YourMercedes-Benz Dealer Blog

When you buy a new Mercedes car for the first time, you become a Mercedes lover. Everyone falls in love with their new Mercedes car, and it’s natural to want to spend time with other people who share your passion. It’s not just a car, after all. It’s a lifestyle. Well, look no further than BenzWorld.org, a place for Mercedes-Benz old and new.

First off, check out the forums. Anything and everything that has to do with Mercedes-Benz is here — and people are talking about it. If you’re interested in racing and motorsports, vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles, or even events and meet ups, there’s something for all interests. If you’re looking for the best way to wax your car or you want to discuss the finer details of your stereo system or you want to find out what’s new in the world of the finest automaker, everything’s here to see, read, and participate in.

If you’re in the mood for something a little longer to read, head over to the Mercedes-Benz owners’ blogs. With over 200 different blogs to choose from, you can hear from like-minded car enthusiasts with their finger on the pulse of all things auto. Help a fellow Benz owner out with answers to their questions or just hang out and relax with people who love their Benz as much as you love yours.

Finally, if you’re just looking for eye candy, take a look at the photo gallery. This is where Benz owners take pictures of their beautiful new Mercedes cars and their vintage models. Get ready for your mouth to water as you flip through the pictures of everything from the sleek and powerful CLS Shark II to the sleek and stately vintage varieties from days gone by.

I have to be honest with you.

The 2009 Mercedes SLK is, without a doubt, the most macho Mercedes yet. The SLK has always been full of machismo, to be sure. It’s the Mercedes 2-seater than men want to be seen driving, and that they want to drive.

The new version is even more macho than its predecessors. The new looks makes you think immediately of the McLaren Mercedes Formula One race car, mainly to the new center-bulge hood. This takes macho to a whole new level. The aggressive looking front fascia features split lower grille openings. The rear fascia looks like a diffuser.

The look isn’t the only thing that’s sportier on the new model, however. There’s plenty of features, from the three-spoke steering wheel to the direct-steer system that add to the macho mix. The leather seats and Bluetooth connectivity scream quality and modernity, too.

If you like Mercedes vehicles and you want to get the sportiest one out there, get the 2009 SLK. And, while it screams “macho,” there’s no reason women sports-car enthusiasts won’t love this one, as well.

There was once a time when owning a new Mercedes car was a goal that was completely unattainable by all but the richest few. For decades, owning luxury cars was something done by only those with too much money on their hands. But for nearly ten years, Mercedes has been gaining more and more market share as it brings its luxury into the reach of buyers in almost all price ranges.

According to economists, marketers and trend researchers, there are many factors going into this change. First is the rising power of women in the workplace. Women directly control an estimated eighty percent of buying decisions, and women on the whole like nice things. More women in the workforce also equals more two income households — something almost unbelievable just sixty years ago. Two incomes means it’s a lot easier to get your hands on a luxury car.

Second is the rising use of credit. For centuries, a person bought what they could pay for in cash. Generally speaking, not many people could buy a new Mercedes car with a wad of money. Now that personal credit is widespread and socially acceptable, your new Mercedes doesn’t have to be paid for in full before you drive it off the lot.

Lastly, prices are changing. According to an article in USA Today, research was done to see how much certain “luxuries” cost in terms of hours worked. In 1953, the average person had to work 140 hours to buy a dishwasher. In 2003, one only had to work 28. In 1959, one had to work 562 hours to buy a color television. Today, one has to work 23. As prices get lower — whether due to industry competition or simply the lowered cost of production and distribution — more people can buy.

For a new Mercedes Benz, stop by your Devon area Mercedes dealer today.

If you’re like me, you’re getting anxious for fall already. Mercedes-Benz is set to release the replacement for the SLR at the Motor Show in Paris, this fall. The new vehicle has been highly anticipated, and is expected to impress. I, for one, can’t wait to see more.

