YourMercedes-Benz Dealer Blog

If you’ve ever wanted to step out of the mediocre world and into luxury, the Mercedes-Benz GL550 is the vehicle for you. This new line of elite SUVs combines a large capacity with a state-of-the-art V8 engine.

But that’s not the end of it. Mercedes equipped the GL550 with the best accents and décor to appeal to even the most discerning car buyer. One example is the grille with a sparkling chrome trim and a chrome lining for the fog lamps. The side door and roof rails are also accented with shiny chrome accents.

The Mercedes GL550 rides on four premium 21-inch wheels that provide a smooth and luxurious ride. Underneath the hood, engine enthusiasts appreciate the monstrous 5.5-litre V8 engine and almost 400 horsepower. A seven-speed transmission is standard, but that’s no surprise; Mercedes-Benz has made automatic transmissions a standard feature on all of their products.

On the GL550, automatic transmission just feels so right. It increases the smoothness of the ride and minimizes the gap between gears when shifting. Drivers won’t even feel what’s happening under the hood. They can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

And the interior? How does a heated steering wheel sound for those cold winter mornings on the way to work? A three-zone climate control ensures that every passenger enjoys their GL550 experience to the fullest, too. The 440-watt sophisticated stereo system lets you escape from the world around you.

With this opulent Mercedes SUV, drivers are going to take every precaution to guarantee its use for many years to come.

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Contrary to what some people with bad credit believe, it is possible to finance a car through a reputable dealership when a person has bad credit. You may have made some financial mistakes in the past, but it’s never too late to repair those mistakes and rebuild your credit.

The perfect way to reestablish a good credit rating is to finance a new or used car and make your payments on time every month. But to get financing, you’ll have to prove a few things to the dealership’s financial department first.

Employment history – This is one of the most important aspects of financing a car. If you have worked a steady job for some time, you’ll look good to the financing department. If you skip from job to job with long breaks in between, you won’t be considered a good loan risk for the dealership.

Length at residence – Along with employment history, how long you’ve lived in one place is a factor of good loan risk because it speaks for the stability in your life. Most banks are looking for six months at your current residence or a long-term previous residence

Salary – Financial institutions want to make sure you can make the payments and still have money leftover to live. If the payments are so high that your salary is barely enough to cover them, it will be much more difficult to get that loan – maybe even impossible.

Credit history – If you have bad credit history, some dealerships look at your more recent history to see if you have been making improvements in your spending habits. Try to make your payments on time for at least six months before applying for a new or used car loan.

Considering these steps before visiting your local Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes retailer can save yourself some time and frustration - and maybe get you a car!

Technorati Tags: used cars, car loan, loan payments, pa car dealer, auto financing, bad credit car loan, poor credit history, car loan with bad credit

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK550 Cabriolet is a model that fits the needs of a select few. It serves more of a niche market for car buyers rather than appealing to the needs of a larger market. The Cabriolet isn’t ideal for families or for drivers who plan on bringing several people along for the ride. Four people can fit in the car, but don’t bring anything else. Trunk space is limited and backseat space is just big enough to fit two people.

But don’t blame Mercedes. This lesser-known Mercedes vehicle is not designed for space on purpose. It fits the bill of a sports car more than a family car or a car used to transport people.

Buyers can get the Cabriolet in a hardtop form or choose the sportier convertible option to achieve looks of envy while driving down the road. The vehicle is a fast model that handles well and appeals to drivers who appreciate the power and fun of driving. The exterior isn’t very thrilling or exciting, though, making it unappealing to sports car drivers who enjoy the traditional appearance of a car that just looks fast.

The interior, on the other hand, is very attractive to drivers with all types of preferences. The black leather and wood trim creates an elegant look. The white-faced instrument panel has a sporty appeal. On convertible models, the top moves quickly so drivers never sit and wait for it to go up or down. The seats have an advanced technology to conform to a person’s body, too, making it a comfortable ride wherever you’re going.

Family car it is not – but the CLK550 is still a great car to drive.

Technorati Tags: mercedes vehicle, mercedes convertible, convertible cars, sports cars, clk class, CLK550 Cabriolet, MBUSA, 2008 models, luxury vehicles, hardtop option

Buying a used car can be difficult. If you choose to buy from a private party, your experience can be even more difficult with some headaches (and expenses) soon after the purchase.

