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Sit Down for the Volkswagen Phaeton

When I'm feeling particularly philosophical, I consider ourselves lucky to be living at this point in the history of the world. Sure the economy is failing, everyone wants to fight everyone else and we're warming the planet up faster than a Rustlers burger. But when you think about it, in the 65 million years since the dinosaurs, all the major advances in technology have been in the last few decades and we were either there or, like me have felt the benefits. The moon landings, car manufacturers such as Volkswagen producing cars that can safely transport families about their daily lives, colour television, radio, microwaves, mobile telephones, the list goes on.

I'm going through a phase at the moment where I love gadgets, regardless of their actual worth in my life. It all started with my cassette player that seemed so cutting-edge at the time. I accumulated hundreds of cassettes including some quite embarrassing artists which I won't divulge here, that I insisted on my Dad playing in his Volkswagen. Then came my first CD player which was my pride and joy with its three CD changer and cassette deck combined. Problem was that despite having a cassette deck, CD sounded better and didn't wear out, so those hundreds of cassettes had to be upgraded (yes including the embarrassing ones).

I've gone through the same financial pain with VHS. Thinking that I'd perfected my film-buff collection of videos I sat back to admire my handiwork only to be confronted with DVD. Well clearly DVD is better quality and doesn't wear out so, to the shops I went to upgrade Tarantino, Scorsese and Kubrick to sleeker versions. Now of course my DVDs are under threat from Blu Ray. Much to my Dad's displeasure having forked out for a High Definition DVD player, Blu Ray now has the HD market to itself and is releasing old and new on this format. I'd happily stick with DVD except my new HD TV isn't being fully exploited unless a Blu Ray player joins the party.

It goes on and on. As I type this article, my computer is crying under the strain of having to have Microsoft Word and iTunes open at the same time. Six months ago it was top-of-the-range, now it's inline to be pensioned off. My iPod was a 60GB beauty on the day of purchase. Three months later the video iPod was launched and I've been too angry ever since to upgrade.

However you look at it though and however cool the adverts are for new products, the basic function has been the same since its inception. Yes my iPod can't play video but it plays music just as a vinyl record did six decades ago. My TV has a crisp picture but the news is digested the same way. The fact is that if it looks nicer than your old model, you'll get it, regardless of whether you need it. And so to the Volkswagen Phaeton.

At £74,272 it's not your typical Volkswagen Polo and you may wonder why in this German playground that includes: Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Audi you'd befriend the Volkswagen. Quite simply it does everything as well as its rivals but is packaged better and therefore is the latest must-have. It has more gadgets than my brain can count to, but my particular favourites include a dashboard that moves to expose the air vents and headlight washers that do each lens individually (with an individual wiper of course) as to not distract the driver.

It's not exactly flighty thanks to its weight under all those gadgets, but it'll do 185mph and 0-60mph in 6.1 seconds. To do that you've got the same 6 litre, 444bhp W12 engine found under the bonnet of the Bentley Continental GT, minus the turbocharger. Now big engine, plus weight and startlingly quick performance means poor fuel economy right? Well...yes actually, 19mpg to be precise. If you're worrying about that and you've got £74,000 in your back pocket, I'd be ashamed quite frankly.

The seats are the most comfortable I've ever has caress my behind and that simply is all I need say about this car. It is supremely luxurious in a far more subtle manner than its rivals. If you're worried it looks like an enlarged Passat, go elsewhere. However if subtle elegance, great performance and most importantly a comfy seat to enjoy your gadgets on is your thing, go to your Volkswagen dealer, mingle with the Polo, Golf and Passat crowd and leave with the company's best kept secret.

With those seats, your living room at home will never see you again.

About the Author

Mark Creese reviews VW's flagship limo the Phaeton which can be seen at
Alan Day VW

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