would you still go with the A8 or would you look at the Phaeton? Which is a better deal right now, in your opinion?

i've read some VW dealers aren't quite up to par with taking care of Phaetons and their owners.

..Dunno how true it really is, but Edmund's says a MY05 VW goes for about 40K and an Audi goes for about 50K.

HOWEVER, the vehicles started out about 4-5k different in out-the-door prices (based upon my experience with Audi anbd my friend's with VW).

I think it is not a no-brainer at all, and requires quite a bit of thought.

(e)

I have had both and now an S8. The VW dealers don't know how to take care of high end customers. Period.
And, resale on the Phaeton will stink. Plus, the car is much heavier, and drives like it.

I've had both and the VW is much heavier and performs as such, the resale will continue to stink, and vw dealers do not know how to treat high end customers.

Steel rusts no matter how expensive the car was when new.

"im in love with the A8"...i think that pretty much sums it up.

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/25906/2003-09-05-phaeton-18.jpg"></center><p>Phaeton has better seats.

you the A8 is superbly comfortable.
The car never leaves me feeling tired, the aircon system and seating keeps me alert. I found a remarkable difference in this on moving from an A6 and I realized it had to be the car.

..I am not disagreeing with those who say "Audi", but for me, if I were in the position of making that choice, it would NOT be a no-brainer. There would be pros and cons on both sides, and while the Audi would probably win out in my mind, there would be real consideration for the Phaeton.

But my insurance company exacts NO upcharge for the A8 aluminum body. They cheerfully paid for repairs to the right rear fender (thanks Audi for the toy rearview mirrors) when I backed down a steep blind driveway into a rock....even though the costs were perhaps 50% greater than a steel body would have incurred.

...that there are considerations on both sides.

...and I think we must all have much too much time on our hands if we continue this much further.....

PS...I *love* my Audi and would highly recommend it.

I rode in a Phaeton and an a D3 A8 (never driven) and boy was the phaeton comfy. Loved it!

Audi has special 800 line just for A8 owners, overnight parts delivery, service will be better, WHY buy VW???

VW has the same thimg - 800 number, Pheaton trained techs, Phaeton Customer Care reps who are excellent. There are more VW dealers than Audi. There is a great wonderful even fantastic Phaeton Forum. (no offence intended)

On VWWorld.com has twenty posts over a two year period... I guess each Phaeton owner who actually paid cash for their car has posted there once! I know, the one on VWVortex is a busy forum.

no offence intended (sic)

seats were absolutely the most comfortable seat ever. excellent support everywhere.. relieved all my pressure points.

Are they ventilated on the Phaeton?

Well, I was moderator of the VWWorld Phaeton Forum for 6 months. After a while I began creating aliases and talking essentially to myself there, it was so dead! But still nobody came. That part of AudiWorld isn't marketed very effectively. Nobody much knows or cares.

I deleted most if not all of my posts and even those by my invisible friends because I didn't want to support it anymore due to circumstances back then. Everybody who owns/leases or desires a Phaeton is on Vortex. Maybe I'll go undelete some of them. It's about time...

Yes, front and rear, also massaging, heated, a/c, lumbar, extending bottom cushion for driver...

the only thing that is steel are the rear doors, roof pillars, rear fenders and chassis.

Yep, all things that has rusted out on cars I have owned.

Over 80% of the cars I have owned were VW products. I love them I might add.

I would worry the most about the rear fenders and if someone is like me, and keeps their vehicles for 12-18 years, the Chassis will be the area of frustration. Especially as magnesium chloride is used in more areas. I also realize that mag chloride is not very forgiving to aluminium either.

Certain State &amp; County transportation departments use it in advance of ice storms to minimize road icing.

The stuff is so poweful it eats through brake drums and brake shoes on commercial, Class 8 trucks.

Some of us cannot afford an Audi D3 and a home in California. Even though real estate is the better investment, you can always live in your car but you can't drive a house!