What Not

Mercedes-Benz SLS

After the free breakfast given to all the salesmen of participating dealerships, I walked through the show while things were still being put together. There were a number of nice displays, but a lot was still in disarray. For instance, our Volvos were all parked against the wall in no particular order while the Mercedes-Benz display was almost complete. But there’s no need to lose hope. I’m sure everything will be in place by the time of the show.

I looked around for the new SAAB 9-5 but only found three cars at the display. It wasn’t finished, so I’m hoping that Mr. Spyker can pull a few strings and make it happen. In any event, the convertible looked very nice. Did you notice the slogan on the SAAB post? Waste leads to haste. Does that refer to the waste gate on the turbo?

There were a number of other interesting cars on display. Buick has the new Regal GS on a pedestal and it looks pretty nice. I couldn’t get close enough for an inside shot, but the exterior looks very good. Hopefully, this will help Buick sales to pick up. Lotus had their new vehicles, but the one that stuck out was a 1970’s model. And the Equus was there for Hyundai. It’s not my “cup of tea” but it seems to be a luxurious car that might compete in the Asian market.

More tomorrow after my 11 am to 5 pm shift. I hope to see you there!

Last year, at the Cleveland Auto Show, we showcased the new Volvo XC60 and the popular C70 hard-top convertible. Both were a big hit. And we were pleasantly surprised when a photo of Jim Vanek (one of the Volvo Boys) made it into the Plain Dealer. All in all, we had a great time at the show and met a lot of nice people.

Will you be there this year?

Leikin Motor Companies has been given a limited quantity of discount coupons and we want to give you the opportunity to take advantage of them. Just present each coupon when you purchase a ticket at the I-X Center and they will reduce the regular price by $2. Several of our customers have already taken advantage of the coupons and are going to meet us at the show on Saturday. You should as well!

After many months of speculation, SAAB is officially owned by Spyker. Victor Muller and Jan Ake Jonsson (along with a large group of lawyers, etc.) signed the papers for the transfer of ownership from General Motors to Spyker on February 23, 2010. This marks a new direction for the Swedish car company as they have been with General Motors for 20 years. Hopefully, the new owner will allow SAAB to be what is has always wanted to be: a safe, comfortable, sporty car unlike any other.

Now we await the completion of the sale of Volvo to Geely Automotive in China. The jury is still out as to what will happen after the sale. Will Geely allow Volvo to continue down the same path? What changes will come about in the future? If the new C30, C70, and S60 are any indication of what Geely wants, I think we’ll have a winner.

But, as always, we will see.

One of the primary faults associated with soft-top convertibles is the noise level with the top up. This is especially despicable when driving on concrete highways. The noise is enough to drive you mad! The designers at Mercedes-Benz must have listened to a few convertible owners because they have come up with a soft-top convertible with the sound dampening abilities of a hard-top. Is it possible? Allow me to introduce the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet.

2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

The secret to the E-Class Cabriolet’s success is the thickness of its soft top. With a thick layer of insulation, the Mercedes-Benz soft-top ends up being almost an inch thick. The benefits are easy to see … and to hear. Take the convertible on the highway and attempt a phone call via the hands-free interface. You will be pleasantly surprised.

“On the road, the difference is audible from speeds of just 50 mph, for example when driving through a tunnel or overtaking a convoy of trucks. At higher speeds, the benefits of the acoustic soft top are even more tangible. For instance, it is possible to have a perfectly normal phone conversation in hands-free mode even when travelling at a speed more than 125 mph.”¹

After test driving a number of noisy soft-top convertibles, you will have to admit that this is an amazing accomplishment for Mercedes-Benz. But what happens when you want to make a phone call … with the top down? In prior years, manually operated air deflectors could be added to diminish the turbulence in the passenger compartment. But now, after four years of research and 20 patents², the designers have come through again with an innovation called the AIRCAP® system which would allow you to make a phone call with no problems at 75 mph! All it requires is the press of a button and “an aluminum, mesh and plastic air diverter blade rises from the top of the windshield frame.”² With the windows rolled up and the top folded down, the deflector causes the air to follow the same path it would have with the top up. This keeps normal air turbulence from affecting passengers in the front and rear seats. Imagine that! Even the people in the back seat can enjoy the ride!

