2004 Volkswagen Phaeton, Rear...
2004 Volkswagen Phaeton, Rear View
After gorging ourselves on lunch and a pizzokkie (giant warm cookie la mode) we all waddled back to the car. Wanting to make sure everyone was comfortable for the return trip, I inquired if the A/C setting was comfortable for everyone. With the four-way climate control (Climatronic) as a standard feature, this was a useless inquiry. Everyone could control the temperature of his or her own little section of the car. The front settings are controlled with the center console display, while the rear passengers have their own controls and display. For me, the "ooh and ahh" feature of the Climatronic system is when the system is turned off wood accents drop down over the vents. It may be a small thing, but the small things can make or break a car.
It was, however, brought to my attention that the back seat passengers couldn't hear the radio when the volume was low. Up front the volume was fine, but in the rear not so much. After adjusting the balance more to the rear the bass faded away. The only way to compensate for this was to set the bass nearer to the max setting. Placing a subwoofer under the middle rear seat and giving more wattage to the rear speakers would make the 270-watt sound system more enjoyable for all the passengers.
Our Phaeton's 8x18-inch alloy...
Our Phaeton's 8x18-inch alloy wheel
Whenever stopped at a red light I couldn't help myself from exploring the Infotainment system. The multi-function computer controls many aspects of the vehicle, from the radio and climate controls to the suspension settings and tire pressure readings. If traffic got really bad I would just call up the navigation function and find a different route. Audible commands can be used to keep your concentration on the road instead of looking at the center console screen. And the the auto-leveling suspension is great; the ride height and four-way damping settings are controllable on the fly.
The Phaeton is like a Wonka everlasting jawbreaker. The overall driving experience is immensely enjoyable, with many small surprises along the way. Each new feature is a flavor to savor, while knowing that something new and exciting waits to be discovered. I was very happy to find many more sweet spots than slightly sour ones.
Quick Stats
Total mileage: 15,128
Fuel economy: 15.5 mpg
Thumbs up: Being a back seat passenger
Thumbs down: Slightly underpowered stereo system