Archive for March, 2009
Mercedes Sprinter Is More Than A Mini Van
Think of mini vans and the first thing that comes to mind might be dumpy midsized cars hauling kids to soccer practice. The market is saturated with unattractive cookiecutter vans that may look big on the outside but inside are surprisingly cramped. The new Mercedes Sprinter aims to change the way you think about vans and people have been taking into notice.
With its sleek sloping front and multitude of available options Mercedes has created a van that’s suitable for nearly everyone’s needs while still looking stylish and maintaining a high quality standard. The Mercedes Sprinter is like a blank palette. It’s available in a cargo and passenger model meaning that it can be customized to satisfy a variety of individual tastes including family and business needs.
Familywise its one of the best options available. The Sprinter offers 10 removable seats and still with storage room to spare as well as 2.7 liter turbo diesel direct fuel injection engine which gets 28 mpg at 55mpg. So now on your family camping trips not only will you be able to comfortably pack all of your equipment children even your dog but you’ll also get better gas economy than an RV.
Even with its wide tall body the Mercedes Sprinter has smooth steering and an excellent turning radius moving swiftly around tight corners. It also comes standard with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel to make the drive even easier.
If you’re on the market for a business vehicle the cargo version is an economical as well as stylish option. It comes in your choice of standard high or mega roof height. Body length can be one of three options’ 233 inches 273 inches or 289 inches. And finally you have the choice of 144 inch or 170 inch wheelbase. A towing capacity of 7500lbs allows you to haul nearly anything you need. With all of the different combinations available there is a size to fit any business’s needs.
Although the Sprinter is a practical cargo van it can also be used as a charter vehicle bringing passengers to and from destinations or on tours. Its cargo area makes it ideal as an airport shuttle. But it could also serve as a smaller more intimate tour bus.
Other available options and addons to tweak the Mercedes Sprinter to your liking include rear parking assist automatic climate control sunroof and heated seats. Standard safety features are antilock breaks an emergency window and stability control. And as a bonus its size makes it easy to add just about anything else you can think up. A sleeping bench mini fridge entertainment center all is possible with this spacious and functional vehicle.
So if you’re on the market for something with more flair than the typical dull minivans. Take a look at a Mercedes Sprinter and imagine the possibilities that lie within. A comfortable family car a stylish camper or a business opportunity the Sprinter has them all covered with the quality you’d expect from Mercedes.
About the writer: If you are planning to go for a sleek and stylish model vehicle that can meet business as well as family needs then you can think of Mercedes Sprinter. Smooth driving and homelike facilities makes it a customized functional vehicle. For details visit http://lakeshorechrysler.com/.
Mercedes Glk: Sportutility With A Purpose
Mercedes took advantage of being the last automaker to show their new vehicles on Wednesdays Press Day by wrapping three of them in Christmas presents and unveiling them one by one.
The first and the most important gift was the official introduction of the Mercedes GLK the automakers allnew small sport/utility vehicle. Handsome with chiseled lines and a boxy look the GLK may seem out of place during these days of avoiding all things SUV. Mercedes indicated as much but stressed that the GLK is the perfect transition vehicle from the big SUV that their competitors sell think Cadillac Escalade to something that is smaller and more responsible.
The 2010 Mercedes GLK will begin to arrive in dealer showrooms this December but become available to customers in January. Offered in both two and four wheel drive the base two wheel model will retail for 33900 while the 4MATIC version will start at 35900. Mercedes said that when these prices were announced to their dealer group everyone broke out in applause. In better days price wouldnt have mattered but those days have since passed by and dealers know that customers are looking for value.
Mercedes has stressed that the GLK is not a smaller version of the GL rather that the vehicle is an original design sitting on its own platform. The GLK seats five passengers who benefit from its threepoint inertiareel seatbelt technology which includes electronically controlled belt tensioners that tighten up in the split second before an accident occurs.
Side impact airbags are standard essentially a curtain that descends between the A and C pillars to protect front and rear passengers. Antilock brakes brake assist adaptive braking electronic stability control and traction control is standard on every GLK model.
Inside Mercedes added the usual luxury touches to the GLK and some sensible ones too. The top of the dashboard is black which reduces glare while the rest of the dash center stack and glove box are of the interior color chosen by the customer. Air vents and controls blend into the upper part of the dash as does the instrument panel.
The center stack holds controls for the climate and audio systems as well as control for other systems including the heated seats. MP3 connectivity is found inside of the glove box where a power socket and plug is located. A 7 inch display what Mercedes calls COMAND navigation features a map of all of North America with turning instructions included when called upon for directions.
Under the hood it is V6 power only for the GLK. A 24 valve 3.5L V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower with 258 lb.feet of torque is paired with Mercedes sevenspeed automatic transmission. Together these components provide exceptional power and just the right fuel economy for a vehicle in its class.
I liked the looks of the GLK and can see where itll give Acura Lexus Infiniti BMW and Volvo a run for its money. As far as the other two gifts go they were limited production cars including a 299000 AMG model that will see only 350 produced in 2009. As for me Id go with the GLK if I was looking for an entry level luxury sport/utility vehicle something Mercedes hopes car buyers will do in abundance in 2009.
About the writer: Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including custom arm bars and axle pivot bushings.
Mercedes Cv Boot—these Boots Are Made For The Drivetrain
In order to protect that rather volatile CV constant velocity joint of the Mercedes Benz a tough rubber masking is devised in the form of a CV Boot. Found at the CV axle of the car the CV Boot is part and parcel of the shaft assemblies utilized in frontwheel and rearwheel drive vehicles.
The Mercedes CV boot is a rubber contraption to protect the CV joint inside out. Part of its function is to dissipate water road salt and other hazardous elements that may hamper and potentially damage the performance of the CV joint. This extends form the drivetrain to the suspension of the Mercedes Benz.
While the inner CV joint is responsible for streamlining the suspension and ride height the outer joint regulates an even faster torque. Thus as the boot is ripped apart or cracked the lubricant inside could potentially fuse with the dirt aggravating the worsening state of the joint. This can be detected through the clicking sound as the wheels turn and a shudder during acceleration and deceleration. Thus steering and suspension is being hampered.
It is therefore important to have a tough Mercedes CV boot to maintain that great handling of the Benz. Such durability will protect the insides of the CV joint. As it enables for added torque and better suspension the CV joint is safeguarded by the CV boot welloiled and sync with the continuing drivetrain and suspension of the car.
Lubrication is the bottom line when it comes to the discussion on CV joints. Make it point to attend to its state. Replacing the Mercedes CV boot saves a considerable amount of investment as having the CV joint changed costs much more. With the CV joint protected via the CV boot the shaft assembly retains its efficiency. And with a tiptop condition of a shaft assembly entails great handling drivetrain and suspension.
About the writer: Dwyane Thomas is a part time cook and fulltime autoenthusiast. This 31year old Civil and Environmental graduate is a consultant at one of the engineering firms in Pennsylvania.
