Used 2007 Maybach 57

Those whose status dictates they be driven rather than drive often gravitate toward the long wheelbase versions of such luxury hallmarks as Rolls-Royce, Jaguar and Cadillac. With the resurrection of the luxury Maybach brand, Daimler Chrysler now offers a new choice, one offering an unparalleled level of luxury and comfort. The Maybach 57 and 62 include an impressive list of features and can be outfitted to suit the tastes of any owner, so long as that person has deep enough pockets. Powered by twin-turbocharged V12 engines of either 5.5 or 6.2 liters, the Maybach 57 and 62 sedans truly are the pinnacles of performance, luxury and status.

For anyone who has fallen on times desperate enough that he or she has to wheel his or her own Maybach, we’d recommend procuring the convincingly more athletic 57 S model for the commute between the club and the other club. It’s every bit as big and heavy as the 57, but the additional horsepower and sportier suspension tuning make for bigger grins.

If, on the other hand, the only driving you’re likely to do is while gripping the shaft of a custom-fitted golf club or the tiller of an 80-foot sloop, you’ll no doubt favor the added rear-seat legroom and even smoother ride afforded by the Maybach 62’s longer wheelbase. No matter in which Maybach you find yourself, you can count on enjoying one of the smoothest, most comfortable and most indulgent commutes of your life.

In a $350,000 luxury car it’s not as much about where the rubber meets the road as how the wood pleases the eye and the leather soothes the hand. Inside every Maybach you’ll find something better described as woodwork than wood trim – 100 pieces including a three-layer band that rims the cabin to the tune of 18 feet – and the softest, finest, most aesthetically scrumptious leather across which our off-the-rack chinos have ever had the privilege of sliding. The 57 S is distinguished in part by a unique mix of piano black and carbon fiber trim.

Compared with the other sedans orbiting in the same sticker-price stratosphere, the understated Maybach is a virtual stealth bomber. Instead of a big, tall, in-your-face grille, the Maybachs feature a long, low-profile front end that flows through the passenger cabin back into a more substantial rear end with a thick rear roof pillar and short trunk. The Maybach 57 S is distinguished by modified front and rear styling, unique 20-inch wheels and a half-inch lower ride height. The 57 and 62 nomenclature is in reference to the cars’ lengths of 5.7 and 6.2 meters.

Headliner-mounted Rear Gauges
A three-pod gauge cluster hanging from the roof lining keeps rear-seat passengers abreast of vehicle speed, outside temperature and time of day.

Electro-transparent Glass Roof
The Maybach 62’s optional $15,000 glass roof features a layer of liquid crystal foil that changes with electrical current from opaque to frosted to clear. The glass also illuminates as a large, soft overhead light at night.

Every Maybach provides backseat passengers their own front seatback-mounted LCD displays, a TV tuner, DVD player, six-disc CD changer, a small refrigerated compartment, two sterling silver champagne flutes and a unique “cupholder” designed specifically for a bottle of champagne. Other standard features include four soft-close doors, four-zone climate control and an auto open/close trunk.

For $20,450, the factory will paint your Maybach any color you can imagine. Depending on what color that is, you might also want to opt for one of the $12,000 interior appearance options, such as “Curled Elm in Matte” or “Emerald.” Cigar aficionados can get a built-in humidor for $4,000, and multi-millionaire gamers can have a trunk-mounted Sony PlayStation 2 for $4,500.

Even more impressive than its 612 peak horsepower is the twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12’s 738 pound-feet of torque delivered at a low 2,000 rpm. The 5.5-liter version found in the Maybach 57 and 62 is a little less powerful but every bit as remarkable. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a manually selectable five-speed automatic. According to Maybach, the 57 S, 57 and 62 sedans power from zero to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 5.0, 5.2 and 5.4 seconds, respectively. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 miles per hour. The sophisticated AIRMATIC DC suspension combines adaptive dampers with active air springs.

5.5-liter V12 Twin Turbocharged
550 horsepower @ 5250 rpm
664 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/17

6.0-liter V12 Twin Turbocharged
612 horsepower @ 4800 rpm
738 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/17