As much as we love to drive, there are times when we prefer to be driven. Actually, they pop up all too frequently. When sitting in traffic on the way to work, with a pile of unread documents in the briefcase; when cruising on a dull, speed-limited freeway struggling not to die from boredom; or when we pass on a cocktail because we need to get behind the wheel to get home safely.  But if we’re not doing the driving, what’s the best vehicle to be driven in?  Twelve years ago, Daimler thought it had the ultimate answer: The mighty Maybach, a large sedan adorned with a prestigious nameplate – albeit one that had been discontinued and forgotten in the automotive world decades ago. Resurrected with tons of pomp and circumstance, it served as the counterpart to Bentley and Rolls-Royce, and it aimed to do everything better than their British rivals.  It’s worth remembering that Daimler's ego had been severely hurt by the bidding war over these British crown jewels, which occurred between BMW and VW. In the end, BMW snagged Rolls-Royce, while VW took over Bentley. Daimler, meanwhile, was left without a prestigious automotive prize to call its own.  But alas, Maybach failed to resonate with customers to a sufficient extent. The price was high and the design didn’t look far removed from the Mercedes S-Class – or more specifically, the portly-looking W140 model produced in the 1990s.  During its rocky revival, there was no surer way to annoy Daimler executives than by asking them about the state of things at Maybach. In 2013, they’d had enough, and the plug was pulled on this over-sized sedan. If it weren't for a few fans of the proud brand - namely, chief designer Gorden Wagener and Mercedes-Benz marketing chief Ola Källenius - the post-war Maybach era would have been relegated to the status of a footnote.  But now it's back. And this time around, Maybach’s claim to be the best luxury car in the world is far more credible. That's because it is a variation of the real best luxury sedan in the world. Meet the Mercedes-Maybach S-class - an elongated S600 with a beautifully integrated third side window, a more formal C-pillar, and just the right amount of glitter to differentiate it from its more pedestrian siblings. The classy Maybach Manufaktur logo appears on the C-pillar and inside the car, but the grille is appropriately adorned by the three-pointed star.  With a wide palette of color and wheel choices, Maybach offers various degrees of outrageousness. Painted in silver metallic and fitted with available multi-spoke wheels from the regular S-Class range, it will fly under the radar of most observers. Dark colors and the Maybach-exclusive disc wheels accentuate the chrome trim and underscore its formality and status. Or customers can go really eccentric, like the person who specced our test car. It was fitted with the old-style disc wheels, but painted in ultra-expensive "Magno" paint, a wildly expensive choice that will get a thumbs-up from the Hellcat Charger and Cadillac Escalade crowd.  The prime location to watch the reaction of the masses - stretching from the indifferent to the incredulous - is the Maybach's rear compartment. Rarely have we traveled in such a serene and comfortable environment. Think of it as a first-class flying experience, albeit with important modifications (and minus any wings or stewardesses).  While you won't have a chance to interact with airport security and talkative strangers, you'll have the advantage of a supremely quiet environment, and you'll enjoy your Hochgewächs Riesling from silver-plated champagne flutes by Robbe & Berking. The Burmester stereo system is an industry benchmark, though the rear display screens with their infuriatingly slow-loading map and fussy controls don’t live up to the same high standard.  Unlike a jetliner (or even the helm of the imposing Rolls-Royce Phantom), you will actually be tempted to enter the cockpit of the Mercedes-Maybach S600. Up front, there is the familiar S-class environment, complete with the cool two-spoke steering wheel. The window frames and the triangles in the front window are leather-coated, unlike in the regular S-class, and customers can also opt for a leather-coated headliner. The IWC Schaffhausen-badged central clock serves as an unwelcome contrast: it is ripped from the AMG models, and its sporty demeanor is as appropriate here as sneakers with a tuxedo.  The rich in a rush will appreciate the thrust of the 523-horsepower V-12 engine. The silky-smooth powerhouse will hurl the Mercedes-Maybach to 60 mph in five seconds flat and onwards to a 130 mph governed top speed. Outside the U.S., it'll do 155 mph, but we know that its theoretical top speed is actually north of 180 mph.  While the suspension veers towards the comfortable, it can be adjusted and allows for high cornering speeds in "Sport" mode. The "Magic Body Control" system (presumably invented by magicians, rather than German engineers) scans the road surface and adjusts the hydraulic fluid level in the shocks within fractions of a second. It catches and neutralizes most bumps and road irregularities, but not all of them, so attention to the road surface is highly advised. Otherwise the "magic carpet" experience can be rudely interrupted.  Eight inches longer than a regular S600, the Maybach can still be maneuvered with relative ease, but the benefit for rear passengers is remarkable. We suspect that more than a few S-Class buyers will be tempted to upgrade - especially since the $189,350 (plus $950 destination charge) price puts the Mercedes-Maybach S600 within reach of a regular S600 or A63 AMG. Best enjoyed from the rear, this is still a great driver's car. It’s also good enough to put recent Maybach memories – and marketing mishaps – firmly in the rear-view mirror.
From the driver’s seat to the luxurious rear compartment, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 sits at the pinnacle of technology and performance.