Nicely done, Mercedes-Benz.

__________

¹ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/detroit-preview-2011-mercedes-benz-e-class-cabriolet
² http://www.insideline.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/2011/2011-mercedes-benz-cabriolet-showcases-new-aircap-technology.html
³ http://www.autoevolution.com/news/mercedes-aircap-keeping-your-hair-in-one-place-14585.html

The Volvo Boys will be making an appearance at the 2010 Cleveland Auto Show. Unlike the Cavs or Ohio State players, one of us will be there every day from opening to close. So, be sure to stop by the Volvo booth to meet Steve, Greg, Jim, Ken, or myself. We’ll be happy to sign your program … at no cost … without the long wait in line!

Seriously, we will be at the show for the entire week. I’ll personally be there on the first Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday from 12 to 5 pm. So, stop by and say hello if you’re in the area. Our booth is next to the Porsche exhibit in the NE corner. See you there!

2010 Cleveland Auto Show Map

Ken Counselman

During my time as a salesman at Leikin Volvo, I had the privilege of working with Steve Ours, Jim Vanek, and Greg Schneider.  From the beginning, we were known as the Volvo boys.  Besides the daily beatings I received from the sales manager, and we developed a camaraderie which made for a good work environment.  However, when I took the position of internet manager, it was important to bring in someone who would fit in with the existing team.  I’m pleased to announce that we have found just the person we needed.

Ken Counselman brings over 14 years of sales experience to the dealership, his most recent experience being with Acura and Infiniti.  The first thing you notice about Ken is that he is calm and unassuming.  Customers don’t feel intimidated by his approach to sales.  This has already been evident by the ease with which he has already sold several Volvos.  Ken is 57 years old and resides in Maple Heights, Ohio with his three dogs, Pedro and Chico (chihuahuas), and Sasha (black lab/German shepherd).

If you would be interested in talking with Ken about a new or pre-owned vehicle, feel free to contact him at (440) 946-6900.

2000 Land Rover Discovery II

Some people like to own and drive something different. The Land Rover vehicles definitely fall into that category. The shape is different than anything else on the road. Just look at the shape of this SUV/Jeep/4×4. Maybe it’s just me, but the way the roof line goes up in the back is just wierd. Why did they do that? And yet, I find that this odd looking vehicle somehow appeals to me … in a wierd sort of way.

I’ve heard that Land Rover is a status symbol of sorts akin to a Jaguar. People feel that driving one makes them a better person somehow. Unfortunately, Land Rover vehicles haven’t done much to repay that favor. The few that we’ve taken in on trade have all had reliability issues. That reputation seems to be an earned reputation according to one Land Rover owner.

Little things always go wrong, it will be in and out of the shop. You have to really like these trucks enough to deal with their quirks. I’ve never spoken to or heard of a Rover owner who didn’t have to visit the shop at least a couple of times per year (assuming you fix very little things). … My father, in the car business for 30 years can’t stand Rovers, he won’t touch them with a 10 foot pole! A guy I know is on his 8th rover. … He says after his 2nd Rover he learned to just always trade them in when they’re out of warranty.

That’s a pretty sad testimonial for the brand. Consumer Guide Auto ranked the 2003-09 models a 59/100 for reliability. And according to Wikipedia, J. D. Powers has ranked Land Rover at the bottom of the Reliability chart for quite a few years. Read the laundry list of problems and you’ll begin to wonder why the brand still has a following. Why would someone buy a Land Rover knowing full well that it will be an unreliable and expensive vehicle to own? That’s a question only a Land Rover owner could answer. But don’t expect a rational answer. Some people just like their cars despite the problems.

Where's my owner's manual?

What happens if you have a question about your car and the owner’s manual is missing? Some people go to the dealership and purchase one for $50-80. Others visit eBay and save a few clams. But what happens if you only want to spend $20? Not going to happen, right? Until today, I would have agreed. Owner’s manuals just don’t grow on trees. But today I found that they can be downloaded.

• SAAB (2000-09)
• Volvo (1965-2011)

Very nice.