I am considering buying a VW Phaeton and an old Toyota Century. I plan to get an extended service contract and have found one that I like that covers mechanical and electrical components, especially for the Phaeton. I also looked at 2009-2012 Mercedes S-Classes w221, especially after the facelift.
Clarification: What is the question?
Clarification: These are not meant as daily drivers? and not as an only car?
you must be loaded, and have a rare, gifted mechanic who works on exotics.
These cars are $10k and less. They average around $5000 even during the current used car market inflation, much less before. And yes, I have a mechanic who specializes in foreign cars as do his family members.
there's a reason they cost less. You never know what you're getting into with foreign imports. They come with surprises. Maintaining them is a headache. I would steer clear.
I am considering buying a VW Phaeton and an old Toyota Century
The only thing worse than one garage queen is two garage queens..
My daily driver is a 2015 Camry with less than 60k. These are land yachts and will be driven for special occasions or when I need to haul VIPs or go on long trips. My mechanic is great and specializes in foreign cars.
All the best. I still wouldn’t take either on ‘long trips’.
Your "extended service contract" will probably be worthless so repairs are coming out of your pocket.
The Phaeton was an interesting car. On par, more or less, with an Audi A8. They never sold well, presumably because if you're dropping that kind of scratch, you want something that people won't mistake for a Passat (which, let's be real, is pretty much what they look like from a distance).
Honestly, I like the idea of a low-key luxury car, especially with the big motor (W12?). Posh but not pretentious. But you have to be realistic. They have all the downside of the same vintage A8 with none of the upside. Very expensive and difficult to maintain, and not particularly reliable.
Probably safe to say that most of the Phaetons and A8s on the market are for sale because they have reached the point that the cost to fix/maintain is greater than the value of the car. But, maybe, if you are VERY PATIENT and VERY CHOOSY you can find one that has lived an easy life and has been compulsively maintained. Maybe an estate sale or something. Don't pay much because the depreciation to date on those has been massive.
If you are willing to add the A8 to your search you will find much more inventory on the market (and the early 2000's A8 in charcoal with the amaretto alcantara interior... *chef's kiss*). But same thing there, you are looking for the 1 cherry amongst 1000 junkers.
The Phaeton is already starting to become a classic in VW circles because it's rare and it's a stealth luxury sedan, something some rich people like whenever they travel by car somewhere. It's also out of production, so the amount of these sedans are slowly going down as accidents and neglect take their toll. I believe it would take longer for the Toyota Century to become a classic cause I believe there are more of them and they're still being produced, albeit as a new generation. The S-class however, are quite common for luxury sedans.
