Karl on Cars
Mercedes-Benz
September 4, 2008
Automotive history is littered with good intentions gone bad. Automatic seatbelts. Vocal warning systems. Ralph Nader.
One of the more vivid automotive tragedies of the last 50 years centered on the desire to save car owners money by creating bumpers that wouldn't be damaged in low-speed accidents. The idea seemed simple enough: If a car's bumper could withstand, say, a 7 mph impact without damage it would mean no repair bills for the thousands of minor accidents that happen every year.
Sounds good in theory, but the reality is that few manufacturers could blend this type of impact absorbption into a car's bumper when the regulation went into effect in 1973. Instead of integrating the impact protection into a vehicle's front and rear styling most manufacturers simply did what corporate resources dictated -- they slapped 6-10 inches of rubber onto each end of the vehicle. And in case you haven't ever seen cars from this era (1973-1977), the answer to the question "Didn't that look odd while upsetting the car's overall lines and proportions?" is an unconditional "YES!"
Thirty-five years later I see the latest attempt to make cars safer, and the resulting impact (sorry) on vehicle styling feels like 1973 all over again.
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- Karl Brauer September 4, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Acura, Mercedes-Benz
- Technorati Tags:
- Pedestrian Safety Front-End Styling
August 22, 2008
The first Mercedes-Benz SL I ever drove was a 1981 380SL, with the woefully underperforming 3.8-liter, 155 horsepower V8. Even then I knew enough about the model to know that "SL" stood for "Sport Light," so I remember being highly disappointed. "This thing feels neither sporty nor light" I grumbled out loud as I drove the car to fill it with gas (this was my first post-driver's-license job, as a lot boy at a used Mercedes-Benz dealership in Denver). But in 1986 this generation SL remained, despite its questionable performance, an 'it" car by most folks' standards, so cruising around in the slow, lumbering "sports car" was still a great way for a 16-year-old to get attention.
Thankfully, this dealership had plenty of older M-B models, including several "pagoda" era SLs (1963-1971). It didn't take long to figure out that, if you really wanted to experience the "SL" aspect of Mercedes' SL model line, you had to go for one of the older SLs, preferably one of the 280 models with a manual transmission (this remains the last SL to offer a manual transmission in this country).
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- Karl Brauer August 22, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Cars that Jumped the Shark, Mercedes-Benz
- Technorati Tags:
- Mercedes-Benz SL
July 22, 2008
I spent last week vacationing in the Denver area, but on two separate occasions my vacation was interrupted when work came a callin' in the form of disguised test mules (or prototype vehicles) undergoing high altitude testing.
On Tuesday of last week I spotted a taped-up 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK driving on the C-470 loop from south Denver to I70 (where it promptly headed up into the mountains while I head down into Wheat Ridge). It was being tailed by a C320 and both cars wore numerous antennas to record sensor data.
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- Karl Brauer July 22, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Cadillac, Future Vehicles, Mercedes-Benz, Talk Back Tuesday
- Technorati Tags:
- Future Vehicle, Spy Photography, Talk Back Tuesday
June 10, 2008
If you saw last Friday's blog you know that the Jaguar XF Supercharged comes standard with 20-inch wheels, and in my opinion those wheels reduce ride quality to an unacceptable level. The car's confidence around corners is undeniably enhanced by such large orbs, and many would say it's appearance benefits as well. Yet I would argue the car could/should handle exceptionally without wheels of this diameter. As for style, the large circles are actually too large in my not-so-humble opinion, further compromising the XF's already questionable looks.
However, in a world where entire TV shows can be named after automotive wheels it may be heresy to suggest a uniqe whip could actually be...too large? But I'm suggesting it all the same. The Jaguar XF by no means owns this "excessive rim" status. The new Dodge Challenger with 20-inch wheels? Too big! Makes the car sit too high, giving it more of a "monster truck" versus "performance car" stance.
