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The new Mercedes-Benz 6 cyl. CDI diesel engine has achieved an impressive list of world records this weekend in Laredo, Texas. Three standard-production E320 CDI (Common-Rail Direct Injection) vehicles equipped with the 201-hp powerplants covered distances of 100,000 kilometers, 50,000 and 100,000 miles respectively in world-record times. Combined the three record diesel vehicles traveled the equivalent of almost eight times around the world, with the 100,00 mile record achieving an average speed of 139.699 mph.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has published its latest statistics of "Driver Death Rates by Make and Model."
The study omitted a lot of cars, MLs, Cs, SLs, CLs, CLKs. I have no idea why. One would expect the ML to do quite well in the SUV class since it is stronger than any SUV on the road.
They divided the list into Overall Deaths, (meaning, I suppose, deaths of people wearing overalls. Sorry. It slipped out. This is too serious for that sort of thing. I'm frowning now), multiple vehicle crashes, single vehicle crashes, and rollovers. Some vehicles, for example, have high numbers of single vehicle crashes and rollovers, indicating basic design defects in handling, stability, and skid control. Others are very low in this regard.
Most Dangerous:
The most dangerous vehicle in the United States not carrying a suicide bomb is the Chevrolet Blazer 2 dr, 2WD SUV. Deaths per Million Vehicle Years: 308. It was also the most dangerous in rollovers at 251. 54 deaths were in multi-car crashes, and 274 were single vehicle crashes.
Other notably bad cars are:
Mitsubishi Mirage 2 dr car, 209 total, Pontiac Firebird, sports car 205, KIA Rio 4 dr car 200, KIA Sportage 4 dr 2WD SUV 197, Chevrolet Blazer 4 dr 2WD SUV 190, Ford Explorer 2 dr 2WD SUV 187, Chevrolet Camaro sports car 196 (This is a twin of the Firebird above.), Mazda B series 2WD pickup 195. Chevrolet Tracker 4WD SUV 183, Chevrolet S10 2WD Pickup 182, Chevrolet Cavalier 2 dr car 168, Chevrolet Cavalier 4 dr car 162, KIA Sportage 4 dr 4WD SUV 162
That's 3 KIAs and 8 GM cars. KIA really DOES mean Killed in action.
Notable at the other end,
Safest:
The safest vehicle in the US is the Mercedes E-Class, with 10 overall, 7 mv, 3 sv, and 0 rollover deaths. Quite a contrast, isn't it.
The Mercedes S-Class had 25 overall, 15 mv, 10 sv, and zero rollover deaths.
In GMs defense, they have the capability of making safe cars. The Cadillac DeVille has 26 overall, and the Eldorado has 29. Both of these vehicles had rollover deaths, 4 and 6 respectively. The Lincoln Town Car, the only other very large luxury car, was not even close with 62 overall. The smaller Lincoln Continental (46) and LS (48) had better numbers.
Safe SUVs and minivans:
Toyota 4Runner 4WD SUV 12
Lexus RX300 4WD SUV 17
(I sure wish they had listed the ML. The ML beat the RX in the IIHS crash tests.).
Toyota RAV4 4WD SUV 18
Honda Odyssey minivan 19
Mercury Villager Minivan 21
Nissan Pathfinder 4WD SUV 24
Nissan Quest minivan 26
Groups
The most dangerous group was mini 2 dr cars, 190, followed by mini 4-dr cars. Deaths went down as size went up with small at 110, midsized at 76, large at 79, and very large at 71. Midsized sports cars (133), however, were more dangerous than mini (86), and small (61).
As you would expect, minivans and station wagons did well. They always have because generally they're driven more sensibly. IIHS says they've factored in the driver factor. Obviously they haven't.
Small 2 wheel drive pickups are the worst pickups at 124, with large at 69 being the safest. Pickups generally did worse than cars of the same size and weight. (Duh.)
The only Mercedes I could find were those listed above.
What does this mean?
Mercedes has always put safety first. The basic safety-car concept, the safety-cage, crumple-zone is a Mercedes-Benz patent. They put safety into every vehicle. A C230 passes the same company crash tests as an S600.
