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

If you’re looking for the best combination of luxury and AMG performance on the market today, the 2009 MB SL65 Black Series is your best option.

The SL65 rose out of last year’s CLK63 AMG performance Black Series model from last year. This model “pushed the envelope of the standard version and gave even more power, performance and exclusivity to even fewer people.” This model was an immediate success and almost all of the 350 cars were sold before they were even available in North America.

But the SL65 is even better than that. The engineers tweaked the AMG performance engine to provide even more torque and horsepower than the SL63. In addition, they added larger turbochargers and a new AMG performance sports exhaust. With these modifications, drivers can go from zero to 62 mph in less than four seconds flat. These AMG performance vehicles can also reach top speeds of 200 miles per hour, making them faster than the SL63, too.

The Black Series of the AMG performance vehicles also come with an interior that is all black. The steering wheel has a flat bottom complete with perforated leather. Throughout the interior, there are also silver accents to make it even more striking.

The first of these models are slated to hit European markets next month. It should be making its way over to our dealers sometime next year…hopefully.

Owning a Benz Mercedes is a great way to test your driving skills in a vehicle built for performance. But if you have kids that are reaching driving age, you should watch your driving habits very closely.

The State Farm Insurance Agency did a recent survey to see if parents actually “practiced what they preached” when telling their teen drivers about safe driving. Here are some of the things that the survey found.

• 90 percent of parents won’t let their teens talk on cell phones while driving. However, 65 percent of those parents admitted to doing it themselves.
• 68 percent of parents drive faster and less carefully when they are in a hurry on occasion.
• 65 percent admitted to driving when they were too tired to drive.

Some of these habits are unavoidable. However, it’s important to know that you are passing these behaviors to your kids if they ride in your Benz Mercedes with you. “Kids tend to model after their parents, whether we like it or not,” said a spokesperson for State Farm. “They’re doing what they’re telling their kids not to do.”

Are you passing on any bad driving habits to your kids when you’re in your Mercedes vehicles? The next time they ride with you, think about your actions. Your kids are more likely to do what you do instead of what you say. Be a safe and courteous driver and you’ll be doing yourself, your kids and other drivers a huge favor.

With all of the new regulations on cars today and everybody’s concern over the environment, do you ever think that AMG cars could suffer as a result?

I don’t think so. AMG cars are going to be around for a long time. Even if 90 percent of the world turns to hybrids and cars with the same horsepower as a riding lawn mower, there will still be many car enthusiasts that refuse to give up the AMG cars. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but some places are trying to impose regulations that will make them either illegal or, at the very least, less than desirable.

Ernie Burskey of Michigan isn’t happy about the way AMG cars are promoted. “Car companies should promote safe and efficient driving plus the value and quality of their brand.” Instead, he says, too many TV ads emphasize “speed and somewhat dangerous driving.”

Whether it’s commercials for AMG cars or the dangers of tobacco, people always think it’s their business to stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. Why do people think they can impose their feelings on major corporations and the way they advertise their products? Where has personal responsibility and decision gone? I, for one, think car companies should be able to advertise any way they see fit. If consumers can’t handle the power and speed of AMG cars, it’s their responsibility to take that into account before purchasing one.

Do you agree or am I totally out in left field on this one?

In today’s trying economic times, it’s getting nearly impossible to get a good deal on a new car. It’s even difficult to get a loan on a used Mercedes-Benz because of lenders getting tighter with their money. However, you can improve your chances of getting a certified used Mercedes-Benz by fixing up your credit report and proving that you are a “good risk.” Here are some things you can do to fix your credit and help yourself qualify for a used Mercedes-Benz.

Make Sure It Is Accurate
You’d be surprised how many people have negative items on their credit report that do not belong there. If you’ve been declined credit recently and you aren’t sure why, give your credit report a close scrutiny to see if there is any outdated or suspicious items on it.

Pay Your Bills on Time
Paying your bills is one of the best ways to increase your credit score. Creditors often report late and delinquent payments to the major bureaus, making your score decrease with each and every report.

Don’t Carry High Balances
One thing that credit agencies use to determine your credit score is your debt-to-income ratio. If you have a large amount of debt, your score isn’t going to be as high as it could be. Pay off as much debt as you can and learn how to pay in cash for the things you want and you’ll see your credit score go up.

Use some common sense when paying your bills and using credit and you should be able to get behind the wheel of one of the Mercedes vehicles of your choice in no time!

Even if you’ve purchased one of the great certified used cars from your local dealer, you still need to do some preventative maintenance to avoid major problems in the future. Certified used cars do come with extensive warranties, but you don’t want to get stranded somewhere on the way to that big meeting or your hot date. The battery in your car is vital to it starting and running, but many people overlook battery maintenance until it’s too late. Here are some ways to make sure your battery stays in working order.

1. Clean the posts. These are the only connections your battery has to the electrical systems on the car. Disconnect them from the battery and clean with a wire brush and a baking soda/water mixture. Dip the brush in the mixture and scrub any corrosion or rust from the cables.
2. Lubricate the posts. This will help prevent corrosion collecting on them. All you need is a dab of Vaseline or petroleum jelly spread around the posts.
3. Secure the battery. A battery that jostles around isn’t safe nor is it helpful to battery maintenance. Make sure your battery is securely nestled in its proper place.
4. Check the connections. A bad connection is often mistaken for a bad or dead battery. Make sure the posts are securely connected to the battery before getting a jump or buying a new battery.

