Hello Scotty and the community, I hope all is well with you! I am thinking about getting a car I have dreamed long time as a kid as my daily driver. It's a 2002 Volkswagen Phaeton 6.0 W12 with about 10'000 original miles and 5-speed auto. The problem is that the car has been sitting outside for I don't know how long. The tires are datet with mid 2002, car is sitting low and the black paint is faded, although not cracked. Car has no rust. I was thinking about buying it cheap and bringing it back on the road to drive it after serious work on it. I am from Switzerland... the Swiss are very strict on their state inspections. I drive a 2006 W221 Mercedes S65, had 60k miles when I bought it, now it has 80k. Spent about 20k in maintenance and repairs, because all the old rubber parts went out from age, such as from the intercoolers, the drive shaft and stuff. And then of course the whole ignition system, which costs a fortune of those. And some maintenance stuff like changing tranny fluid, ABC fluid, new tires and so on. That car has been sitting for 10 years, although inside. Now it is in an immaculate shape and doesn't even have any faults when being scanned. It's amazing! I know these cars make no sense from a financial point of view. So, my question is, do you know what a Phaeton like this, albeit extremely low mileage, that may have been sitting for 20 years outside, might need for it to become a fun and usable car? I wouldn't mind if it costs a few tens of thousands to make it fresh. I was thinking about things like, all sorts of new fluids and filters (engine, tranny, cooling, air filter, gasoline and so on), cleaning the whole fuel system with new gasoline, new brakes and tires, all sorts of sealings and rubber bearings, turning the engine by hand first and so on? Probably new struts as well, maybe water pump if it doesn't work? The inside of the car looks immaculate, so at least there are no visible signs of wetness inside the car. Although I am well aware that repairs worth thousands may appear later on, as a result of the long immobilization of the car. That wouldn't be a problem. My question is, from your experience, what kind of things would you expect to be needed for that car, and what parts are likely to go out? Does that project even make any sense or would that be literally an endless money pit? Buying it for nothing and then spending maybe 20, 30 or even 40 grand for a wonderful car with low miles as a result wouldn't be an issue, but if it gets 100+, then it sort of makes no sense. Have a wonderful day!!
So, my question is, do you know what a Phaeton like this, albeit extremely low mileage, that may have been sitting for 20 years outside, might need for it to become a fun and usable car?
20 years outside? EVERYTHING is going to need attention. A couple of years ago I revived a car that had been sitting inside, in a garage, for 15 years. It needed EVERYTHING from freeing up the engine with Marvel Mystery Oil to installing a complete new brake and fuel system, changing all fluids, and replacing hardened/leaky seals. Then there was more! (And, that was a relatively simple 1965 model protected from the elements.)
If you really want that thing and have money to burn then have at it. If you have any cost concerns at all I would pass it by. It would be less expensive to buy something that is currently running and in good condition.
@chucktobias Thanks for your response! Wow, that sounds like a lot. The problem is, it's very hard to find a W12 Phaeton nowadays that actually is in good shape. If you find one, you'll pay around 15 to 20 grands. And then you have a 20 year old W12 Volkswagen. That's why I was thinking about that one with very low mileage, but basically sitting around for I don't know how long. It may be as well 10 years, as this guy has another Phaeton W12 sitting outside forever, which looks significantly worse than that one. The other one's paint is completely cracked, parts are coming off and stuff. This one that I have talked about, doesn't even have flat tires and paint is faded, but not too bad. Well, even if it's 10 years. I was thinking, if it ends up costing 30k to make it run technically, it may be worth a shot, but if you think it would be much more than that, then I'll have to bury this idea
@stuban_1023 - If you were going to do the work yourself it would be more feasible but even then you'd be looking at a lot of sweat equity plus expensive parts. Trouble is we don't know what it really needs so here I'm looking at the worst case scenario. It's a Volkswagen with Bentley parts and service pricing, so if it really needs a complete overhaul that could easily top 30K. If you could get a mechanic familiar with those cars to evaluate it the news might be better - or it might be worse. I think there are way too many variables to so say in good conscience to go ahead with this project. (Others of course may have a different opinion.)
@chucktobias Yes, that's absolutely right, my mechanic basically told me the same thing. He is very cheap, hence I've had "only" 20k in repairs and maintenance with the S65. Not much was broken, just the parts are awfully expensive and it takes lots of work on that narrow V12. He said, I should transport the car and then we can take a look at it. If I can get the car for very cheap, it might be worth the gamble to just try and find out, with the risk of losing the little money I've paid for it if it's a loss. Thanks for the advice my friend, it helped a lot!!
@stuban_1023 It's kind of funny, I have not heard or thought about those cars in a very long time and suddenly on the heels of your post one pops up for sale in Canada. (It doesn't help you unfortunately, that's a long way from Switzerland.)
https://barnfinds.com/daily-driver-2005-volkswagen-phaeton-w12-22/
@chucktobias Hahahah, that's indeed amazing! Looks wonderful, though as you've said, Canada is kind of far away. I've had actually taken a look at what an import of a manual Challenger Hellcat from the US would cost after fully importing and registering it and it blew my mind
The car that was impossible to steal.
as this guy has another Phaeton W12 sitting outside
I would take this one for parts. It's familiar to me some are very difficult to get because they are not being manufacured anymore.
or even 40 grand
You can expect at least that much
Perhaps you find these links helpful
https://carcody.com/volkswagen-phaeton-w12-common-problems-and-repair-costs-a-buyers-guide/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i2AEYNpM1I&pp=0gcJCXICo7VqN5tD
@g-t Cool, thank you very much!!