Interestingly enough, I forgot to share my spring
break adventure or mini project I had planned for my car. I figured spring
break was the perfect time to accomplish the mini project as I had the whole
week off from school and work. As some of you may or may not know, my year
Mercedes did not come with the traditional front fog lights. Fog lights, which only light the
ground immediately in front of your car, are mainly for very foggy conditions
when you are traveling slowly due to limited visibility. They can also
sometimes be used on dark windy roads in the middle of the night. According to
ehow.com, fog generally hovers at about 10 to 20 inches from the ground. So, in
theory, if we project light out into the pocket that does not contain the fog,
you can brighten the road for a distance that will allow you to see farther.
Low-mounted lights, or fog lights, are usually installed at your bumper or even
lower, and the light they expel is actually cut off at the top, creating a
light pattern that projects straight out, then flat and then down, but not
higher than bumper level.
Just took the bumper off
But for
reasons not known to me at least, the Mercedes I drive has fog lights, but they
are not mounted in the bumper of the car. Rather my fog lights are in the same
housing as my low beam lights (clever design for Mercedes, eh?). Anyhow, I
dislike this design so I did some research on my enthusiast forum (Club202.com),
and found out that it was possible to fit some fog lights from a 99-04 Ford
Mustang, into the little brake cooling ducts that were unoccupied in my bumper.
I could not believe this was possible, so I figured I’d give it a shot. After
months of pondering on whether or not I should do this, I finally mustered up
enough courage to order the Ford Mustang fog lights on eBay. They arrived the
first day of spring break, and I was thrilled to fit them into my bumper.
Within an hour of receiving them in the mail, I immediately called a friend
from home, to see if he could assist me in the installation of these new fog lights.
Sure enough, he was more than willing to help me out with this project (we
share very similar passions about our cars).
I drove
over to his garage, and within minutes we had jacked up the car, and put it on
jack stands to keep the car off the ground so we could easily work on it. In
order to install these fog lights, we needed to remove my bumper, and we did so
within 20 minutes. After removing the bumper, we started to synthesize ideas on
how to mount these fog lights (since these fog lights were not meant for the
car it was not a “perfect fit”, some modifications had to be made). After hours
and hours of trying to figure out how we could make these fog lights stay in
place in the bumper we were completely stumped. We finally figured out that we
needed to build a custom bracket in order for these lights to stay in place in
the bumper. Next stop was to Home Depot, where we found an “L-shaped” bracket
that perfectly matched our measurements and therefore fit into the bumper.
After over 6 hours of thinking, we finally figured it out! We drilled a few new
holes in the bumper to secure our bracket and fog lights together, and then
spent some time lining up the lights so that they were ideal for road use
(Believe this will make much more sense once I post some pictures). After about
8 hours, it was a done deal!
In this before picture you can see there are no lights in the little holes (brake cooling ducts) to the left and right of the license plate
Now, this after picture shows the 99-04 Mustang Fog Lights installed in the two little holes (brake cooling ducts)
The finished product right before we took it off the jack stands
Unfortunately,
spring break was winding down, and although the new fog lights were mounted to
the bumper, I was unable to schedule an appointment to get these fog lights
wired and ready for road use. No worries though, this is the first thing I will
be crossing off the list when I get back home for the summer.
In talking to the average car enthusiast about transmission
preference, and most likely you’ll hear that manual shifting is the way to go.
The do-it-yourself gearbox has a long history in automotive design and
motorsports. Thanks to simple, yet robust design, it has stood the test
of time. There's a good chance you'll still find brand new showroom cars
without the automatic option at most dealerships. The manual transmission
was, theoretically, made obsolete decades ago when automatics were introduced
to production motor vehicles, as an upgrade. They are smoother and easier
to drive, and seem to have become more "standard" than standard
transmissions. Why then, would anyone still want to drive a stick, when
they could just put it in “drive” and go? And how long will it be till they are
completely absent from new cars? Anyhow, of course I am one of the odd
individuals that would much rather opt to drive a manual transmission. Why do you want a manual car when automatic is
much easier to drive is often asked when I tell people my preference.
