Volkswagen Phaeton
The Volkswagen group was a little strange in the early 2000s. They were riding high on ever-expanding sales, and the purchase of Bentley. VW Chair Ferdinand Piech wanted a new VW flagship. He wanted something from Wolfsburg that would compete with the likes of BMW and Mercedes. Forget the fact that Audi already did that, and that Bentley surpassed them, Piech wanted a piece of Benz. Maybe because MB went after VW with the low-cost and small A-Class.
Whatever the reason, the Phaeton was one heck of an effort. Based on a VW Group large-car chassis, the Phaeton was essentially a Bentley Continental chassis with slightly less luxurious bits attached to it. Aimed at the S-Class, and letting Audi chase the sporty BMW 7, this was a six-figure VW when new.
One of its famous design targets was its ability to handle a full day of 186 mph at an outside temperature of 122°F, while keeping it 72°F inside. Engine choices include a 4.2L 330 hp V8, and a 6.0L 414 hp W12. Yup, that’s a W. Pick the V8 if you want the economical (at the pumps and at the service center) choice, and the W12 if you want to be unique. Either way, this car can be a massive luxury bargain. It might just look like a big Passat on the outside, but for a lot of people that’s a plus. And on the inside, it’s loaded with leather and wood trim.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom was the pinnacle of luxury cars when it launched in 2003. Buyers could choose from 44,000 paint colors. The rear-hinged doors had umbrellas hidden inside them, and the doors could power themselves closed so you didn’t have to.
The Phantom uses 60 pieces of real wood for the interior, and 500 pieces of leather from the hides of 18 cows cover the vast majority of the cabin. These are some of the finest hides available in any car. The rear seats have footrests that come from the floor, along with tray tables, and the rear seats can recline.
The hood ornament alone has more class than most entire cars. It stows under the bonnet when you don’t want it displayed, and it can automatically pop back in in case of impact or attempted theft.
This is a big car, too. Weighing in at around 5,600 lbs, it’s longer than a Ford Excursion. That means it has plenty of room inside for rear passengers and loads of luggage.
The engine was a 6.8L V12 borrowed from the BMW 7 Series. In the Phantom, it made 453 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque, with almost all of that torque available from just 1,000 rpm. Look at the dash and you’ll see a power reserve gauge instead of a tachometer. The gauge tells you how many of your horses are being left in the barn. Until you (or your chauffeur) plant your right foot. As Rolls famously labled their cars for years, power was “sufficient.”
When it was new, the Phantom started to sell at well over $320,000. Now, though, one can be yours for well under $100,000. And while they remain hand-built, they come with BMW reliability.
Hyundai Equus
Hyundai’s first shot at a real luxury sedan in North America was the Equus. This was also the brand’s shot across the bow at Mercedes and Lexus. This car targets those two firmly, especially the Lexus LS. It’s loaded with wood and leather, and a massaging driver’s seat comes as a standard feature.
Make sure you opt for the Ultimate trim. Why not, if you’re shopping pre-owned? Plus, the rear seats get that massage feature too (your passengers will thank you). It also comes with a retractable footrest, power headrests, and a fridge in the center console.
Since this was a Hyundai, it undercut the competition by thousands when it was new. This car is the reason why Hyundai eventually changed course and rebranded their luxury cars under the Genesis badge. They realized the cars were good enough to command a premium brand and a more premium price. As a used car, this can be an even bigger value. That’s because lots of luxury shoppers, even used ones, are looking for the prestige of the bigger brands. Sit behind the wheel of this one, and it’ll be your little secret.
These are some of the best used luxury cars you can buy, and we’ve picked cars that fit into a range of budgets. Like one on the list but want something a little newer? You can get a newer generation and spend a bit more to get it. Want to spend less? That’s easy too, because an older generation of most of these cars is still going to be a great choice. Just expect that you’ll lose out on some of the latest tech features like ventilated seats, voice control, or navigation.
So happy motoring, and have fun car shopping. Enjoy those test drives!
