Can I be your London franchisee?

DAS

"So the Maybach 62 is the business jet for distances shorter than 200
miles."

Hmmm . . . suppose there will be Fractonal Ownership programs for
Maybachs?!!

Pete Cowper (1987 300E)

"Dori A Schmetterling" <ng@nospam.co.uk> haute in die Tasten:

IMHO the Maybach 57 does not make any sense. Compared to a S 600L, this
car does not handle better, offer more space for the driver, deliver more
performance. It is more expensive (and in my opinion: it looks less
good).

Okay, so we take the Maybach 62 and a chauffeur. This car features
without a doubt more luxury for the rear passengers than any other
Mercedes product. Having sit in one, I felt like in a business jet: Much
space for the legs, some space for the head, but overall not enough space
to move my body like in a Jumbo Jet. Who needs such a car? I think, the
Maybach 62 would be an interesting option for those who usually use a
Learjet for their transportation. If I were a manager who had to travel
between Munich and Stuttgart very often, I would seriously consider a
Maybach instead of a Lear Jet, because it saves time and lets me
work/sleep/watch tv  without disturbing me. So the Maybach 62 is the
business jet for distances shorter than 200 miles. For all other
transportation desires (including representation/boasting about one's
wealth) there are other, better suitable cars.

And if you think of a Maybach as a business jet without wings, you can
see its total cost of ownership from a different view.

Frank

Chauffeur-driven, dear Jay, chauffeur-driven...

More seriously, other than some of the detail, I would have thought you get
just about most of this on an S-Class (even bearing your specific comment in
mind).

I have a far lesser car (a 'mere' CLK), but with its relatively 'tiny' 218
hp 3.2 l engine I still get to 100+ mph in a frighteningly short time.  The
noise inside the cabin is somewhat higher, especially as it's a rag-top
cabrio, but I accept that.  The feel is of quality even there, and the ride
is fine.

You have given the Maybach a lot of merit points, very nice, but are they
worth the USD 200 000 plus over the top S-Class?   (Other than the
exclusivity/rarity/look-I'm-rich aspect.)

As I suggested in another, similar thread, admittedly without driving a
Maybach, a top S and an SL together are a better, more economical
proposition than a Maybach.

DAS

[..........]

Finally got time to write something that needs a bit of thought.

You got about two hours to drive the car, I think I had it for three hours or
so. I did not feel the time at all. Its very comfortable, never a felt bumps on
the road, its silky ride is highly memorable; its least fatiguing... time flies
in the car. It accelerates vigorously yet with the civility of a luxury
automobile; no head snapping, yet you feel the pull, very strong like an
aircraft about to be airborne.

During this massive acceleration, you can change lanes, overtake and get back
to your original track--its truly a beautiful experience--its composure stays
calm during all this. Speedometer reads 120 mph within few seconds during that
maneuver, do not feel the speed at all. It felt like 70 mph or so ... except
you begin to feel the cars in the front, traveling in your direction, suddenly
speeding toward you. It can be a bit scary. The breaks are very powerful: In no
time you are following the traffic! Only thought that goes through your mind at
the end of this few seconds is, this is good, I want one! Though, I felt the
steering wheel could be a bit tighter, sport mode or otherwise, it was a bit
too free wheeling or may be I am used to tighter... I am not suggesting we go
back to manual steering ... far from it.

The 57 Maybach, as big as it looks, its a nimble car. Its butter smooth and
crisp in corners as well as in tight parking lots! I was very surprised.
Interior is sweet. Seats, head rest, trims are the worlds best. Its just
perfect. Some part of the dashboard uses real leather, but treated to look like
suede. It makes for great look, but it shows finger marks too easily and that
doesn't look good. I am sure you could lint-free cloth or something and wipe it
down in on uniform direction and it would look super. I think such would be
great on the 63 Maybach as its a driver-driven car, you sit at the back and
enjoy the view.

The 600 some HP engine is well mated and felt precise. Though, it is typical of
the SOHC of Mercedes of today. Somewhat tinny, light weight feeling and not so
refined, reminds me of it as a "lease" car feeling. While the past SL600 or the
S600 engine has a sense of weight and "command" is clearly absent. Paint job is
first class, the one I tested was gray on silver dual tone. Its very classy, I
loved it.

Unfortunately, the front grill is trendy than classy, it looks like they looked
for inspiration form the International truck grill. I wish they designed a
grill for the next 100 years. Head lights are nice, again, I would set the
industrial design of the head lights to something of a classic shape "beaming
with power." Its the eyes of the machine. May be Maybach should call me in to
consult on overall theme/design or the ID of the car.

On U-turns or extreme sharp corners I couldn't break its back loose to swing
the back to reposition the car. May be I should try it again, but there was
something strange: On a U-turn from rest, when I tried to get the back to break
away, the car instead tilted, sort of like sitting on its side feeling. My
speculation is that the six or seven thousand pounds was thrown off and the
self leveling may be doesn't kick in till a certain speed....

It does leave you with a somewhat mixed feeling of spending U$350,000 or so on
it. I am still thinking. I need something, that final oomps, to just walk in
there and buy one. Oh well...

Overall, it is a fine, ultra classy automobile.

Regards,
Jayanthan (Jay) Bala.
P.S. In the future please use:
[PixMovieMaker@hitpix.net]