Buying a New Car – First in a Series
For most, purchasing a new vehicle is not an easy or a spur of the moment decision.
There are times when you think you’ve made the right choice and just about to bring out your pen then all of a sudden out of the corner of your eye you spot another car or the dealer gives you a better deal on something else then suddenly you just don’t know.

For the ultra rich who have more money than they can ever spend buying a car is just a question of whether or not the color of the car will go with their favorite designer bag that they carry most of the time.

For the rest of us though, buying a car is indeed a huge investment in both time and money.
What follows are some things you should consider before putting your mark on the dotted line.

To make things easy, we’ll use Mercedes vehicles as examples.
What is it for? – Determine what the primary use of the vehicle will be.
If it’s destined to be the family car and something that the wife will use to take the kids to school the dog to the vet and things like that, then forget about a roadster or coupé.
For this, you may want to look at the Mercedes M Class.
The 2010 Mercedes ML 350 SUV is powered by a 268hp, 3.5 liter V6 engine.
It also comes with the Electronic Stability Program or ESP, Brake Assist and ABS for safe and smoother handling.
With 72.4 cu ft. of cargo space, it’s more than enough for spot to sit in the back.
They have ‘em at the Dallas Mercedes Dealer

As far as Mercedes is concerned, the CLS class is a “4 door coupé” and that is that.

After all, they argue, with its ultra sexy sloping coupé like profile, what else can you call it?

Whatever one calls it, when you’re right in front of it you realize that Mercedes has done it again, creating a vehicle that others will find it difficult to match.

Based on the Mercedes E class, the CLS class was created with the intention of offering the comfort and luxury of a sedan with the sporty feel of a coupé.

I say that I believe that they did however there are a few shortcomings.

The doors for example are not as large as a sedan.

Second, the rear seats are no place for tall adults even with the extra legroom provided.

This said, those that fell in love with it, either the CLS 550 or the CLS 63AMG, seem to be all too forgiving about these “small oversights”.

If you’re after practicality and sensibility, get an E class.

If you want to make a statement the CLS is for you is what they would say. I strongly agree.

Whichever way you lean, you should take a test drive to cmare them at one of the Dallas Mercedes-Benz Dealerships

More on the Mercedes CLS Class
With the creation of the Mercedes CLS, the company has created another class-the “4 door coupé”.

Some call it “an MB with an identity crisis” while others refer to as a crossover with an attitude.

Whatever its called fact is this is one sweet ride. Those that have been smitten by its sexy and hitech profile don’t mind its few shortcomings.

So what if the doors are slightly smaller than a sedan and what if outward viewing is slightly limited?

It’s a coupé aint it?

The 2009 Mercedes CLS class has two variants-the CLS 550 and the CLS 63AMG.

This year the CLS class got a few touchups:

• Reshaped LED taillights;
• Updated twin-bar grille;
• Trapezoid shaped exhaust tips;
• Restyled wheels;
• Larger heated mirrors with integrated turn signals;
• A Revised command interface;
• Sportier steering wheel (flat bottomed in the SL 63AMG)

For the CLS 550, standard appointments would be:

• Harman Kardon audio system with a CD changer;
• Leather upholstery;
• 18 inch wheels;
• Sunroof;
• Electronically adjustable air suspension;
• Satellite radio;
• Auxiliary audio Jack;
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel

Three optional packages are available for the CLS 550:

The AMG Sport Package, Premium Package and Trim Package.

To check on the lowest pricing available for the Mercedes CLS contact your Dallas Mercedes Benz Dealer.

If there was ever a car that had an identity crisis it would be the Mercedes CLS Class. Short of being labeled as another crossover, some argue that the CLS class is a “compromise” between a luxury sedan and a coupé. Some even venture that it’s a sedan trying hard to be a coupé saying that the very sexy arched profile does looks fantastic but the limited headroom at the rear and reduced visibility when looking outside leaves a lot to be desired. “It’s like saying you live in a two-bedroom studio apartment” one quipped. A case of form over function?
The Mercedes CLS comes in two versions-the CLS 550 and the CLS 63AMG. The CLS 550 has a 5.5 liter, V8, 32 valve, DOHC, SEFI alloy engine that produces 382hp @ 6000rpm. This together with the Touch Shift Manually Interactive Transmission helps the CLS 550 sprint to 62mph in just 5.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically regulated to 155mph.
Naturally, AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH or better known simply as AMG, wouldn’t accept being outdone. The CLS 63AMG sports a massive 6.2 liter, alloy block and alloy cylinder DOHC, SEFI, V8, 32 valve engine that cranks out a more than impressive 507hp @ 6800 rpm via its’ 7 speed AMG SpeedShift Plus Manually Interactive Transmission. Leaping from a standing start to 60mph in just 4.3 seconds and with the AMG sports package has a top speed of 186mph bringing it up to par with the likes of the Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8 with two extra passengers to boot.
The 2009 Mercedes CLS Class is intended to have all the trimmings and luxury you’ve come to expect in a sedan yet handle and feel like a coupé. To help achieve this, in the CLS 550 for example Mercedes installed the Airmatic semi active suspension system which among other things reduces the pitch, dive and roll that usually happens when luxury sedans take on tight curves and twisty roads.
Your Dallas Mercedes Benz Dealer can get you all the info you need to make your decision.

The Mercedes E Guard is the latest addition to the Mercedes’ special protection vehicle series.

Though not as armored and as powerful as bigger brother, the S 600, the E Guards’ VR4 (formerly B4) level armor is capable of stopping 9mm, .357, and .44 Magnum rounds , 12 gauge shotgun slugs and hand grenade shrapnel.

The intended clientele are wealthy businessmen and celebrities who may have to fend off the occasional mugger, carjacker and/or overzealous paparazzi.

The new E Guard was intentionally designed to look almost exactly like its standard non-armored sibling so as not to give the bad guys a chance to plot against you.

Weighing in at a hefty 4717lbs, the E Guard is 860lbs heavier than the unarmored version.

To cope with the additional weight of the protection features, the suspension and brake system had to be redesigned.

The E Guard now comes with a special level II AIRMATIC air suspension system for the front axle and a multi-link independent suspension, anti-squat and anti-dive, stabilizer for the rear.

17 inch wheels with run flat tires are also standard. Electronic control and restraint systems designed to assist the driver in critical situations have also been recalibrated.

Aside from the above, the E Guard can also boast of hitech systems:

• Adaptive Brake – Replaced the reportedly unreliable SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) system.

• Direct Control – Brings more driving comfort, accurate and easy steering manipulation.

• Intelligent Light System – The Intelligent Light System adapts itself to the weather and driving conditions and increases the visibility by up to 50 meters.

• NECK-PRO head restraints – This systems improves safety after a rear-end collision by moving the latter forward by 4 centimeters and 3 centimeters upwards.

• PRE-SAFE – The preventive emergency system called PRE-SAFE cooperates with the Brake Assist PLUS in order to warn the driver if the distance between him and a car in front gets critical.

This is possible thanks to radars installed on the front of the car.

The PRE-SAFE system also calculates the most effective braking, so even if the driver jams on the brakes, the car automatically uses as much brake power as required for safe deceleration.

If a crash is inevitable, the PRE-SAFE system tightens the seat belts, automatically closes windows, and the seats’ positions are adjusted in order to minimize the effect of the crash.