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

If you’ve been driving your used Mercedes-Benz around town lately, you’ve probably noticed that gas prices are starting to inch back up. They are nowhere near where they were a few months ago, but gas prices are starting to increase once again. Luckily, there are some things you can do while driving your used Mercedes-Benz to save yourself some gas money and squeeze more miles from every gallon.

• Slow down. One of the most efficient methods for saving gas is to drive slower. Going 70 mph in a 55 mph zone will not save any gas and you might even get a ticket from it. Slow down in your used Mercedes-Benz and you’ll be a more efficient driver.
• Accelerate gradually. “Punching it” from a red light or trying to get up to your desired speed in three seconds or less will destroy your gas mileage. Instead, take your time and accelerate slowly to get more miles from each gallon of fuel.
• Shut it off in the drive-thru. If you find yourself waiting in a restaurant’s drive-thru, turning your used Mercedes-Benz off will save gas instead of leaving it running.

Just because you are driving Mercedes vehicles doesn’t mean you don’t like to save money. Use these fuel-saving tips to get more from each dollar you spend at the pump.

The 2009 North American International Auto Show is coming up in a few weeks and you can expect to see a new concept Benz Mercedes vehicle this year.

In an effort to continue towards its goal of being more eco-friendly and responsible, the Benz Mercedes company is debuting its Concept BlueZERO this year in Detroit, the home of automobile manufacturing.

The new concept car is based on the A and B-Class platforms and includes a “modular structure [allowing] for three different drive configurations.” It also runs on a battery that has a range of more than 100 miles. Another model is the BlueZERO F-Cell that runs on an electric motor powered by a fuel cell. This model has a range of almost 250 miles, making it a direct competitor of the Honda FCX Clarity and other cars in the class.

These Benz Mercedes vehicles won’t go into production just yet, though. Concept cars typically take a couple years to go from the concept stage to the production stage. Some concept cars do not even make it to the production stage. Keep your eyes peeled for these models at your local dealer.

With Christmas, New Year’s and other major holidays coming up in the next few weeks, we think it’s important to offer driving tips for drivers of certified used cars. Accidents and injuries can put a damper on the holiday spirit and we al just want everybody to arrive safely to their destinations. As drivers of certified used cars, you may already know some of these things, but it doesn’t hurt to remind ourselves.

Slow down. Wet roads and hurried driving do not mix. It’s better to get to your destination a few minutes late rather than not arriving there at all. Follow the speed limit and drive accordingly based on the road conditions.

Pay attention. Many accidents during the holidays occur because drivers take their eyes off the road or they simply aren’t observant of what’s around them. Pay attention to what’s around you and anticipate what other drivers are going to do and you’ll avoid many potential accidents.

Don’t tailgate. On wet roads, tailgating is a no-no. Heck, they’re even a no-no on dry roads. Maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you at all times. You never know what they are going to do.

Follow these tips and you should be able to make it through the holidays with your Mercedes vehicles and certified used cars in tact and dent-free.

If you have a used Mercedes-Benz, you definitely want to take care of it and keep it looking new for as long as possible. However, body work can be very expensive and it can drain your bank account if you take your used Mercedes-Benz to the shop every time you get a dent. Luckily, you can do some repairs yourself for a fraction of the cost.

Take a chipped windshield, for instance. Getting this fixed or replaced by a professional could cost hundreds of dollars. Even if your claim it on your insurance, your premiums will go up and you’ll pay extra in the long run. You can get a kit from your local auto parts store for about $10 and fix it temporarily by sealing it from moisture. This will help prevent the chip from spreading into a crack across your entire windshield.

Did you notice a scuff on the paint job of your used Mercedes-Benz? A simple compound from your local auto parts store will cost you about $20, but you can probably use it hundreds of times to get scuffs out with a rag and some elbow grease. If you take your Mercedes vehicles to a professional to get a scuff out, you could pay $100 each time!

But what if the spot is more than just a scuff? If it’s a scratch, you can find an inexpensive bottle of touch-up paint to fix the problem and cover it with some clear coat. It will look almost like brand new!

There are several additions you can make to your used Mercedes-Benz this holiday season, but only one will make every drive a better experience.

Sirius XM Satellite Radio is giving potential customers a great deal on Black Friday this year. You can take advantage of their “Best of Both” promotion and get a free trial of this exciting service.

This is the first advertising campaign in which both entities are included under a single banner. But when you purchase either service, you can get three free months of both of them. One service generally costs about $16.99 each month and you can add the other service for an extra cost of $4 a month. There are also less expensive “tiers” of either service if you don’t think you’ll use all of the available channels.

Advertisers with the company hope the joint campaign will reduce customer confusion. You may also notice fewer commercials on TV for the product and more on the radio. “We think changing it up was a good idea,” said Jim Meyer, the operations and sales president. “We’re excited about [radio] because we think it is an efficient vehicle to get new listeners.”

You can sign up for either service for your Mercedes vehicles at your local electronics store, such as Best Buy or Circuit City.

In an effort to reach an older group of car buyers and drivers, Mercedes-Benz is launching a new website that appeals to a demographic over the age of 32.

The new website is in the planning stages as the automaker continues to make itself relevant in society and on the roads. “In marketing, you have to stay relevant,” said Steve Cannon, the vice president of marketing for Benz Mercedes. “Certainly some brands are more challenged than others in staying relevant and vital to this new audience,” he explained. The new website, which is located at GenerationBenz.com, helps the advertising segment of Benz Mercedes gather anonymous data about customers so they can better serve their needs.

The new website serves as a sort of social marketing website where like-minded people can come together and share their Benz Mercedes vehicles stories and other interests.

Cannon went on to say this about the new website: “Here we have a generation that actually likes their parents and would definitely drive what their parents drove.” As a result, a website that appeals to parents and grandparents may increase sales among older demographics. This in turn leads to their children appreciating and respecting the car choices that their parents and grandparents make.

There’s no better way to arrive at the Philadelphia Eagle’s games this season than in a brand new Benz Mercedes. The Eagles have had a truly memorable season and any fan of football is sure to enjoy their performance at the remainder of this year’s home games.

Once you arrive at a game in your Benz Mercedes, the pre-game celebration is sure to ignite your fire to root for the home team. Lincoln Financial Field is one of the most energetic stadiums in the NFL and Philadelphia is filled with some of the biggest sports fans in the country, too. One thing they enjoy doing is tailgating outside the stadium when the Philadelphia Eagles are playing. You probably wouldn’t want to use your Benz Mercedes vehicles for this purpose, but you could find some other tailgaters and create some new friendships.

If you go in the stadium, you can experience a variety of fun events. Live pre-game shows are sure to get you excited as you eat good old-fashioned hot dogs from the concession stand or something else reminiscent of ball parks. Just arrive about two hours before game time and you can have a great time!

There was a time when cars needed an oil change every 3,000 miles or every three months, whichever came first. However, your certified used cars may not need this and you could be paying unnecessarily for oil changes that you don’t need.

Goodwrench is working on debunking some myths and this is the one they want to start with. One reason for debunking this myth is because it’s good for the environment to skip unnecessary oil changes. According to the director of the California EPA, only one gallon of oil can pollute one million gallons of water.

In addition to that, the American Petroleum Institute says that at least one billion gallons of motor oil are sold in the United States alone. About 185 million of those gallons are disposed of improperly every year.

As a result, you should follow the owner’s manual for your certified used cars and your Mercedes vehicles. Only get oil changes according to the manufacturer’s guidelines if you want to save money and help the environment. Besides, you know when a service garage is telling you to cut back on some maintenance procedures for your certified used cars, it’s something that is very important.

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.

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.