The Mercedes C300 Sports and Luxury Sedans both start with a powerful 3.0 L V6 engine, capable of 228 hp and 221 lb-feet of torque, with a fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. They are both capable of 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds, and have a starting price tag of $32,475 and $34,175 respectively.

The Mercedes C350 Sports Sedan comes standard with an upgraded 3.5 L V-6 engine which will deliver more power. Rated for 268 hp and 258 lb-feet of torque, this engine will get a slightly lower fuel efficiency of 17 mpg in the city, while still getting 25 mpg on the highway. It will also get you from 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, and has a starting price tag of $37,775.

Perhaps appropriate for any vehicle with the name “Sport” in its title, the Mercedes C300 Sport Sedan comes with a 6-speed manual transmission with a short-throw shifter with a precise direct action rod-type linkage for quicker, more decisive gear changes. Also optional on this model, and standard on the Mercedes C300 Luxury Sedan and C350 Sports Sedan is a 7-speed automatic with rear wheel drive.
According to Mercedes, the automatic transmission includes many features to give the driver some feel over the car:

“Driver-adaptive programming adjusts shift points to the driver’s current driving style. Touch Shift allows [the] driver to manually downshift and allows upshifts by nudging the shift lever left or right from the Drive position. Shift into Optimum Gear programming allows one-touch selection of the best gear for maximum acceleration or engine braking by holding the shift lever to the left of Drive for one second.”
“Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts vehicle moving in 2nd gear or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm, to help improve control on slippery surfaces. The instrument cluster displays a readout of selected gear range and Standard/Comfort mode.”

Of course, all three models come with all of the features one would expect when purchasing a luxury car from Mercedes. The classic lines of all three models make them instantly recognizable as a Mercedes product, allowing one to join the ranks discerning car buyers.

Ready to come and test drive your next luxury vehicle? Stop by West Chester Mercedes, Mercedes – Fort Washington, PA, or Mercedes Benz – Wilmington, DE to take her for a spin.

Phillies

If you’re looking for something to do with your family in Philadelphia for the weekend, look no further. Here are three popular and kid friendly things to do in Philly, so pack climb into the Benz and explore.
Phillies Defend Their NL East Championship

For the first time in 14 years the Philadelphia Phillies stepped up to the plate and advanced to the Major League Baseball playoffs in 2007. With an incredible roster in 2008, this year might be the year for the Phillies. Visit the recently built Citizens Bank Park where there isn’t a bad seat in the stadium and take the kids to the Phanatics Fun Zone where they can play in the biggest play area in the Major Leagues.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the Phillies experience is the food. Voted Best Ballpark Eats in the Food Network Awards, Citizens Bank Park has something for everyone. From cheese steaks at Rick’s Steaks to Crab Fries at Chickie’s and Pete’s to roast pork sandwiches at Tony Luke’s — whatever you do, arrive hungry.

Baseball As America Exhibit

There’s more than just Phillies games for baseball fans in Philadelphia this spring. The Baseball As America exhibit is on until May 11th and it features more than 500 artifacts from America’s favorite pastime’s history.
The first major exhibition of its kind, Baseball As America has a special section devoted to Philly’s rich baseball history. From the spikes Richie Ashburn wore in 1950 to Jimmy Rollins' helmet from the legendary 36-game hit streak to the 1980 Phillies World Championship ring, it’s a fascinating trip down memory lane for ball fans young and old.

Dad Vail Regatta

Visit the 70th racing of the Philadelphia tradition, the Dad Vail Regatta. This epic rowing event is the largest in the country and Philly welcomes over 3,500 athletes from over 100 teams across North America from May 9-10.
Witness the spectacle as crowds of over 10,000 watch two days of exciting racing. Make sure to come prepared, though — during the regatta Kelly Drive is closed, so you’ll have to park the Benz the Art Museum or Boathouse Row and take the shuttle bus to the grandstands.

If you want to get your Mercedes ready for summer, visit your Philadelphia Mercedes dealers, Mercedes – Fort Washington, PA, or Mercedes Benz of Wilmington, DE to perform your routine maintenance and get your vehicle in tip top shape just in time for cruising season.

