civicvtec1ps

iTrader: (34)

By Erin Riches
Date posted: 07-29-2003

It was the Germans who pioneered jet technology, and at the end of World War II everyone wanted a piece of the Messerschmidt-262 that, unreliable as it was, far outclassed the propeller-driven planes everyone else had at the time. In the decades since, the Germans have perfected automobile design to the point that they build some of the most desirable (and expensive) cars in the world. Now, the top German automakers have set about reinventing the ultraluxury touring saloon — a vehicle segment historically left to the British, who would build the cars by hand at a small factory after they were commissioned by members of the wealthy class.

But if you keep up with the comings and goings of auto manufacturers, you know that BMW took possession of the Rolls-Royce name as of January 1, 2003. Volkswagen, of course, has the Bentley name and the factory in Crewe. Evidently, DaimlerChrysler was unwilling to sit idly by, as its competitors invested in brand names dripping in history and prestige, and then had their pick of an elite class of buyers. So the German conglomerate has resurrected the Maybach name. Once, this was the name of one of the first automotive engineers, the chief designer in fact of the first car that bore a Mercedes badge in 1901. Then, it referred to a line of custom-built luxury cars on sale during the 1920s and 1930s. Today, Maybach emerges from historical oblivion (as far as most Americans know) to become a new luxury automobile division that resides far above the Mercedes S-Class line in price, and if the company has its way, in prestige as well.

Although one of our drivers had already had a brief opportunity to acquaint himself with the Maybach 57 and 62, we couldn't say no to a few days with a Maybach 57. The difference between the 57 and the 62 is all about length. The 57 rides on a 133.5-inch wheelbase and has a total length of 5.73 meters (which rounds out to 5.7, hence the name 57), or 225.3 inches. The 62 rides on a 150.7-inch wheelbase and covers a stretch of 6.17 meters, or 242.5 inches. All of the 62's extra length goes to rear-seat legroom, allowing two occupants to recline fully in their seats — accordingly, the larger Maybach is intended for those who will be driven around by a chauffeur. A privacy partition between the front and rear seats is an option, though it drives the 62's already exorbitant base price (with destination) of $359,500 to a cool $408,000.

Price, we suppose, only has relevance for onlookers like us (well, us and 99 percent of the audience for this article). Indeed, the most important thing to know about Maybachs is that they are built to each customer's taste. A long list of options, colors and interior furnishings can be applied to any vehicle, but you won't find a selection of popularly equipped Maybachs waiting for you on dealer lots. Instead, you must commission a Maybach by visiting a "Commissioning Studio" housed within Mercedes-Benz dealerships that have chosen to sell and service these vehicles. There, you will find a "Maybach Relationship Manager," who will guide you through the process (aided by a 50-inch plasma screen that can show every possible permutation of interior/exterior decor). If a customer's wishes can't be met by the factory items, the company will permit said customer to consult with its designers (or even travel to the factory in Sindelfingen, Germany, to discuss ideas) so that the resulting Maybach accommodates him to the greatest extent possible, and according to company product literature, is "as personal a possession as a custom-built home." Opulent as it was, our 57 tester was merely a baseline example of a Maybach, a starting point from which customers can dream up the perfect luxury sedan.

Several of our editors drove and rode as passengers in the 57 during its stay with our staff. We're not sure if we'd call it the "perfect luxury sedan," or whether it would be our choice over the Rolls-Royce Phantom or even the topline Benz sedan, the S600. But we were hard-pressed to find fault with a car that costs over $300,000. Is it overpriced as automobiles go? Certainly. But at this price, one is at least assured that the car has all the basics covered and then some

The exterior styling was cause for some discussion. Maybach says that designers strove to create a look that was both elegant without being ostentatious and timeless (since this is a car apt to stay in the family for several years). At the same time, they had to deal with size constraints — uncompromised comfort for four passengers and room for up to four golf bags in the trunk took precedence over a sleek silhouette. The result of their efforts is a surprisingly slippery shape for a 6,000-pound vehicle; the 57 has a coefficient of drag of just 0.30, the heavier 62 comes in at 0.31. But elegant? Obviously, that's in the eye of the beholder (or the prospective buyer). If you're interested in our opinion, we'll say the 57 is definitely on the chunky side and has a somewhat anonymous look for an elite sedan — some compared it to the S-Class; others saw its toothy vertical-slat grille and were reminded of something large and American. Liberal use of chrome trim helps bring it closer to the jewelry-encrusted look of traditional British saloons, but the dowdy seven-spoke alloy wheels that come standard have got to go.

The 57 is much more remarkable from the inside. For one thing, it's incredibly quiet in there regardless of the speed of travel. The windows are comprised of a thick laminated glass with an intermediate plastic membrane that insulates the cabin from outside noise. (The gray-tinted glass also filters out UV radiation and reflects much of the infrared light that might otherwise cause the cabin to heat up.) Elsewhere, engineers zeroed in on body components apt to cause wind noise and reworked them where needed. Gaps around the doors, trunk lid and hood were sealed, and extensive insulation material was added to any other trouble spots. The result of these efforts is a tight structure virtually immune to the cares and commotion of the outside world — and we didn't detect any rattles or squeaks coming from the inside, either.

Ups: Unbelievably luxurious cabin, smooth ride, handles well for a 6,000-pound vehicle, accelerates quickly for a 6,000-pound vehicle.

Downs: Costs more than twice as much as an S600, too many controls pulled from Mercedes' parts bin, feels cumbersome in heavy traffic.

The Bottom Line: A German take on the handcrafted British super-luxury saloon that satisfies in most every way. Unless you're paying the bill.

MSRP of Test Vehicle: $308,000

pheaton

iTrader: (6)

Not bad. . I would never buy it though. .

Zzyzx

Its just a redesigned S-class Mercedes..

civicdude

iTrader: (2)

I just posted this....but ill leave your post up because it has a full description of the car