Caradise Best of 2023: Sad Craigslist Story: The $2,599 2005 VW Phaeton
Best of The Caradise 2023
An automotive writer that has a much better way with words than this here piss-poor blogger once wrote ‘Everything is important in a Phaeton‘ when speaking with a hushed, revered tone about VW’s best sedan ever. The Sad Craigslist story of today brings us one of the greatest automobiles ever created. From being the choice of European Presidents, Davos debutantes, Hollywood actors and Catholic Popes, this proud son begotten of the lifetime obsessions of Ferdinand Piech has now fallen in some state of disrepair in Northern California.
We knew some the VW Phaetons would suffer this destiny as they find their 3rd and 4th owners and their prices drop. Still hurts deep when seeing this, specially when I actually owned 2. But at $2,600? Is this 2005 VW Phaeton V8 worth a rescue?
The seller is doing the hard sale, Doug DeMuro makes a guest appearance, just as a Bring a trailer screenshot, a CarBuzz and a Bentley reference. While the seller does say the car is very special and unique, and is ‘all good’ it is sadly a salvage title. Comes with Foot Stools! Seller says:
Fully loaded
Comes with FOOT STOOLS for rear passengers
3 headrest in the rear
Please do some research on this car
It is one of the best cars to own
Kelly blue book value is $11,500
All time AWD
Check engine light is on , however the engine runs perfect and paint is fading on some parts of the car
Having maintained two Phaetons for a period of 15 years, I’ll be the first to confess a Phaeton can have a CEL for very minor reasons, but this car’s stripes, VW puddle light door and wheel color are non OEM, so who knows what else has happened here. I can also see the tires in the car aren’t even in the correct planet of Phaeton OEM recommended tires at all! That’s not great.
Furthermore, the bumper does look rough, inexplicably, the rear AC controller has been janked out and no comment at all here from the seller.
The last tale of hiding surprise is the interior, not only the passenger seat looks awful, and has a ripped bottom seat, but the car is off and the center console ac vent cover is not down. I’ve done this fix with the help of the Phaeton Master (the one who owns and maintains 4 Phaetons) and is a delicate job to do. If everything is important is a Phaeton then we are a long way from true experience here. No shot of the dashboard while the car is on is pure red flag.
I no longer have a VAG-COM cable around, or perhaps I would be foolish enough to rescue this noble beast. Car is now around 160K miles, so it will also need a major job: New timing belt is now due and that is probably a $2,500-$3,000 at a decent independent shop. What say you, can we save this one or let it rest and join Dr. Piech?
