You’ve heard stories of upper-crust family squabbles where cousins are continually trying to upstage each other. And while it sounds more like a television drama, it was probably happening at more than one Volkswagen Group board meeting during the early 2000s. This edition of Auction Dilemma looks at two examples of this familial rivalry by way of a 2006 Audi A8 on ebay.com and a 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton up for auction at Doug DeMuro’s carsandbids.com.
Yes, these two uber-sedans share the same “D” platform underpinnings with the Bentley Continental Flyer Spur, but we left the British cousin out of the comparison. Its standard 12-cylinder engine has an unfair advantage over the V-8s found in these German counterparts.
2006 Audi A8
First launched in 1994, Audi’s A8 sought to take on its S-Class and 7 Series rivals with an aluminum chassis (the first production car with this feature) and a more sporty driving character. This 2006 model, part of the second generation A8, exemplifies Audi's Bauhaus design language but otherwise presents itself as a typical German luxury sedan thanks to the black exterior and brown leather cabin. The California-based eBay seller doesn’t provide much of a back story on the car, but we’ll share what we can on this three-owner vehicle reported to be accident-free. Overall, this A8 appears to be pretty clean, no doubt due to an odometer showing under 54,000 miles or an average of 3,600 miles per year.
Power comes from the venerable 4.2L V8 factory rated for 335 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed automatic transfers power to the Audi Quattro AWD system. Other than some visible wear on the driver’s seat, the car’s overall clean condition carries over into the interior. Amenities include the Audi MMI infotainment controller, dual-zone climate control, and 16-way power front seats.
2006 Volkswagen Phaeton
When new, the base V-8 Phaeton started at about $65,000. Yep, crazy for a VW at the time. That there was a 12-cylinder version approaching six figures was sheer madness. “What was Volkswagen thinking?” was a common refrain heard at VW dealers during the Phaeton’s U.S. run. The automotive press asked the same question, particularly because of the Audi A8, a car in the VW group of nearly identical size, similar design and aimed at the exact same buyer. While the Phaeton's US run was only from 2006 to 2006, though European sales continued into 2016.
The story goes that then VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech became angry at Mercedes for releasing the A-Class model that encroached on the VW Golf territory. In response, Piech ordered the Phaeton to steal S-Class sales. Emotion and logic seldom mix and such was Piech's power in the company that cooler heads could not stop the project.
While the Phaeton didn’t have the A8’s aluminum chassis, it shared many components from the corporate parts bin, including the 4.2L V-8 (with the same output specs) and the industry consensus was that it was impeccably engineered. Unfortunately, the exterior shared similarities with the far more pedestrian Passat, and VW was the antithesis of a luxury brand, particularly in the US.
This 2006 Phaeton has a multi-owner vehicle history, including some minor accident encounters. Despite its 90,000 miles and some age- and mileage-typical blemishes, this AWD Phaeton appears in good condition. A tribute, no doubt, to solid build quality.
While the Phaeton’s exterior is yawn-inspiring, the cabin experience is anything but. Of course the center console reveals the car’s age, but the quality and materials used inside are impressive. A few imperfections are visible on the driver’s seat, but otherwise, the interior appears to be in great shape. Features here include an abundance of wood trim, navigation, and heated power front seats.
Which German Cousin Wins The Family Battle?
Short of the badges, body style, and mileage, it’s hard to see much of a difference between the two. Both are available for a fraction of the original sticker price. As of this writing, the Audi A8 has a $16,995 asking price, and the Volkswagen Phaeton has five days remaining on the auction with a $3,700 high bid.
Sources: carsandbids.com, ebay.com, vwpartsvortex.com