One dealer that specializes in the luxury car market had this to say about higher-end used cars: “The bargain out there is a car that’s a couple years old, has been well taken care of, doesn’t have a lot of miles on it but it can be bought at a significant savings.”

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that sales of used Mercedes vehicles were up by more than 25 percent in January 2009 when compared with January 2008. Those are surprising numbers given the financial turmoil that many Americans find themselves in these days. Other studies show that people are taking better care of their luxury vehicles and having them serviced regularly to help make them last longer so the owners can get more bang for their buck, so to speak.

If you haven’t considered the used luxury car market, what’s stopping you? Now is the best time to find some great deals on the car or cars of your dreams!

Know your state’s laws. Lemon laws vary greatly between states. What California considers a lemon may be different than what Michigan considers a lemon. Don’t assume lemon laws are the same throughout the country.

Repeated repairs often constitute a lemon. If you need to take your car in for the same thing several times within your first year of ownership, that car is generally considered a lemon. It may also be considered a lemon if the mechanic needs to keep it for more than 30 days during your first year of ownership.

Fighting is often frustrating and futile. You may win a lemon law case, but you’re going to put a great deal of effort and time into it.

Instead of worrying about getting a lemon, just invest in certified used Mercedes vehicles. You’ll enjoy your purchase and have peace of mind.

The most dangerous time to be on the roads is during the afternoon rush hour. In most major cities, that is between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. During those hours, an average of 6.6 people die due to traffic-related accidents. Another dangerous time to drive your certified used cars on the road is between midnight and 4 a.m. For every 100 million people on the road during these hours, an average of 5.87 people gets killed.

The study also found some other statistics that you may find interesting. Of the fatal accidents on the roads during the nighttime hours, 36 percent of them are related to alcohol while only 9 percent of daytime accidents are attributed to alcohol. Also, 71 percent of people killed on the roads after midnight were not wearing their seatbelts while 55 percent of non-seatbelt wearers were killed during daytime hours.

Keep these numbers in mind whenever you are driving your Mercedes vehicles. Making some changes to your driving habits may just save your life!

Calm Down
Getting all frustrated, angry and impulsive behind the wheel is a recipe for disaster. Instead of acting on your emotions and impulses, take a few seconds to cool down, think about the situation and reevaluate your actions. Basically, just “get over it” and continue down the road as if nothing happened.

Look Ahead
This doesn’t only mean that you shouldn’t be looking down at your cell phone, your iPod or your radio when you are driving. This also means to look for any potential problems on the road ahead.

Leave Some Space
You don’t need to tailgate the person in front of your or “keep up” with the person driving next to you. Instead, find a space for yourself so you have an “escape route” in case of an emergency behind the wheel.

Follow these defensive driving tips and you’ll be able to keep your Mercedes vehicles in tip-top shape for several years to come.

If you leave a large amount of snow on top of your car’s roof, you could face fines up to $1,000 if that snow and ice flies off your car and hurts another person.”When the snow comes flying off your car, it becomes a projectile,” said a spokesperson for PennDOT. The minimum fine right now is $200 and only applies if any damage is caused by the flying ice and snow.

However, some state legislators want to make it mandatory to clean off your cars completely before getting on the road. It’s like a preemptive law to help prevent any damages or injuries.

The important thing is to try and stay safe this winter and help keep others safe. If this means cleaning off the snow and ice from your Mercedes vehicles or any other kind of car you have, then so be it. We’re all in this life together and we should look out for each other when we can.

Early Sunday mornings are the most dangerous times to be on the road. Most people consider early Sunday morning to be late Saturday night, but either way, most fatal accidents occur between 12:00 AM and 3:00 AM on Sunday morning/Saturday night. The number of drunk drivers skyrockets during these hours.

Commuting times are the safest times to be on the road. People tend to be more alert and in less of a hurry during the morning commute. However, driving home during the normal commuting times is not as safe.

Young male drivers are the least safe of all groups. Males between the ages of 16 and 24 are involved in more fatal crashes than any other group of drivers. On the other hand, girls between the ages of 16 and 20 behind the wheel are involved in more crashes that cause injury.

Now that you know these facts, you can try to keep your Mercedes vehicles away from these dangers and enjoy it for many years to come. Just be safe and use some common sense and everybody can have a safe and happy holiday season.

1. Keep an eye on the fluids. You might not think the fluids under the hood are important, but they are vital to the proper operation of your used Mercedes-Benz. Look for leaks underneath the car and unexplained dropping fluid levels. Have it checked at the first sign of a problem to avoid larger repairs.
2. Look for warning signs. Car problems rarely happen suddenly. They usually give you some warning before something happens. Be “in tune” with your used Mercedes-Benz and you’ll be able to notice problems while they are still small and inexpensive.
3. Get a second opinion. Repairs are not like groceries. Prices can differ by tens or even hundreds of dollars between shops. Check a couple mechanics before making your final decision. One mechanic may see dollar signs while the other may be willing to do repairs for a more reasonable price just to get your business.
4. Keep your receipts. This is the best way to remember what you’ve had done to your Mercedes vehicles and when you had it done. If someone tries to say you need new brakes and you just had them replaced six months prior, you can question them with your proof.

Despite public service announcements, pleas and laws against using cell phones and other devices while driving, many people still take their lives and the lives of other drivers in their hand because they need to change a radio station, call a friend or answer a phone call.

Cell phones aren’t the only culprit, though. More than 11 percent of accidents are the result of reaching down to adjust the radio. Nearly three percent of automobile accidents are the result of looking down to change the climate control. More than 10 percent of accidents are caused by other occupants of the vehicle. Surprisingly, only 1.5 percent of all automobile accidents are attributed to using or dialing a cell phone. However, this is 1.5 percent too many because it is something you can avoid. In fact, many of these accidents could be avoided if drivers would just use some common sense and patience.

Whether you’re driving luxurious new Mercedes vehicles, certified used cars or “beaters,” take some extra precautions this holiday season. Few things can dampen the holiday spirit the way an unnecessary automobile accident can.

Airbags are expensive. When a person gets into an accident, they can’t just shove the airbag back into place and hope it works again. It can cost hundreds of dollars to fix it or replace it. That’s why many people do not go through the trouble.

One of the things that will give you a clue about the status of the airbag in your used Mercedes-Benz is the light. If the airbag light comes on when you turn the car on and then the light goes out a few seconds later, that’s a good clue that it’s in working order. However, if the light just stays on or does not come on at all, do some further investigating. Take the car to a trusted mechanic so they can check it for you.

Of course, you can forget about all this trouble by investing in certified used Mercedes vehicles. When it’s certified, you know it’s going to have quality and all the features you’d expect. When it comes to your safety and the safety of your family, it’s worth it.

Use a car cover. Even if you have a garage, there will be times when you won’t be able to park inside. Covering your used Mercedes-Benz with a car cover each night or when you pull into work each day will help the paint keep its shine by protecting it from the elements. Rain water, bird droppings and other factors are your car’s enemy.

Wash your car regularly. Ideally, you should wash your used Mercedes-Benz about once a week. This is especially critical in the winter months when you drive through the salt, slush and snow. In the warmer months, it just feels good to drive around in a clean car, doesn’t it?

Wax your car a few times each year. People tend to forget about waxing their car these days. However, it’s one of the best ways to protect the finish and keep it sparkling. A good wax job will also repel water and prevent the car from rusting anytime soon.

Use these three tips for your used Mercedes vehicles and you should be able to enjoy a good shine for many years to come.