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comparing an s560class to the bently is like comparing green apples to red apples. The Maybach was built to go head to head with Rolls and Bentley, I think once we get a comparison with them, you find that both cars are going to be very similar.
I owned several 12 cylinder BMW’s in the late 80’s & early 90’s, but have only test driven a V12 Maybach for a short time, never experiencing spirited acceleration. These days, I’m a slow-poke and never pressed the W12, as I really don’t care about the power. My S560 has way more than enough power for me these days. My most recent acquisition is a 2019 SL, which I ordered as a 450 with the V6. The car has way more power than I will ever need and the lighter V6 gives the car a much lighter, more nimble, sportier ride, which I highly value.
Please drive the V8 and let us know. You may end up liking it more for the same reason you opted for the SL450 over the 550.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by corkshoppe
comparing an s560class to the bently is like comparing green apples to red apples. The Maybach was built to go head to head with Rolls and Bentley, I think once we get a comparison with them, you find that both cars are going to be very similar.
I would have to disagree. I’ve driven a V12 Maybach and frankly, I found it to be almost exactly the same as a standard W222, with extended rear seat leg room. From the driver’s seat, it felt like any other W222. I feel that the Maybach is a great vehicle to be DRIVEN in, but I wouldn’t want to DRIVE one as a personal car. IMO, the Maybach is just not different enough or more luxurious enough, over a standard W222. It may, indeed, be a better overall car than a Rolls or Bentley, but I don’t see it as a direct competitor to either marque.
IMHO the URUS is an exceptional built, outstanding performing vehicle. Aside from some plastic parts associated with dash that plagues all manufacturers these days not one flaw other than one's personal preferences. And it sounds strong, coming & going.
and yet on the same chassis as the Audi Q8 which has wonderful driving dynamics for its size. I think I'd pick the Audi. My aversion is with the difficulty in finding aftermarket or even OE repair/replacement parts four years in the future when a manufacturers warranty has expired. It steers me clear of Bentley, Lambo, and anything else esoteric. It is easy to find Mercedes parts.
Super awesome comparison review. Interestingly enough, newish Bentley 4 door was next to me for a few miles on the highway today and I really got a chance to check it out. It was in a hideous matte grey exterior with black wheels. I couldn't believe how plain Jane it looked and how awful that color was but I couldn't stop staring at it.
Looked kind of like this one in color but uglier, more matte finish, and pretty brand new:
Do you think the car you were staring at going down the road was "wrapped"?
IMHO the URUS is an exceptional built, outstanding performing vehicle. Aside from some plastic parts associated with dash that plagues all manufacturers these days not one flaw other than one's personal preferences. And it sounds strong, coming & going.
I loved the urus. It’s just very similar to the Audi. Kinda hard to justify
The Maybach was built to go head to head with Rolls and Bentley
The W240 Maybach 57/62, 2002-2012, was indeed built to go head to head with Rolls and Bentley. Based on the W140 S-Class (1992-1999) it featured the same hand-crafted interior of exotic wood veneer and exclusive leather finishes of the Rolls and Bentley. At its launch in 2002, the 62 was the longest production car in the world and had the most powerful engine, the M285, available in any production car. It also featured the same COMAND, AIRMATIC and 5-speed auto that could be had in the W220 S-Class of the day. Hence, it was an economic failure.
Originally Posted by Streamliner
I would have to disagree. I’ve driven a V12 Maybach and frankly, I found it to be almost exactly the same as a standard W222
The current W222 Mercedes-Maybach is a trim designation of the W222 S-Class, featuring an extended wheelbase to allow for 8 inches increased rear seat legroom. That would give the W222 a better rear seat experience than the new Flying Spur, minus the exclusive hand-crafted interior, of course.
To be sure, the W240 Maybachs were “not for everyone” To begin with, the target demographic was someone with $10,000,000 (ten million dollars) liquid cash. North American dealerships that wanted to sell Maybachs had to create a Maybach Studio where customers could commission a car similar to commissioning a yacht. A high concept car indeed. Understanding the legacy of Wilhelm und Karl Maybach and their cars of the 1920’s and 1930’s helps quite a bit. If you ever visit a museum with the original Maybach cars, you’ll see distinct styling touches that were carried into the W240s. Daimler invested a billion dollars to develop the cars. Too bad their investment was not realized.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I believe that this discussion has gotten muddled a bit. The W240 Maybach was a completely different animal than the W222 Maybach. It may have been a truly magnificent car, but it didn’t have the “BLING” factor so many sports, music and other celebrities wanted. The Rolls-Royce Phantom had the bling that folks spending $300K+ were looking for. In addition, IMHO, the W240 Maybach was just homely looking.
