MercedesBenz CClass Made Even Classier

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Made Even Classier
By Dwayne Thomas

Mercedes-Benz has recently launched its all new C-Class saloon in Germany and will be presenting the same C-Class in South Africa in August this year. The C-Class emphasizes three elements and these are comfort, agility, and safety.

Each of the Avantgarde, Elegance, and Classic lines emphasize a unique characteristic but share the same technologies such as the Agility Control package which includes a situation-sensor shock absorber control, an Intelligent Light System with five distinct functions and the Pre-Safe preventive occupant protection system. The new C-Class range is also equipped with the same quality auto components such as Mercedes Benz heater core. The Mercedes heater core is a small radiator that helps the primary radiator in cooling the coolant to prevent the possible overheating of the car.

The local specs are to be announced at a later stage and some options may differ from overseas markets. For the overseas theres a choice of four and six-cylinder engines with up to 13 percent more output than the previous model coupled with a six percent lower fuel consumption.

The C-Class Saloon has a length measuring 4581mm and approximately 55mm longer than its predecessor. The body width has also increased by 42mm to 1770mm while the wheelbase has an additional 45mm to 2760mm. these dimensions have enabled the front shoulder room to grow by 40mm.

The design of the new C-Class was derived from the modern Mercedes-Benz approach that includes taut lines, and large tranquil surfaces with the front end highlighting a pronounced wedge-shape. And for the first time in Mercedes Saloon, the radiator grille was used as a distinctive feature to make the model variants more visible in the market.

The sporty Avantgarde model features three extended, horizontal louvers and a big centrally positioned Mercedes-Benz star. The Elegance for its part gets a three-dimensional, louvered radiator grille with a high-gloss paint finish which accentuates comfort and luxury. The Classic model as the name suggests has designed that is traditional despite the fact that it is similar to the other two C-Class models in terms of ride and technical specs.

The engines of the C-Class have been increased by around 18 percent in torque while the four and six cylinder units also feature an improved smoothness. Great attention was also given to the further development of the four-cylinder mills. In the petrol range output of the entry-level C 180 Kompressor has been increased from 105kW to 115kW with maximum torque improved 4.5 percent from the previous 220 to 230 Nm, while the C 200 Kompressor develops 15kW more than before.

It also delivers an output of 135kW and revs up a maximum torque of 250 Nm from 2800rpm. It can sprint from 0 to 100km/h by 0.5 seconds faster that any of the previous models. The new C-Class were also made more economical, the C 180 Kompressor consumes 0.31/100km less than the before. On the other hand the combined fuel consumption of the C 200 Kompressor has been reduced by 0.51/100km.

The C-Class diesel option will focus on enhancement of the four-cylinder unit. There are already several improvements done to the engine, turbocharger and common rail direct injection altering more than 90 components in the process. The said modifications were done by engineers at Stuttgart. And as result of the conducted modification is a new C 220 CDI with a peak output of 125kW from the 110kW previously and delivers a potent torque of 400Nm from the previous 2000rpmagain an 18 percent increase power than before. Similarly fuel consumption has been further reduced by up to 0.31/100km and according to Mercedes Benz the C 220 CDI is capable of traveling 100 km on just 6.1 liters of fuel.

The C-Class offered in Europe remains unchanged with a choice of three petrol units developing 200kW, 170kW, and 150 kW. The new C 320 CDI with its six-cylinder engine has an output of 165 kW. All models in the new C-Class except for the C 350 are equipped with a six-sped transmission featuring Agility Control gearshift as standard. Instead the C350 will get a 7G Tronicthe worlds only 7-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. This feature is also available for the rest of the six-cylinder C-Class models on request.

For more about you Mercedes parts needs like Mercedes Benz heater core, visit your trusted online source.

Dwyane Thomas is a part time cook and full-time auto-enthusiast. This 31-year old Civil and Environmental graduate is a consultant at one of the engineering firms in Pennsylvania.

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Lease VS Buy A Car Always Lease It First And Save Money

Lease VS Buy A Car, Always Lease It First And Save Money
By Ralph Hoffmann

Lease a Car First and Buy it Later
Save lots of money. Analysis about buying or leasing a new car isn't necessary as long as cars are a glut on the market.

To own any car for the least possible price and dread doing a lease vs. buy analyses, don't buy the car; lease it then buy it later and save a lot of money.

Exploit the Glut of Cars for Sale
As long as car production is greater than consumption, and big discounts are available for several years to come, just read the market trends and lease it first and ignore all those lease vs. buy programs.

In the past, car manufacturers moved cars by subsidizing leases. The monthly lease cost was lowered by increasing the residual value, which lowered the monthly lease payment, thereby selling (leasing) more cars.

