Mercedes-Benz Vehicles, Concept Cars, and the Mercedes Lifestyle

In the fashion and lifestyle segment of Pennsylvania, there are two very important Philadelphia events happening on Sunday, September 28. You’re not going to want to miss them, either. Both Philadelphia events are hosted by the Delaware River Port Authority and they are charity events taking place at the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Look for the pedestrian walkway when you get there.

The two events are related, too. One is the City of Hope’s 4th Annual Walk to Cure Breast Cancer and the other is the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Walk. If you want to participate in these Philadelphia events, you’ll be joining an expected 2,500 people who will also be doing their part to help fight cancer.

The vehicular traffic for the Benjamin Franklin Bridge will continue as normal during the event. However, the south pedestrian walkway is going to be closed until noon.

In addition to these two Philadelphia events, you can also participate in the R.I.C.K. (Reaching Inner City Kids) Foundation’s event tomorrow. The first annual “I Ride for My City” is a 10-mile bike ride through the streets of Philadelphia to bring awareness to the problem of obesity and how to solve it.

Have you ever dreamed of owning a Mercedes- Benz but you just couldn’t afford a new one? With a used Mercedes-Benz, you can achieve that dream without breaking your budget.

But there are many other advantages and ways you save money by buying a used Mercedes-Benz. Here are a few of those ways:

• Depreciation – With a used Mercedes-Benz, you don’t have to pay for the depreciation that you would if you bought a new one. The depreciation for a used Mercedes-Benz is much, much less because the person who bought it new already paid for that.
• Earlier Payoff – With a used Mercedes-Benz, you can pay your car off much earlier because of the lower cost. Or, if you prefer, you can have lower payments each month and use the leftover money to put towards other bills.
• Fewer Expenses – If you invest in a certified used Mercedes-Benz, you are responsible for fewer repairs. Certified vehicles have extensive warranties that typically cover any breakdowns or repairs needed. Many of them even offer roadside assistance.

With all of these advantages, why not invest in used or certified Mercedes vehicles for your next purchase?

If you plan on buying one of the used or certified used cars, it’s always helpful to get a vehicle history report. These reports give you a ton of information that you wouldn’t know if you decided to forego getting the report.

A Cleveland TV show – “Good Morning Cleveland” – recently did an experiment that shows how important CarFax reports are for used or certified used cars. The researchers parked three cars in a public parking lot. Two of them were perfectly fine while the other one – a white Buick – was in a major accident but it was fixed up so nobody would notice. They then asked passersby to take a look at all three cars and decide which ones they would choose based on sight and instinct alone. The majority of participants focused on the engine in the car rather than checking out the body.

Unfortunately, according to Larry Gamache, a spokesperson for CarFax, it’s easy to make an engine look like it’s brand new. It’s more difficult to find hidden damage to the body and other problems that could be just as detrimental as a bad engine.

You can avoid getting “conned” if you choose to get certified used cars from a dealer that specializes in Mercedes vehicles. In order to receive the label “certified,” a car has to go through a rigorous testing procedure and it can’t have a history of being involved in major accidents. It still never hurts to get a CarFax report, though, just for added peace of mind.

You know it’s officially fall when you start hearing about the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City this time of year.

This season’s event took place earlier this month between September 5 and 12. And even though it’s over, people are still ranting and raving about the fashion and lifestyle offerings at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC. And in the midst of hurricanes ravaging parts of the country and an economy that seems to be in a downward spiral, the event helped take some people’s mind away from those things, if only for a couple days.

Michael Fink, the vice president and director of women’s fashion at Saks Fifth Avenue, had this to say about the uplifting event: “I feel great. There is enough new and exciting and emotional [sic] for our customers to pick up.”

One of the more optimistic collections came from Michael Kors’ spring collection. His sportswear was reminiscent of the Beach Boys and hanging around at the beach.” He described it himself as something surfers would wear if they went to the country club. He also cited the recent Olympics as one of his inspirations for the collection. The presence of celebrities also added to the optimistic atmosphere, including Bette Midler, Heidi Klum, several Olympic athletes and many others.

Next to a Mercedes, a Blackberry is one of the most prized possessions an executive can have. According to a recent study, however, some executives would even prefer their Blackberry to their spouse.

A survey of more than 6,000 executives who travel frequently said that, if they had to choose between taking their spouse or their Blackberry on vacation, more than a third of them would choose the PDA/Cell Phone over their spouse.

This is, of course, alarming. While the device is extremely useful, there are signs that it can become an obsession. According to one psychologist, a Blackberry can actually ruin relationships. A surprising number of Blackberry users bring their Blackberry into the bedroom with them, and many of them check email on the device just before going to bed and immediately after waking.

There is even a new medical condition known as “Blackberry Thumb.” This affects a person’s thumbs, hands, arms, and shoulders. It is even recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association as a workplace injury.

When you’re driving your Mercedes, you can’t (or at least shouldn’t) be messing with your Blackberry. Come see us at your local Mercedes dealer, and we’ll help you find the right car to fit your lifestyle.

A group of Michigan stylists and other designers recently got together to comment on some of the fashions presented at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. For the most part, they had cheers for the new styles and designs on the runway. There were, however, a few jeers. Following are some highlights about what they had to say.

