Maybach Runs Out Of Gas & Road

In the mainstream of luxury cars we can split the sector into various smaller categories: Limousine, Executive &?Sports.

Here we are not following the sports section as that is a complete class on its own, however, we do see several points of intersection between Limo & Executive.

The main contenders in both groups can be seen as AUDI (VW), BENTLEY (VW), BMW, JAGUAR (TATA), MAYBACH & MERCEDES BENZ (DAIMLER), &

ROLLS ROYCE (BMW).

(I apologise to any other marque that believes it belongs to this super elite & did not get included).

It used to be said that Audi was a poor man’s Mercedes, however, that is no longer the case. Ever since the advertising slogan of “Vorsprung Durch Tecnik” was coined & Mercedes Benz was dragged down the quality tables by the disastrous JV with Chrysler, one has seen the Mercedes Benz brand loose some of its sparkle. Of course under the stewardship of CEO Dieter Zetsche the slide has stopped, but still the cars such as the C and the E were seen as having too little room in the rear; a complaint that formerly was only levelled at the BMW 3 Series.

At the top end in the limo sector of the luxury market there were 3 principal protagonists seeking to capture enormous cash outlays by leaders in their field.

Audi led with the A8, BMW offered the 7 Series and Daimler provided the iconic Mercedes Benz S Class. (The least said about the VW Phaeton the better).

It was really a question, of “one paid ones money and took ones choice”. There was not much to choose between the 3 leading vehicles. All could be built on a long wheel base & each could be fitted out in a bespoke style. All offered similar technical abilities although the author had been told by many professional contract chauffeurs that the A8 was the best built, the 7 Series the best to drive & the S Class the best to be driven in.? Supporters of the new Jaguar XJ may wish ! to chall enge that view.

However, BMW had an even higher product to offer in the form of Rolls Royce…and VW who own Audi could present the high end consumer with Bentley. So rather than be left out in the cold, it was only a matter of time before Daimler joined the super limo club with Maybach. A brand last seen?on the road in the 1930′s and 40′s.