The VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON (2003-10) 4DR SALOON 4MOTION 5.0 V10 TDI TIPTRONIC AUTO 5 SEAT is a large, five-seat luxury saloon, rather than an SUV or everyday city car. It was Volkswagen’s flagship, aimed at buyers seeking limousine-style comfort and presence, with four-wheel drive and a powerful diesel engine. mycarcheck.com has recorded 171 look-ups covering 35 different VINs, a useful snapshot of interest in this uncommon model. Checks show an average private-sale valuation of £2,400 and average recorded mileage of 109,000 miles; average annual use is 5,000 miles. The cars checked had about 4.4 previous keepers on average. It suits drivers wanting a comfortable long-distance car with an automatic gearbox, rather than low-cost urban motoring. Its V10 diesel and cabin set it apart from executive rivals including the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. As a used Phaeton, condition and service history matter; a vehicle check can help assess its background.