We have discussed this issue briefly before but what is the point of a "budget" model Maybach? - it possibly could even be cheaper than a fully spec'd S class - which just doesn't make much sense at all.

What do you guys think?

I agree. Anything cheaper from Maybach would be pointless when a S65 can reach like 180K. Maybach should never dip below the price of a Bentley Arnage T, which is truthfully where the base 57 should have been placed. I would have priced the Maybachs like 57-250K, 57S-275K and 62-300K. I think a big reason for the Maybachs slow sales are that they simply cost too much to be sharing so much with a "common" Mercedes, 360K is too much for a Maybach 62. The dealer here has one for 398K!!!!!!!! Thats 400,000 USD! No way! I get a Maybach 57S and a SL or CLS or CL instead.

M

The only problem with Maybach is that it isn't marketed as Mercedes Maybach. That would bring benifit to Maybach and especially to MB. Even without a cheaper MM.

MB is still the top luxury brand per se. Mercedes Maybach should have been an ultra luxury special edition Mercedes. But now it is just Maybach - a MB's stepchild.

There was a plan MB would bring Maybach closer to core Mercedes brand. I second that! But I don't know what will happen now under Zetche's reign. That just shows in what a deep s..t MB is: every newcoming boss has different solution what to do with the company and its brands (MB, Maybach, smart).

My $0.02

You are of course correct Merc1, the Maybach does seem "a little" over-priced - sure, we are talking first-class quality, but I can't help feeling that the price has been made that much higher in order to create a golden aura of extra exclusivity around the vehicle - much has been made of the fact that the Maybach 62 is "the most expensive luxury car in the world" - well big deal, that doesn't automatically make it the best or the best value-for-money - I would still rather own a Rolls-Royce Phantom any day.

I mean the top of the line Mercedes sedan is the S-Class. To suddenly make it a junior model to an even bigger Mercedes would be a huge blow to the buyers who automatically purschase S-Classes because it is the top-of-the-line Mercedes. The S600 would all of sudden become irrelevant to some, and not everyone can afford a Maybach. You'd run the risk of thoe buyers jumping ship if they can no longer afford the "top Mercedes". If you make the Maybach the "Maybach by Mercedes" confusion is bound to happen. So I think they need to keep Maybach a seperate brand, but with a completely different look inside and out. It can only share the stuff you can't see/touch/feel with a Mercedes. The interiors need to be "bespoke" and the styling needs to be outrageous like the Exlero. Well maybe not that outter space, but you get the idea. Maybach just needs to be different in style/feel because we all know Mercedes can get the engineering done without a problem. What they need to do is get Brunno back to design a modern Maybach while glancing at the best Maybachs from the past. I want a Maybach to be like one of the oh-my-god cars like the Phantom is when you see one on the road. Classy, exotic, stunning with an interior to die would fix Maybach, hell they already got the field creamed in hp and toys already.

M

Couldn't have said it better Marcus

I keep saying that the only reason the Maybach wasn't called the Mercedes-Benz X, Y, or whatever -Class is because of the S-Class. Owners of the S-Class would be really upset that they're no longer on top. They mentioned that in the NY Times review of the Maybach when the Maybach was introduced years ago and I've always remembered it. But I still think it could have used the name "Mercedes Maybach" like Tine said. That would reduce the confusion a lot of people face when they see the car or hear the name "Maybach". I mean I know a lot of people who've seen it and they didn't know it was a Merc. I think it would have been a different situation if it were called a "Mercedes Maybach", everyone worldwide knows Mercedes, but only car nuts know the name Maybach.

After reading all those excellent posts by Merc1, Tine ect. i have nothing more to add but i need to ask what happened to Maybach 53? Has that project being cancelled?

I'm not 100% convinced with this argument, The S class has not always been the top-of-the-line Mercedes (as I have pointed out on several occasions), The S class will however always be The S Class - and that is a vehicle intended for quite a different market than the Maybach was designed for. The S class is a very conservative vehicle aimed primarily at the owner-driver, but also very respectable as a discreet corporate limousine. The Maybach was conceived to be a celebrity car, a vehicle to be seen in - an ultimate status-symbol competing with Rolls-Royce on it's own territory - I seriously don't believe this is the type of vehicle the traditional S class buyer is looking for - so I don't entirely agree with the assumption that S class buyers will feel cheated by another more prestigious model - like the W100 in the 1960's and 70's.

Well it is definitely debatable, but you make some good points. I just think most buyers don't care as much about the past as we do when it comes to these brands. They just know that now the S-Class is the top of the line Mercedes sedan.

Either way I think Maybach needs to be kept seperate and given its own brand identity. Whats done is done, or as someone tells me all the time "it is what it is" so they should just build the Maybach brand from what they've already started.

M

No, no, no. Maybach has always been a luxury marque and they should keep it that way. Heck, I don't even agree with Mercedes going to the A-Class or the BMW 1-Series. Hey, why not a 0.5-series that sells for under $15,000 US? The C-Class and 3-Series should be the entry models that sell for around $50,000 US depending on the level of optional equipment. I'm bound to rankle a few new MB owners, but I think going downscale and increasing the affordability of an entry-level Merc or BMW has devalued the brands. I know a few lifelong MB owners who won't buy anymore of their cars because they think the marque has lost some of its exclusivity and the quality of the cars are not what they once were.

I'm really curious wif the B-Class or 1-Series buyers are the same guys buying more property than they can afford. I believe something like 1/7th of all new mortgages in the USA are held by the buyers with the worst possible credit rating.

Considering that mortgage and household debt is 2/3 of American GDP, that's an even more scary number. Are the same people buying the 1-Series and the B-Class? Do Mercedes and BMW intend them to be buying?