The W240 Maybach was a completely different animal than the W222 Maybach.
Yes, and so are the current Bentley and Rolls. Can’t be compared to the W222. Automated assembly line vs. hand-crafted. If you value a hand-crafted car, you’ve only got those latter two choices.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by SilberGrau57
Yes, and so are the current Bentley and Rolls. Can’t be compared to the W222. Automated assembly line vs. hand-crafted. If you value a hand-crafted car, you’ve only got those latter two choices.
I had a new Corniche Convertible in 1987. Those cars had coach built bodies and everything was hand crafted and assembled. It was a truly beautiful car, white with tan leather and Magnolia piping. Driving down the street with the top down, you felt like the Grand Marshall in the Rose Parade! It was a gorgeous car, but it was a piece of junk, compared to the 1987 560SEC I also had at the time. The RR body flexed like a gymnast. If pushed even slightly, the engine would start to overheat and the brakes would fade almost immediately. Within six months from new, the “Connolly Hides” started to crack. Compared to MB, the engineering, materials and workmanship were quite substandard. When it comes to many things, automobiles included, “hand made, or “hand crafted,” or “hand assembled” is not necessarily better and I believe can be quite inferior in some respects to modern, automated production. No, thinking back on my recent test drive, I’m not even interested in trying out the V8 Spur. I love German engineering in general and MB in particular. I’m going to stick with the S Class, warts and all.
To be sure, the W240 Maybachs were “not for everyone” To begin with, the target demographic was someone with $10,000,000 (ten million dollars) liquid cash. North American dealerships that wanted to sell Maybachs had to create a Maybach Studio where customers could commission a car similar to commissioning a yacht. A high concept car indeed. Understanding the legacy of Wilhelm und Karl Maybach and their cars of the 1920’s and 1930’s helps quite a bit. If you ever visit a museum with the original Maybach cars, you’ll see distinct styling touches that were carried into the W240s. Daimler invested a billion dollars to develop the cars. Too bad their investment was not realized.
You could tell Mercedes was sleeping with Chrysler during the time of the W240. That's why the era from around 1998-2006 was tainted with awful cars with awful reliability depending on the model. When I saw the first W221 in 2006, I realized MB came to their senses.
You could tell Mercedes was sleeping with Chrysler during the time of the W240. That's why the era from around 1998-2006 was tainted with awful cars with awful reliability depending on the model. When I saw the first W221 in 2006, I realized MB came to their senses.
Yeah, but no. Those Maybachs were not cheaply built and flimsy like the W220 S-Class of the day. I agree though, most Mercedes from 1998-2006 model years were terrible in a lot of ways, but those Maybachs were not really affected by that from what I've seen of them. The W220 by comparison would literally flex as people got in and out of it. I had a 2003 CLK430 Cabriolet which I loved, but it did have some obviously cheap bits here and there but the basics/engineering was solid. The 1998 ML was probably the worst "Mercedes-Benz" ever. Utter shock when I went from it to the W140 S500 sitting beside it on the showroom floor at the time, it was if two different companies built them.
M
Last edited by Germancar1; Feb 10, 2020 at 03:47 AM.
I had a new Corniche Convertible in 1987. Those cars had coach built bodies and everything was hand crafted and assembled. It was a truly beautiful car, white with tan leather and Magnolia piping. Driving down the street with the top down, you felt like the Grand Marshall in the Rose Parade! It was a gorgeous car, but it was a piece of junk, compared to the 1987 560SEC I also had at the time. The RR body flexed like a gymnast. If pushed even slightly, the engine would start to overheat and the brakes would fade almost immediately. Within six months from new, the “Connolly Hides” started to crack. Compared to MB, the engineering, materials and workmanship were quite substandard. When it comes to many things, automobiles included, “hand made, or “hand crafted,” or “hand assembled” is not necessarily better and I believe can be quite inferior in some respects to modern, automated production. No, thinking back on my recent test drive, I’m not even interested in trying out the V8 Spur. I love German engineering in general and MB in particular. I’m going to stick with the S Class, warts and all.
I'm shocked that you didn't like the Bentley. German engineering??.....it's present in the Flying Spur too lol.
