Back in 2008, the Massive Maybach Took on the Big Brit. Which Ultra-Luxury Land Yacht Sailed to Victory?
In 2008, Sunday Times Driving pitted two titans against each other: the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Maybach 62.
The two heavyweights of hedonism were more or less evenly matched. The stretched Maybach was longer and more expensive than its standard-wheelbase Rolls rival. The German juggernaut had a V12 pumped up by twin turbos; the British barge’s V12 was naturally aspirated, but displaced a massive 6.75 liters. Although the Maybach was heavier, it had more power. The two cars also had cabins lined with generous amounts of leather, wood, and metal accents, although the Maybach had a roomier back seat with more gadgets in it.
A natural testing environment for cars of this ilk is the open road, a long ribbon of highway where you can open up the V12s and marvel at how pleasant the ride quality is, how smoothly the ample power is delivered, and how quiet the cabin is – especially in the rear seating area. Sunday Times Driving made sure to take both cars on such a route…
…but it also decided to take the 62 and the Phantom to a race track. Why? Why not? On the course, the Maybach’s edge in horsepower also gave it an edge in its lap time. With a time of 1:39:10, it was more than two seconds quicker than its competitor. Sunday Times Driving went on to point out the Maybach’s superior handling and ride quality, as well its higher level of equipment.
Was that enough to make it the winner of the publication’s head-to-head test, though? Watch the video for yourself to find out. The results may surprise you. May.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
