What kind of car was this?

[rvaitor]

. There's nothing anonymous about the Exelero, though, and for €5,000,000 (around $7.8 million USD), you can drive the sybaritic supercar that Daimler should have given Maybach all along.

Looks like it's based on the SLR, just not nearly as good looking.

 

[rvaitor]

A rare sighting for sure!
Can you imagine the depreciation on those babies! Pay 400K new, in three years it is probably going to be worth around 120K.
I guess if you have that kind of dough, you don't care.
If I was going to look for something unique, ultra luxurious in an understated way but not break the bank, I'd look for a 3 year old 12 cylinder Volkswagen Phaeton. It is built on the same platform as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, since Volkswagen owns Bentley. Mind-boggling depreciation means you can find one for around 30-35K. A8s too. A 2006 LWB W12 would have set you back over 100K. Beautiful cars though. My BIL deals in higher-end used German stuff. Maybe I'll put him on the hunt for one. Spoiled by the Passat TDIs fuel economy though. The Maybach sedans always looked kinda stodgy to me, as Rvaitor said, like a big Hyundai

Best post of the thread. Some great buys out there in two/three year or even year older German cars - that is if they were worth what they originally sold for three or more years ago. The biggest issue is the proprietary electronics on them. Nothing like having to replace a $2500 non-essential ECU to get it through inspection.

 

[Sackett2]

After turning wrenches on cars for 7 years, i have learned to despise all cars made in Europe. they drive great, but are a PITA to work on, get parts for, and I especially hate buying special tools just to take off a engine cover with 12 screws to change the oil.

 

[N80]

Maybach has been around a long time. I think they may have made aircraft engines in WWII. It seems like I've heard of other high end cars with Maybach engines too.

Edit: Yep, Wickipedia says Zeppelin engines. Also the engines for the Tiger and Panther tanks. I don't know if it was the engines, but Panthers and Tigers were massive powerful tanks but they were quite unreliable with high breakdown rates and known to be very hard to work on....even for the Germans.....just like Steve says.

 

[Bird]

Maybach has been around a long time. I think they may have made aircraft engines in WWII. It seems like I've heard of other high end cars with Maybach engines too.

Edit: Yep, Wickipedia says Zeppelin engines. Also the engines for the Tiger and Panther tanks. I don't know if it was the engines, but Panthers and Tigers were massive powerful tanks but they were quite unreliable with high breakdown rates and known to be very hard to work on....even for the Germans.....just like Steve says.

The things I learn on Tractorbynet. I grew up as a hotrodder who's father owned service stations and an auto parts store, so I knew every mechanic in town. And I've never even heard of Maybach anywhere except here.

 

[Bird]

After turning wrenches on cars for 7 years, i have learned to despise all cars made in Europe. they drive great, but are a PITA to work on, get parts for, and I especially hate buying special tools just to take off a engine cover with 12 screws to change the oil.

My brothers owned a garage in Anchorage and they were not opposed to all European cars, but did say once to not let a BMW in the door.

 

[N80]

Hey, you watch enough Modern Marvels and History Channel and you too can be an endless source of meaningless trivia like me:

 

[George2615]

If the MM emblem was like this it is a Maybach 62S

Just an FYI.
I recently got a catalog from Fairfieldmint.com who sells diecast models and they have a 1937 Maybach SW38. I didn't know they had been around that long but then I didn't know about Durant cars either until I bought one a few years ago.

 

[asylum575]

I did a security gig in NYC a few years back, probably 2002. It was the introduction of the new Maybach. Gig paid well and I got a small Maybach model as a gift. Probably 1:18. I checked on ebay and the dang thing is worth close to $100. I may have to look for it this weekend and let the bidding begin.

 

[jdbower]

I didn't know they had been around that long...

They only recently were resurrected after a long absence in the market, but Maybach and Daimler have had a long history together.
What's the Story, Maybach? | NextAutos.com and Winding Road