Mr. M

1. Which competitor car do you most admire, that ISN'T German?

Truly? It has to be any of the Italians... Probably a Pagani Zonda.

2. Which model from your favorite brand do you like the least?

For German cars as a whole, the X3.

3. Which current production car do you despise the most?

Any of those Chinese makes.

4. Which car company (not just the brand) do you most admire?

BMW... They have been relentless in their work for the past few years, and it has definitely paid off.

5. Which car company do you like the least?

Any Chinese car maker, or Perodua or Proton.

6. Which non-German car brand has the brightest future?

Maserati, Lexus and Subaru.

7. Which German car company is the most trouble right now?

VW, to be honest... And coming a close second, MB.

8. Your honest opinion of Lexus?

Excellent cars, but I'll never own one unless I really have to.

9. Your honest opinion of Alfa-Romeo?

Getting too expensive for future models, and current models need a reliability overhaul. That said, the new 159 is much improved.

10. Should DCX get rid of Chrysler?

Yes!

11. Would you have liked to have seen BMW buy Aston instead of Prodrive?

Yes! The collaboration opportunities would be limitless.

12. What do you currently drive?

No car, hoping to get a W124.

13. Your single favorite car currently on the market, current production?

Murciélago LP640.

14. Last time you were involved in a accident?

I was never involved in an accident.

15. Was that Accident your fault?

-

16. Favorite 2-seater?

DB9.

17. Ultimate current-production luxury car?

The S-Class.

18. Which auto exec do you think is the most influential in the automotive world?

No idea.

19. Favorite race car driver?

Don't watch racing.

20. Favorite racing series?

-

21. Favorite GCZ member?

Nobody in particular...

SDNR

Okay ...I have to ask -- I'm not criticizing, just curious. Why do so many of you believe the S class is the "Ultimate" luxury car?

I have no doubt it is the finest sedan in the world ...but as far as true luxury is concerned, it hardly rates next to a Maybach 62S, a Rolls-Royce Phantom DHC, or even a Mercedes SL65 -- am I missing something here?

Mr. M

The S-Class has a long history and is associated with the ultimate luxury car for much of the rich in the world - I'm very sure that there are scores of people who can afford a Phantom, but find the S-Class more than suitable for their needs and expectations.

The Maybach and the Rolls-Royce may be better, but as far as the S-Class' pedigree goes, nothing quite comes as close as the Benz. The Phantom may have had its predecessors but the S-Class is known for every single one of its incarnations, right up to the W221.

Just_me

1. Which competitor car do you most admire, that ISN'T German?
Ferrari


2. Which model from you favorite brand do you like the least?
X3

3. Which current production car do you despise the most?
SMART

4. Which car company (not just the brand) do you most admire?
BMW

5. Which car company do you like the least?
FIAT

6. Which non-German car brand has the brightest future?
Toyota/Lexus

7. Which German car company is the most trouble right now?
OPEL

8. Your honest opinion of Lexus?
They are alright, more realiable than the germans

9. Your honest opinion of Alfa-Romeo?
Love it! Some models look better than the germans

10. Should DCX get rid of Chrysler?
I dont care!

11. Would you have liked to have seen BMW buy Aston instead of Prodrive?
Absolutly!

12. What do you currently drive?
Not your problem!

13. Your single favorite car currently on the market, current production?
BMW 3er Coupé (E92)

14. Last time you were involved in a accident?
Not me involved but managed to avoid a crash were other cars were involved

15. Was that Accident your fault?
See above

16. Favorite 2-seater?
I dont have a favorite

17. Ultimate current-production luxury car?
Rolls-Royce

18. Which auto exec do you think is the most influential in the automotive world?
Bangle before he left?

19. Favorite race car driver?
Andreas Karlsson

20. Favorite racing series?
F1

21. Favorite GCZ member?
I like everyone here except for three members

SDNR

Sure, the S class is an executive luxury car whereas the Phantom is more of a celebratory luxury car.

I guess for me, the S class can be justified as a usable, practical, business-class mode of transport, whereas cars like the Phantom or Maybach are ...well, 'luxuries'. That is why I would rate them as higher than the S class in terms of luxury ....that's not to say that others may see things quite differently.

