Not afraid of anything except Volkswagen with letters?
2 Answers
This phrase is usually a humorous remark among car owners, the full version being 'Not afraid of BMW or Land Rover, only afraid of Volkswagen with letters.' The phrase highlights the Volkswagen Phaeton: The saying 'Not afraid of BMW or Land Rover, only afraid of Volkswagen with letters' mainly emphasizes the latter half referring to Volkswagen models with letters, specifically the Volkswagen Phaeton. Reason for the phrase's popularity: The Volkswagen Phaeton is a rather unique model in Volkswagen's lineup, as the top configuration of the Phaeton is priced comparably to sports cars, even higher than certain configurations of BMW and Land Rover, hence the widespread popularity of this saying.
I've been driving for over a decade, and what I fear most on the road are those Volkswagen sedans with letters on the rear. While others may fancy Mercedes or BMWs, I learned my lesson the hard way once. I remember one night when an unassuming black car suddenly reversed and bumped into my door. Upon getting out, I saw it was a Phaeton—those tailgate letters PHAETON gave me quite a shock, and the owner turned out to be a factory-owning tycoon. It couldn’t have been more low-key, yet the repair bill ran into tens of thousands, and my insurance didn’t cover it all—I ended up paying a hefty sum out of pocket. Ever since then, I’ve been extra wary whenever I spot a Volkswagen emblem on the road, especially in big cities where luxury cars masquerade as ordinary vehicles, leaving average drivers defenseless. It’s not that these cars are hard to drive—it’s just that accidents involving these letter-bearing models can burn a hole in your wallet, so I’ve learned to keep a much safer distance.