The Jumpsuit: The judges couldn’t agree on this once-popular style that Donna Karan is trying to bring back. Maybe people are ready for it now with all the talk of Hillary Clinton’s jumpsuits, but the judges thought a woman would have to be skinny and six feet tall to make this design work. Lynsey Roumell, a style expert from Grand Rapids, had this to say about the design: “Now hear this – any jumpsuit, no matter what color, cut or fabric is a bad idea. Just say no!” Nevertheless, it is an interesting look.

The Wide-Legged Trousers: Badgley Mischka designed these high-waisted pants that flow out at the bottom. The Style Squad liked the idea and thought that “wide-leg pants are a wardrobe staple,” but most of them thought the neon blue was too much.

Harem Pants: Designed by Andreas Melbostad, these “I Dream of Jeannie” pants take us back to a simpler time when women wore more subtle clothing. But who wants to go back to those times? Three of the four judges on the Style Squad panel are women and they didn’t even want to wear these “Hammer Pants.”

Of course, everybody has their opinion. Many styles from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week often make their way into our closets sooner or later. It’s just the idea of getting accustomed to new fashion and lifestyle issues that hold them back at times.

When buying a used Mercedes-Benz, you usually have the option of choosing a certified model or one that is not certified. Either way, there are several things you should consider before making your final decision on used or certified Mercedes vehicles. Here are a few of those things to help you make the most logical and cost-efficient choice in buying a used Mercedes-Benz.

What are your automotive needs? This simply means to evaluate what you need in a car. For instance, if you’re just driving it to work every day, you can probably choose a less expensive used Mercedes-Benz that is reliable for that purpose. However, if you plan to use it every weekend for out-of-town business trips, you may want to consider a new or certified used Mercedes-Benz with an extended warranty and roadside assistance.

What is the history of the car? There are several ways to find this information. If you’re buying it from a private seller, ask them what their purposes were for the car. If you’re buying your used Mercedes-Benz from a dealer, ask for a CarFax.com report. These will tell you if the car has ever been in an accident or if anything else has happened that would lower its value.

Did you get everything in writing? Contracts and writing make everything much clearer and helps avoid misunderstandings. If the dealer tells you the used Mercedes vehicles have a warranty, get it in writing. If you purchase a certified used Mercedes-Benz, read the warranty thoroughly instead of assuming anything. Warranties can differ between dealerships so be sure you know your coverage.

Visit this website for more used car buying tips.

A new showroom full of Mercedes fashions is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2009. The new store is going to feature a number of GLK-Class selections that you can wear to show your love for the German automaker’s brand of SUVs.

The new GLK Mercedes fashions range from “casual leisurewear for the fashion-conscious” to attractive accessories you can use for outdoor activities. There are also a number of elegant items for when you want to go to that special event downtown of for “excursions to the city.”

According to BenzInsider.com, the iPhone pouch is going to be a big hit. The product made an appearance at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and created quite the buzz. Here are some other products you can expect to find when the new showroom becomes available:

• A black leather football with the letters GLK printed in gold on the side.
• A silver keychain with the letters GLK.
• A tan corduroy baseball cap with a black GLK stitched on the front.
• A canvas shopping bag with GLK on the side.

These are just a few of the things that exhibit the true Mercedes fashion and lifestyle that people are so proud of when they own a Benz.

Certified used cars are the ideal way to go if you can’t afford to purchase a brand new car. Unfortunately, some people are still forced to go with a normal used car because of the cheaper price. There are some times, however, when a used car comes with a warranty. Here are some things you should know about used car warranties if you’re planning on investing in one.

• A warranty isn’t always available for your used car. The availability depends on the cars make, year, model and condition.
• If a car warranty is available, the Federal Trade Commission requires dealers to post it in the window of the car. This is typically known as the Buyer’s Guide sticker.
• Manufacturer’s warranties may be available depending on the age and mileage on the car. These are often comprehensive warranties that cover everything besides wear and tear or negligence.
• Implied warranties are common in many states, but they are often more difficult to prove and they are very limited and restricted as to what they cover.
• An “as is” sale means there is no warranty on the vehicle. Some states require dealers to stand behind the vehicle for a certain number of days, but this is rare and also very limited.

Instead of messing around with wondering if you have a covered vehicle, why not invest in certified used cars like pre-owned Mercedes vehicles? That way, you can be sure you’re covered and even enjoy some exciting features like roadside assistance.

Doing a good deed was once a win-win situation. You could donate your used Benz Mercedes to a charity that found a good home for it and you would enjoy the tax benefits. But times have changed.

The federal government no longer wants to pay car owners the inflated prices they deem for their donations. Apparently, some people were taking advantage of the system by saying their car was worth thousands more than its actual value.

In 2005, the government changed those laws. Now, if you donate a car worth more than $500 to a charity, you can only deduct its actual selling price instead of its alleged market value. That sounds fair, but there’s a catch. Say you donate your used Benz Mercedes that’s worth $10,000 to a charity. If they sell it for only $1,000, you can only deduct $1,000 on your tax return.

As a result of the changes, it’s really no longer an attractive option to donate your expensive Mercedes vehicles to your favorite charity. It might be more trouble to sell it to a private buyer or trade it in for a newer vehicle, but it’s definitely worth the money you’re going to save.

Chalk it up to another way that the government makes everything so difficult.