Tycoon

1. Which competitor car do you most admire, that ISN'T German?
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

2. Which model from you favorite brand do you like the least?
X3

3. Which current production car do you despise the most?
Smart

4. Which car company (not just the brand) do you most admire?
BMW

5. Which car company do you like the least?
Fiat

6. Which non-German car brand has the brightest future?
Lexus

7. Which German car company is the most trouble right now?
Opel

8. Your honest opinion of Lexus?
Boring

9. Your honest opinion of Alfa-Romeo?
If theyx were as good as they look, i'd probably like them like GC...

10. Should DCX get rid of Chrysler?
Yes!

11. Would you have liked to have seen BMW buy Aston instead of Prodrive?
For sure!!!

12. What do you currently drive?
BMW 535d & VW Golf V 2.0 TDI

13. Your single favorite car currently on the market, current production?
BMW M5

14. Last time you were involved in a accident?
2006

15. Was that Accident your fault?
Due to very bad weather conditions and yes, my fault as well, but not 100%.

16. Favorite 2-seater?
Porsche Carrera GT

17. Ultimate current-production luxury car?
Audi S8

18. Which auto exec do you think is the most influential in the automotive world?
Chris Bangle...

19. Favorite race car driver?
Juan Pablo Montoya

20. Favorite racing series?
Formula 1

21. Favorite GCZ member?
Martin, Andreas, Bruce, Yannis, Mark, Christian W., Luwalira, Dominic, James, Jeff, Marcus, Eni,... That's the hardest part. There are many of you...

FasterHigherBetter

1. Which competitor car do you most admire, that ISN'T German?

Ferrari F430, Aston Martin V8 Vantage roadster, Pagani Zonda.

2. Which model from you favorite brand do you like the least?

The R-class.

3. Which current production car do you despise the most?

Any of those giant american SUV's.

4. Which car company (not just the brand) do you most admire?

Volkswagen.

5. Which car company do you like the least?

Great Wall or something like that.

6. Which non-German car brand has the brightest future?

Lexus.

7. Which German car company is the most trouble right now?

Opel.

8. Your honest opinion of Lexus?

Good cars that americans like.

9. Your honest opinion of Alfa-Romeo?

until it falls apart.

10. Should DCX get rid of Chrysler?

Not yet.

11. Would you have liked to have seen BMW buy Aston instead of Prodrive?
yes!

12. What do you currently drive?

A VW Passat Wagon.

13. Your single favorite car currently on the market, current production?

Too many.

14. Last time you were involved in a accident?

Never.

15. Was that Accident your fault?

-------

16. Favorite 2-seater?

Audi R8.

17. Ultimate current-production luxury car?

Bentley Arnage T.

18. Which auto exec do you think is the most influential in the automotive world?

No idea.

19. Favorite race car driver?

Raikkonen.

20. Favorite racing series?

F1.

21. Favorite GCZ member?

Rob, The Artist, 7.3 AMG, Mirage77, cawimmer430, dOmInIX, Zonda, EnI, ree, and every one I forgot.

shonguiz

1. Which competitor car do you most admire, that ISN'T German?
McLaren F1 but if it's related to the actual production i would say, 599 GTB Fiorano.

2. Which model from you favorite brand do you like the least?
X3

3. Which current production car do you despise the most?
Can't answer, probably an american car.

4. Which car company (not just the brand) do you most admire?
BMW Group.

5. Which car company do you like the least?
GM or maybe Ford.

6. Which non-German car brand has the brightest future?
Toyota

7. Which German car company is the most trouble right now?
Opel

8. Your honest opinion of Lexus?
Good products but not my cup of tea.

9. Your honest opinion of Alfa-Romeo?
Probably one of the most beatiful cars of the current production and they deserves to be more successful.

10. Should DCX get rid of Chrysler?
Yes.

11. Would you have liked to have seen BMW buy Aston instead of Prodrive?
Yes cause i have absolut confidence in the bavarian management.

12. What do you currently drive?
A clio and may be soon a new Civic.

13. Your single favorite car currently on the market, current production?
Can't answer

14. Last time you were involved in a accident?
Never

15. Was that Accident your fault?


16. Favorite 2-seater?
Can't answer may be the ariel, or the new ktm or the Shelby cobra or...

17. Ultimate current-production luxury car?
Phantom

18. Which auto exec do you think is the most influential in the automotive world?
I am not a specialist so can't answer

19. Favorite race car driver?
Michael Schumacher

20. Favorite racing series?
F1

21. Favorite GCZ member?
I am not very involved in this forum, so i don't know enough the members to like specialy one of them or one little group of them.

Mr. M

While I agree that the Phantom/Maybach are more luxurious than the S-Class in many ways, the S-Class excels where other luxuries are concerned: the luxury of heritage. I'd go as far to say that the S-Class name is more powerful than the brand of Mercedes.

That said, I'm not well-versed with the heritage of the Maybach nor the Phantom... But that's kind of a testament to show how more famous the S-Class family is.

SDNR

That may be so James ...the S class is an international symbol of excellence without excess .....although the S65 pretty much betrays that impression

I think cars like the Maybach and Phantom are more about fantasy ...they are not designed with the same parameters as the S class -- they kind of exist in a world (or context) that is more illusion than reality. The S class is a 'real world' car -- designed to meet genuine requirements rather than appeal to ones senses or imagination.