 I was a dedicated BMW 7 Series owner, 
until the 7 Series became tainted by 
cab gimmickry, a rear end so homely it 
appears designed piecemeal by 
committee, and a failure to keep up 
with demand for advanced AWD driving 
technology.  
 The Phaeton is precisely what the BMW 7 
Series should be, had BMW been doing 
its homework over the last four years.
 Phaeton is doing for the VW trade name 
what award-winning chardonnay did for 
Gallo -- it brings an air of 
respectability to VW.
 Compared, the Audi A12 is just too 
lightweight. The heavy Phaeton has a 
low center of gravity, providing a 
feeling of safety, luxury and control.  