| Maybach cars are custom-built to each customer's taste. A long list of options, colors and interior furnishings can be applied to any vehicle, but you won't find a selection of popularly equipped Maybachs waiting for you on dealer lots. Instead, you must commission a Maybach 57 by visiting a "Commissioning Studio" housed within Mercedes-Benz dealerships that have chosen to sell and service these cars. There, you will find a "Maybach Relationship Manager," who will guide you through the process (aided by a 50-inch plasma screen that can show every possible permutation of interior/exterior decor). If a customer's wishes can't be met by the factory items, the company will permit said customer to consult with its designers (or even travel to the factory in Sindelfingen, Germany, to discuss ideas) so that the resulting Maybach car accommodates him or her to the greatest extent possible.
Ride quality in the 2005 Maybach 57 is smooth, and the only thing that detracts from the experience is the sheer size of the luxury car. When negotiating city traffic, the car feels manageable but somewhat disconnected from the road. If you're used to the agility of a 7 Series or S-Class, you might find the Maybach 57 needlessly cumbersome in these situations. Out on the open road, the 57 proves surprisingly nimble; taken around a sweeping turn, it feels stable, secure and almost entertaining. |
