Phone: (919) 231-8777

Triangle Window Tinting ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Window Tinting, Glass Coating & Tinting
Address: 920 Windy Rd, Gulf
Phone: (919) 363-3320

Auto blog

Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes also under diesel emissions scrutiny

Sat, Oct 10 2015

The controversy over Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal isn't limited to the US. In Europe, where diesel engines are far more popular, the issue is shining a harsh light on the NEDC emissions test. As already known, the evaluation does a poor job of reflecting real-world production of NOx, and it appears a significant number of automakers are affected. The Guardian in the UK has been reporting on real-world test results from a company called Emissions Analytics. After the latest round of checks, vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi were found to generate far more NOx than they should. The newspaper also published similar results for Renault, Nissan, Hyundai, Fiat, Volvo, Jeep, Citroen, VW, and Audi. On average, the figures are about four times over the limit of producing the pollutant. Unlike VW and its defeat device, these automakers aren't actually breaking the rules. The vehicles perform up to the NEDC lab test for emissions, but those results simply aren't translated to the street. "The VW issue in the US was purely the trigger which threw light on a slightly different problem in the EU - widespread legal over-emissions," Nick Molden from Emissions Analytics said to The Guardian. A big fight to decide the future of this issue appears to be on the horizon. Automakers claim that they can't meet the next round of tightening emissions regulations and are asking for compromises. Although, spokespeople for Mercedes and Honda told The Guardian that the brands would be in favor of the stricter rules. Meanwhile, some European governments began backtracking their support of diesels well before this scandal came to light. The added scrutiny certain hasn't helped the future of the oil-burner. Related Video:

Volkswagen adding R-Line trim to Touareg, Tiguan for 2014

Fri, 11 Jan 2013

Volkswagen introduced its aggressive R-Line appearance package on the CC and Beetle last year, but later this year, this treatment will also be applied to VW's crossovers, the Tiguan and Touareg. Both sporty-looking utility vehicles will be unveiled next week at the Detroit Auto Show.
The 2014 Tiguan R-Line comes standard with bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights, and the package adds 19-inch wheels, grey fender extensions, body-color side skirts and a liftgate spoiler. Inside, the R-Line adds a flat-bottom sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, a black headliner and numerous metallic trim accents such as the stainless scuff plates, the aluminum pedals and metallic finish on the instrument and door panels. The Tiguan R-Line will be offered in front- and all-wheel drive configurations.
As for the 2014 Touareg R-Line (shown above), this model gets an ever more distinctive look with an aggressive front fascia, 20-inch wheels and dual oval-shaped exhaust outlets in addition to the painted side skirts and LED taillights. Similar metallic interior trim pieces found inside the Tiguan R-Line will also make their way into the Touareg as well as gloss black accents on the instrument panel and center stack.

Ecotricity offering 1,000 free EV miles to new customers

Thu, Feb 13 2014

Ecotricity is offering electric vehicle drivers in the United Kingdom an lengthy incentive for using green energy: 1,000 miles of free fast charging per year. Called "Green Electricity + Car," the program will power customers' homes with renewable power allow them to charge their cars through Ecotricity's national network of fast chargers, which the company has named the Electric Highway. It makes complete sense for Ecotricity. "To get the greatest environmental benefit from an electric car, it needs to be charged using 100 percent green electricity from the wind and the sun – otherwise you're still powering it from dirty fossil fuels," wrote Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity. Ecotricity, a UK-based producer of green energy, wants to bring fast charging to 90 percent of highway service stations around the UK in the near future and four fast chargers are installed per week under the Electric Highway campaign, the company says. Users can fast charge their EVs in 20-to-30 minutes. Ecotricity recently instituted a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until April 1, reducing energy costs below what's being billed by the country's "Big Six" energy companies. Green Electricity + Car coincides with Volkswagen bringing its electric e-Up! to the British market. Volkswagen Group (UK) Limited imports VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda brand vehicles and has signed a deal with Ecotricity as its official green energy supplier. Volkswagen Group customers purchasing an EV through one of its brands can take advantage of a new, reduced-cost Ecotricity tariff and a free smart meter installation. 08 February 2014 Green Electricity + Car Drivers of electric cars will receive 1,000 free miles every year with a new electricity tariff being launched by green energy company Ecotricity. Green Electricity + Car – will not only power customers homes with green energy but also their cars (either 100% electric or plug-in hybrids), plus they'll get free access to Ecotricity's national network of fast chargers[1] – the Electric Highway. This latest move comes after Ecotricity announced a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until the end of winter (April 1st), making them cheaper[2] than the standard tariff of the Big Six energy companies.