It's obvious GM knows how to make safe cars. They choose not to except expensive ones.
Japanese companies can make safe vehicles (Lexus RX, Toyota 4Runner, Honda Odyssey, etc.) But they can make very dangerous vehicles (Mitsubishi Mirage, Mazda pickup). Ya pays ya money, and ya takes ya choice.
When a new vehicle comes out, and you don't know what its
record will be 4 or 5 years from now, you can roll the dice, or you can
look at the record. If any Mercedes has EVER made it onto the bad car list,
it's news to me, and I've been looking at these ratings for 24 years now.
Around The World In 30 Days Four Times
Laredo, TX The new Mercedes-Benz V6 CDI diesel engine has achieved an impressive list of world records this weekend in Laredo, Texas. Three standard-production E320 CDI (Common-Rail Direct Injection) vehicles equipped with the 221-hp powerplants covered distances of 100,000 kilometers, 50,000 and 100,000 miles respectively in world-record times.** Combined the three record diesel vehicles traveled the equivalent of almost eight times around the world, with the 100,000-mile record car achieving an average speed of 139.699 mph. Despite the extreme stresses, the maintenance-free diesel particulate filter held up magnificently over the entire record distance without any deterioration in performance further testimony to the reliability and durability of this exhaust technology.
This historic event follows last year's successful return of the Mercedes-Benz diesel engine to the luxury brand's lineup. The E320 CDI exceeded sales expectations by more than 38 percent with 4,158 units sold. Boasting strong acceleration, excellent fuel economy and low noise levels, the latest generation of electronically-injected CDI engines is helping to change U.S. consumers' dated perceptions about diesel powertrains. The E320 CDI achieves 27/37 mpg for city and highway driving, respectively, translating into up to 30 percent better fuel economy than comparable gasoline engines. A showcase for the latest in diesel engine technology, the 3.2-liter diesel engine can propel the E320 CDI from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds and cruise up to 780 miles on a single tank of fuel.
With precise electronic control of fuel delivery, hand-in-hand with an oxidation catalyst, the E320 CDI can pass current 45-state emissions standards. With increased availability of low-sulfur "clean" diesel fuel in the U.S. imminent, Mercedes-Benz engineers are optimistic that the CDI diesel can eventually meet emissions standards in all 50 states.
A pioneer in diesel powertrain technology, Mercedes-Benz invented the world's first diesel passenger car in 1936, the 260 D. Seven decades later, the Mercedes-Benz brand has produced more than 7 million diesel passenger cars, many of which are still in service today.
** All records subject to confirmation by the FIA. The Paris-based FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Auto-mobile) is the governing body for world-record attempts in the automotive sector.
World Records Achieved
In addition to the world records over 100,000 kilometers plus 50,000 and 100,000 miles, the three international driver teams set other records:***
Distance Start International FIA record *
10 kilometers standing start 204.830 km/h -127.276 mph***
10 miles**** standing start 212.850 km/h -132.259 mph***
100 kilometers standing start 225.338 km/h - 140.019 mph***
100 miles standing start 217.847 km/h - 135.364 mph***
500 kilometers standing start 210.446 km/h - 130.778 mph***
500 miles standing start 206.502 km/h - 128.315 mph***
1,000 kilometers standing start 205.426 km/h - 127.646 mph***
1,000 miles standing start 204.892 km/h - 127.314 mph***
5,000 kilometers standing start 215.043 km/h - 133.622 mph***
5,000 miles standing start 218.779 km/h - 135.943 mph***
10,000 kilometers standing start 219.794 km/h - 136.574 mph***
10,000 miles standing start 221.268 km/h - 137.490 mph***
25,000 kilometers standing start 223.047 km/h - 138.595 mph***
25,000 miles standing start 224.278 km/h - 139.360 mph***
50,000 kilometers standing start 224.719 km/h - 139.634 mph***
50,000 miles (80,467 kilometers) standing start 225.456 km/h - 140.092 mph***
World record **
100,000 kilometers standing start 225.903 km/h - 140.370 mph***
World record **
100,000 miles (160,934 kilometers) standing start 224.823 km/h - 139.699 mph***
World record **
1 hour standing start 216.942 km/h - 134.802 mph***
6 hours standing start 203.990 km/h -126.754 mph***
12 hours standing start 206.087 km/h -128.057 mph***
24 hours standing start 215.533 km/h - 133.926 mph***
* International FIA records in vehicle category B - production vehicles, Group III - turbo-diesels, Class 11 - swept volume 2,500 - 3,000 cc
** World record: absolute best figure among all vehicle categories and classes
*** All records subject to confirmation by the FIA
**** 1 mile = 1.609344 km (conversion factor according to FIA rules)
People who come to look at the new M-Class have one of two reactions, either, "I want one," or "I need a 7-seater."