Lease Residual Values are Inflated in your Favor
But the value of the vehicle at the end of the lease was almost always less than the contracted residual and each of the off-lease cars then had to be sold in the wholesale market at a loss of several thousand dollars.

Some of the big backers of lease financing, Chrysler, some New York banks, and others, each lost several hundred million dollars in each of the past two or three years because they had to sell the off-lease cars on the open market for less than the residual value.

Take Advantage of Too Many Cars for Sale
Therefore the buy or lease a new car decision is moot as long as manufacturers are subsidizing leases because they have too many cars to sell; a one-time opportunity is present, namely:, lease it now and buy it at a discount the end of the lease and save thousands of dollars.

Having to make a lease vs. buy decision is no longer necessary as long as supply exceeds demand and the old rules are now dictated by a surplus of cars< on the market, this is the time of opportunity for an car buyer.

Compounding the problem for the heavily unionized manufacturers is that their labor contracts are so juicy that those car manufacturers are better off continuing to give away cars rather than to close a plant and pay unaffordable health and welfare and pension benefits to laid off employees.

This Opportunity will only last for Two or Three more Years.
This situation will not change for several years until consolidation, plant closings, or bankruptcies have cured the problem. until the. Plant closings will be a last resort.

Therefore the glut of new cars will likely continue for a few years. Now is the prime time to consider taking advantage of a declining resale value of most cars. The subsidized lease will continue to be offered

Should I Buy or Lease a New Car
By initially leasing a car, the maker is essentially offering a price that cant be beaten. It may actually approach or be lower than the employee cost widely advertised. Then buy the car at the end of the lease.

At the end of the car lease the company financially backing the lease most likely will sell the car on the open market at a loss. Why not intervene at that point and buy the car for less than the residual value and put that loss into your pocket as money saved?

Check out your Car's Used Car Value Prior to Lease End
About three months before the end of the lease, cruise the used car lots and notice what your car is being offered at. Note tha the used carprice is always higher than the resiudal value to allow for dealr costs and profit. A ten percent cushion is not unreasonable.

Then compare the asking price on the used car lot with the residual value in your lease contract. The residual value may be larger than the asking price for a similar model on the used car lot. That means that the company owning your leased car will have to sell it at a loss when you turn it in.

Now you put in the knife and buy the car (no commissions paid to anyone on this transaction) at the end of the Lease and keep several thousand dollars in your pocket.

Bypass the Dealer to make your Buyout Offer
From your dealer, get the phone number of the company that owns the car you leased. Call them and offer to buy your leased car for the asking price on the used car lot less about 10% at least.

If they object, point out that they will have to sell the car at a loss because the residual value is more than what the car is worth on the used car lot. They know that, but hate to admit it.

So lease the car of your dreams today and forget about excess mileage charges.

A true-life example
A business friend of mine had a three-year-old leased car with a contract residual value of $28,000. Looking at the used car lot he found he could buy one just like it for $24,000. He assumed the company that financed the lease would loose at least $2,000 in selling it for less than the contracted residual value.

Through the dealer he offered $22,000 to buy the car as is and his offer was promptly accepted, including 3%, 3 year financing. His dealings, all by phone (no face to face negotiations needed) were with the company financing the lease. To buy any car, or Van or SUV or Light truck, by all means consider the idea of lease vs. buy as your answer.

Ralph writes automotive articles for people wanting to save money when leasing or buying a new car. Visit his web site on this subject at Lease vs Buy a Car or get Tips on Leasing or Buying Car or on Do-it-Yourself projects at DIY Repair Guide

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Honda Accord Coupe 2005: The Weekly Driver Review

Honda Accord Coupe 2005: The Weekly Driver Review
By James Raia

Just inside the guard gate, the world renowned 17-Mile Drive in Carmel, Calif., begins with a primarily downhill and often winding two-lane road to Pebble Beach Golf Links. The tree-lined route features lavish, oceanfront homes and a predominately forest-like setting along California's central coast.

It's a perfect several-mile locale for drivers who like to shift through gears. And it's not-so-surprisingly pleasant while doing so in the 2005 Honda Accord.

With its V6, six-speed manual transmission offering, the exceedingly popular model crosses categories. The Accord is listed as a midsize vehicle and it's often compared to the Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry.

But the 24-valve, 3.0-liter, 240-horsepower coupe is just as much sports car as it is anything else. And it provides one more reason why the Accord in its more than 25 varieties is among the most popular and most often best-buy categorized vehicles on the road.

