Phantom [Official] Rolls-Royce Phantom (VIII)

[Centurion]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

M

That looks awesome. murdered out without matte black and fitting black alloys.

 

[Merc1]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

M

 

[Centurion]

Extraordinary spec for an extra ordinary person. The matcha green colour has been used tastefully. I love the brush aluminium gallery.

 

[Merc1]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

M

 

[Merc1]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

M

 

[Jonathan19]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Wonderful...

PS Currently, Rolls-Royce en Mercedes-Benz (doesn't matter S class or Maybach) are light years apart.

 

[Merc1]

As it should be considering a Phantom costs like 3-4 times price of a base S-Class. The car is the last word in luxury.

M

 

[Mick Briesgau]

As it should be considering a Phantom costs like 3-4 times price of a base S-Class. The car is the last word in luxury.

M

Of course. I was thinking about the plans of management to move up MB in general and the S class in particular to Rolls Royce level, or very close to that level. There is quite a gap to overbridge.

 

[Merc1]

Of course. I was thinking about the plans of management to move up MB in general and the S class in particular to Rolls Royce level, or very close to that level. There is quite a gap to overbridge.

Unless they plan on truly returning to the days of the 600 and the sales volume associated with such a car I don’t see how they’ll ever get to the Phantom’s level.

M

 

[SCOTT27]

Unless they plan on truly returning to the days of the 600 and the sales volume associated with such a car I don’t see how they’ll ever get to the Phantom’s level.

M

It would need be something under Maybach that is bespoke and goes beyond The S-Klasse.
It’s curious that Maybach’s wealthy clientele have not submitted bespoke project or executed requests like Rolls-Royce’s have.

 

[Merc1]

It would need be something under Maybach that is bespoke and goes beyond The S-Klasse.
It’s curious that Maybach’s wealthy clientele have not submitted bespoke project or executed requests like Rolls-Royce’s have.

After the 57/65 debacle I doubt we will see something like that again. They were stung badly by that failure imo.

M

 

[sako97]

After the 57/65 debacle I doubt we will see something like that again. They were stung badly by that failure imo.

M

Making it very close in details/looks to a Mercedes was the kiss of death from day 1 for the 57/62. Then the W221 basically being a modernized take of the Maybach (particularly the rear) at a fraction of the cost was the nail on the coffin, along with the recession. Otherwise, in terms of craftsmanship, there are some areas where the Maybach was superior to the early Phantoms.

As far as build-quality, I had the privilege of sitting/ briefly riding in a Maybach 62s in 2009 and I was completely stunned at the interior details, comfort, quality, NVH levels, and ride quality. All the best ive experienced in a modern luxury car saloon to-date. It was hard to believe that the car was developed during the Schrempp era.

MB still feels the burn of the 2000’s Maybach investment and has made it a sub-brand that has gotten market appeal (the W222 Maybach an unexpected huge hit with 20k+ sold) - that being said, I doubt they believe they are confident that Maybach has the cachet to have a stand-alone product again and sell in profitable numbers.

 

[Jonathan19]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Swissbob]

Making it very close in details/looks to a Mercedes was the kiss of death from day 1 for the 57/62. Then the W221 basically being a modernized take of the Maybach (particularly the rear) at a fraction of the cost was the nail on the coffin, along with the recession. Otherwise, in terms of craftsmanship, there are some areas where the Maybach was superior to the early Phantoms.

As far as build-quality, I had the privilege of sitting/ briefly riding in a Maybach 62s in 2009 and I was completely stunned at the interior details, comfort, quality, NVH levels, and ride quality. All the best ive experienced in a modern luxury car saloon to-date. It was hard to believe that the car was developed during the Schrempp era.

MB still feels the burn of the 2000’s Maybach investment and has made it a sub-brand that has gotten market appeal (the W222 Maybach an unexpected huge hit with 20k+ sold) - that being said, I doubt they believe they are confident that Maybach has the cachet to have a stand-alone product again and sell in profitable numbers.

I agree with you.

The current GLS and S Maybachs are BTW much better than the sum of their parts.

Back seats, E-ABC and Digital Lights are clearly better than on the Rolls Royce.

 

[sako97]

I agree with you.

The current GLS and S Maybachs are BTW much better than the sum of their parts.

Back seats, E-ABC and Digital Lights are clearly better than on the Rolls Royce.

To this day Ive never been the Maybach GLS due to pure disinterest. Take it with a grain of salt as an outsider - It just seems like a blinged out GLS with it’s chrome and large wheels. They went lazy on the mini-facelift, with the front bumper being the same as the normal GLS, save the Maybach-themed faux inlets. Inside.. I get the backseat being lounge on wheels, but the front cabin is the essentially the same as a run-of-the-mill GLE. For the price I’d want more differentiation as part of the experience. There are financial limitations for Maybach's on the part of Daimler, so I digress.

The Maybach S needs no explanation - it’s looks, drives, and feels the part to be worth the premium.

