I've never really got my head round the reason for the Phaeton. Was it a demonstration by VAG to show what they could do, or was it an attempt to stretch their range up into the premium sector, in which case why when they already have Audi's A8 doing battle? On both levels the model is very good indeed, although I would contest the point that it is astonishing because the main reason I believe why people are so amazed by it is down to them not expecting the makers of dull efforts like the Polo to come up with such a decent luxo-barge.
I certainly wouldn't mind having one but it would have to be a few years old as the depreciation appears to be pretty eye-watering, which doesn't appeal to my Welsh side! Joking aside, it's great news for us tightwad drivers but must be absolutely maddening for anyone buying them new, enjoying what is a really nice car and then being insulted by a shiny suit on a forecourt come chopping-in time.