Well, by this time next year, we should be able to help those people. Imagine the new M-Class stretched enough to hold 7 comfortably. That's the basic idea behind the new G-Class. That's what I know. I don't know the exact dimensions. I don't have pictures (artist concept modifications of spy photos do not count.*) I don't know the cost. I don't have brochures.
But basically, if you like the new M, you'll probably like it. Hang on. Keep the faith. Drive the old Tahoe another year. Help is on the way.
*MB used to have an ugly test mule. Whenever they saw telephoto lenses in the far trees, they would trot it out. Twice it was in one of the car mags, several years apart, once as the new 190 series, once as the replacement for the 190 series. It was never planned for production. It was just there to confuse the spy photographers. Rumor has it Lexus had a line for line copy almost in production before word got out.
At the end of Calendar Year 2005, the current hand-built G-Class will cease to be produced for the US market.
To mark this historic event, MBUSA will launch the "Grand Edition" G-Class.
The Grand Edition G-Class will be built as both a G500 and G55K. Production will be limited and will be produced between June and December. The Grand Edition will be the only version of the G-Class that will be produced for the balance of the year starting in June.
Some of the distinguishing highlights of the Grand Edition:
· All Grand Editions will be sequentially numbered units with the respective number engraved in a decorative plate placed inside the vehicle.
· Three new exterior colors will be specific to the Grand Edition:
· Barolo Red, Iridium Silver, and Flint Grey
· The G55K will offer 3 designo exterior paints at additional charge:
· designo Brilliant Black, designo Silver, and designo Mocha Black.
· As part of the G55K standard equipment, the designo light Brown Nappa leather will now be offered along with the designo Anthracite and designo Silver.
· A Grand Edition Medallion placed on each side of the vehicle (just ahead of the front door).
· The G500 will feature a new 18" wheel design.
ML500 vs.
BMW X5 4.4i
Size:
The X5 is smaller than the wider and longer ML500. As a result, the ML500 has slightly greater shoulder room and much greater cargo capacity.
Versatility:
The ML500 has greater cargo volume, which adds to its utilitarian value.
Note: BMW documents and reference sources are vague about cargo volume for the X3 and X5. Third-party sources indicate that the X3 actually has greater cargo volume than the X5.
Power:
The ML500's engine has slightly greater peak torque than the X5 4.4i, but it's across a wider range of engine speed. The ML500 has a wider track, indicating that it could well be more fun to drive than the X5 4.4i.
Sophistication:
The M-Class drivetrain features a 7-speed automatic, while
the X5 4.4.i has a standard 6-speed STEPTRONIC (an added cost of $1,275)
one more forward speed than the X5 3.0i's optional automatic. (BMWs
have manual transmissions as standard. Mercedes doesn't. The 3 people a
year who want manual transmissions in SUVs or SAVs in BMW's terminology,
should get BMWs.) In addition, off-road driving with M-Class employs a hill-holder
feature at startpup something not offered by the X5.
Mercedes-Benz Pickup?
The cover of the May 9th AutoWeek magazine shows a 4 door Mercedes-Benz pickup. Now, before you all start asking me questions about it, I'll tell you everything I know:
The caption is, "The Secret Pickup Mercedes might build."
Emphasis is on the word "might."