 

[Swissbob]

To this day Ive never been the Maybach GLS due to pure disinterest. Take it with a grain of salt as an outsider - It just seems like a blinged out GLS with it’s chrome and large wheels. They went lazy on the mini-facelift, with the front bumper being the same as the normal GLS, save the Maybach-themed faux inlets. Inside.. I get the backseat being lounge on wheels, but the front cabin is the essentially the same as a run-of-the-mill GLE. For the price I’d want more differentiation as part of the experience. There are financial limitations for Maybach's on the part of Daimler, so I digress.

The Maybach S needs no explanation - it’s looks, drives, and feels the part to be worth the premium.

I own one.
At first it seems like a blinged out GLS I agree, If you sit in it you’d be surprised.

But it must have the white interior with all leather packages. (In the USA it’s one option which cost 13500$, in Europe it costs about 40000$ because you need 3 options)

In that case apart from the Design and switchgear, everything is different.

Even the window frames are covered with soft Nappa leather.

Apart from the steering column and the switchgear, everything is covered with soft leather including the door pockets.

Thanks to the added insulation it’s much quieter than a GLS, there’s less road and wind noise.
I test drove a loaded GLS as well.

The former because of a different Suspension, for example you can’t use GLS rims as winter rims.

Because of the different rim offset from the Maybach suspension.

With the E-ABC the car is smother than a Bentayga or a current Range Rover SV. (I test drove both)

The engine is the M177 from the GLE63 (non S), but with the back box of the GLS580 there’s less power.

This explains why it’s so quick in the Motor trend review.

I checked the parts numbers with my dealer, because we were curious to see whats under the hood of this car.

This car simply flies under the radar, because people think it’s a blinged out GLS, and because it’s American made, you wouldn’t expect such a luxurious interior.
But this interior is only available in white, that’s something they should change.

I guess the problem is the communication, they changed more than they admit.

 

[Merc1]

The GLS in general needs to be reimagined. It needs to be the twin of the next S Class, unrelated to the GLE. Then the Maybach version can go even further.

Cadillac is on fire with their EV SUVs and the ICE Escalade. Look at the EQS SUV and then the Escalsde IQ, look at the new ICE Escalade interior and then the GLS. It’s time for Mercedes to starting building the best products possible, everyone else is.

M

 

[Swissbob]

The GLS in general needs to be reimagined. It needs to be the twin of the next S Class, unrelated to the GLE. Then the Maybach version can go even further.

Cadillac is on fire with their EV SUVs and the ICE Escalade. Look at the EQS SUV and then the Escalsde IQ, look at the new ICE Escalade interior and then the GLS. It’s time for Mercedes to starting building the best products possible, everyone else is.

M

I agree with you.

The main problem is the weight, mine is about 6300 lbs or 2.9t dry. In Europe you’re limited to a loaded weight of 3500kg or about 7600 lbs.

Both (GLS and S) should use the aluminum body like the R231, this would allow it, to make the car longer and more luxurious.

TBH for a 3 row SUV, the 3rd row in the GLS is really cramped, 10-15in more wheelbase in combination with a 10° rear wheel steering (like W223) would sort it out.

Regarding Cadillac, their new Escalades is really gorgeous, unfortunately the ICE has lots of engine failures.

Otherwise I would consider one, because image wise , you can use it much better than a Rolls Royce or Bentley or Maybach.

I am really curious how it drives.

The EV is simple to heavy for Europe, and after my experience with the infrastructure, I don’t want to drive long distances with an EV anymore.

I also think the next GLS Maybach should be a V12, this engine would improve the experience significantly.

 

[sako97]

I agree with you.

The main problem is the weight, mine is about 6300 lbs or 2.9t dry. In Europe you’re limited to a loaded weight of 3500kg or about 7600 lbs.

Both (GLS and S) should use the aluminum body like the R231, this would allow it, to make the car longer and more luxurious.

TBH for a 3 row SUV, the 3rd row in the GLS is really cramped, 10-15in more wheelbase in combination with a 10° rear wheel steering (like W223) would sort it out.

Regarding Cadillac, their new Escalades is really gorgeous, unfortunately the ICE has lots of engine failures.

Otherwise I would consider one, because image wise , you can use it much better than a Rolls Royce or Bentley or Maybach.

I am really curious how it drives.

The EV is simple to heavy for Europe, and after my experience with the infrastructure, I don’t want to drive long distances with an EV anymore.

I also think the next GLS Maybach should be a V12, this engine would improve the experience significantly.

OT - The engine failures on the L87 Ecotech engine is really puzzling. It’s a relatively uncomplicated
NA small block V8 that’s been around since 2014 across its sister offerings, with hundreds of thousands of examples built.

I went from despising the Escalade in the 2000’s-10’s to wanting to own one, but the premature L87 failures makes me hesitate. The V is right up my alley, but it’s too expensive for a Cadillac, and the markups only make the situation worse. Ill give it a few years to depreciate.