The Mercedes A-Class comes in either a three door or five door configuration and is available in either a diesel or traditional gasoline version. The Mercedes A-150 has a 4 cylinder 1.5 L engine and can attain 95 hp and 140 lb-feet of torque, while it tops out at a top speed of 109 miles per hour. The Mercedes A 200 has a 4 cylinder 2.0 L engine providing 136 hp and 185 lb-feet of torque, and will attain a top speed of 124 mph. Finally, the Mercedes A 200 Turbo will give drivers that extra boost with a 4 cylinder 2.0 L turbo engine with 193 hp and 280 lb-feet of torque, reaching a top speed of 141 mph.

The real story here though is the fuel efficiency of each model. The fuel efficiency will obviously decrease as one moves towards a bigger engine, and will depend on whether or not the model came with a manual or automatic transmission. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard with the A 150 and A 200 models, with a 5-speed automatic transmission is also available. For the A 200 Turbo, a 6-speed manual transmission is standard with an automatic transmission also available as an option.

Looking at the automatic transmissions, the A 200 Turbo gets an estimated 26 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway, the A 200 gets 29 mpg /48 mpg, and the A 150 gets an amazing 36 mpg in the city and 52 mpg on the highway. With fuel costs rising all over the world and an increasing customer concern about the environmental impact of gas guzzling cars, the Mercedes A-Class is coming onto the market at just the right time to please European buyers.

While the Mercedes A-Class is not yet available in North America, there are lots of other North American luxury Mercedes you can choose from. Stop by your local Philadelphia Mercedes Benz dealers, your Fort Washington Mercedes Benz dealers or your Wilmington DE Mercedes Benz dealers to test drive your next luxury vehicle or visit the website for new inventory, pricing and more.

Philadelphia

Looking for something to do in the Philadelphia area this spring? Spring and summer make Philadelphia come alive so make sure to check out some of these local events.

Ninth Street Italian Market Festival

Visit America’s oldest continuously operating open air market on the weekend it truly comes to life. Bring your appetite and take in the multitude of sensory delight as 9th Street is closed off for the entire weekend and you can dine alfresco to take in the sights and sounds. See stands offering fresh peppers and sausage, snack on roast pork sandwiches, famous mango roses, endless pastries and more.
If you’re in the mood for a walk, stroll down blocks of marketplace where merchants offer snacks made especially for the festival, musicians make their rounds and the area’s top chefs give live cooking demonstrations to show off the best they’ve got.

Brandywine River Blues Festival

Looking for something to do on Memorial Day weekend? Consider heading down to the gorgeous Brandywine Valley for their annual festival celebrating great music and great wine. You can bring your own picnic or eat at Chester County’s Chaddsford Winery.

There are two live blues bands playing each day, and admission to the festival gets you two concerts, wine tasting, and a souvenir wine glass. Take a tour of the wine making and barrel aging cellars or just sit back and have a picnic at this lively festival. Keep in mind, kids aren’t recommended at the River Blues Festival, and pets aren’t allowed.

Frida Kahlo Exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

In its only East coast stop, the Frida Kahlo exhibit is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art until May 18th. The exhibit, put together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kahlo’s birth, features over 40 of her works in the first major exhibit of its kind in the US in over 15 years.

Drink in the beauty of this iconic Mexican artist’s take on love, Mexican life, and family. Kahlo was known for her small and personal Surrealist paintings that burst with color, symbolism, and raw passion.

If you don’t have the Benz yet and you want to get one in time to cruise Philly in the spring, stop by your local Philadelphia Mercedes Benz dealers, your Fort Washington PA Mercedes dealers or you Wilmington DE Mercedes Benz dealers to get set up with the ride of your life and cruise around town in style.

From Auto Shows To White Tie Galas

On the Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts’ website MB USA (http://mbusa.com), owners of these popular vehicles have a portal to find out what’s going on for Mercedes-Benz lovers in their area. “We understand that being a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast is only part of who you are. Which is why we take pride in supporting a variety of events and activities that Mercedes-Benz lovers find interesting, from film festivals to events benefiting worthy causes.”

There really is something for everyone. From getting the chance to drive the newest MB race cars at the Sundance Film Festival to checking out the best and brightest Mercedes-Benz concept cars at auto shows all over the country, these car owners never have to be bored.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion and Fun

Across North America and all over the world, Mercedes-Benz owners have the chance to rub shoulders with celebrities and each other while sipping on the finest Champagnes and snacking on oysters. Mercedes-Benz has always had a presence in the high fashion scene, and sponsors Fashion Week events across America. Surrounded by beautiful models and beautiful cars, MB owners and enthusiasts get together to raise money for local charities and experience the best the arts scene has to offer.

Why All the Events?