Well, possibly the most convincing argument for driving a
stick is that it's just plain fun. It takes a special touch to handle a
manual transmission just right. The "practice makes perfect"
saying fits quite well here. There is a certain amount of pleasure that
comes from taming the clutch, thrashing the shifter, and getting every ounce of
your engine's power to the wheels. Essentially it’s an ego booster.
A sense of pride results from the mastery of manual gear changing. Simply
put, shifting through gears and downshifting when desired puts a huge grin on
my face. But unfortunately, the Mercedes I currently drive forces me to admit
to manual drivers that I let my car do the shifting for me. For me, at
least admitting my car is automatic reduces me to measly status. But it’s not
my fault my car is automatic though, I’ll explain more.
The 6-Speed Mercedes-Benz C300
The Automatic Mercedes-Benz C300
Unfortunately, my Mercedes (North American model) was only
produced with the automatic transmission. Honestly, this is the one drawback I
have with this car, the lack of a manual gearbox available. Although, my
automatic transmission is one with the tiptronic (an automatic transmission
that allows the driver to manually shift the gears without a clutch) feature, I
still love the feeling of having three pedals at my disposal. The automatic gives me a disconnected feeling
with the car, and sometimes make driving rather mundane. But what can I do?
Unfortunately it looks like there’s not much that I can do, besides opt for a
more enthusiast friendly car (BMW anyone?).
The North American models of Mercedes feature minuscule
numbers in manual transmissions, while the European model of Mercedes comes
with the manual standard. (Well, maybe I should just move there?) When we think
about the modern (North American) Mercedes brand, “offers stick shifts” isn’t
really something that springs to mind. In previous years, sales have plummeted
in the manual transmission, so the U.S.-market Benzes are likely to go all
automatic, all the time, in the near future. For now, I’ll stick with the
automatic, but I’ll be sure to locate a manual transmission Mercedes before
they are completely swept up by the other enthusiasts. Three pedals will again
be a part of my future driving plans.
After my post last week, it has made me and more excited for
the upcoming summer. Surely, it will be a busy summer with lots working and
making money, but I will be sure to spend some quality time and money on the
car. I’ve already developed a list of things I want to change and modify in my
car, and I’m sure as the summer progresses that list will only become longer
and longer. On the website, or better yet the enthusiast forum, dedicated to
anyone who owns the same car as I do, I’ve gained numerous ideas of how to modify
my car while still keeping it classy and elegant. Most times, in my free time you
would find me browsing the enthusiast forum looking at other members’ cars and
what they’ve done to them. Personally, I think your car is a personal
reflection of who you are. Although I agree that car engineers have put a lot
of time and thought into the design of the vehicle, I like the idea of
modifying the car making it my own. Once I start, I think it’ll be hard to
stop.
Modifying a car may be a complete waste of money considering
cars do not necessarily appreciate in value, but regardless it makes me quite
happy. I guess that’s all that matters, right? I’ve always been fascinated with
the idea of seeing the progression of your car from the first day of the
process to the last. Certainly, taking pictures during the process and posting
them on the forum to see what others say makes the process just a tad bit more
fun. The sense of accomplishment that
comes along with seeing the final product seems priceless. Anyways, it seems
only right that I share a couple of the things I have planned for the summer
for the Mercedes.
Since winter seems to be practically over, it’s only right
to start off the spring and summer seasons with a fresh coat of paint. Most
likely, this will be where my first paycheck will be headed to, the paint shop,
to get it re-painted black to eliminate the damage to the finish done by winter
driving. After I recover from that bill, I’ll be sure to pursue some new summer
wheels and tires. So far, I’ve narrowed
my search of wheels to the 18 inch AMG monoblock wheels (a personal favorite of
mine), along with some new tires to wrap them up in. I’ll post a picture of the
wheels, no worries. Soon after I purchase a new set of wheels for the car, I
will then work on the ride quality of the car by purchasing sport springs and
shock absorbers that will lower the car about two inches, and provide me with
better handling. What could he possibly do next you might ask? Well there’s a
lot, but those are the major areas I want to cover before anything else, but
there are some small things I’d love to do as well.
If time allows I will then purchase a European style license
plate that I can replace with the rather dull Connecticut license plates. This
will definitely add to the personality of the car as it will give the car a
more European look. I’m excited to see how it will turn out! But these are all
the plans I have for now, but I’ll be sure to keep you guys posted on what new
ideas I come up with.