The replacement for the SLR is the SL65 AMG Black Series. The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series features a V-12 engine. Yes, you read that correctly. A V-12. This engine’s got 661 horsepower, is twin-turbocharged, and can do zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds. It also features a 5-speed automatic transmission, using the patented AMG Speedshift software. This promises to be one of the most amazing Mercedes vehicles ever to roll off the line.

The Black series will use carbon fiber in the fenders, trunk, roof, and hood. This lets the Black Series weigh much less, around 550 pounds less than the SL65 AMG.

200 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series vehicles will be available in the United States during the first year of production. They’ll cost over $300,000. While I won’t be buying one right away, I do hope the model does well so that we’ll see more and more of these awesome cars available in our neck of the woods.

I have to say, out of all the cars I’ve ever owned, I really do love my Baby Benz. the Mercedes-Benz C-Class may be an entry-level Mercedes, but that doesn’t mean it lacks anything at all in terms of style, performance and design. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has every core strength of the Mercedes brand, from the latest in safety features to a completely lively performance. As always, the styling of the Baby Benz in unique and tasteful.

In terms of style, the C-Class certainly draws its inspiration from larger Mercedes vehicles. It has a crouching stance and an arcing beltline. Both rear and front fascias are, as is the case with the most of the Mercedes family, instantly able to be recognized. The cabin of the Baby Benz is both stylish and has an excellent fit.

The Mercedes C-Class outdoes its class rivals, the BMW 3 Series as well as the Audi A4. The Audi vehicle may have more luxury and the BMW may be a bit more sporting, but the Baby Benz combines elements of both. Add to this the superior Mercedes technology, and you’ve got a winner all around.

My particular favorite Baby Benz, and the one I drive today, is the 2005 with the C55 AMG package. It features a fresher exterior than previous versions, and it has a 362 horsepower V-8 engine under the hood. The 2008 model looks promising, as well, and I’m sure it will prove to stand out among Mercedes vehicles just like previous versions have.

For better or worse, cigars have made a comeback in American culture, particularly among executives. Many people assume that, if you drive a Mercedes-Benz, you probably understand something about cigars. While you don’t have to be an aficionado to run a company, in some business situations you might find it advantageous to at least be familiar with some of the basics surrounding cigars.

Cigars use different tobaccos than cigarettes, and from one another. Cigars are known by their tobacco. Cigar makers try to find the perfect blend of tobaccos from different regions and even different times of harvest in an attempt to find the best combination.

Cigars are made by hand, usually by a skilled worker who can make between 100 and 300 cigars a day. The process works like this: the cigar roller presses the tobacco leaves together in his hand. He places the leaves on a flat, somewhat elastic binder leaf. He rolls it all together and puts it into a mold. A full box is then put into a press. After the cigar has been pressed, it is removed and put into a wrapper leaf. Finally, he uses some vegetable glue to hold the wrapper together. Three to four months later, the cigar is give its wrapper and sold.

The reason you get the big corner office and the reason you can drive a Mercedes-Benz is because you have to make the tough decisions. You are the one who is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of your company. You set the tone, you provide the path to success or failure.

One of the worst tasks you’ll ever have as an executive is firing a manager. Managers are the link between you and the company’s employees. In many ways, they are your face to the rest of the company. You hate to see a manager underperform, because it directly reflects on you. If a manager isn’t able to perform, you’ve got to let them go. But, how do you know when it’s time?

There are five warning signs that it may be time to let a manager go:

1. The manager fails to build trusting and positive relationships with employees.
2. The manager doesn’t get things done, at least not the right things.
3. The manager isn’t open to help or advice from anyone, including you.
4. The manager is dishonest about how things are going in her department.
5. The manager isn’t liked by anyone, whether it’s peers or employees.

These aren’t the only reasons you’ll ever need to fire a manager, but they are certainly among the most common.

