Doc1647545523 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 I admire and appreciate the premium luxury cars although I can't afford them. Over the last few months, a number of major transitions were announced. In case you didn't get the memo, but you're a fan, here's a recap of a few of the changes. Daimler AG pulls the plug on Maybach Maybach was resurrected in 2002 after Daimler failed to purchase Rolls-Royce from the Vickers Group. Billions were spent in the last decade on the brand, which never met sales expectations. Daimler had a tentative plan to work jointly with Aston Martin to develop a new Maybach in 2013, but the deal fell through a few months ago. Now, Daimler has announced that the Maybach line will be retired in 2013. http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/maybach08.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2011maybach16medium.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2011maybach01medium.jpg I always admired these cars. I never drove one, but I've inspected them up-close and they are very impressive. Here's my fanboy thread on CR about the Brabus Maybach: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77229&highlight=brabus And Maybach in its last few years, began producing a landaulet: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/maybach_landaulet.jpg Only 50 Maybachs were sold in the U.S. in 2011. But Daimler isn't getting out of the premium market altogether; they've announced that the next generation of Mercedes S-class will have three wheelbase versions, one of which will be a Pullman. The Pullmans were stretched versions on the Grand Mercedes that I think were some of the finest automobiles ever made. Again, a fanboy post I made: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1195636&postcount=26 The "old" Mercedes 600 Pullman: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Grand%20Mercedes/Mercedes-Benz-600_Pullman_Limousine.jpg A photo floating around the net of the 2014 Mercedes S600 Pullman: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Mercedes-Benz-Maybach-replacing-2012-S600-Pullman-caught-online.jpg VeeDub not idle Meanwhile, at Volkwagen, Bugatti has sold its last Veyron (300 were made, BTW) but has now confirmed that they will produce the Galibier beginning in 2013. This four-door Bugatti was introduced as a concept car in 2010. Bugatti claims they will sell 1000-1500 of these. The supersedan is expected to use the Veyron's W16 motor, detuned to a paltry 800 or so horsepower. You wouldn't want your passengers to spill their cocktails every time you tapped the accelerator, now would you? http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/bugatti-galibier.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Bugatti-Galibier-2.jpg http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/bugatti-galibier-16c-concept-interior-lg1.jpg Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, set aside 1.5 million to buy one. Rolls-Royce made no major changes recently to its flagship, the Phantom. It did, however, introduce a smaller model, the Silver Ghost, which resembles the Phantom in the Ghost's extended wheelbase version. Bentley hasn't done anything exceptional at the high end, either. A series 51 edition of the Continental Flying Spur is just a dressed-up version of the base model. The Continental GT now offers a V8 version. The Mulsanne is the top model of the line: http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2011_bentley_mulsanne_actf34_ns_120209_717.jpg It carries a premium price, but uses the traditional Rolls/Bentley 6.75 L V-8 rather than the newer VW/Audi based powerplants. The Mulliner Park Ward bespoke division of Bentley can stretch the factory models and "spruce up the back a bit": http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/bentley_arnage_limousine04s.jpg It's great to dream, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 Even with all the luxury that comes with the higher end models shown, I still like the bentley out of all of them. I couldnt even imagine having the ability to chose from any of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleguy Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 Those cars are nice and all Doc, but you obviously haven't seen the 2012 Camry XLE or it would be on the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye1647545503 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 Other than the "pig" snout on the front of the Bugatti I think is is a sexy car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10phone2 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 I will never forget the first time I saw a Maybach in Tokyo at one of the cities high end country clubs, beautiful is an understatement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamgh81 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Beautiful cars that I will never be able to afford, but I like the Bentley and Rolls best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got-Boost? Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 As cool as the cars are, they just don't get my blood flowing. I see them a LOT where I live and among the uber rich they are just to common and lose the appeal IMO. Other than just showing off and giving the "you have money to completely flush down the toilet status" they aren't really that impressive (other than the Bugatti IMO). The Maybach has always been a stretched and tweaked S-class to me and Bentley/Rolls are regular cars around here. Maybe I'm just not a car guy like I was when I was younger, or my tastes/perspective has changed a LOT after seeing them often... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 The Mulsannes are awesome looking. I think MAG still has the brown one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/bugatti-galibier-16c-concept-interior-lg1.jpg Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, set aside 1.5 million to buy one. I'm not paying $1.5MM to watch Justin Bieber play violin while I'm driving...:dumb: The more complex and bleeding-edge-techy the ultra-high-end gets, the more I appreciate RR/Bentley still sticking with the 6.75T. I wouldn't kick ANY OF THEM out of my garage, however. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I really enjoyed the history lesson yesterday at C&C Doc. These are cool cars and represent the current high water mark in luxury, its cool to know a little more history about them, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenger1647545502 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 They are beautiful and luxurious, beyond any doubt...but how can it be FUN to have somebody else drive it for you? If you have a chauffeur, you might as well be riding in a yellow Crown Vic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 They are beautiful and luxurious, beyond any doubt...but how can it be FUN to have somebody else drive it for you? See the women in the back? They come as standard equipment .... http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/maybach_landaulet.jpg :masturboy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versluis Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 that was a good read, i cant imagine being able to at least drive a bentley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I can think of a number of CR members who've come to meets or to Cars & Coffee and have taken a particular Bentley out for a spin ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Love the new nose on the Bentley's I am a huge fan of that. Also interesting that Mercedes is interested in bringing back the 600, there was one on bring a trailer the other month for sale, a '67. It was certainly a project and may still be available. I just went back and found the link to the for sale ad. Plenty of pictures of the entire car to look over, again though it is in dire need of restoration. Also in looking back up was there a "pullman" version of the 600, or were all 600's a pullman? http://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1967-mercedes-benz-600--c-617.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) Sean, not sure if you saw my link or not: http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1195636&postcount=26 As it explains, there was a so-called "short wheel base" version, which is what your link's car for sale is. They were large, supersedans which could easily pass for limos. The 4-door long wheel base versions were Pullmans, and they nearly always had rear-facing middle seats and a divider between the front (driver's) compartment and the passenger compartment. There were also some 6 door long wheel base versions with two forward-facing jump seats in the middle row. A few of the long wheel base versions were coachbuilt to a landaulet with the rear convertible roof. From 1964 until 1981, about 2,800 vehicles were produced. Although you can find some of these cars at affordable prices, the restoration and regular maintenance on the car is very costly. This guy is considered the king of restoring Mercedes 600 models: http://www.mbgrand600.com/ Karl has worked on over 200 of the Grand Mercedes (only 1000-1500 are believed to still exist worldwide), and he has taken 14 of these apart, to the last bolt, in restoring them. And here is a good comparison shot: 600 Pullman in front, 600 SWB behind http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Mercedes_600_DW_Son_268227a.jpg Finally, here's a video of Jeremy Clarkson putting one of his own 600's through some Top Gear tests: Edited February 19, 2012 by Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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