Luxury fashion and luxury cars are linked tighter than sausages, and Mercedes-Maybach is exploring these links further with a very posh 2023 S-Class called the Haute Voiture. While this name seems incredibly silly, the car itself does include some neat touches you don’t typically see on an S-Class (which is saying a lot.)
From bouclé fabric to rose gold interior trim, this limited-edition Haute Voiture Maybach is certainly funkier than your average six-figure ultra-limo. The floor mats are made of mohair, the infotainment sports a special UX, and the whole thing seems fit for the fantasy garages of the very rich and very famous. Plus, with only 150 Haute Voiture models being made, rarity is virtually guaranteed.
Mercedes-Maybach hasn’t actually released a price for the Haute Voiture yet, but the standard S680 starts at $230,050, so we can expect this to be… well, more than that.
But hey, forget the fantasy garage of the rich and famous. We can build our own fantasy garage for less than that. Given how Mercedes will likely charge a hefty premium for this special Haute Voiture Maybach, let’s say that the money left over can keep this fictitious fleet running for three to five business days. So, let’s run through cylinder counts to come up with a celebration of internal combustion.
2004 Maybach 57 – $33,988
Budget remaining: $196,062
You know I had to do it. Why buy a fancy new Maybach when you could buy what might be the cheapest Maybach in America? This mildly scary matte black example is up for grabs in California with a price tag less than the MSRP of a brand-new Toyota GR Corolla.
As this is still a proper Maybach, it gets preposterous opulence like steering wheel buttons finished in wood, leather on damn near every interior panel, and floor mats so deep you could lose your children in them. Plus, an ultra-luxurious symbol of wealth is the perfect place from which to enjoy the incredible smoothness of a twin-turbocharged V12 engine.
2008 BMW M5 6MT – $23,999
Budget remaining: $172,063
The naturally-aspirated V10 is about to go extinct, so why not grab an example of this spectacularly unique engine? The European-market E60 BMW M5 was marred by a single-clutch automated manual gearbox, but a few lucky U.S. customers petitioned BMW for a manual model, and BMW relented. The result is a 500-horsepower three-pedal sedan that wails to 8,250 rpm. Sure, it wasn’t the most reliable thing ever made, but the periods between servicing are so much fun.
This well-loved five-owner example isn’t exactly a collectors’ piece, but it sounds like an electrifying weekend road-tripper with all the fabulous noise you could possibly want. Practical and quick sounds like a winning combination to me.
1994 Ferrari 348 Spider – $69,950
Budget remaining: $102,113
Oh come on, you know I wouldn’t make this list without including something with a gated manual gearbox. While early Ferrari 348 models were a bit awful, the later ones were thoroughly improved inside and out. More power, an updated ECU, better build quality, and some minor styling revisions make these things proper budget supercars, especially compared to 355 pricing.
This particular example is in the great spec of yellow over tan and should let you live your OutRun fantasies without the expense of a Testarossa. Plus, it had an extensive service carried out in 2020, which should mean one less thing to worry about. Just drop the top, slot the shifter into first, and let that flat-plane crank V8 sing. Sure, the C6 Corvette Z06 and S550 Shelby GT350 also have great V8s, but come on. Wouldn’t you want a Ferrari, given the chance?
1984 Alfa Romeo GTV6 – $17,000
Budget remaining: $85,113
If we’re talking about great six-cylinder engines, we have to talk about the Busso V6. While it might not have the sheer output of the S54 from the E46 M3 or the unwavering reliability of GM’s 3800 V6, the Busso packs a whole lot of soul. Some people even call it Alfa’s Violin. It’s most likely the best-sounding six-cylinder engine of all time.
This Alfa Romeo GTV6 features that legendary engine in three-liter form and it appears to be a very tasteful build. With a freshly-rebuilt engine, a rebuilt transaxle with a limited-slip differential, and all sorts of suspension goodies, this thing looks ready for the canyons.
1988 Audi 5000CS Turbo Quattro – $6,000
Budget remaining: $79,113
While a handful of automakers have produced five-cylinder engines, there’s really only one marque to choose from, right? Audi’s skill in making turbocharged five-cylinder engines and innovation in all-wheel-drive made the famous Quattro coupe excel in Group B rallying. As a happy coincidence, you could find similar tech in Audi’s road cars of the 1980s.
This Audi 5000 Turbo Quattro features a warbling five-pot that’s assisted by up to 14 psi of boost. As it should be, the driver gets five forward ratios to manually select, along with two locking differentials to just spit torque at all four tires and claw away at loose surfaces.
2005 Lotus Elise – $39,995
Budget remaining: $39,118
Sure, you could buy a Honda S2000 to get the kick of a peaky four-cylinder engine. Alternatively, you could buy something much more involving and focused. Oh yes, it’s Lotus Elise time. While the Elise was originally launched with a Rover engine, American models got a 1.8-liter motor from Toyota. Hey, it had already passed EPA certification, plus Toyota is famed for reliability.
