Top 3 Luxury Cars: When Money Is No Object

By Michael Bock

Michael Bock

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Top 3 Luxury Cars: When Money Is No Object
They say that money cannot buy happiness. However, after you experience these luxury saloons, you... Read More

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928 views Aug 5, 2010

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

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They say that money cannot buy happiness. However, after you experience these luxury saloons, you might think perhaps there is an exception or two behind that notion. When you’re surrounded by acres of rich wood veneers; soft,supple leather--combined with state-of-the art gadgets and gizmos--it sure does help: those megabucks, that is. I present to you three of the most luxurious, lavish sedans to ever grace the blacktop.

1) Rolls Royce Ghost: The Ghost is the very epitome of excess and sophistication. One glance at the Spirit of Ecstasy adorned to the hood tells any bystander that. Available in colors like Sea Green and Adriatic Blue, combined with alloy or chromed alloy wheels and, the Ghost is certainly out to make a statement. Part of that statement (as experienced outside the saloon) is a visual assurance that the car has definitely not been over- nor under-styled. Aesthetically, it's absolutely perfect.

Thanks to a supremely smooth 560+ horsepower V-12, this is certainly not your grandmother’s Town Car, either. Imagine, if you will, a sedan that weighs-in at almost 3 tons; now, imagine it racing to acquire 60 mph, in less than 5 seconds. This is the Ghost.

2) Maybach 62s: For those with endless reserves of cash at their immediate disposal, and who need a chauffeured option when he or she doesn’t feel like dealing with plebian traffic--there is the 2010 Maybach 62s (“s” for sport). You plunk down a minimum of $450k and what you get is a bi-turbo V-12 short limo--a very powerful and aristocratically ostentatious one at that.

No need to explain all of the standard features and options; there are hundreds and the owner has the privilege of even “building” his own Maybach. Additionally, how fast do you think a 3+ ton sedan could reach 60 mph…7, maybe 7.5 seconds?  No. Try 5.2 seconds: courtesy of Mercedes’s AMG-built Maybach V-12, which produces 600 horsepower and a diamond-crushing 738 pound-feet of torque. Just make sure that James keeps her steady and out of trouble--with your nifty backseat-facing gauge cluster. The Queen might even question her current mode of transport after riding in a 62s.

3) Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG: Compared with the previous two saloons, the S65 is a relative bargain. The word "bargain" is relative itself, though. Just because you may get away with less than half the amount for the S-Class over a Maybach, this doesn’t imply that you’re getting a run-of-the-mill everyday Camry. No, no, no. This is a driver’s car--more so than the former sedans. It houses some of the most advanced technology ever employed and is currently the fastest production sedan on the planet. 

Take for instance the engine. The 6.0 liter V-12 beauty--that’s hand-built exclusively at AMG’s Affalterbach factory--pumps out an Earth-shattering 600 horsepower and twists-out an extremely healthy 738 pound-feet of torque. Look familiar? It should, as the Maybach 62 has very similar engine output stats (let the German/English automotive war begin). What’s more is that the Benz weighs 1,000 pounds lighter. Talk about a favorable power to weight ratio! Possibly, the best part of the deal is the price: a real steal at just $195,000.  

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