This week I’ll be talking about something I’ve been
planning for this upcoming summer related to Mercedes. Since I’ve started
driving I’ve always wanted to buy a car to work on and fix up all by myself. I
enjoy working on my car now, but I would like to acquire a car that needs some
minor body work and interior work. Basically I would want something that I can work
on throughout this summer. So recently, I’ve been searching around for cars,
especially a Mercedes-Benz, that’s maybe been in a slight accident or something
of that nature. As some of you may or may not already know, cars with accident
damage can be about 50% cheaper than cars with no damage. So, this would definitely
be in my budget range.
Usually the price of a car is drastically cheaper
when it has written off, or “totaled” by the individual’s insurance company.
Cars are deemed “totaled” by the insurance company when the value of the damage
done actually exceeds the value of the car. Often times, insurance companies
find it easier to just declare an accident damaged car (especially older
models) “totaled” so they can pay the individual the value of the car prior to
the accident. Once the owner of the damaged car is paid off the owner usually
opts to purchase a newer car. In this case where the owner chooses to just part
ways with the damaged car, the car now becomes property of the insurance
company. Since the insurance company is not a dealership they try to make up
the cost of the damaged car they just purchased by selling it to people at car
auctions willing to rebuild and fix up these cars. Of course, these cars are
discounted by almost half, so the price to those who are familiar with fixing
up cars is seemingly attractive. Additionally, sometimes the cars that are declared
“total loss” may not even be damaged beyond repair and would be feasible to
repair. Now, going back to my summer plans on how I wish to acquire one of
these cars to work on as a project over the summer, I recently thought I found
one that was perfect for me.
I was looking on eBay and happened to find my dream
car. The 2000 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG, now I know I already literally the same
car (the car I have and the 2000 C43 AMG model I’m talking about shared the
same exact body style), and yes I know it is an old car, but the history behind
this car is unlike no other. This particular year only 91 were produced, and
only 25 were imported to the United States. According to the Mercedes-Benz
enthusiast forum, there were 3 that were confirmed to be wrecked. With these numbers in mind, I see this car
online and it seems surreal that it is up for sale. Not only is it up for sale,
but the listing price is very low. After some more researching on the car, I
find out that it only has 36,000 miles.
I thought this might be the deal of a lifetime, as I could
potentially own the lowest mileage C43 AMG sedan in the world. After looking at
some pictures of the car it was evident that the car needed slight cosmetic
work to bring it back to life, but why not I thought this could be the perfect
summer project. I called the seller and
my enthusiasm went south as I heard the history of the car. Apparently, the car
had been in an accident in which it hopped over a high street island (basically
the pavement that separates the roadway) at a high speed resulting in “irreparable”
frame damage. Sad to hear such news like that considering frame damage cars are
something that are not worthy fixing because a bent frame compromises the
integrity the vehicle and most times the car will never drive the same.Judging the car based on the pictures seemed
to prove me wrong as the pictures did not tell the entire story. Now, I know
why the price was so reasonable for this car, and I’m glad I did further
research before committing to it. This is definitely something to learn from,
as pictures do not always tell the history of a car. Sadly, though this brings
the total cars imported to the U.S. that year down to 21, and who knows of the
other ones that may have been crashed and not reported. In the meantime, maybe
I’ll stumble upon another one of these cars in the future.
Mom and Dad Styling In The 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350
Stylish mid-size cars for the
average mom are usually hard to come by. Usually mid-size cars for moms or
better yet, for families in general are often seen in the form of minivans. In
the world of mid-size mom mobiles, style is often a hard thing to find. As
Benjamin Franklin once said "A house is not a home unless it contains food
and fire for the mind as well as the body." Most of the luxury mid-size SUV’s
fail to deliver this food and fire to the consumer. This ends as the 2012
Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 is introduced to the market of SUV’s/mid-size cars.
Immediately, upon viewing the 2012
GLK 350 you see the angular features and curvy nature of the sedan. The GLK is
much different than the usual SUV or mid-size car that appears to be boxy and conventional.
