PHAETON ATTRACTION; Stout ride, but overreaching?(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON Carriage-makers of the pre-automotive era called a lightweight, open buggy with a rear seat a phaeton. These swift carriages catered to owners in a hurry, with hired help to man the reins. The name-adopted by early automakers-evoked the mythical Phaeton, mortal son of Helios the sun god, who took a spin in Dad's chariot (the sun) towed by fire-breathing steeds. Volkswagen's Phaeton is neither lightweight nor open-topped, but it certainly caters to occupants of its commodious, limo-like back seat. In the V8 edition we tested for a year, the power of 335 ...