2008 Maybach models get a $3,500 price jump

They can't move these at their current price points, so it would seem that if Mercedes was going to do anything, they'd reduce prices...

Though at this level, 3.5k doesn't really matter anyway.

DaHarder,

In real terms that IS a price decrease. Your intuition is completely correct. The 2006 inflation rate is 3.26%

Were you to purchase last year's car with present money, you would pay $338,250*(1+.0324)^1= $349,209.30 So they have DECREASED the price in real terms by $349,209.30-$341,750= $7,459.30 for the 57.

In the case of the 62, for last year's car you would pay $428,750*(1+.0324)^1= $442,641.50. So in real terms they have DECREASED the price by $442,641.50-$432,250= $10,391.50

The inflation rate should read as 3.24%. It is correct in the calculations.

For the extra money I would at least expect a 4-valve-per-cylinder engine instead of the 3 they have been getting away with.

Because 540hp with 3 valves per cylinder isnt enough...

More than enough, and Mercedes 3-valve engines are known to be rather emissions friendly.

cdoke, forget inflation accounting. Infation varies from country to country and currency fluctuations are not an accurate measure of changes in production and marketing costs. In any event, car companies are only too eager to gouge consumers by pricing to market and cars like the Rolls and Maybach strive to outdo each other as to who has the higher price regardless of production cost.

I personally check everything carefully to make sure I get the biggest bang for the buck for my purchasing dollar. I hate getting ripped off.

Like that would make a difference.

These cars are beautiful, they really are, and they deserve to succeed. It's too bad that the S-Class is so good, though, because that's what's stealing sales. That and the Bentleys and Rollers.

As a matter of principle, I want 4 valves per cylinder and DOHC. Three valves per cylinder and SHOC are cost-saving shortcuts and Audi's 5 valves-per-cylinder V8 engines are an overkill and needless complication. Nothing to do with Maybach, but I also hate 90-degree V6 engines as they are inherently out of balance. The "H" and "I" configurations are best for 6-cylinder engines. Another type of engine I hate is one that relies on a silicon-impregnated aluminum block to save the cost of iron cylinder liners. These blocks are more brittle and can crack under certain conditions. Very few auto makers fully disclose the foregoing product shortfalls in their brochures.

If anything, the Rolls and Bentleys are missing features relative to the Maybach marquis. I have yet to understand why people are chosing those over Maybach.

Maybachs are hot, but the reason is obvious: they look like S-Classes. Bentleys and Phantoms have very distinctive looks that the Maybach brand lacks. Their interiors are also more traditionally beautiful and simple, while Mercedes put too many buttons and trim pieces in the Maybach interior. It's a very Dubai type of car... sorry, M53R, but it is.

No problems, I know what you mean :) and Sheikh Khalifa has a greenish one.... thats like our president UAE style ;p

S4 you hit the nail with that comment. No distinctive look for the price you are paying on a Maybach.

Hmmm?

Unless it's a completely new vehicle, this market segment isn't going to accept a 'higher-zoot' version of an existing model as a true competitor.

This new Lexus will be priced to compete with the Maybach price wise also I presume? At around 340,000 dollars? Come on, even Maybach is struggling in this area against the Roll's and Bentley's, what makes you think Lexus would fare any better? To be compete with the likes of these cars the Lexus would have to be priced similarly, and we know that's not going to happen.

Believe me, Lexus is no threat to Maybach. The LWB Lexus is half a car as it offers the reclining rear seat (a la Maybach) only on one side while both rear seats on the LWB Maybach are of the fancy reclining type. However, Mybach is closing stores in the full relization that it's sales have not met expectations. Maybach seems to be its own worst enemy rather than suffering from compeition.

Crap. It's out of my reach now.

Stop smoking and drinking, save your money, spend the minimum and look for future opportunities so you can eventually reach your goal.

Thats about how much a Rolls Royce costs here (Dubai), but you guys are lucky! ;p