During my weeklong test drive, I drove the Accord Coupe round-trip from Sacramento to the Monterey Peninsula. The interstate portion of the journey included about 400 miles. I drove the aforementioned section of the 17-Mile Drive six times round-trip on clear, blue sky days and in heavy rain. It made little difference.

In all driving conditions, the Accord Coupe performed with confidence. Steering and handling is responsive and poised. Lane changes are smooth. While not as quick as other vehicles categorized as sports cars, the Accord Coupe accelerates well and finds its ways through gears more than adequately. Its 17-inch wheels further add to the tight road feel. The Accord's ride is also adequately quiet.

Like all Hondas, the Accord Coupe's interior is designed in a straightforward manner. Gauges and all instrumentation are clean and used simply. The navigation system is likewise efficient and easy to learn.

Despite its coupe status, front-seat passengers have comfortable leg, body and head room. Back seat passengers (two fit comfortably) have easy access. Side rear-view vision is slightly impeded by headrests and side pillars. The driver's seat, while comfortable for a six-foot, 185-pound driver, is void of the superior seat cushioning of high-end vehicles.

Standard interior features are plentiful: leather-trimmed seats, AM/FM, six-disc CD with six speakers, XM satellite radio, heated front seats, power window and door locks, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, cruise control, exterior temperature gauge, sunglass holder and well-positioned armrests and storage compartments.

Finding fault with the Accord is difficult, but cargo room could be better, and average city mileage numbers aren't special. Yet, the Honda Accord has built its reputation through the years for good reasons. It does everything well, and offers reliability and great resale value.

Whether a buyer opts for the base LX four-door, four-cylinder sedan, the EX V6 four-door sedan or the EX, V6 coupe, the sportiest model of all, it's hard to improve upon the Accord or find any vehicle with more to offer for the price.

Safety features Dual-stage driver and front passenger dual-stage front, side and side curtain airbags. Antilock brakes.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) 20 mpg (city), 30 mpg (highway).

Warranty Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Power train, 3 years/36,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited mileageBase price $28,880

James Raia, freelance journalist in Sacramento, Calif., is author of the syndicated car review column, The Weekly Driver, available on his web site, http://www.ByJamesRaia.com

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Nissan To Invade LowCost Auto Market

Nissan To Invade Low-Cost Auto Market
By Ryan Thomas

The Nissan Motor Co., Japans third-largest auto manufacturer, is designing a $2,500 car to compete in India with the low-cost model planned by the Tata Motors Ltd, Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said. We are working on how we can make a car for $2,500, Ghosn told reporters at a dinner in Versailles, France. A Nissan advance engineering group is doing the study, he added.

Automakers are moving quickly to trail Renault SAs footsteps by offering cheaper models for the fast growing markets in Asia, the Middle East and South America. The second-largest automaker in France that owns 44 percent of Nissan will be rolling out its no-frills Logan sedan in Argentina, Brazil, India and Iran. Ghosn heads both Renault and Nissan. Tata, Indias third-biggest car maker, plans to sell a car priced at about $2,500 by the year 2008.

According to government estimates, Indias car market may triple to 3mn vehicles a year by 2015. In India one competitor has announced a car for next year at $2,500, Ghosn said. I take that challenge very seriously. The Nissan CEO already had said in April that the company intends to sell cars in India for less than $3,000.

The Japanese automaker seeks to win business from auto rivals including the Suzuki Motor Corp, whose Maruti Udyog Ltd unit commands a 50 percent market share in India. The Nissan Motor India Private, Ltd also contributes towards social activities with all the employees. The company distributes uniforms and stationeries to schools affected by the recent floods in Mumbai.

If you ask any car manufacturer if they can make money on a car that costs $2,500, the answer is always going to be no, Ghosn noted. Until somebody does it. The Tokyo-based automaker said April 26 that its profit decline 46 percent to 82.2bn yen in the quarter ending March 31 on weak American sales.

In connection with Nissans struggle to alleviate its sales, it will be introducing its next-generation Maxima, which is said to be a true 4DSC (short for 4-Door Sports Car). The new vehicle is not only equipped with the peculiar Nissan clutch master cylinder. This is because the automakers pool of engineers has made the new Maxima more mature and luxurious.

A Nissan insider described the new vehicle as, Unlike anything we've ever done before. The new Maxima will be more aggressive than ever and will flaunt a coupe-like shape, likened to the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The car will also slot from the Z and the upcoming GT-R to strengthen links to the performance machines. Aside from the legendary VQ-series engine, the new Maxima will also feature Nissan's brand new Alliance turbodiesel engine.