The article itself has the title, "Benz Test Bed." That should tell you something. "Mercedes is considering spinning a large, double-cab pickup off the upcoming G-Class," says AutoWeek. I've been hearing rumors of the truck for at least 2 years from an executive of a company that supplies MB. By going public, Mercedes is apparently testing the waters.
"The idea is to combine the cargo and hauling capabilities of a full-size, short-bed pickup truck with the luxurious interior appointments and general sophistication of a high end Mercedes-Benz sport/utility vehicle. Is there a higher-end SUV than the coming next generation G-Wagen?"
The photo looks like a G-Wagen pickup, new M-Class nose and sides, stretched, with an integral bed in the back.
AutoWeek speculates that one of the new 4-valve V-8s will be in it, either the 330 hp. 4.6 liter, or the 388 hp 5.5 liter, possibly the 504 hp. AMG 6.3 liter. The 7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic transmission will, no doubt, be used. (It's getting great reviews in the normally hostile-to-Mercedes motoring press.)
If it comes to pass, it will be a unibody, independently-sprung, full-time 4-wheel drive vehicle. It will be built in Alabama on the same production line as the new R-Class. It will only be for North America. Consider it a niche vehicle. There won't be a lot of them. But both Cadillac and Lincoln have pickups of sorts of iffy success. There's a market, just not a huge one.
I don't know the wheelbase. The R-Class has a huge 126" wheelbase. I haven't seen any dimensions on the G-Class.
We will accept deposits for those wanting to be first on
their blocks. But I will add the caveat that MB has paraded vehicles before
spy photographers before that had no hope of seeing production. 1 of them
made car magazines twice several years apart as the next "Baby Benz,"
the first time before the 190 came out. The next time before the C-Class
came out. It confused the editors and the competition. This could just be
a "Confusion to the enemy" ploy. I hope it's real. The world needs
a pickup truck with the safety, luxury, and comfort of a Mercedes-Benz.
$500 Books
MB Credit has announced that cars turned in at the end of a lease will be charged $500 if the books and records aren't in the car. This is a problem we have when cars are traded in, too. If you consider the service book the vehicle's log book, then it makes sense that it goes with the car. If the car is in warranty, then the warranty book is needed. And the Operator's Manual is always needed. For that matter, there is no reason to keep any of the books.
A used car without books raises suspicions in some people's mind.
Some people keep them because "My name and address is in it!"
Yes, and it's on the title and available within 5 minutes in an internet search using the license # or VIN. We have had people threaten to sue because we "gave out confidential information" when a potential buyer called them to ask about the car's history. Since we never do that without contacting the seller first, we called the potential buyer and discovered he had used the internet. Unfortunately, it's public information.
$200 Keys/$2000 Keys
Keys these days are expensive. I'm talking about the "Smart Key" that Mercedes has been using for several years and equally expensive (but inferior) copies and other electronic keys used on other cars. They are also limited. An owner can only get 8 keys. There are only 8 "slots" in the engine management module.* Then the car must be electronically re-keyed ($2000). (Engine management module). Surprisingly, a number of customers have gotten 8 keys for their cars. Then, when the car is turned in with only one key (!), we're stuck with a big bill in order to offer 2 keys to the buyer.
So, when I ask if you have books, records, and keys when appraising your used car, you'll know why.
*If you lose a key, or it's stolen, we will "kill" that slot so that whoever has it can't steal the car with it. If a key fails to work and needs to be replaced, we will get another key for that slot. Whenever you need anything concerning keys, bring ALL of the keys and the car in. Then we can determine which to do and which slot either needs "killing," or needs another key for it.
Safe Driving AidSide Mirror Adjustment
Excerpts from National Safety Council on Safe Driving.
Some of the most serious preventable accidents occur because of blind spots while driving! Now there is a remarkable simple solution discovered by an engineer named George Platter. He presented his method at the prestigious Society of Automotive Engineers.
The National Safety Council tested his theory and discovered, to their amazement, that it works! The method has been fully endorsed by the National Safety Council as described in their September/October issue of Traffic Safety. Here's how it works.
mirrors wrong. Just because they taught you this method in Driver's Ed doesn't mean it's right. Look at the blind spots formed.
