Maybach built on w140 chassis?

[NZ Benz]

Originally Posted by cyberdrakon

"greatest S Class" that would be the w126 for most people, especially 'benz people'.

if you meant the w140, you should have said 'based on the benz that defined a generation of electrical nightmares'.

LOL, thats pretty true about the W140, still a great car though.

[cyberdrakon]

[quote=SSL]
So having invested so much into the W140 did DB produce an inferior car to the W126? No, of course it didn`t. In real terms it is superior to the W126 in virtually every way. It`s faster, stronger,quieter,safer,larger and more luxurious than it`s predecessor.It is powered by one of the greatest engines DB ever built, handles better, has a vastly superior range of refinements and whilst it is not a beauty it has the greatest road presence of any S Class. In a straight comparison of abilities the W140 wins hands down. Thats what I meant by greatest.
QUOTE]

Well with that kind of argument, i would say the current generation of S class is the greatest benz, it's "It`s faster, stronger,quieter,safer,larger and more luxurious than it`s predecessor.It is powered by one of the greatest engines DB ever built, handles better, has a vastly superior range of refinements"

[markcedes]

w221 for me loll i know its was made after it but the tail lights...

[SSL]

[quote=cyberdrakon]

Originally Posted by SSL

So having invested so much into the W140 did DB produce an inferior car to the W126? No, of course it didn`t. In real terms it is superior to the W126 in virtually every way. It`s faster, stronger,quieter,safer,larger and more luxurious than it`s predecessor.It is powered by one of the greatest engines DB ever built, handles better, has a vastly superior range of refinements and whilst it is not a beauty it has the greatest road presence of any S Class. In a straight comparison of abilities the W140 wins hands down. Thats what I meant by greatest.
QUOTE]

Well with that kind of argument, i would say the current generation of S class is the greatest benz, it's "It`s faster, stronger,quieter,safer,larger and more luxurious than it`s predecessor.It is powered by one of the greatest engines DB ever built, handles better, has a vastly superior range of refinements"

Surely not the greatest Benz! Is the W221 the greatest S Class? Maybe, but not the greatest S Class built by Daimler Benz. It`s a Daimler Crisis. And by the way the W221 is not larger or more luxurious than a W140 and the quality of it`s interior whilst an improvement on the W220 is not in the same league as a W126 let alone a W140. But then again it wouldn`t be. If you want that attention to detail and the " best or nothing" design mentality you have to go to Maybach or McClaren and you have to be prepared to pay for it.

An S600 cost over £100,000 fifteen years ago which itself was an uplift in price of 60% on the outgoing 560SEL. I am sure that some of this increase was premium but a lot of it was a reflection of the actual cost of the materials used in the car`s construction. As I posted earlier the W140 was DB`s final throw, it`s last " the best or nothing" AND the manifestation of looking inwards rather than looking out and seeing that the world had moved on.

In the scope and range of it`s ambition the W140 is DB`s greatest S Class but it is also it`s death rattle and the catalyst that changed the company forever.

[Nimrodthewombat]

I have no doubts that the W140 would have been an even more magnificent car than it already was if Daimler-Benz hadn't been messing around with the pointless merger with Chrysler.

Listen, I had 2 W126 cars, a 300SD and a 560SEL and while they were wonderful cars that caused me very few problems they are nowhere near the level of my W140. The W126 was a solid, well built luxury car that had no equal in it's day. BUT the W140 was definitely an improvment. You may argue with the styling ( to be honest when I saw the W126 for the first time in 1981 I thought it looked like crap next to the classic 450SEL, but I got used to it and liked it enough to buy two of them!), but to say that a W140 is not an improvement, well that's just silly.

And yes to answer your next question, the current S550 is an improvement over my 500SEL. I've driven one and found it to be a vast improvement and I would love to have one. I just can't afford one, mabe if I win the lottery. Aw what the heck, if I win the lottery I'd REALLY buy a Maybach 57S!

[dave perth]

Originally Posted by cyberdrakon

"greatest S Class" that would be the w126 for most people, especially 'benz people'.

if you meant the w140, you should have said 'based on the benz that defined a generation of electrical nightmares'.

that was a brilliant , and factual statement, i couldnt agree more whole heartedly. as i had a 126 before this pile of rubbish,/ A Holden of same age is more reliable. !!!! !!!

[dave perth]

[if i win lottery, the last thing i will buy will be another mercedes benz, what a joke, agree about chrysler screwing daimler up, just like everything the yanks do, destroy, destroy , destroy, , one of histories great failures ,

[Haku]

Originally Posted by dave perth

that was a brilliant , and factual statement, i couldnt agree more whole heartedly. as i had a 126 before this pile of rubbish,/ A Holden of same age is more reliable. !!!! !!!

A "holden" over a W140... Quite the refined taste in cars you have there!

[Benz in Brazil]

Just to be a fly in the ointment...I think the W116 was/is the greatest S-class ever. Just one example of it's pioneering spirit was that ABS was introduced on the W116, a very good safety feature for all following generations.

[jamaldn]

OK, stop the argument. Official info from DB is Maybach produced from W140 Platform. Close the chapter.