Same goes for the 20-inch wheels on high-end luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the 22-inch rims on Cadillac Escalades both of them make the vehicles in question look like one of those circus clowns on stilts IMHO. Conversely, the 20s on the Rolls-Royce Phantom neither look too big (likey because it has such large proportions to begin with) nor upset the ulta-luxury sedan's ride quality. Consider the Rolls the rare exception, as I'd argue it's nearly impossible to put 20-inch wheels (or larger) on a vehicle without drastically sacrficing ride quality.
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- Karl Brauer June 10, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Cadillac, Dodge, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Talk Back Tuesday
June 2, 2008
Plenty of cars are trying to do the "Schizo" thing these days, and if you read my blog back in October asking What Makes a Great Car? you know that, IMHO, being multi-talented is a key ingredient. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63, like many AMG products, is undeniably multi-talented -- even moreso than any recent SL I've driven.
I've been a big fan of this model since the 2003 redesign, when its sleek looks and retractable hardtop made it about the best convertible on the market. The car has seen only moderate changes since then, and some might argue it's past due for a full makeover, but to my thinking the car truly redefined itself -- and the segment -- that year, and as such the SL can sail along on that paradigm shift for at least a decade or more.
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- Karl Brauer June 2, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
April 16, 2008
As a fitting contrast to the Audi A6 I drove last week, I just spent some time in a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550. Here's a car that's basically the antithesis of that Audi. Seductive styling? Nope. Nimble handling? Not really. Engaging interior design? Umm...no.
Does this mean the Mercedes has no redeeming qualities? Not at all. In fact, if you like your cars powerful and tank-like (which many luxury sedan buyers do), this one tramples the Audi and BMW competition. I found myself repeatedly going really fast in this car. Not only because the 5.5-liter, 382 horsepower V8 feels purpose built for speeding, but because the entire car's confidence level builds as the speedo swings clockwise. Of all the high-end German sedans sold in this country, M-Bs seem the most German, and that includes their inclination for traveling at autobahn speeds.
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- Karl Brauer April 16, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
October 8, 2007
With three new entry luxury models in the house it seemed only fitting to carve out a few hours and carve up the local roadways in back-to-back drives. With the help of fellow editors Erin Riches and James Riswick we headed into the Santa Monica Mountains with a Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35 and Mercedes-Benz C350, all 2008 models with automatic transmissions and sport packages. While much of the route was on twisty roads, there was enough high-speed cruising on PCH to test the "luxury" side of this equation. Here's what I learned:
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- Karl Brauer October 8, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Cadillac, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz
September 26, 2007
Just took the new 2008 Mercede-Benz GL550 home for a night. I have to say, I really like this model line. The GL450 arrived last year and my first impression was that Mercedes had hit on an excellent combination of space, off-road capability and on-road driving manners. Of course both of GM's alternatives (the GMT900 SUVs and the Lamba crossovers) are also very good, so you're really getting down to things like price, ergonomics and interior materials.
In terms of ergonomics I still wish the GL offered a tuning knob, and where's my second power point (I'm getting tired of sedans that have only one power point; if you're selling a large SUV you must offer at least two power points in the front seat area, and the GL doesn't). Not sure about the multiple locations for seat controls (both on the door and on the seat front near the console) but you can undeniably adjust the seat in a multitude of positions. Most other controls are fine in this vehicle.
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- Karl Brauer September 26, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
September 20, 2007
You can actually make the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG into a 186 mph bank vault, but that requires popping for the $7,000 AMG Performance Package (which bumps the top speed and adds 20-inch double-spoke wheels and a limited slip differential). Apparently the $127,000 starting price for the S63 AMG isn't enough to include the AMG Performance Package equipment but if you're buying this car money probably isn't an issue, which is good because the EPA rates the 2008 S63 at 11/17 mpg.
So, if money isn't a concern and go-power plus decadent luxury is, the S63 answers with a 518 horesepower V8 and a list of features that includes navigation with voice activation, a 20-gig harddrive, a 14-speaker/600-watt Harman/Kardon audio system and the full Tele Aid roadside assistance-emergency response system. Still not enough luxury? You can add options like radar cruise control, heated/ventilated rear seats with eight-way power adjustments and night vision.
