I can't find a link to the article, but in today's Houston Chronicle, in the automotive section, there is an article titled "Diesels in Mercedes' U.S. future." A sentence in the very last paragraph reads this: "We will even use diesel in the Maybach,... That will help lower costs."
Sounds cool to me. If someone can find the article in its entirety, its by Herb Shuldiner, Motor Matters.
-Joe
__________________
1981 300SD DB881 ext./code #236 leather int. aka: thistle green ext./olive int.
1982 300D, DB877 ext./code #135 mb-tex int. aka: petrol green ext./creme int.
If that's true i'm afraid they completely lost their minds. It's utterly ridiculous and besides the point of the whole Maybach concept. Who cares what the cost of fuel is when you buy a car in this price range ? It's a bit like Rolex would say "let's lower the carat of gold in our watches from 18 to 12 so if you have to buy another bracelet it will be cheaper". STUPID [xx(]
I think it's a good idea. Today's diesel engines are not like the old smokey, slow, clattering ones like in my 300D. You can hardly distinguish them from gassers now, they're so quiet and clean. I mean, MB has put diesel engines in the SLK, a SLK320 CDI tri-turbo V6, which pulls 286hp and 630nm of torque, and has a 0-60 time of 5.0s. The SL400 CDI is a V8, that produces 315hp and 730nm of torque. MB proposes to put together two of the before mentioned tri-turbo V6 CDI engines and make a V12 diesel, which SHOULD have over 400hp for the Maybach. I don't think people are going to care about the cost of fuel when it comes to choosing a gas or diesel Maybach, some people just like diesel engines better, or they don't want to have the run of the mill gasser Maybach, they want something different. Remember, it's not always about fuel prices when MB puts a diesel in a flagship car. Back in the late 70's and early 80's, MB put diesel engines in their W116 and W126 S-class bodies for the North American market. It was not because of fuel prices, but rather a way to sell a load of S-classes in the U.S. without having to modifiy their big V8s to meet emission standards for the U.S. because diesels were not subject to the same emission standards as gasoline engines were, and as a result, in 1985, 80% of the MBs sold in the U.S. were diesel.
-Joe
I think it's a good idea. Today's diesel engines are not like the old smokey, slow, clattering ones like in my 300D. You can hardly distinguish them from gassers now, they're so quiet and clean. I mean, MB has put diesel engines in the SLK, a SLK320 CDI tri-turbo V6, which pulls 286hp and 630nm of torque, and has a 0-60 time of 5.0s. The SL400 CDI is a V8, that produces 315hp and 730nm of torque. MB proposes to put together two of the before mentioned tri-turbo V6 CDI engines and make a V12 diesel, which SHOULD have over 400hp for the Maybach. I don't think people are going to care about the cost of fuel when it comes to choosing a gas or diesel Maybach, some people just like diesel engines better, or they don't want to have the run of the mill gasser Maybach, they want something different. Remember, it's not always about fuel prices when MB puts a diesel in a flagship car. Back in the late 70's and early 80's, MB put diesel engines in their W116 and W126 S-class bodies for the North American market. It was not because of fuel prices, but rather a way to sell a load of S-classes in the U.S. without having to modifiy their big V8s to meet emission standards for the U.S. because diesels were not subject to the same emission standards as gasoline engines were, and as a result, in 1985, 80% of the MBs sold in the U.S. were diesel.
-Joe
"run of the mill gasser Maybach" Yeah right we don't want one of those trailerpark favourites, LETS HAVE A DIESEL ONE INSTEAD [:(] The only reason MB puts diesels in luxury cars over here in Europe is because of economy reasons. And even S-classes get bought by private people over here and they want good mileage for their private buck (euro). Maybachs don't get bought by private people over here (only a very small percentage) but by big company's and they don't give a toss about mileage when their CEO's transport is concerned or the reflection of their business onto their clientele when they pick them up at the airport.
I come to the States a few times a year and I never heard about people who buy a diesel because it would be "something else". Did I miss something [?]
Gert - 8/19/2005 1:52 AM
I come to the States a few times a year and I never heard about people who buy a diesel because it would be "something else". Did I miss something[?]
Yes, you did miss something. For one, diesels are not as common over here as they are in Europe, so there's not much talk of even someone owning a diesel or wanting a diesel.
Secondly, I have some neighbors who most likely can afford a FEW Maybachs if they wanted. They bought their daughter a VW New Beetle TDI. I'm sure they could've bought the most souped up, most bells and whistles equipped model they wanted with a gasoline engine in it, but they didn't. They have six other vehicles with V8 or bigger engines, so I think gas prices are the last thing on their minds. With that stated, do you have a probable idea why else they'd buy a diesel?
-Joe
I’d buy a Maybach diesel, perfect match – and with diesel more than premium in many places, the idea would be reliability and longevity. Besides, there need to be some Maybachs 25 years from now with their original engines.
Gert - 8/19/2005 1:52 AM
I come to the States a few times a year and I never heard about people who buy a diesel because it would be "something else". Did I miss something[?]
Yes, you did miss something. For one, diesels are not as common over here as they are in Europe, so there's not much talk of even someone owning a diesel or wanting a diesel.
Secondly, I have some neighbors who most likely can afford a FEW Maybachs if they wanted. They bought their daughter a VW New Beetle TDI. I'm sure they could've bought the most souped up, most bells and whistles equipped model they wanted with a gasoline engine in it, but they didn't. They have six other vehicles with V8 or bigger engines, so I think gas prices are the last thing on their minds. With that stated, do you have a probable idea why else they'd buy a diesel?
-Joe
Sure glad to read you are the one "keeping it real" in a street where there live such influential people they can afford a FEW Maybachs. There is clearly a big difference in opinion between Europe and US if driving a diesel is looked on as exclusive. In Europe 60% (maybe even 70%) of all cars on the road are diesels. Why ? Because over here the gasprices are so high taxed that people tend to go for the cheapest one available (except LPG - liquid gas) and that happends to be diesel. That said, on the parkinglot's of our better restaurants, golf- or poloclubs, exclusive hotel's, etc... the majority of cars are petrol cars and not diesels. So if diesel is the newest, latest craze in Hollywood (birthplace of all the "big crazes")I suspect the rest of the country will follow but since my friends live in Edgartown (Matha's Vinyard) I haven't noticed much of that over there. People there are not that rapidely influenced by hype's and fashion so that's maybe the reason for my ignorance (and proud of it[:D])
Location: Heilbronn am Neckar, Baden-Württemburg, Deutschland ; Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,642
RE: Maybachs with diesel engines
Quote:
jdc1244a - 8/19/2005 7:34 PM
I’d buy a Maybach diesel, perfect match – and with diesel more than premium in many places, the idea would be reliability and longevity. Besides, there need to be some Maybachs 25 years from now with their original engines.
I’d buy a Maybach diesel, perfect match – and with diesel more than premium in many places, the idea would be reliability and longevity. Besides, there need to be some Maybachs 25 years from now with their original engines.
Linear Mode