The automaker is sending the new Maxima with high hopes. Its striking performance and affordable price could put it back on track. The bolder and high-performance Nissan Altima is set to arrive in 2009.

Nissan will also be releasing the 2007 model year 350Z in Australia. The vehicle is equipped with a more powerful, next-generation engine, revised exterior styling and new exterior color palette. At the heart of the 2007 model year 350Z is Nissans award winning next generation engine - the designated VQ35HR.

Nissan Australias managing director and chief executive officer, Shinya Hannya, commented on the update to the companys halo model in the range: The changes are designed to not only improve on the performance of the 350Z but build on its reputation as one of our best performance sports car.

Separately, the Japanese automaker is happy to announce that its hybrid may continue to claim the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit. This fact is attested by the Internal Revenue Service. The said announcement came after the IRS concluded its quarterly review of the number of hybrid vehicles sold.

To note, Nissan sold 2,094 qualifying vehicles to retail dealers in the quarter ending March 31, 2007. The allowable credit amount for the 2007 Altima Hybrid, the automakers only certified hybrid vehicle, is $2,350. Taxpayers may claim the full amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the first calendar quarter after the quarter in which the manufacturer records its sale of the 60,000th vehicle.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car aficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine. You can visit Nissan clutch master cylinder for more information.

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Nissan to Develop Advanced Auto Battery

Nissan to Develop Advanced Auto Battery
By Ryan Thomas

The growing threat of global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels has forced the auto industry to venture in the development of auto technologies which will reduce dependence on fossil fuels. One technology being explored by car manufacturers is the possible advent of electric cars.

Currently, the auto industry has successfully developed hybrid electric vehicles and fully-electric vehicles as well. These vehicles use an electric motor to aid the vehicles internal combustion engine. One major issue being faced by the auto industry when it comes to the construction of hybrid electric and even fully-electric vehicles is the battery pack which a vehicle needs to have so as to get and store power.

To address the issue, car manufacturers are partnering with other companies outside the auto industry to develop better battery packs for electric cars. One car company which has expressed its dedication to the development of better battery packs is the Japanese car company Nissan. The company recently announced that they have formed an alliance with NEC Tokin, which is a subsidiary of NEC, to develop highly efficient lithium-ion batteries for automotive application.

The partnership aims to make the electric cars more practical. A problem being faced by the electric car technology is the cost of production. If a partnership such as this can find a way to make an electric cars battery cheaper, then electric cars can be within the reach of an even larger number of consumers.

The partnership between two of Japans biggest companies will work on the safety and stability of lithium-ion batteries. This kind of battery is seen as a better alternative to the nickel-metal hydride batteries which is being widely used currently. Lithium-ion batteries weigh less than nickel-metal hydride batteries. It is also more powerful than Ni-MH batteries. In fact, lithium-ion batteries are half the size of nickel-metal hydride batteries but they can store twice as much power as the Ni-MH battery. This battery pack can efficiently power an electric car or its amenities such as power windows controlled by a Nissan window switch.

Investing in the development of an advanced battery pack will positively affect Nissan. After all, it is predicted that the rechargeable car battery market will experience a surge in the near future. The expected expansion of the said market will be the effect of the advent of electric cars. It can be expected that as car manufacturers come up with ways to bring the cost of production, the public will certainly buy these environment friendly vehicles.

Car manufacturers are already developing plug-in hybrid cars which show that the future of electric cars is coming pretty soon.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine. You can visit Nissan window switch for more information.

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Is There Such A Thing As A Trustworthy Mechanic?

Is There Such A Thing As A Trustworthy Mechanic?
By Kim Oxford

At some point everyone needs a mechanic for their car, and it's hard to find a trustworthy mechanic. However there are steps you can take to help you choose the lesser of all evils when it comes to who repairs your transportation. In the end you need to be able to trust the guy repairing your brakes, putting on your tires and monitoring your fluids.

Trusting Dealerships
Many of us just throw our hands up and take our car to the dealership when we have problems with them. If you consider that they are the experts when it comes to your specific make and model it's a smart option, unfortunately it's also a pricey one. When it comes to rare vehicles and some imports it is probably advisable to stick with dealership expertise. Same if you hold an extended warranty purchased from the dealership, at least be sure to stay within their approved mechanic circle to ensure you do not void any part of your warranty.

In reality most of us don't drive rare imports and don't want to pay the extra money the dealership will charge us. This coupled with the less than average customer service that many experience at the hands of any dealership service department make a trip there for repairs nothing short of a horror movie. Never fear, there are other options.