Although the GLK has only been in production since 2009, it has taken lessons
from others in the field that remains with the same traditional bulky styling
approach. It remains obvious that Mercedes-Benz had the words sleek and compact
in mind when this car was produced. The
interior presence is something unfamiliar for a mid-size/SUV car, as the car
looks like it can get you to work in style and yet also haul the kids to school
in the morning. The interior of this car gives off a comfortable vibe (which
may be needed when lugging children around) making any commute with kids more
bearable. On top of all this utility, you actually get some sport (for some
times the children aren’t in the car!) in this SUV. This GLK can make rather
mundane everyday driving quite fun.
Curb
Appeal (The Exterior)
This car really turns some heads on
the road, as it sticks out compared to other SUV/mid-size cars. While the GLK
is angular, it does not fall into the trend of looking like an architect’s
worse design plan. This car features many angles on the hood. Mercedes adopted
the idea from the big brother model, the GL-series, and made the hood line
slant downwards so that all the lines lead to the hood. At the same time these
angular lines are combined with a somewhat square stance. The mix between conventional,
angular, and curvy sets this vehicle apart from the crowd. Although, this car
can be called a “mini-SUV”, the high door line this car features also give the
illusion of added height similar to the GL-series. Overall, the exterior can be
described as stylistic compromise. Mercedes-Benz
has crafted a mid-size/SUV type car that keeps standard yet shapely features
while remaining to be an eye catching machine.
Interior
As you look at the interior of this
car, you feel engulfed in class and elegance. Surrounded by walnut inlays and
trimmings, the interior reminds driver of a spa-type atmosphere. Not only does
this machine make you feel at home, but it can be more accommodating to your
desires. With the Premium and Multimedia packages, this car completely changes
identity from SUV/mid-size car to near equivalent home. The Premium package
($3,200) makes this interior even better. It includes a panoramic sunroof which
makes you feel as if you are on your porch soaking up the summer sun.
Additionally, for those who thoroughly enjoy music this package also adds XM
radio, that makes even the worst traffic jams seemingly nonexistent. A favorite of many parents in this package,
is the power lift gate which makes unloading mounds of gear and groceries that
much more simple. Featuring 54.7 cu.ft of space, the GLK can easily manage even
your biggest grocery, shopping trips and pick-ups.
The Multimedia package ($3,000)
appeals to the tech-savvy parents. This package gives you the easy to control
and read 7 inch display Command system. Also, as an additional perk, XM/ Sirius
traffic helps you guide your way around congested areas to get to your kids or
destination faster. This XM/Sirius system
also allows for seamless iPod integration so your playlists are always at your
disposal.
In addition to the fantastic
features listed above, the GLK seems to be a good car to transport people
around in. The rich leather seats appear not only supportive but comfortable as
well. Passengers riding in this car
should have plenty of space. This is because the GLK rear row features 35.1
inches of leg room and 39.7 inches of head room. Even with the intrusion of the
optional panoramic sunroof, tall and long passengers won’t feel crammed.
Although seen as a mini-SUV/mid-sized car the interior features SUV like qualities.
Overall, the interior of the GLK 350 is one that every car manufacturer should
learn from. It mixes roominess, comfortableness, and elegance which usually don’t
describe mini-van or mini-SUV interiors.
Performance
Originally, SUV’s were built and
valued for their off road prowess and qualities and not for their on-road
performance. Lately, SUV’s are being built with a fair amount of on-road
prowess with the aim of tackling the urban jungle that is, your local community
or city. The GLK suspension helps in this task. The suspension consists of 4
wheel independent multi-link and shock absorbers that are constantly adjusted
via a program called “agility control”. Although, I have not personally driven
the GLK, rumor has it that this “agility control” feature enhances ride
quality, especially for city driving. Under the hood lies a 3.5 liter aluminum
head dual overhead cam (DOHC) V6 that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lbs/ft of
torque. This V6 engine also features multi-point direct injection in addition
to a ’knock sensor’. This engine should be quite responsive to any response you
may ask of it whether it be sensible driving or trying to show off to the red
light racers around town. Interestingly
enough, this GLK climbs from 0 to 60 in a stunning 6.5 seconds. Definitely, the
GLK is an SUV for thrills and chills per se.