First, forget how we learned to adjust our outside mirrors by plopping behind the steering wheel and turning the mirrors so that we just saw the side of our car looking back at us in the mirrors.
Instead, adjust the driver's side mirror by resting your head against the driver's side window and then turning the mirror so that you just see the side of your car.
Mirrors right. Now your blind spots are covered. Scan those mirrors as often as you can, every few seconds, not once a trip.
Once this is set, move to the center of the vehicle and turn the passenger side mirror so that you can just see the side of your car from the center of the vehicle.
That's it. You won't see your own car in either mirror, yet what you will see is far better. Cars behind you show up as usual in the inside rearview mirror above the dash, but the instant the car leaves your field of vision from the rearview mirror the outside mirror picks it up. No blind spot; no delays; no wondering where that car about to pass you has disappeared to, and no waiting a few seconds for the car that you just saw in your rearview mirror to show up in your outside mirrors.
All three mirrors work in harmony with one another, and the blind spot has been eliminated!
Bernice Schira
bernice.schira@lakelandc.ab.ca
http://www.lakelandc.ab.ca
Those of you who have been reading for a while or who have bought and read Drive to Survive know that I have been advocating this for years. It really does work and has saved me countless accidents, especially considering my decreased peripheral vision.
Miscellaneous Ravings
License Plate Frame Reminder
A customer emailed me. He had gotten a $200 ticket for having an "occluded" license plate. His old-design Star Motor Cars license plate frame covered part of the word "TEXAS" and "The Lone Star State" completely. The wunnerful state legislature has made these frames illegal.
When that occurred, we stopped putting them on cars. We designed and obtained legal license plate frames with very small "Star Motor Cars." When cars are here for service, we are trying to replace the old frames with the new legal ones.
If you have the old frames, come in, see a service writer or me, and we'll give you the new frames. We do not want any of our customers to get these tickets.
It should be noted that certain other Mercedes-Benz dealers in town are still putting on illegal frames. I have seen them on cars with 21-day red tags.
John Moses Browning
I was inundated with sympathy letters concerning Browning. I could fill the newsletter with them, but instead, I'll print this one.
My husband Mike and I have been faithful readers of your wonderful paper for at least 10 years. We have always enjoyed reading about your animals. We have both laughed and cried over the amusing and heartwarming stories. John Moses Browning seemed to exemplify all that is truly wonderful about the canine companions that adopt us humans to love. Our deepest sympathy to you and your wife for his loss.
Mary Sue Bellert
I would like to thank everyone who sent a sympathy letter. They were very helpful.
New Club Member
I note (with some relief) that President Bush has joined a club of which I've been a member since 1970. There are no meetings or dues (well, one time dues), and we don't know how many people are members, but every member is glad he is. Every member had a hand grenade thrown at him that didn't go off.
I also watched someone throw a grenade properly and still get his throwing arm mangled. Sometimes 4 second grenade fuses are 4 seconds. Sometime they're not.
George S. Patton, Jr., con dog extraordinary
Letter to Mama Pinscher
(found in the "Sent Mail" folder on my home computer.)
To: Mama Pinscher, Rose Hill School for Con Dogs
Dear Mom,
Things are going well at the mark's house. I did everything you taught me in all of those classes at the school. When the marks, a really ugly man and his much younger pretty wife, arrived, I played second dog to Alvin, egging him on to be wilder and wilder. "Show 'em, Alvin! Don't let 'em catch you! Show 'em your teeth." When the school headmistress handed me to the mark I went to full subservience mode, and, when he put me on his chest, I laid my head on his shoulder and looked up lovingly at his ugly, misshapen face. I did this pretty much every time I got the chance. Eventually it worked, and the marks paid the headmistress for me and put me in their car. I think I fetched a good price. Little did they know!
Puppies have a lot of energy. It does not transfer to their owners. On the contrary, it drains energy.
