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Death around the corner for Maybach?
It’s no secret Maybach has been a major flop for Mercedes-Benz. At a time when Rolls-Royce and Bentley are both making record sales, Maybach has struggled to move less than 800 cars since its launch in ’02. The decision has finally come to cull a large portion of Maybach franchises in the U.S., with 29 out of the original 71 stores being closed. Read Article



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M35MTM35MT - 10/1/2007 9:00:49 AMView My AgentSpace
+8 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Maybe its because every single MB looks better and costs at least half as much money?

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EnnNorakEnnNorak - 10/2/2007 8:59:40 AM
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Also, Maybach's engine has only 3 valves per cylinder instead of 4 and of course it's a SOHC engine instead of DOHC. For that kind of money one should not expect mechanical shortcuts.

This is a classic example of idiotic marketing decisions determining that a vehicle is needed at some high price point and then producing the car at a cost that does not justify the artificially high price. Also responsible are bad accountants who don't know how to allocate costs properly. Do these guys really believe that the target market for this type of vehicle is gullible?

The only desirable unique feature that Maybach has is the two reclining rear seats on the LWB version. This feature can easily be offered on a LWB version of the current S-Class. BTW, the big Lexus offers a less comfortable rear recliner on one side only which makes it half a car.


dumpstydumpsty - 10/1/2007 9:35:42 AM
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It was OK for the initial Maybachs to look similar to the M-B S-class, but after a few years, the boutique brand should have a very stately, unique exterior design.

Rolls-Royces don't look like 7-series...Bentleys don't look like A8s. Why do Maybachs look like Benzes?

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atomicbriatomicbri - 10/1/2007 10:07:33 AMView My AgentSpace
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I agree, its looks I think hurt this marque overall. Plus the front end looks more of something on a high end Korean product than a high end German product. Perhaps Mercedes should just go out on a limb and really make it look very different from its cars. BMW didn't make the Rolls look like a 7 Series (a disaster for Rolls if it did!)


LexSucksLexSucks - 10/1/2007 10:17:28 AM
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Lexus is the reason why they aren't doing too good.

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MtlMotorsMtlMotors - 10/1/2007 4:31:55 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I can't beleive people are deboosting you when that's obvisouly a sarcastic comment


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 10/2/2007 9:01:19 AM
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Lexus is half a car -- see my comment above.


mini22mini22 - 10/1/2007 11:48:07 AM
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It has nothing to do with Lexus. It has to do with Mercedes. As people have mentioned these cars should have had totally different styling.In addition they were built off the 2 generations ago S class chassis.This is nothing less then a total rip off to the Maybach buying public. The cars have always looked like customized S classes. People of that wealth are not stupid. Mercedes simply made a great styling error. The Maybach should have been built on the most up to date MB S class chassis and perhaps should have had some styling cues from the original Maybach cars or the original Mercedes 600.The car should have had a more statley type of shape like the current Rolls. Both Rolls and Bentley have adapted a modern interpretation of their older designs. Maybach did not do that.

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SpectatorSpectator - 10/1/2007 4:00:33 PM
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I tend to agree that body shape is leading to Maybach's downfall.

Mercedes needs to remember what the S class was designed to do and how the Maybach vehicle is supposed to differentiate itself.

The as the BMW 3 series is the industry benchmark for handling the MB S class is the industry standard for new innovative technology. The S class was/is the platform that brings to use all the fun technological gadgets that we now find as standard options in a multituted of vehicles all over the auto industry. It is the premire vehcile for anyone who wants the latest and greatest amenities and options for a car...which THEY will drive.

The Maybach is supposed to be a totally different beast... and as stated above, should look like one. This car is designed in whole, to be a limo....short and sweet. Anyone who can afford a Maybach is not driving themselves anywhere and if they were it would be around a track in a Ferrari or other supercar. So the focus of this car should be exclusivity and passenger comfort. Period. This is a method Rolls Royce have taken to the bank (I would have said Bentley however recently they have not been nearly as exclusive in design nor sales numbers...this will hurt them in the long run since they wont ever expand to honda et al. size, but that is a different topic).

Maybach needs to develop a vehicle from the ground up entirely based around the rear cabin. Sort of like those commercials you see where the woman pulls a Moen faucet out of her purse, gives it to an architect and says "Build a house around this".

Well Maybach...build a car around the person who will be paying for the car and parking it in front of their estate or office or wherever, and will be sitting in the back seat. Not the passanger, their shauffer and the parent companies design standard.


MtlMotorsMtlMotors - 10/1/2007 4:33:39 PM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Did you even read the article? Poor sales and a poor styling job are the culprits, not Lexus' imminent flagship. I mean, they don't even share the same audience.

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mitchatlexusofmarinmitchatlexusofmarin - 10/2/2007 1:48:12 AM
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There is no such Lexus in the planning stages.....

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EnnNorakEnnNorak - 10/2/2007 9:04:38 AM
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Why would anyone spend that kind of money on a hybrid? Maybach dealers are closing because they can't stay in business on the miserable sales that Maybach generates.

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tecnopolistecnopolis - 10/1/2007 1:20:51 PM
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Ah, isn't the LS650H an 8-cylinder?

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zairnaimzairnaim - 10/1/2007 4:09:51 PM
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ls600 is an 8 cylinder. ls650h is only in her dreams(not a real car)


dumpstydumpsty - 10/1/2007 3:39:45 PM
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DCX should've taken the "high-risk" route like VW with the Bugati brand. Go "all-out" to make an instant classic to create a definite halo over the Benz brand.

Instead, they took a more "cost effective/efficient" route to use an existing architecture for a line of vehicles that should its own platform or basic template.

Bringing back the Maybach brand should've been like starting a new division with its own platforms, designs, options, etc.

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EnnNorakEnnNorak - 10/2/2007 9:12:48 AM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
dumpsty, the new stock symbol is DAI.


BentleyGTBentleyGT - 10/1/2007 4:20:45 PM
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THIS CANT BE! **Faint** aaaaaaann---

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LexusLexus - 10/1/2007 6:06:09 PM
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But wait...! what happen to the "Heritage and Prestige" argument you German fanboys were saying all this year?

Why would anyone paid between $320k-$420k for the Maybach when you can get a fully loaded MB S-Class for less. Even better get a Lexus LS600hl, has all the latest gadet you could think off.

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LexusLexus - 10/1/2007 6:06:56 PM
+3 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Ha..ha...ha...ha...LOSER..........LOL :) so much for that Heritage and Prestige crap.

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BentleyGTBentleyGT - 10/1/2007 7:19:08 PM
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Well let's see Toyota/Lexus come up with the ultimate Luxury car called the Lexter or something and charge $400,000. Lets see if they sell up to 20.



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