Maybe you’re a soccer mom. Maybe
you’re a worker looking for a stylish and rugged car to carry your tools around
in. Whatever your needs may be the 2012 M-Class appeals to all. Coming to local
dealers this upcoming September, the new 2012 M-Class seeks to blend off-road
versatility with the kind of on-road manners expected of a Mercedes sedan. This
car can be used to bring your tools from Home Depot while accommodating your
luxury needs in case of a Gala or fancy ball you’re attending. Classy and
dynamic describes this third-generation SUV.
Sensible Styling
Anyone expecting a complete shift in
Mercedes' design and look will be disappointed. This is a familiar-looking
M-Class to our eyes, blending hints of the full-size GL and compact GLK SUVs.
The famous three-pointed star continues to dominate the grille and the
prominent shoulder lines lead the way to a rear that emphasizes its width with
taillights that echo the 2012 E-class.
Arguably the most challenging
feature is to be found to the rear of the C-pillar, where the angular surfaces
give place to an eccentrically curved rear window. "We tried different
solutions," says Kaul, "but we wanted to keep some of the influence
of the original M-Class." No less of an influence was a desire to optimize
the aerodynamics, which Mercedes claims are class-leading. Careful attention
was paid to the rear spoiler, the area around the windscreen and the front
fenders, which integrate subtle spoilers.
Sedan-Worthy Cabin
Jan Kaul, the manager of the
interior design, admits the overall concept was deliberately conservative and
reflects the car's global appeal. "The biggest markets are Germany and the
United States, but China and Russia are growing fast."
According to insideline.com, the
cabin mimics the S-Class interior more than ever, but seeks to assert a
distinctly SUV design language that's more upright and imposing. There's the
familiar mix of rotary knobs and switches, topped by a common multifunction
display screen. It seems as though customers now see the M-Class as an
alternative to a traditional sedan and expect a similar level of quality. While
the vibe of generations one and two was more utilitarian, the emphasis here is
on luxury and ornamentation. Can you tell the difference between the earlier
M-Class models compared to the current ones?
As always, Mercedes is never short
with its options list and owners will be able to choose from a vast array of
fancy gizmos and color combinations including Napa leather for the panels and
some particularly appealing Ash-Wood trim. Customers of Mercedes-Benz will be
free to indulge their eccentricities because of the plethora of extra options
available. If you’re interested check out MBUSA.com and you’ll see how this
2012 M-Class can be dressed up to your likes.
Regardless of its trim, every
M-Class will be tailored for four passengers. Although the average M-Class
owner usually carries five passengers, Mercedes states they would rather
optimize the comfort of a lucky foursome. Mercedes engineer Sinkwitz was quoted
saying "If you need more space, we offer the R- and GL-Class".
What’s Under Those Hoods?
When the ML goes on sale in
September it will be offered with two V-6 engines: the 3.5-liter gas or the
3.0-liter turbodiesel. Both achieve something that seemed impossible five to 10
years ago: They put out more power than before, and are more fuel-efficient.
The gas engine has 302 horsepower, up 34 from previous models, and 273
pound-feet torque, up 15 from previous models as well. Its fuel economy is an
estimated 17 city/22 highway, and both numbers are up by 2 mpg. This SUV is
surely an improvement from the earlier models. I know my Mother’s ML which is a
V8 only has 268 horsepower, and fuel economy is an abysmal 12 city/17 highway.
I often ask myself how such a large engine could produce so meager power. But
Mercedes has upped the ante in the horsepower aspect for the newer models as
needed.
The BlueTec turbodiesel six has been
reworked, now putting out 240 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, increases
of 30 and 55 from the previous model, respectively, while fuel economy improves
by 2 city mpg to an estimated 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway. Not so bad for a
decently sized SUV. This particular trims fuel economy numbers are comparable
to that of mid-sized sedan. The fuel economy improvements in the diesel model
can be attributed to a few key factors, including weight loss, and the use of
AMG's twin-wire-arc spraying, a technology that reduces friction. Both engines
are now pulled by a seven-speed automatic.
