Finally got time to write something that needs a bit of thought.
You got about two hours to drive the car, I think I had it for three hours or so. I did not feel the time at all. Its very comfortable, never a felt bumps on the road, its silky ride is highly memorable; its least fatiguing... time flies in the car. It accelerates vigorously yet with the civility of a luxury automobile; no head snapping, yet you feel the pull, very strong like an aircraft about to be airborne.
During this massive acceleration, you can change lanes, overtake and get back to your original track--its truly a beautiful experience--its composure stays calm during all this. Speedometer reads 120 mph within few seconds during that maneuver, do not feel the speed at all. It felt like 70 mph or so ... except you begin to feel the cars in the front, traveling in your direction, suddenly speeding toward you. It can be a bit scary. The breaks are very powerful: In no time you are following the traffic! Only thought that goes through your mind at the end of this few seconds is, this is good, I want one! Though, I felt the steering wheel could be a bit tighter, sport mode or otherwise, it was a bit too free wheeling or may be I am used to tighter... I am not suggesting we go back to manual steering ... far from it.
The 57 Maybach, as big as it looks, its a nimble car. Its butter smooth and crisp in corners as well as in tight parking lots! I was very surprised. Interior is sweet. Seats, head rest, trims are the worlds best. Its just perfect. Some part of the dashboard uses real leather, but treated to look like suede. It makes for great look, but it shows finger marks too easily and that doesn't look good. I am sure you could lint-free cloth or something and wipe it down in on uniform direction and it would look super. I think such would be great on the 63 Maybach as its a driver-driven car, you sit at the back and enjoy the view.
The 600 some HP engine is well mated and felt precise. Though, it is typical of the SOHC of Mercedes of today. Somewhat tinny, light weight feeling and not so refined, reminds me of it as a "lease" car feeling. While the past SL600 or the S600 engine has a sense of weight and "command" is clearly absent. Paint job is first class, the one I tested was gray on silver dual tone. Its very classy, I loved it.
Unfortunately, the front grill is trendy than classy, it looks like they looked for inspiration form the International truck grill. I wish they designed a grill for the next 100 years. Head lights are nice, again, I would set the industrial design of the head lights to something of a classic shape "beaming with power." Its the eyes of the machine. May be Maybach should call me in to consult on overall theme/design or the ID of the car.
On U-turns or extreme sharp corners I couldn't break its back loose to swing the back to reposition the car. May be I should try it again, but there was something strange: On a U-turn from rest, when I tried to get the back to break away, the car instead tilted, sort of like sitting on its side feeling. My speculation is that the six or seven thousand pounds was thrown off and the self leveling may be doesn't kick in till a certain speed....
It does leave you with a somewhat mixed feeling of spending U$350,000 or so on it. I am still thinking. I need something, that final oomps, to just walk in there and buy one. Oh well...
Overall, it is a fine, ultra classy automobile.
Regards, Jayanthan (Jay) Bala. P.S. In the future please use: [ snipped-for-privacy@hitpix.net]