Your management team is probably the most important component of your business. A good manager is like a Mercedes: reliable, efficient and worth the extra money for the quality. You rely on your managers to inspire your employees, keep them motivated and handle day-to-day problems within the organization. Here are some things you need to make sure any potential manager has before you hire her:

Confidence

Nothing undermines a manager’s authority more than a lack of confidence. Your managers need to know their abilities and be able to use them effectively to keep your company running smoothly.

Leadership

Likewise, your managers need to have an air of leadership. They need to be able to look at their employees and set the tone and pace for their division’s work. The most important part of this is that they can lead by example. If managers aren’t dedicated to the task, employees won’t be either.

Loyalty

You don’t want a bunch of “yes men” working for you. You want managers who are willing to tell you the truth, and give you honest opinions. However, you also want managers who are willing to step in line behind you, even when you make a decision that they don’t especially agree with.

Courage

Managers have to make the tough calls. They have to be able to fire people, and to tell people when they’re not doing a good job. They also have to be able to tell their employees when they are doing well, making sure to be generous in their praise of a job well done.

The first three months you spend as a CEO at a given company will set the tone for your entire tenure. This is not only a period of transition, but a time of vulnerability, as well. If you want to succeed in the long term as CEO, you’ve got to make an impact in those first three months.

Here are some of the most important things you can do as a new CEO to get through the transition period and make sure you tenure will be a strong one:

Prepare for the Job
Generally speaking, you should have some time before you actually move into the new position to make some preparations. There are three key areas that you need to prepare: technical, cultural and political. Technical preparations include understanding the processes involved at the company, it’s organizational requirements, its customer base, and its markets. Understanding the former CEO’s strategy will help, as well. In the cultural area, you need to understand the basic habits and values of the organization, and see how deeply they are entrenched. Politically you need to understand where the centers of power lay, and know what coalitions control the organization.

Define Success
If you believe you’re succeeding as CEO but the board doesn’t, they you aren’t succeeding. Understand what it is that the board expects, and explain to the board what you believe success will look like. Come to an agreement that is realistic and that can be measured.

Build the Right Team
You’ll probably inherit several senior executives. Some of them will be skilled, some may not. Some may be dedicated to helping the company succeed, some may be interested only in their own ambitiions. Evaluate the existing team, but be careful about removing a senior management member, but don’t hesitate to get rid of someone who is bad for the company.

Make Allies
It’s important not just to know who the key players are, but to know how to get them on board with your vision. Identify things that you can provide to those key players, and ways that you can help them succeed as well. Learn who you can count on for support and identify those people who may cause problems.

Don’t let something simple like a flat tire or failing to get regular maintenance on your Mercedes be the thing that puts you out of your spot as CEO. Come by your local Mercedes dealer in Philadelphia, Fort Washington Mercedes or Mercedes Benz - Wilmington, DE for routine maintenance and to make sure it’s in top condition.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG has a different look than the SL55 AMG that it replaces. The car has gone through exterior styling changes to make the vehicle look more contemporary. It adds front and side skirts, and features standard 19-inch wheels. There have also been revisions to the interior. There is an iPod interface, Bluetooth hookup, and AMG shift lever, gauge cluster and steering wheel.

The real change in this model, however, is under the hood. Mercedes has replaced the torque converter with a multiplate wet clutch and merged it with its seven-speed planetary gearset. What this does is give the 2009 SL63 AMG the feel of an automated manual gearbox.

These changes help make the 2009 SL63 AMG fit both into the luxury category and the sports car category. The amazing V-8 engine under the hood helps the 2009 SL63 AMG hit 60 miles per hour in just over 4 seconds, and hit a top speed of around 155 miles an hour. It also features reliable steering controls and excellent stability control. If you want superior performance, you can opt for the Performance package which has bigger front brake rotors, a torque-sensing limited-slip differential, and aggressive tuning of the active body control suspension system.

If you’re looking for the perfect mix of comfort, style and performance, consider the 2009 Mercedes SL63 AMG.