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- Karl Brauer September 20, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
September 12, 2007
Here's the follow-up to our look at Europe's future product as predicted by Automotive News. Yesterday we hit Alfa Romeo through Maybach, so today we'll start with Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz: Lots of activity for 2008, most of which we've already seen (SLR Roadster, S65, all-new C-Class, etc.). Next year we get the C63 (457hp), a CLK convertible, an E-Class update, an SLK restyle and an SL freshen. In 2009 we get a CLS freshen, an AMG E-Class, an S-Class convertible and -- believe it or not -- a small crossover called the GLK.
Mini: The Clubman just debuted in Frankfurt, and we'll see how the small-car brands fares with a larger model. The new John Cooper Works model looks cool (and makes 207 horsepower while weighing 66 pounds less) and the convertible gets a full redesign, to catch up with the coupe, for 2009.
Porsche: Both the Boxster and the Cayman get freshened next year, while the titanic 911 GT2 debuts with 530 turbo-charged horsepower. A full redesign of the Cayenne happens in 2009, while Porsche's first sedan, the Panamera, hits town in 2010 (and yes, the company will still have a "soul" -- along with a stronger bottom line).
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- Karl Brauer September 12, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Future Vehicles, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Saab, Smart Car, Volkswagen, Volvo
July 6, 2007
Just drove the "all-new" Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and like the old C-Class, it's a fine automobile. Unfortunately, if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, and if you're up-to-speed on today's automotive marketplace, you know a "fine" rating isn't exactly high praise. Sure, it's better than the rarely-used "bad" rating (did I just hear someone say "Caliber"?), but nothing to concern Munich.
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- Karl Brauer July 6, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz
May 14, 2007
I really like this car. It's super quick (510 horsepower, 0-60 in 4.2 seconds), super refined (64 decibels at 70 mph) and super safe (PRE-SAFE crash technology and 60-0 braking in 114 feet). Hell, I'm even getting pretty good with COMAND (and I think COMAND is evolving for the better, too).
But $150,000?!!..
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- Karl Brauer May 14, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Bentley, Mercedes-Benz
April 12, 2007
If you are of the mind that modern cars are getting too high-tech then stay away from the Mercedes-Benz CL550. I could focus this entire blog post on the car's seat controls and still not cover the topic. You want adjustments? The CL gives you adjustments. Beyond the expected controls you can also tweak the seat-bottom bolstering, seat-back bolstering, shoulder support, lumbar support (height and angle), and seat-bottom-to-seat-back position. And after you're done you can set the seat to massage, with seven different massage modes. Don't forget that these seats also "actively bolster" you when you go around corners. You can turn this feature off, as I promptly did (I simply didn't know the CL well enough to allow such behavior).
Like I said, I could focus on the seat controls alone and still have a complete blog post. But there's more to the CL than its "fast and vigorous" front seats.
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- Karl Brauer April 12, 2007, 5:58 AM
- Categories:
- Car Audio and Technology, Mercedes-Benz
March 9, 2007
When I wrote about the SL65 a few weeks ago, and the E63 a few months ago, I talked about how both cars were ridiculously fast while also being completely placid and functional conveyances. Both cars epitomize the concept of offering supercar performance with zero hit to driveability. Not surprisingly, the CLS63 continues that tradition. It's super quick and super refined, but this one adds super stylish to the list of accolades. At $100,000 you might also call it super expensive, and that's really the only element of the CLS63 I can nit-pick. It's got less to do with how much this car costs and more to do with how capable the CLS550 is. Put simply, the CLS550 is a damn fine automobile for about $30,000 less. If I drive the CLS550 I'm not going to get out of it and say, "Oh, this car is just too slow and too harsh. I'm going to have to ante up for the AMG version." My favorite part of both cars is the looks, followed closely by the luxurious and comfy interior. And I get both of those features in the "base" car.
