Tales From the Block: A 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600
How will possible buyers react to a used and slightly abused range-topping S-Class? And can the Maybach moniker evoke big spenders?
Once a brand-new vehicle rolls out of the factory, it’s bound to live a life of twists and turns. The average vehicle sees multiple owners, states, and maybe even wrecks during its lifetime. For many, the auction block is an inevitable layover.
“Tales from Block” highlights one of the many steps pre-owned vehicles go through in our country. Once the first owner sells or trades-in their ride, it can either be sold at the lot, sent to auction, or even scrapped if it’s really crappy. Cars both expensive and cheap are typically sent to the auction block in hopes of attracting solid buyers. We keep the auction house’s, buyer’s, and seller’s names secret, as well as exact dollar amounts for privacy reasons.
This swanky Mercedes-Maybach couldn’t go unnoticed at the auction. It arrived quietly and in an understated manner. Even the guys who are used to seeing high-end machinery came over to check it out. But there were others who passed it off as a “regular” S-Class. After all, it’s only the wheels, a couple of small badges, and a longer wheelbase that give away its elite status.
The twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 in the Mercedes-Maybach S600 pushes out a thunderous 523 horsepower. Compare that to the plebeian S550, which generates 449 horses from its V8 biturbo. Needless to say, anyone looking for a speedy yet executive experience, the S600 should be near the very top of their shopping list.
CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About This Tale From the Block
Unlike other three-pointed-stars we’ve featured before, the interior of this Mercedes-Maybach has been carefully maintained. The previous owner even had a plethora of the optional aroma therapy scented oils in the oil diffuser. That’s found inside the glovebox, and quickly gave away how much this magnificent ride was previously enjoyed. The leather pillows with the embroidered Maybach logo were in excellent condition, but we were disappointed at the lack of the folding rear tables and built-in champagne chiller. Perhaps the previous owner wasn’t into lounging.
Mercedes-Maybach S600 models aren’t a common sight in classified listings, or even auction houses, so we were unsure of how sale-worthy this sample could be. With nearly 25,000 miles on the odometer, and a misaligned front bumper, it’s unclear what its value may be. Let’s remember that the Mercedes-Maybach S600 starts at $191,000. And with this many miles and slight body damage, the initial depreciation will only be accelerated.
According to sources, the buyer’s reserve is slightly under $110,000, which means this $200,000 luxe machine has taken a hit of over $90k in about a year and 25k miles. Wow! For some reason, the Mercedes-Maybach skipped its first drive through the auction block on sale day, which makes us wonder what’s going on?
Will the current owner fix it before offering it for sale? Have they already sold it? Or is someone regretting their “investment opportunity”? Only time will tell.