Both in common belief and in technological reality, the Mercedes-Benz company has always been an industry forerunner. The cars themselves have come with safety and luxury features far ahead of their time, and many of the features on a Mercedes-Benz are on the rest of the cars on the market within a decade. The auto industry knows that Mercedes-Benz is synonymous with good looks, sensory perfection, and above all, safety. With this corporate and social reputation for brilliance, it’s no wonder MB owners are a loyal bunch.

If you’re looking to get into the Mercedes lifestyle, try visiting one of our Mercedes dealerships: West Chester Mercedes, Mercedes of Fort Washington, or Mercedes Benz of Wilmington, DE.

The Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Not content with the club being members of a club only in their minds, excited Mercedez-Benz dealers and owners took it one step further and created a real flesh and bones club with parties, events, even a Mercedes store.

Special Access to Mercedes-Benz Plant in Germany

Members of the MBCA take special trips to Stuttgart, Germany, to visit the manufacturing plant and delivery centers. No stone is left unturned on these trips, and visitors get access to places not open to the public. Attendees visit the Carl Benz Museum, the Classic Center, the Daimler memorial, the Stuttgart Brand Center, and the “new” Mercedes-Benz Museum. They get to spend time and share stories with other Mercedes-Benz owners and enthusiasts from around the country and take the trip of a lifetime.

Scenic Drives and Excursions

For those not wanting to travel so far from home, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America has local chapters and events as well. Members can join in a cavalcade of other enthusiasts and visit some of the most beautiful drives in the country, staying in luxury accommodations and eating the region’s finest foods.

Fun and Educational

When not gallivanting across the country in their luxury vehicles, Mercedes-Benz owners have the chance to attend exclusive auto sessions on topics specifically of interest to them. Many chapters meet monthly for seminars and educational events intended to make the MBCA membership experience complete.

But What About Shopping?

After a tiring day of driving, learning, and meeting new friends, at last comes the shopping. The MBCA website has a full retail store, offering anything the Mercedes-Benz owner and fan could want. And we’re not talking just key chains here — from Mercedes-Benz fashion and accessories to luxury car accessories, even branded Christmas ornaments, beach towels and dog capes, the MBCA store is a shopper’s dream come true.

Star Wars Exhibit Entrance

Do you get excited every time you hear the phrase, “Luke, I
am your father” in a deep, breathy tone? Do you know the events that caused a
young boy to turn into the beast that is Darth Vader? If so, you’re undoubtedly
going to enjoy the new Star Wars
exhibit coming to the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia. This
traveling exhibit will be in the City of Brotherly Love until May 4, so you
have plenty of time to visit it as many times as you’ve seen the six installments
of the Star Wars series.

The official name of the exhibit is Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. And just like its name,
the exhibit features a combination of displays that test the limits of science
and imagination. Think of how exciting it would be to see Luke Skywalker’s
landspeeder from the first Star Wars
movie (which is actually the fourth episode in the series). Other than that,
there are more than 100 other exhibits you’ll enjoy.

But wait! There’s more!

In addition to numerous displays,
there are more than 20 exhibits that offer visitors the opportunity to
interact. You can play the role of one of your favorite characters, whether
it’s Hans Solo, C-3PO, or even Princess Leia. Sit in the driver’s seat of the
Millennium Falcon and tour the galaxies while dodging comets, planets, and
stars. Or see what it’s like to be in the body of a gold-plated, wise-cracking
robot partnered with a smaller robot that only speaks in squeaks and beeps.

The exhibit also focuses on the possibility of making the
science in Star Wars a reality today
(or at least in the near future). Can you imagine your children being able to
ride a hovercraft to school each day? Or learning about space exploration in
school by actually going into space? With the technology used in the Star Wars movies, it could be a real
possibility in your child’s lifetime.

If you want to visit the Philadelphia area so you can take
part in fighting storm troopers and experience a “galaxy far, far away,” there
are ten hotels in the area that are offering exclusive packages for fans. The
Star Wars VIP Hotel Package includes a VIP pass, tickets to the exhibition that
you can use any day of the week, and other features that only true fans will
enjoy.

While you’re in the neighborhood, you can visit one of our 3
Philadelphia-area Mercedes-Benz
dealerships and see the future of technology and luxury in the autos
market. Our Product Specialists are ready to take you for a test drive so you
can experience the smooth ride, true elegance, and special features that only a
Mercedes provides. These cars may not take you through galaxies to fight cosmic invaders, but they are close to the next best thing. See what you’ve
been missing and get behind the wheel today!