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- Karl Brauer March 9, 2007, 7:03 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
February 16, 2007
The topic of exotic car depreciation is one of those ugly truths no one wants to talk about -- at least no one who owns an exotic car. With the exception of late 90s Internet stock, exotic cars are one of the more effective money vacuums you will ever experience if you take the plunge and buy a new one. There are a few notable exceptions, such as mid-engine Ferraris, but that only holds true if you can get a new one at MSRP (which you can't unless you know the right person or put your name on a list and wait three years).
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- Karl Brauer February 16, 2007, 7:06 AM
- Categories:
- Aston Martin, Ford, Mercedes-Benz
January 25, 2007
As a follow up to yesterday's premium convertible post I've got some thoughts on the 2007 BMW M6 drop-top, a car I just drove. There's a considerable price difference between the SL65 and the M6 -- about $85,000. But one might argue that after crossing a certain price point the MSRP starts to matter about as much as the trunkmat design. So at $115,000 for the BMW versus $200,000 for the M-B there's certainly the potential for cross shopping. The obvious differences between these two vehicles (beyond $85K) are the retractable hardtop (SL65), electro-hydraulic manual tranny (M6), rear seat...sort of (M6) and engine design/power (604 hp bi-turbo V12 versus normally-aspirated 500 hp V10). As I said yesterday, the SL isn't particularly engaging from a "stir-my-soul-through-communicative-driving-dynamics" standpoint, but damn it's fast and stable and well executed.
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- Karl Brauer January 25, 2007, 7:42 AM
- Categories:
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz
January 24, 2007
I've decided that the Mercedes-Benz SL65 is the Star Destroyer of the two-seat convertible market. Think about it, it's got fear-inducing style (especially in Capri Blue with those antracite wheels), it has radar sensors and it most definitely has light speed. It also effectively insulates you from the annoyances of your surrounding space, assuming you keep the top up, and at $200,000 you may have to subjugate half the known universe to pay for it. The level of high-tech feature content borders on ridiculous. I mean, it's not good enough to have a retractable hardtop, you've got to have a retractable hardtop that also offers a clear glass roof when it's up (in case you want to star gaze without waiting 30 seconds for the top to drop)...
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- Karl Brauer January 24, 2007, 7:35 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
January 7, 2007
Is it just me, or does the front grille/headlight section of the Ocean Drive Concept look a lot like Lincoln's MKR concept. The whole "dramatic, flowing" headlights" (some might call them "droopy") seems to be a theme this year.
But now that I'm standing next to the M-B concept I can see the slab-sideness of those four doors, which has me thinking 1966 Lincoln.
Awesome interior materials and finish...
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- Karl Brauer January 7, 2007, 2:09 PM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Mercedes-Benz
October 25, 2006
I admit it, when I heard the zero-to-60 number for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 I got a little, well...depressed. Not because it was slow. No, I don't consider 4.3 seconds to be an excessive duration in getting from zero-to-60 mph. On the contrary, that figure puts the E63 within 4/10s of a second of my own Ford GT's acceleration number, and that's what got me depressed...
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- Karl Brauer October 25, 2006, 8:51 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
June 22, 2006
Having just driven our brand-spankin'-new RAV4, and our new R500, in the past few days I am acutely aware of new-car smell. And not just new-car smell as a general concept but the variations in new-car smell based on both brand and interior materials.
Now, the tricky thing about your sense of smell is that it can become highly associated with thoughts, memories and emotions. So the question becomes -- Do my feelings about certain new car smells reflect my feelings about the cars themselves, or can I successfully separate my feelings about a car and my feelings about a car's smell? I'd like to think that even "stinky" cars can score well with me from a purely automotive sense, and I'd hope that just because a given car smells good it doesn't make me give the car undue credit in terms of design, functionality and value. With those concepts laid before you I offer the following opinions of how various new cars smell:
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- Karl Brauer June 22, 2006, 8:26 AM
- Categories:
- BMW, Cadillac, Ford, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota
June 20, 2006
I tried out the R500's navigation system today. First, it gets major points for letting me program it without coming to a complete stop. The truth is that I programmed most of my destination while waiting at stoplights during the first part of my commute, but it was great to be able to do small things (like hit "enter" after finishing a street name) even when driving at normal speeds. Honda and BMW nav systems operate with the same philosophy, while Toyotas and Chryslers require you to come to a complete stop before you can play. That rule is particularly annoying when you have a passenger in the car and still can't use the system while moving...