Buying from a dealer saves you a lot of trouble. Dealers have several regulations they are required to follow. According to the Federal Trade Commission, dealers must post a Buyers Guide in each car for sale. When buying a used or certified pre-owned vehicle, try following these guidelines:

• The basics of an “as-is” sale versus a warranty
• The importance of getting promises from the dealer in writing
• The importance of an independent mechanic checking the car before you purchase it
• The amount of repair costs that a dealer pays if the car is under warranty
• A description of mechanical and electrical systems installed in the vehicle

In addition to these benefits, consumers also take advantage of loan options and payment schedules when buying through a dealer. They can also find a wide selection of vehicles to choose from, rather than a single vehicle available from a private seller.

There is a whole world of choices, options and benefits when you decide to buy from a dealer.

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For weeks, Mercedes-Benz and Fiat have been in talks to consider a joint venture producing smaller compact cars. On Monday, though, Mercedes announced that the joint venture won’t be happening any time soon. The company ended talks with Fiat officials.

Analysts for Mercedes-Benz thought that the advantages of teaming up with Fiat were not great enough to go through with the venture. The two car companies discussed the possibility of Fiat producing the new compact A-Class and B-Class models for Mercedes. These cars were going to look much like Fiat’s existing Punto and Bravo, but they would have had more features that Mercedes vehicles are typically known for.

One senior Mercedes manager stated, “[they] produce small cars at a greater cost than we do.” This would mean higher prices for Benz customers. He went on to explain that Fiat engineers had differing philosophies and ideas for building the cars that didn’t mesh well with the Mercedes philosophies.

With the talks ending, there is a new opening to create a partnership with Mercedes for producing small compact cars. Some sources say Mercedes are in the first stage of talks with their rival – BMW. Norbert Reithofer – the BMW Chairman – has confirmed preliminary contacts have been made, but there isn’t anything official and no details have been discussed.

Right now, everything is still up in the air. Analysts can only speculate what’s going to happen in the months to come.

Technorati Tags: mercedes-benz, fiat, bmw, mercedes vehicles, A-Class, B-Class, Punto, Bravo, compact cars

Driving a certified Mercedes home this holiday season is a great way to get the New Year started off with a bang.

But what’s better than bringing home a quality Mercedes inspected by an expert staff of mechanics? Getting a great deal on that same car through the Annual Mercedes Winter Sales Event. The event makes the ride even smoother and sweeter with each spin of the wheel.

This is our biggest sale of the year. Take home either a new Mercedes-Benz or a pre-owned certified model for much less than you’d expect to pay during rest of the year.

Many of these cars drive like new, because the word “certified” in our industry means that it has gone through a rigorous inspection. If anything was wrong, it was replaced. It also means that the car has the same warranty as one of our new models, so you can rest easy knowing your vehicle is covered.

For customers wanting to buy a car, we offer financing programs as low as 3.9 percent if you qualify. Come in and tell us what you want, and we’ll work out a deal that meets your daily car driving needs - and your budget.

For our customers that prefer to lease one of the newest Mercedes-Benz models on the market today, we have special programs and financing for that as well. You’re bound to find something that you’ve been looking for at our Annual Winter Sales Event!

While everybody else has “visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads,” make your vision of owning a Mercedes a reality. Visit us today!

Technorati Tags: certified Mercedes, Annual Winter Sales Event, used Mercedes, Benz dealer, Mercedes-Benz models, buy or lease Mercedes

In a recent study released by the University of Southern California, driving to work could be the least healthy part of your day. Your daily commute accounts for about 50 percent of the exposure you receive from diesel emissions. As a result, your lungs and your overall health could suffer over a long period.

The study states that people who live otherwise healthy lifestyles, such as people who don’t smoke or engage in heavy eating or drinking, are still at risk each day when driving to work. The greatest concern for these drivers is the tiny particles emitted from diesel engines. These are more dangerous than the larger particles because they penetrate the body more easily and spread throughout the system.

The study included a team from USC driving an electric car during the typical travel hours on the highway. They tested the air with nine instruments that measured the pollution in the air. They also made video recordings of the traffic and road conditions during their study each day.

Their findings were not surprising. The largest number of emissions comes from big trucks. Many times, you can even see pollutants emitted from these trucks.

Unfortunately, drivers are breathing in those particles at an alarming rate. During the 1.5 hours an average person spends in a car during the day, the individual takes in 30-40 percent of the daily intake of air pollution.