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Originally Posted by Germancar1
The 1998 ML was probably the worst "Mercedes-Benz" ever. Utter shock when I went from it to the W140 S500 sitting beside it on the showroom floor at the time, it was if two different companies built them.
M
....but you are right of course, S500 was built by MB as usual and the ML by a MB pretending factory, with Detroit standards and work ethics.
ML was engineered to be built by inexperienced, unskilled workers and it showed.
My company used to buy a new car for my retired Dad (RIP) every 2 years and that’s what he wanted in 1998.
That car was an absolute piece of crap and he lasted barely 2 months with it.
....but you are right of course, S500 was built by MB as usual and the ML by a MB pretending factory, with Detroit standards and work ethics.
ML was engineered to be built by inexperienced, unskilled workers and it showed.
My company used to buy a new car for my retired Dad (RIP) every 2 years and that’s what he wanted in 1998.
That car was an absolute piece of crap and he lasted barely 2 months with it.
My wife drove a new (in 2000) ML320. Junk! Engine started to go bad at 27,000 miles. At 37,000 miles MB finally replaced the motor. After replacement of the motor the ML was not the same. Worst car I ever owned. In fact my 1974 Ford Pinto was a better car.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Germancar1
I'm shocked that you didn't like the Bentley. German engineering??.....it's present in the Flying Spur too lol.M
Yes, I’m aware that both Rolls-Royce and Bentley are German owned and share German engineering, but it’s not the same. The Bentley is a fine car, but I like my W222 better. The Bentley is more than double the price of my S560 and IMHO, doesn’t ride as well, drives much heavier and much larger. Two of my pet-peeves, the all glass roof and no spare, are now standard on the Bentley as well, so no big benefit there. If the Bentley breaks down or is damaged in an accident, replacement parts can be an issue. My Corniche had defective floor mats. The dealer called to tell me that the replacements had come in, a year after I had sold the car. My personality is that I am always looking for something better, even when I have the best. I had hoped that I would have been blown away by the New Flying Spur, but not only was I not impressed, I didn’t like it. I’ll continue to look, but something out of Crewe isn’t the answer, at least not for me.
I had a new Corniche Convertible in 1987. Those cars had coach built bodies and everything was hand crafted and assembled. It was a truly beautiful car, white with tan leather and Magnolia piping. Driving down the street with the top down, you felt like the Grand Marshall in the Rose Parade! It was a gorgeous car, but it was a piece of junk, compared to the 1987 560SEC I also had at the time. The RR body flexed like a gymnast. If pushed even slightly, the engine would start to overheat and the brakes would fade almost immediately. Within six months from new, the “Connolly Hides” started to crack. Compared to MB, the engineering, materials and workmanship were quite substandard. When it comes to many things, automobiles included, “hand made, or “hand crafted,” or “hand assembled” is not necessarily better and I believe can be quite inferior in some respects to modern, automated production. No, thinking back on my recent test drive, I’m not even interested in trying out the V8 Spur. I love German engineering in general and MB in particular. I’m going to stick with the S Class, warts and all.
This is very true of Rolls Royce and Bentley of old. These cars were desirable but substandard in many ways. This has changed since both companies are now German owned and overhauled from the ground up. Quality is top-notch. The only thing they can't compete with is the constant progress in tech due to their low production volumes. One can even see this with Mercedes that low volume cars get the new tech last, no matter the price of the car...
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by absent
....but you are right of course, S500 was built by MB as usual and the ML by a MB pretending factory, with Detroit standards and work ethics.
ML was engineered to be built by inexperienced, unskilled workers and it showed.
My company used to buy a new car for my retired Dad (RIP) every 2 years and that’s what he wanted in 1998.
That car was an absolute piece of crap and he lasted barely 2 months with it.
Way before Jerry Seinfeld bought his dad a Cadillac, I bought a new 1984 Seville for my dad. He babied the car. Changed the oil every 3,000 miles, never drove it over 65mph and always had it dealer serviced. With 50,000 miles on the clock, the motor left town. The car was 30 days out of warranty. Roger Smith would not respond to my letters. As the car sat at the Caddy dealer, I got so angry that one day I told the service manager to just forget it, that I would be having the car towed out of his shop, would sell it as-is and was buying my dad a new Lexus. I must have said the magic word, as they almost immediately said they would replace the engine at no charge. The 1970’s through the 1980’s was a low point for the auto industry.
You bet. But even the AMG GT coupes/roadsters. Finally got Apple CarPlay in their 2020 models. Even the SL had it already in their 2017 models. That's a low bar...
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