Then I used your lesson two and spent the whole time staring lovingly at the face of the mark. I wanted to make sure he imprinted on me like you told me. He was holding me in his lap. I pretended to be scared. They took me to a store and bought me things, lots of puppy food, 2 kinds of treats, several puppy toys, a collar and leash, and an exercise pen. I figure I'm already ahead. I didn't have all these things to myself at the school.
Even before he started Puppy Boot Camp he knew how to sit. We still miss Browning terribly, but George is doing his best to make us happy
Then they took me to their house and let me stay inside! Wow! Are they gullible or what? The house has two big, mean animals in it. I don't know what they are. They have stocky, long haired bodies, long fluffy tails, round faces, short, pointed ears, and short noses. They make hissing noises when I'm near. One of them runs away pretty quickly. The other one will slap ineffectually at me. I pretend to be scared of it. They get really tasty food. I eat it whenever I can. As fierce as they pretend to be, I can run off either of these big animals at will. This displeases the marks, as if I care.
To continue the imprinting process as you taught me, I slept on the head of the ugly man, licking his face much of the night. As you said, "A tired mark lets you get away with more."
The next day they put me in an exercise pen the same size as the one you and all 6 pups were in, but I whined and complained about it being too small. They left me there anyway. But they weren't gone long. Then they spent most of the day holding me in one lap or the other. I figured I had it made! That night I let the man sleep a little but slept on his neck when possible.
They kept taking me outside onto grass and waiting for me to do something. I don't know what. Sometimes I needed to go potty and could hardly last until we got back inside.
They left me in the pen, but this time they didn't come back after a couple of hours! I was in that @$%! pen until almost dark. When the lady arrived, I did my best dance on my hind legs to get her attention. It worked. She let me out. I was really nice to her, but she took me outside and tried to get me to run a lot. Again she was waiting for me to do something. Later, when we were inside, she showed that some people have really strange fetishes. She picked up my poop and took it outside and put it in the grass and showed it to me. I have no idea what she's doing that for.
Later I found a really great chew toy. I didn't know what it was until the man told me it was his best pair of Lucchese quill ostrich ropers. I hope he gets more. It was delicious.
I figured by that night I was "in," that they wouldn't take me back to the school no matter what. The man had definitely imprinted on me, and both were waiting on me hand and foot. So I stopped pretending and became myself, running amuck, biting everything I could, chewing on their arms and hands until they bled, tearing magazines to shreds, terrifying both of the stocky, hissing animals. I've done this every night since. They keep trying to control this, but I let them know who's boss! Once I think they've gotten the message I go to sleep, usually on one of their necks.
When I stir during the night the man will take me out to the grass. At this point I've been in the bed for some hours, and I haven't had time to go to the john, so I've been forced to go on the grass. For some reason he seems to like this misuse of the outdoors. Most of the trips out there I can hold it until I get back inside, though. He does seem relentless at this fetish. I don't know why he wants me to go outside when there are paper pads for me to go on inside. I just used one that said "Road & Track" on the cover, whatever that means.
Later I was sniffing at one that said, "Playboy" on the cover, and the ugly man yelled at me. He wasn't very nice. Then he put it out of my reach!
I am worried, though. I heard them talking about "Puppy Kindergarten," and I even heard the dreaded words, "Obedience School."
They haven't noticed that I can jump over 2 feet straight up, so getting out of the pen is no problem. As soon as the man left this morning I ran upstairs to their computer and sent this on the e-mail, using his address. How can I avoid this "Puppy Kindergarten?" The man is talking about "Remedial Obedience Training" and "Puppy Boot Camp." Neither sounds good. Help!
Your Loving Son, Slick
P.S. They've named me George. The male mark will call George S. Patton, Jr. when he's really exasperated. But I ignore him most of the time anyway, just running to him enough to make him think he has a chance of training me. Ha! We know better about that, don't we, Mom.
George S. Patton, Jr. was born January 19th to Miniature Pinscher parents. He arrived at Castle Rich weighing over 6 lb. already and has grown quickly. Despite his predictions, he is doing well at Puppy Boot Camp.
Curt Rich May 2005
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