However, this isn’t an ordinary Corolla engine. This is Toyota’s 2ZZ-GE inline-four, which saw duty in the underrated Celica GT-S. It’s a ripper of an engine, happily revving out to 8,200 rpm. Add in featherweight construction and gloriously unfiltered steering, and you get a sports car for the ages. Just don’t crack the clamshell.
2021 Mitsubishi Mirage ES – $14,996
Budget remaining: $24,122
Alright, maybe having one reliable, fuel-efficient car on tap isn’t a bad idea. Welcome to the Mitsubishi Mirage, what American generally considers the minimum viable car, a.k.a. pure, basic motoring. Its 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine puts out just 78 horsepower, and its manual gearbox only features five forward gears, yet this tiny little economy car is exactly what freedom on four wheels feels like.
Not only do you get the characterful thrash of a three-cylinder engine, but you also get a certain freedom from caring. Thanks to Mitsubishi’s famously long powertrain warranty, you have coverage for years, and thanks to the car’s low price, you don’t have to worry too much about parking dings. Plus, high-profile sidewalls mean you don’t really have to worry about curbing alloy wheels either. Just mash the throttle through the carpet to go places, shift it like you mean it, and park just about anywhere. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everything was this simple?
2010 Mazda RX-8 Grand Touring – $9,999
Budget remaining: $14,123
After working our way down the list from twelve pistons to three, we get to a car that has no pistons at all. The Mazda RX-8 may get a bad rap for engine longevity, but this rather funky sports coupe is one of the best driver’s cars of the 2000s. Not only does it rev to the moon and back, but the steering actually talks to you despite being electrically assisted. Indeed, the whole chassis just feels light and supremely agile, able to hit apexes by thoughts and bend into whatever shape you deem fit.
Malleable, controllable, and a whole lot of fun, the RX-8 might be the best-kept secret of the used car market and is entirely worthy of a spot in this fantasy garage. Just make sure to save a few grand for a rebuild and get a compression test before buying.
2005 Pontiac GTO – $13,999
Budget remaining: Just enough for dinner.
Come on, you didn’t expect me to end this list without an LS V8 of some sort, right? Besides, there’s a distinct lack of America and Australia on this list and we need to fix that. This 2005 Pontiac GTO was born in South Australia but featured an all-American heart, the six-liter LS2 V8 pumping out 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. With a six-speed manual gearbox sending all that shove to the rear tires, this big coupe absolutely gets down.
Not only is the LS series of engines one of the best V8 families of all time, but there’s also so much headroom for modification. Uprated camshaft, aftermarket heads, boost, you name it. While some of the more refined cars on this list would be happy to sip a nice Moscato if they were people, the GTO would be shotgunning VBs and becoming the FCC’s most wanted. It was an absolute hero car of mine growing up, which is exactly why it belongs here.
So there you go, 56 cylinders and nine fantastic cars for the price of one Mercedes-Maybach S680 Haute Voiture. That’s also three turbochargers, one gated manual, and two locking diffs—all for the price of one luxury car.
While none of these picks will likely attract Instagram clout quite like a top-spec Benz (especially not the Mirage), they should certainly put a smile on your face whenever you care to pull one out of the garage. Now if only we had around $230,000 and enough room to park these things.
(Photo credits: Mercedes-Maybach, cars.com sellers, Craigslist sellers)
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I feel so proud an Audi 5000 made the list! They’re great cars…er…after you’ve invested 6 months of weekends into resurrecting them from all their previous owners’ neglect.
But honestly, once sorted, they are solid driving machines. That turbo 5 cylinder is worth the effort alone.
If you’re curious about owning one, here’s what you’re in for: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1NE_MkjB9D_S2x5WA_Dx3KkZtL03w7__
What the hell, Thomas?!? No 2 cylinder choices?
Here is a lovely Deux Chevaux in burgundy and black for only $15,786.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/citroen/2cv/2620625.html
Huh, somehow I’d never clocked that the 2CV had a two cylinder engine for it’s entire life, they only stopped making them in 1990!
Man, good call on the GTO. I miss my 2004 so much. Casualty of my divorce. Just couldn’t afford it after being single with child support.
Also my favorite comment on the Maybach from a writer at the time. Something along the lines of “heavier than a Suburban and faster to 60 than a 911”. Hell yeah…Who cares if it’s ugly. Who cares if you aren’t meant to drive it yourself. I’ll take it!
Anytime the GTO comes up, I always feel the need to point out that would have been a hit if they had marketed it as the Grand Prix GTP or GXP instead of the GTO. A good car got immediately saddled with the rep of a failure due to poor naming choices.
I guess I’m the only one who would rather have a modern V12 powered limo with more luxury than I could handle than that motely crew of maintenance nightmares.
Now, could I make a list of vehicles I’d rather have at $250,000? Of course. But if the question is *this* list or the Maybach, well, it’s a no brainer for me.
