For: Exclusivity, performance, equipment
Against: Inconsistent ride, thirst, steering
What happened next: Despite subsequently sharing its platform and engine with the Bentley Continental models of the time, the Phaeton was never more than an also-ran in the UK’s limo market. V6 and V8 petrols and a 5.0-litre V10 diesel were also offered but a 3.0-litre TDI V6 later became the sole UK choice. Production ended in 2016. VW recently released photos of the Phaeton’s intended replacement but the car never made it to market.
Factfile