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- Karl Brauer June 20, 2006, 3:42 PM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
June 14, 2006
We got our Mercedes-Benz R500 long-term car recently, and I took my first drive in it last night. Plenty of people (myself included) were refering to this vehicle as the "Mercedes Pacifica" and, as you might expect, the M-B folks were not amused. In truth the philosophy behind both models is similar, but of course the R500 carries it off with far greater style and grace (and MSRP...). The V8 is a sweetheart in terms of power and refinement, and the ride quality/seat comfort/steering feel is superior as well...
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- Karl Brauer June 14, 2006, 8:18 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
May 25, 2006
There's a real dichotomy to the all-new Chevrolet Suburban. From the driver's seat it actually feels smaller than the previous generation Suburban. Credit the upgraded front suspension (coil springs instead of torsion bars) and advanced steering system (rack-and-pinion instead of recirculating ball). As with the Yukon I drove a few months ago, this SUV feels much closer to a premium German vehicle (i.e...
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- Karl Brauer May 25, 2006, 4:22 PM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, GMC, Mercedes-Benz
April 26, 2006
There's no denying the level of advanced technology on the S-Class. From the radar cruise control to the rear camera to the heated and cooled seats it's pretty luxurious. But what gets me is that yesterday I drove the Honda Civic Si, and while driving it I had two accessories plugged into two different 12-volt power points (cell phone charger and radar detector) along with an iPod Shuffle jacked into the audio system through the auxiliary audio input plug. Today I drove the S550 and I could only find one power point and I didn't think it had any iPod input (I finally found it in the center console, but it is an iPod-only hook-up, so my Shuffle -- and every other MP3 player -- won't work with it)...
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- Karl Brauer April 26, 2006, 11:18 AM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
April 12, 2006
Because the world needs another SUV Mercedes-Benz will be unleashing the GL450 in a few weeks. I drove one home tonight and was struck by two things:
1. It has excellent on-road manners, despite Mercedes' claims that it will be very off-road capable.
2...
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- Karl Brauer April 12, 2006, 10:09 PM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
March 2, 2006
I just drove the "Saab" 9-7X. So the obvious question is: Why would Saab slap their badge on a Chevy Trailblazer and try to pass it off as one of their own? The supposed answer is: Without taking such action there would be no Saab.
The argument has some merit -- just look at Jaguar. They've never come out with any sort of SUV (heck, they didn't even want to bring their X-Type wagon to the U.S. -- not that it saved them when they finally did) and I think the leaping cat's current financial predicament is clearly related to the lack of "SUVinating" Jaguar. But there is a theoretical upside, that being a lack of any Jaguar-badged SUVs. Confused yet?
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- Karl Brauer March 2, 2006, 9:50 PM
- Categories:
- BMW, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Saab, Volvo
December 21, 2005
I meant to sneak out of the office for 45 minutes, but with traffic it ended up being a two-hour test drive. Oh well, more timing to play with the gadgets. And holy gizmoto does this thing have gadgets.
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- Karl Brauer December 21, 2005, 7:50 PM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz
December 12, 2005
My latest editorial column is up. In this one I explain why I hate the new S-Class and love the new FJ Cruiser. Basically, if a car looks like it is trying too hard, it probably is. Why Mercedes used the current 7 Series (with a little Chevy HHR thrown in) as their design inspiration is truly beyond me...
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- Karl Brauer December 12, 2005, 6:01 PM
- Categories:
- Mercedes-Benz, Toyota