Knowing this, think of the health benefits for having a quality automobile to enjoy on your commute to work where these pollutants to your body are minimized.

At Mercedes-Benz we take these things into consideration when designing our vehicles so that our drivers can rest assured knowing they are some of the more protected people on the road behind the wheel of their Mercedes vehicle.

Technorati Tags: mercedes-benz, mercedes vehicles, quality automobiles, hazardous driving, health studies, health risks, University of Southern California, USC

Without batteries, cars would be relatively useless. But there seems to be a great deal of confusion surrounding the life of a battery and its actual warranty.

Batteries typically have numbers printed on them, but do you know what those numbers actually mean? When you see a number printed on a car battery, that number refers to the number of months for which the battery carries a warranty. If it has an 84 on it, the warranty for the battery is seven years. The number 60 refers to a five-year warranty, and so on.

If your battery fails before the number of months printed on the case is reached, you don’t necessarily get a new battery free of charge (no pun intended). In fact, most batteries only last for a couple years anyways before giving up the ghost. You’ll need to do some research on your particular battery warranty before expecting to get any money back.

Generally, a battery is replaced free of charge if it fails in the first two to three years after purchase. After that, the manufacturer or store you bought the battery from prorates the battery. This means they give you some money towards another battery. Just how much money they decide to give you is determined by how old the battery is and its particular warranty.

To save yourself some trouble with your used car, spend a few extra dollars on a battery made by a reputable company. Batteries made by companies like Johnson Controls, Exide and East Penn have been shown to last for the duration of their warranty.

Technorati Tags: used cars, certified cars, certified mercedes, battery, battery life, battery warranty, car batteries, Johnson Controls, Exide, East Penn

Mercedes-Benz constantly comes out with better products each year. Just when you think they can’t improve on their seemingly perfect models, they create something that brings the company closer to designing perfection.

This year is no different. They’ve released the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster.

This premium vehicle just recently made its debut in North America, but it has been talked about for several months. Benz admirers appreciate this new creation for a variety of reasons, but its resemblance to the “muscle cars” of the 1950s is one of its most appealing aspects.

The soft convertible top gives the roadster a unique appearance. As a bonus, buyers can choose from three different colors for their particular convertible top – black, red-black and beige-black. This makes the car even more appealing; colors combine with the exterior and interior of the vehicle for a more sophisticated look.

Looks aren’t the only thing that car enthusiasts enjoy about this quality vehicle. The supercharged engine reaches over 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds. This is due, in part, to its 600+ horsepower that achieves an incredible 206 miles per hour on the open road.

Since the Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster is priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, very few people can afford to purchase a brand new one. However, the ones that can will likely want a new “toy” when Mercedes improves upon this model, and they’ll trade their roadster in for the latest model.

This means savings for you. Start setting aside a budget now to purchase this Mercedes vehicle a year or two from now. It will definitely be worth the wait!

Technorati Tags: mercedes, mercedes-benz, slr, roadster, 2008 model, horsepower, supercharged engine, convertible

With the increased popularity of hybrids, alternative fuels and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, researchers constantly search for the next breakthrough to make cars move. Some high school seniors in Florida threw their hat into the proverbial ring to offer their version of a certified Mercedes-Benz vehicle that runs on vegetable oil.

Richard Blair and Mike Haber have been working on their creation, “The Vegginator,” for over six months. After some minor tweaks and re-engineering, their car is now ready to go. This certified Mercedes vehicle once ran on diesel fuel. Now, all it takes is a bucket of vegetable oil poured into the 24-gallon tank. The car even has a gauge so you can see if it’s low on vegetable oil before you run out.

The students said that even with the alternative fuel source, the car does not sacrifice horsepower. It still runs as well as it did before modification.

The only problem with the newfound fuel is that it emits a scent of delicious fried food. Drivers might want to pull over at the next fast food restaurant and get a large order of fries to satisfy the craving while driving.

What are the implications of “The Vegginator”? If a couple of high school seniors can create an engine that runs efficiently on vegetable oil without sacrificing horsepower, how long before engineers at major auto manufacturers create vehicles that follow suit?

Fortunately, we’re closer than ever to having affordable vehicles that function with more eco-friendly resources – and the benefits of that are simply endless.

Technorati Tags: Vegginator, vegetable oil, used cars, used mercedes, certified mercedes, mercedes-benz, modified mercedes, Florida, high school