Public Library

You can find one of these in almost every city in the
nation. But the idea of the modern American public library system as we know it
originated in Philadelphia. Although other cities claim this distinction, the
Library Company of Philadelphia was formed by Benjamin Franklin in 1731. This
was the beginning of the subscription library – an idea that allowed people to
buy shares of the facility. They then used the money raised to buy more books
and each shareholder could borrow those books in much the same way we do today.

Medical School

Many consider the Academy and College of Philadelphia the
first medical school in the United States. Benjamin Franklin founded the
facility in 1749, nearly three decades before the nation was officially formed.
He also became its president and opened the academy two years later. The first
commencement had seven male graduates. A few years later in 1765, two more
prominent doctors founded the Medical School of the College of Philadelphia as
well.

Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo was the first zoo in the nation.
Although it was slated to open in 1859, the American Civil War postponed its
opening for 25 years in 1874. The Philadelphia Zoo includes more than 40 acres
and 1,300 animals, including common animals, endangered species and rare
breeds. Families still frequent the Philadelphia Zoo to see the animals, take a
balloon ride or enjoy one of the many other activities that it has to offer.

Children’s Hospital

Philadelphia is home to one of the oldest children’s
hospital – not only in the United States, but in the entire world. The
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, or CHOP for short, is also consistently
ranked as one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. In
2007, it even received the distinction of the #1 children’s hospital.
Currently, the Philadelphia children’s hospital has more than 400 beds and
admits at least 15,000 children every year. Over 600,000 are treated in the
emergency room and through outpatient departments.

Stock Exchange

You might think the New York Stock Exchange is the oldest in
the nation, but the Philadelphia Stock Exchange predates it. The PHLX was
created in 1790 and the and has merged with some of the nation’s more prominent
stock exchanges through the years, including the Washington Stock Exchange, the
Baltimore Stock Exchange and more recently, the Pittsburgh Stock Exchange.

The residents of Philadelphia have many things to be proud
of. It’s a beautiful town steeped in historical significance. The city has also
been a birthplace for some of the most important things in our nation today.
One more thing to be proud of is our local Philadelphia Mercedes-Benz dealer
showrooms in three convenient area locations – West Chester, Fort Washington
and Wilmington. If you’ve never owned a Mercedes Benz, stop in and create a
“first” of your own.

Keep the Halls Decked with Boughs of Holly

Instead of taking your Christmas decorations down right
away, leave some of them up for a few weeks. Many people keep their lights up
through January and some even leave their tree up. You can even think about
leaving your tree up all year-round and decorating it for different holidays.
After a few weeks, you’ll likely grow tired of them and want to rip them all
down anyways.

Look to the Ghost of Christmas Future

Keep in mind the fun you had this past Christmas and think
of how you can make next year even better. Think of some new traditions or
start saving right now to reduce the financial stress next season. Start
looking up new recipes to try next year. If you start now, you have plenty of
time to practice making them (and tasting them, of course) before next year
rolls around.

Make a List and Check it Twice

Write down everybody you spent time with this past Christmas
and write them letters. Mention how much you enjoyed spending time with them
and how you look forward to doing it again next year. If these people gave you
gifts, thank them for it in the letter. Carry on the holiday spirit by
promising to keep in touch (and actually do it) instead of only spending time
together once a year.

Wait to See what Develops

If you still take pictures with actual film instead of a
digital camera, save those undeveloped rolls for a couple weeks. When you’re
feeling down, take them to a place that can develop them in an hour. The
anticipation of seeing your pictures gives you a renewed sense of excitement
and anticipation that you felt before the holidays were over.

Keep on a Wassling

Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean you need to stow
away those beloved Christmas carols. Putting some Christmas songs in your
normal mix of music can help you keep the spirit alive throughout the year. If
people look at you weird when you’re singing along to “White Christmas” in
August, just remember to keep that smile on your face and remember the good
memories that it conjures up.

Think of the Sales

The Christmas season is the best time for sales everywhere.
Your local department stores have great sales, but car dealers do, too. The
Annual Philadelphia area Mercedes-Benz
Winter Sales Event starts before Christmas and runs through the first of the
year. Who can be depressed when they’re thinking about sitting behind the wheel
of a brand new luxury vehicle?

If you take these steps and your post-holiday depression
still persists, see your family doctor or a qualified therapist. There could be
something more serious that requires professional treatment.