It doesn’t matter if you own older Mercedes vehicles or newer certified used cars, maintaining you battery is vital for safety and to avoid any inconveniences.

On Wednesday, we left of discussing the reviews of the AMG performance vehicles by the writers at Edmunds.com. The event occurred awhile ago, but it is still relevant today. In addition to the Edmunds reviewers, there were about 75 total attendees at the event and they were divided into five groups. Each group went through 10 exercises in the AMG performance cars to give them a taste of everything these specialty vehicles had to offer. The exercises included:

1. The Oval Track – Turns at 100 mph and speeds of 100 mph on the straightaway at 8 AM. It doesn’t get much better than that.
2. Basic Car Control
3. Skid Pad – This area of wet surface allowed the tester to spin their wheels, fishtail and slide. Sounds like a typical winter day in Michigan, but this was even better because it was in AMG performance cars.
4. Classroom Session
5. Open Lapping
6. Individual Autocross – Reviewers were timed as to how long it took them to maneuver an AMG SL55 on a coned course. This requires speed, timing and precision to get a decent score.
7. Team Autocross
8. Open Lapping – This was like the previous session of open lapping, but much faster the second time around.
9. Oval Track – Again, much like the previous exercise but much faster.
10. Advanced Car Control – Reviewers enjoyed doing things like shutting off the ESP during this exercise.

All in all, this was an exciting event that the reviewers and testers will likely remember for a lifetime.

A recent article in a Sydney, Australian newspaper reviewed the power of a Mercedes AMG car. Here are some of the highlights of that article.

• Mercedes-Benz took over the AMG engine manufacturing nearly a decade ago. At the time, the automaker wanted to “sharpen up its image” with more power and better handling by combining Mercedes and AMG into one vehicle.
• Before it was Mercedes AMG, these cars were “subtle on the outside and wild on the inside.” As such, the drivers of these cars wouldn’t get any “undue attention” from other drivers.
• Recent Mercedes AMG vehicles have a “bad boy” appearance.
• The SL63 and the SL65 are the two latest Mercedes AMG vehicles.
• The V12 power in a Mercedes AMG tops out at about 5000 rpm. The peak for the V8 model is 6800 rpm.
• Without any throttle, the engine turns at around 3500 to 4000 rpm. According to the article, this “gives you a start the first few times. Later, when you are used to it, it still gives you a tingle right down your back.”

There is so much more to these AMG performance vehicles. We’ll revisit this article in the days and weeks to come. Be sure to come back for more!

In today’s credit crisis, it’s much more difficult to secure a long for a home or a car. However, there are things you can do if you want to finance that next Benz Mercedes even if you have bad credit. Here are some things you can do to make sure you reach that dream of owning a Benz Mercedes in today’s tough times.

Know your credit score. You want to be the one that knows your credit score before your salesperson at your Benz Mercedes dealer. If you go to the dealer without knowing it, you could be surprised at what it actually is. This could hurt your negotiating power and it may even throw you for a loop.

Check with a lending institution first. If you get a loan from your lending institution instead of the dealership, you might get a better deal. Some lending institutions may even be more lenient than the dealer, too.

Improve your credit score. If your Benz Mercedes dealer wants to give you a high interest rate on your car loan, don’t buy just yet. Spend a few months cleaning up your credit and improving your score. Then come back to the dealer and see about getting a lower interest rate. You may have to wait a few months, but you’ll be paying a lot less in the long run.

Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to getting a great deal on your next new or used Benz Mercedes vehicles.

Successful CEOs have more in common with one another than a nice Mercedes. Successful CEOs share certain traits that enable them to do the job they do.

Some of the characteristics of successful CEOs are internal. For example, successful CEOs are self-assured. They are tenacious when it comes to pursuing goals. They are honest. They are original. They’re detail oriented. They’re flexible, and they’re competitive. While not every successful CEO has these internal characteristics, most will share at least a few of these qualities.

Successful CEOs know how best to interact with people, too. They are always in control of their temper and their attitude, and show it. They think before they speak. They tend to be modest, but know when it’s time to boast. They have a good sense of humor and a great sense of style. They are willing to lead. They fight for their people. They are nice. They are straightforward. They ask questions, but not too many. They’re also good storytellers.

Good CEOs aren’t born, they are made. It is absolutely possible to cultivate these characteristics. While not all of them are essential to success as a CEO, each has ways that it helps keep you at the top of your game.

A few years ago, the reviewers at Edmunds drove some AMG cars as part of the AMG Challenge. It was an exciting experience for each driver involved as they arrived at the California Speedway in Fontana early in the morning to drive some high-performance AMG cars around the track.

The day started off with a breakfast provided by Mercedes-Benz. According to the article writer, “Mercedes-Benz knows how to do meals like it knows how to make cars.” During the breakfast time, the reviewers met the team leaders and they discussed their driving resumes. Tommy Kendall was the special guest, too.

After breakfast, the guys were ready to jump into their Mercedes AMG cars. Their goal: To gain a “better understanding of car control, vehicle dynamics and braking techniques” and to see “what it takes to really hustle a car around a racetrack quickly and consistently.” The instructors for the reviewers also said they would have a new appreciation for AMG cars and the “adrenaline rush” they receive when sitting behind the wheel and going over 100 mph. That feeling is just typical with any AMG performance vehicle, though.

We’ll pick up where we left off on this story on Friday. Until then, why not check out some AMG cars for yourself? There’s nothing else like it in the world!