On
Road Driving Features
One of the design goals Mercedes
focused on with this model was to improve on-road driving dynamics while not
sacrificing off-road capability. One new feature, which isn't coming to the
U.S. right away, is a very sophisticated On & Off-road Package, which has
at its core multiple settings. This is much like the systems in the LR4 and
Grand Cherokee: Drivers control the dial and can choose between six settings:
automatic, off-road 1 (light terrain) and 2 (tougher terrain), winter, sport,
and trailer. While this is available in
European models, there's still debate about whether this system will come to
the United States models. We all hope it does as it will enhance the dynamic
nature this car already has. One thing potential buyers should be aware of is
that the 2012 M-Class will come is the Active Curve System, which uses active
anti-roll bars said to improve comfort when driving in a straight line, and
prioritize better handling when cornering. However, at the dealer this feature
will be initially being offered as a special order feature.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a reference
point for large luxury sedans, with specious coddling interiors, plentiful and
useful technology, and a lineup that covers everything from a lower powered
engine to the most powerful four-door production car in the world. A true
competitor with the best describes the Mercedes S-Class. Names such as the Audi
A8L, BMW 7 Series, and to a lesser extent the Lexus LS are often heard in the
same breath when comparing the S-Class to other cars of its kind. This S-Class
certainly takes it looks seriously, and will see a fair share of glued eyes on
it.
Which S-Class Do You Want? (Lineup)
2012 S-Class (Shown With Xenon Headlights)
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class line
has five models: S550 ($91,600); S550 4MATIC ($94,600); S63 AMG ($133,550);
S600 ($149,700); S65 AMG ($201,150). Breath taking prices certainly, but
soon you’ll know why it deserves such a hefty price tag.
All S-Class models include leather
upholstery (yes, actual real leather), dual-zone climate control, walnut trim,
navigation system with voice recognition and Zagat guide, heated 14-way power
front seats with lumbar, heated power mirrors, 600-watt harman/kardon
15-speaker, 6CD, Logic 7 surround sound system with weather band and satellite
radio, front/rear illuminated vanity mirrors, air suspension with ride height
and damping control, bi-Xenon headlamps, and full power accessories. Most
come with a moonroof and 18-inch wheels as standard.
S550 has a 5.5-liter 382-horsepower
V8 engine and an accompanying seven-speed automatic to spin the wheels. The
S550 is also available in 4MATIC and it receives 15 mpg in the city and 23mpg
on the highway. S600 comes with a 510-horsepower twin-turbo 5.5-liter V12
engine estimated to get a puny 11 mpg in the city and 17 mpg at highway speeds.
Additionally, the S600 come standard with a five-speed automatic, wider rear
wheels and most technology equipment standard.
The all-powerful S63 AMG uses a
518-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and seven-speed automatic transmission. But with
such impressive horsepower and bigger engine size comes a suffering in the fuel
department as it receives 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. Driving
a vehicle like this you wouldn’t even mind that type of mileage considering the
fun you’ll be having behind the wheel. Taking a slight step-up in the power
department comes the S65 AMG, which boasts a 604-horsepower twin-turbo
6-liter V12 engine. Surprisingly, despite the shocking increase in power gas
mileage matches the “smaller” S63 AMG. But price tag wise, you’ll see the S65
AMG stamped virtually every feature one could ask for along with a heart
wrenching $200,000 price tag.
Safety features on every S-Class
include eight airbags, electronic stability control and PreSafe which will
close the roof and windows and reposition the seat and its pneumatic lumbar for
an impending collision. Fully equipped models use radar to stop the car
automatically from up to 125 mph if the driver fails to pay attention and can
alert the driver to unsafe lane changes. Night View offers a black-and-white
TV-picture-like image of the road and people ahead in the central dashboard
area used for the speedometer (which becomes a bar-graph along the bottom edge
while ancillary gauges remain as normal).
Do You Like What You See?
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has
many similarities with regards to body panels and lines as it did for its 2007
debut; with excellent aerodynamics and a modern looking style.
LED lights have become more
prominent with most versions sporting white daytime running lights in the lower
bumper, standing lights and parking lights that switch to amber for front
signals. As parking lights a strip of LEDs below the headlamps and three
vertically on the side illuminate, but as standing lights (as you might use
when parallel-parked on a dark lane) only the three vertical lights and
corresponding rear LEDs glow, so you could leave them on overnight without
affecting the battery. New tail lights that get rid of the body-colored
strips within are attention-getting LED as well; V12 models get adaptive brake
lights that blink rapidly during heavy braking.