One possibility:
C8 Z06 – $120K
CT5 Blackwing – $95K
61-69 Lincoln Continental convertible – $35K (OK if it isn’t perfect at this price, but a decent driver should be easily available)
Guess you need to change your username to V8omous.
Lol point taken.
I imagined the game to be adding these car(s) to what you already owned. If not, I’d come up with a different list.
I would go for the GTO.
The others would be nice until the first repair bill and then you learn why they were sold. Brakes cost how much? I need a customer alternator for how much? F-this, time to move it on to the next loser.
With the GTO, it is fairly standard in the parts department.
Mercedes: You should do a thing called Take 5. People get to pick the 5 vehicles they would get to meet their current or imagined needs. Then post up a few. Either with budgets or no budgets.
Even if money wasn’t an issue (it is, but that’s not the point of the article!), I wouldn’t even consider the Maybach; it’s not a car you buy because you like cars, it’s a car you buy for the same reason you buy a Rolex… “Look at me! I have money!” Lots of features added, not because they’re useful in any way, they’re just expensive. Apart from the Elise, I probably wouldn’t bother with the alternatives either; given the money, I’d probably buy a poshed-up Plus 8 or Caterham 7 for actual driving enjoyment, and a fully optioned Polestar 3 as a daily driver
I’ll take the FERRARI, the Alfa, the Audi, and the cute little Mitsubishi, and the rest on a service merchandise gift certificate please Pat!
A car for every occasion is always best! I currently have 7 cars, and didn’t spend more than $8k for any of them. The fleet includes a work van, a mini van, a jeep Cherokee, a K-truck, a convertible, and an XJR. All of them run good, and since my total mileage is spread between them, and they are used for their designed purposes, my cost in maintenance isn’t much different than I would pay for just one car.
I’d never bother with a Maybach when I could have a Toyota Century V12. My definition of “luxury” is the opposite of “baller”. Plus I would have lots of change from $250,000 to buy hydropneumatic Citroens and old dump trucks
Nine cars are ovewhelming to me, so how ’bout I take just the 2004 Maybach with its janky hood and cloudy headlights. Then to “Brewster’s Millions” the rest of the cash, I’d spend it on a chauffer to drive me around and a mechanic to keep the thing running. If the starting budget is a cool quarter-mil, it might last me until St. Patrick’s Day.
I cannot believe you’d put an Audi on here instead of the glorious Volvo 850 T5-R for the five cylinder entry. You’ve already got German cars on the list, you don’t need another!
I’ll take that pretty green wagon!
I sold my 1985 Audi 5000CS Turbo Quattro 5 speed in the early 1990s for $6000. Nice to know they’re keeping their value! It was the first nice car (no rust, no damage repairs!) I ever owned. Bought it used right after the bs unintended acceleration story came out and prices were depressed.
That Audi cornered like it was on rails and was so much fun to drive on New England mountain roads. Great for getting to the slopes on a snowy morning. Loved the sound of that engine.
I’ve owned a Volvo too, albeit a turbo 4, but would take the Audi instead.
The Maybach was featured in William Gibson’s contemporary-setting cyberpunk novel SPOOK COUNTRY, as the vehicle techno-Svengali Hubertus Bigend let protagoness Hollis Henry drive around California and Vancouver. If I owned one I’d call it the Mongolian Death Worm.
I thought it was a VW Phaeton?
Oh, I just checked, it’s both. A Brabus Maybach in the US, and a Phaeton in Canada.
I would take the 9 cars… but I would swap one of the 9 (probably the BMW M5 with that ticking-time-bomb V10) for a minivan of some sort
How much of that unreliability is just 1. the automated manual transmission or 2. folks not driving the car enough or making sure to take it to redline now and again?
Hmm. Maybe it’s the satin black paint job, but the grill on that Maybach 57 looks like crap-like, as bad as the copycat grills Hyundai was trying as they tried to move upmarket.
Of this list, the Elise is the only one I’d consider owning. Maybe the GTO if I needed a family hauler.
I rather 8 of the 9 over the Maybach. You need the money from at least one for repair s for the rest. And i would also prefer the cash.
For $250,000 I’d rather just buy 100 cars at my typical purchase price. Most of my family, friends, and neighbors are already convinced I’m doing this anyway.
My friend in college once registered 9 cars in one semester on campus. $500 cars used to be decent enough you could buy one, drive it for a few fun months and sell it for the same price. Not so much these days.
What kind of question is this, of course I want the 9 cars. I feel like the GTO, the Elise, and the Mirage will probably generally work most of the time so I should have at least one running car while the other more exotic and expensive to repair ones inevitably break.
Can I immediately flip the Maybach? Most of those alternative cars are only Fodder of Youtube car trekkers, nobody else should drive them because of likely financial ruin. (except Maybe the LS GTO, it will run forever if not mucked with too much)
Can I just buy the Elise and put the rest toward a house? 🙂
I’ll take the Holden and the rest in cash.