Chain Service Shops
There are many chain shops to choose from, which is confusing if you consider that many times mechanic shopping is done under duress. Give yourself peace of mind and research your mechanics before your car breaks down, so when something goes wrong you already know where to take it. Chain mechanics can be tricky, some franchise locations may employ better mechanics than others under the umbrella of the same name. This is generally a trial and error process, so if you find one you think you like, be sure to always have a plan B.

Neighborhood Mechanic
Not all of us are lucky enough to be in the car business, or even know anyone with any mechanical skill. However, many times a local neighborhood mechanic can be your best bet. Often they are mom and pop shops and that makes every customer an important one. This can also mean much more personalized service from someone who wants to get your future business. Lacking the impersonality of chain store mechanics just working for their hourly, this option may cost more than the chain stores do, but could just prove to be worth it in the long run.

No Matter Where You Go, Do These 3 Things First

Finding the good stuff is never easy, but if you follow the few simple steps below you can at least start off with the best to choose from

1. Look them up with the Better Business Bureau. Right away you can eliminate mechanics who have had negative reports filed about them. Our lives are busy, if someone took the time to report them, they aren't worth a second glance.

2. Utilize organizations such as the ASE, start off with options that are well endorsed.

3. Ask your friends. Everyone knows how hard it is to find a trustworthy mechanic, so be sure to ask around. Usually people are happy to share a good mechanic, lets keep the good ones in business folks.

Kim is a Creative writer for Cash4UsedCars.com and loves to write about cars. Check out more used vehicle information at Cash4UsedCars.com.

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Nissan Begins New Altima Coupe Production

Nissan Begins New Altima Coupe Production
By Ryan Thomas

Following the launch of the all-new Altima and its hybrid variant, production started last Monday on the new coupe version which is a sportier version of Nissan's best-selling model that was primarily designed to draw in new customers to their abode.

The Japanese automaker celebrated the Altima's third launch in seven months at its Smyrna plant which is located just 20 miles south of its relocated headquarters in Nashville. Dubbed as rue coupe, the Altima comes as a two-door model that has a shorter wheelbase and a lower profile than its four-door counterpart.

The 2008 Nissan Altima coupe is set for release on the 25th of this month. The coupe, which was officially launched at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, is engineered to compete against the Toyota Camry Solara, Honda Accord coupe and the Pontiac G6 coupe. The coupe is equipped with reliable Nissan brake pads, and a sport suspension that is mated to two engine choices - the updated VQ35DE, a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 or the QR25DE, a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder. Also, the driver-centered interior offers a 6.5-inch traffic navigation screen, a rearview monitor, as well as a keyless entry and ignition and hands-free phone system.

There's a lot of coupes on the market, some of which are merely shorter versions of their sedan counterparts, but we didn't want to do that, said John Curl, the regional product manager for Nissan. It has the proportions of a coupe and not just a 2-door sedan.

Karl Brauer, the editor in chief of Edmunds.com, said that the coupe's almost completely new body panels add sophisticated styling that differentiates it from the sedan. My first impression was that it looked very upscale, Brauer said. It will cost you considerably less than a G35 and sends a lot of the same messages.

The Nissan Altima coupe will be priced at $20,490. Its price is far below the company's most comparable model, the Infiniti G35 luxury coupe, and the Z sports car. In less than a month, we've had a thousand orders, which is fantastic, said Michelle Erwin, a senior manager in marketing. Japan's No. 3 automaker needs the new coupe, along with the Altima hybrid, to compete with rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. as well as to use it to boost dragging profits. We're optimistic that we're going to get a lot new owners because we've not had a vehicle in this segment at this price range before, Erwin said.

With a broad base of existing Altima customers, Brauer said a coupe was the next logical step to bring in new buyers - especially when sales are down. Nissan marked its first drop in annual profit in seven years in the January-March quarter, the first such setback under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn, who salvaged the Japanese automaker from collapse. A lot of people would readily admit that they've slid, Brauer said. They've stagnated in terms of product and had some duds in terms of sales. The third largest Japanese automaker was in a product lull for over a year before the launch of the new sedan in September.

Sales for the Altima have been strong since the introduction of the new sedan model in September, said Catherine Madden, an automotive analyst with Boston-based Global Insight. Unfortunately other products have lagged.

Auto analysts expect Altimas styling to do well against models already on the market, like the Toyota Camry Solara and the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Nissan has distinguished itself with the consumer and many of their designs have been ahead of other Japanese companies, Madden said. We're expecting strong sales for that product.

Honda also plans to roll out a coupe for the 2008 model year. The production could put a cramp in Nissan's first-year sales. That's where you're going to see a pretty interesting divide among consumers, Brauer noted.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine.You can also visit Nissan brake pads for more information.

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