I agree...sounds like a topic of conversation at an afternoon tea.

Why do you think that Merc needs a car in the EUR 250K bracket?  To compete
on price with Bentley?

It's very strange.  The S-Class was widely acclaimed as the best saloon in
the world (not the most expensive), and the management just let it go.  Yes,
maybe that arrogance, or hubris.  It's still good, obviously, but it does
not seem to have quite that cachet that it did.

BTW, to me the word Maybach seems to 'Germanic' and not so suitable for the
English-speaking markets at which it is principally aimed.  Well, maybe they
were happy to emphasize 'German quality', just as a number of companies in
Asia sport German names, even though they have no connection with
Germany/Austria/CH.

The name doesn't have a ring to it, either, like Daimler or Mercedes...and
is not evocative like Jaguar...

DAS

DC of course can afford the Maybach brand never
ever to become profitable - the other brands
(and here esp. Mercedes) earn enough money.

A problem the Maybach brand has is the cars are
too few in nterms of sales numbers to establish
them in the public, so they have to have a model
selling so good that it makes at least a slight
public presence in countries like Germany.

Another problem is that the brand is _too_
exclusive and at the same time unknown so
potential buyers hesitate to jump to it -
unknown not in Germany, but in many other
countries:
Maybach does not really have a _soul_ or
brand identity at present, they still have
to built it up as the glorious days of the
brand are too long ago now (last Maybach was
built until 1941).

Now having a model like the Maybach 53 - starting
at around 200.000 Euro - would solve those problems
and also catch buyers who would never pay 350.000
and more Euro for a Maybach, but are willing to
spend more than the 150.000 or so Euro for a
MB S 600 L.

Also the 53 is a bit smaller than a 57, giving it
the sometimes decisive edge in crowded European
cities and parking lots and at the same time not
having the _impact_ as the 57 - not to speak of
the 62 here...

Plus the amateurs at DC simply did not think
about a simple fact: A Maybach 57 with a length
of 5728 mm simply is too long for most German/
European garages and multi-storey car parks
(being typically no more than ca. 5500 mm) - this
is one of the things where you can easily notice
the leading guys at DC have no car knowledge at
all (with the 62 length is of no importance
in that respect, that is no owner-driver car
but a chauffeured limo - the 53 will be below
5500 mm).

They will not downgrade the MB brand - it is
just the other way round, after _only_ some
10 years or so they now begin slowly to realize
they have to try to return to the MB quality of
the past.
Also the next S-Class (W221 for 2005) will have
some styling elements of the current Maybachs
(especially th the rear), trying to close the
gap from Mercedes to Maybach a bit and at the
same time lowering the fear of some buyers about
buying and owning a Maybach - having a brand
which stands out too far from the rest is not
always of advantage, especially not in countries
like Germany where you not so seldom get
negative comments and/or looks already when
showing up in a new S-Class or SL...

As said that is what DC hoped - but IMHO that
is no real advantage, it is more of a
disadvantage (sticking out too far).

The point is Mercedes failed to have cars in
the 150.000+ Euro region - they DO need to
cover the region until 250.000 Euros, but they
haven't realized it yet, no wonder, the CEOs
are no car guys but ordinary loudmouths only.

Once they made the mistake of re-introducing the
Maybach brand - and that was controversial a long
time, we can see this simply by the fact late
prototypes still had the Mercedes grille and were
named _Mercedes Maybach_, they decided against to
not to make the S-Class owners feel inferior, the
S-Class should stay the top-of-the-line MB - the
move with the Maybach 53 seems ok to me, but I
doubt it will boost sales really much.
To establish the Maybach brand DC will need _at
least_ 10 years, 15 (or even 20) is more likely
and within that timeframe they have to quadruple
their sales efforts: What they do now is the old
and well-known snobbish _We are MB, we have the
very best cars and they sell alone_-attitude -
which is nothing but amateurish only.

And also prospective buyers realize DC does not
really stand behind the Maybach brand - there is
only three service points for Maybachs in Germany,
Stuttgart, Berlin and Munichm, means that in this
country with more than 80-million people Maybachs
have to be hauled around by truck for hundreds of
kilometers for simple service - ridiculous!!

There is a similarity with the old Horch brand
which is owned by Audi (and thus Volkswagen AG):
Years ago Audi re-bought the brand name and all
the rights, but Mr. Piech of Volkswagen - a man
not  undisputed, but an extremely knowledgeable
car guy - decided against re-viatalizing the
brand, but later simply bought Bentley, a brand
which - unlike Maybach - was present in the last
63 years (last original Maybach dates back to
1941) and well-known all over the world -
Maybach was a brand mostly unkown outside Germany
resp. Europe.

I personally would not have re-launched the Maybach
brand, there are too many problems involved in that
like drawing away too much manpower from the Mercedes
brand plus many, many hundreds of millions of Euro
cost (if not billions).

Ok, we now look forward to the next DC adventure,
the B-Class, a VW Golf-class(!) competitor:
How on earth can one give a car a name shouting out
loud _this is no first class product, but a second-rate
product only like a B-movie is_???
============:-(((((((((

Juergen

"Baby Maybach"? Wouldn't that be more like a top-end Mercedes? If they plan
to introduce such a product, then I really don't understand their marketing
strategy (and I'm in marketing). I realize that at this point they need the
brand to begin show some kind of return, but to force it by introducing a
product that may very well cut into the sales of their bread-and-butter line
just seems remarkably short-sighted. Unless MB conciously plans to downgrade
the overall MB brand in favor of broader Maybach line (unlikely and
foolhardy), introducing a 'small' Maybach will serve little purpose other
than to confuse MB's top-end consumer by diminishing from the exclusivity of
the Maybach brand (still it's major selling point), and at the same time
reducing the desirability of the overall Mercedes line by conspicuously
promoting another (presumably) similarly-priced product as a major step up
from the 'standard' high end Mercedes.

If I were a marketing director with MB, I'd send this plan straight back to
the drawing board.

They miss sales figures by far - and they will never ever
be able to make any money from the Maybach brand in the
next ten years or so even in case the to-come Baby-Maybach
(greetings to Stuttgart - I know you hate that expression!)
will be a good seller as break-even is 15.000+ cars.

Juergen

The other day I saw a report where a DC spokesman admitted to difficulties
in the top end (i.e. Maybach) sector.

Now there's a surprise.

DAS

If there are only 500 in the US, then at least half of them are in NYC. I
see more Maybachs now than I have ever seen Rolls or Bentley.

<<  but are they worth the USD 200 000 plus over the top S-Class? >><BR><BR>

Over the current S-class, yes. Over the early 90's S-class, may be not that
much better, except in dynamics and interior opulence.

It is hard to quantify/justify $200,000. I must say, the engineering of the car
is what you are paying for, not the content of it. Its how well, part from
other Mercedes came together for a greater whole.

I would say if it had a $200,000 price tag, it would be in my driveway now. Its
far superior to any Mercedes (as a whole car) ever made.

Considering there is about 500 or so cars to be sold in US, I guess you need to
charge a premium to keep a float. Besides, many corporations are willing to pay
$350,000 for a car to take their CEOs around. You can write it off.

I am not trying to defend the high price tag. Its overpriced, no need to beat
around the bush. I just want more, at least more real content like a ground
braking classic grill, classic headlights, not so droopy body, just about no
trendy design (if so I would get a Toyota), turbo charged twin-DOHC V24 (yes
24... why not), and some nicer looking wheels...

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

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]