The S-Class design has discernible
fender flares front and rear, classic grille more laid back, and a generally
flowing shape not unlike the sister-brand Maybach. These lines pay off in
minimal noise and aero drag, high-speed stability, and an air of exclusivity
afforded by the rear doors more than four feet long and the chrome strip
framing the side glass. AMG models get quad oval tail pipes, a more
aggressive look and air management with visual mass added to the lower
bodywork, deeper grille and larger diameter wheels available with the Sport
package on non-AMG models.
Almost Like Home (Interior)
As expected with the S-Class model
it boasts a large, luxurious cabin with all the features and amenities one could
reasonably expect. Unlike others similar cars, the S-Class for the United
States market comes only in the long wheelbase version. Long wheelbase
basically means it is a version of the car with plentiful room up front and
even more in the back seats. It appears to be an ideal fit for those tall
drivers out there.
Heated, 14-way adjustable powered
front seats offer three memory settings. These seats offer a wide ranges of
adjustment including seat cushion length and will frequently adjust headrest
height automatically, which like many controls, you can manually override if
you please.
Drive Dynamic front seats offer
ventilation, four varieties of massage, further adjustments for cushion and
back sides, lumbar and shoulders. Also, in what appears to a sport seat
with the comfort of a fine armchair, these seats can inflate side bolsters
relevant to cornering load to hold you in place without being confining. It is
impressive to see what these can do for the driver, and how it can change the
whole entire driving experience.
Not only is the driving experience
enhance comfort wise, but this S-Class has made it even easier to see the road
that lies ahead. Visibility is very good for the driver, with a sloping hood,
reasonable pillars, parking sensors at both ends of the car, rear camera, high
intensity bi-Xenon headlamps, fine-line defrosters, eight heated windshield
washer jets, and rear headrests that drop out of sight at touch of a driver's
button.
Rear seating is not a problem at all
in this car. With extensive legroom and four AC/heat vents, separate cabin and
reading lamps, and overhead lit vanity mirrors this car is ready for any
potential road trip. If those who you are carrying in the back frequently are
worthy there is an available rear-seat upgrade package that adds left/right
pillar mounted rear climate control, plus heated and ventilated
power-adjustable outboard seats and headrests. Maybe for those who carry
around young kids, there is the entertainment package adds a height adjustable
screen with video inputs behind each front headrest, video inputs and a DVD
drive under the center rear seat, dual wireless headphones and an individual
remote for each screen and the car's main audio system. Simply put, this
car is as comfortable and roomy as a library.
One of my favorite features to talk
about is the night view this car offers. With Night View engaged the screen
(located at the top of the dashboard) shows an image of the view ahead with
pedestrians highlighted, with speed along the bottom and warning lights
superimposed around the periphery of the image. Its central line of sight
location and crisp imagery make this the best system of its type. This feature
promotes safe and courteous driving in city, suburb, and more importantly rural
areas. I’d find it quite difficult to get into an accident in such a car.
Another exciting option to mention is unique to the average driver. Coined
“Splitview” by Mercedes this is practically a life-saver for those who seem to
have no fun riding shotgun. This Splitview feature lets the driver see one
full-size image (map, radio, seat control) while the passenger sees another (a
movie with headphones or map if they're navigating) simultaneously on the
single central screen. Stunning right? Slide across the rear seat or walk
behind the car and you won’t think that such a thing is possible in a car.
Lastly, Mercedes-Benz dubs their
control system COMAND. COMAND uses a round knob that rotates and moves in three
dimensions, a mouse-shaped palm-rest that hides a 10-key pad within and four
quick-access buttons across the front. Through a series of quick-to-master
menus and scrolls it controls hundreds of things, and while you can rotate the
COMAND knob to change radio stations you can also use the keypad to punch the
number directly. The system is very competitive with Audi's MMI interface,
BMW's newest version of iDrive and Lexus mouse controller.
Bottom-line, this is quite a car. It
is one the safest and most comfortable cars on the market today with reason. I
could go on for days talking praising the advanced nature of this car.
Mercedes-Benz truly out did their selves here with this S-Class, now all you
have to do is go buy it and experience first-class luxury and prestige. Test
drive it and you won’t question the price tag. Hope you enjoy!
