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!

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

I was walking through the Mercedes garage today and passed a 2005 SL65 AMG. It’s a small two seater with a V12 in it. Seeing the car made me curious, so I looked up the specs on the internet. Compared to the 295 hp XJ-S V12 I had, this one is slightly more powerful:

• Twin turbocharged 6.0 liter V12 engine
• Power : 604 bhp / 451 kW
• Torque : 738 lb•ft / 1000 Nm
• Top Speed : 155 mph (electronically limited)
• 0-100 km/h : 4.2 s
• US$190,539

Yikes!

When the 2004 SAAB 9-5 Arc was purchased from the dealership last week, I had to find a different vehicle to drive. My wife was disappointed here that the SAAB was gone, but was wondering what I would bring home this time. Something in me wanted to try a Mercedes-Benz. The manager had been describing them to me as the best you can buy. So, I thought that it might be a good time to drive one as my demo vehicle.

2007 Mercedes-Benz R350 engine bay

One of the first things I do when I get a new demo, is to check the vital fluids. That night, when I stopped to fill-up, I popped the hood for a look. Amazing! The engine is tucked away close to the firewall, but there seems to be about 12 inches of room between the belts and the radiator! Compared to the access provided by most front wheel drive cars, this was a mechanic’s dream come true. There’s actually room to spare!

Good guessing, Ryan K!

Winding Road did a piece on Mystery Car 65 in Issue 52 called Betting on Gullwings.  As you would imagine, the car is none other than the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.  The car has distincitve gull wing doors and comes with an incredible, 563 hp V8.  According to the article, the SLS is able to compete with the carbon-fibre SLR.  Read the article for more information. Then, watch the following video for some serious edge-of-your-seat performance. Amazing!

P.S. Contact me if you want one!

QUESTION:

What automaker was the first to mass-produce a vehicle that uses a lithium-ion battery?

ANSWER:

Mercedes-Benz recently was the first with the all new 2010 S400 Hybrid. Check it out.

After many months of emails, phone calls, and brain storming, the new website for Leikin Motor Companies is a reality! Click on the picture above to visit the site. From there you can view the three dealership websites. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the changes that have been made.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently released its list of Top Safety Pick winners for 2010 models.  The list includes 27 vehicles which received top honors in each of four tests.

• high speed frontal impact
• high speed side impact
• vehicle rollover
• head restraints during rear impact

I was happy to see that Volvo continues to earn it’s reputation for safey.  Leikin Volvo customers will be happy to know that the C30, S80, XC60, and XC90 all made the list.  (I would imagine that the wagon variants of the S80 are included as well.)  It was also good to see that the Buick LaCrosse and Mercedes-Benz C-Class made the list for 2010.

H/T Saabs United

2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic

As the leaves fall from the trees, you are beginning to think that winter is just around the corner.  And before you know it, the holidays will be here with colder weather and plenty of snow.  So, it’s time to start thinking seriously about purchasing your next Mercedes-Benz before the cold weather hits.  Mercedes’ sure-footed 4Matic All Wheel Drive system will enable you to drive through the coming winter with no fear.

But don’t just take our word for it.  Schedule an appointment today and experience a Mercedes-Benz for yourself!

Your friends at…
Leikin Mercedes-Benz

Volvo convertibles are very nice. They are safe, stylish, and hard to find used. So, when a customer asks for a $30,000 Volvo convertible, I tell them about the list of people I have at my desk that keeps getting longer. Used hard top Volvo C70 convertibles are hard to find under $30k. But…

This morning as I was walking back from Speedway with my wake up Cappuccino, I passed a nice looking hard top convertible that might fill in the gap until the price of Volvo hard tops drops (no pun intended). It was a 1999 Mercedes SLK230 roadster.

This two door hard top convertible is quite the looker. It’s Mercedes version of the Mazda Miata (if I can say that without getting into trouble). It’ a small luxury convertible with enough bells and whistles to keep most people happy throughout the year. And while you might think that a Mercedes would be a costly purchase, you might be surprised that we are offering the convertible for a reasonable $17,990.

For more information, read the Auto Channel’s review of the 1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230.