Auto Trend and Auto Insurance News

by: Louis Rix

If you are looking for a used Mercedes Benz then you have access to a virtual showroom which you can tailor towards the particular model you are looking for all from the comfort of your own home by way of your home computer and the internet.

Shopping online had become a big thing and when it comes to finding a used Mercedes Benz you are able to complete a tailored search right down to the exact model and colour you are looking for. A specialist used car website gives you all the tools you need to find your ideal used car in the shortest time possible and you are even able to search in the area in which you are willing to travel when it comes to taking a test drive.

Another big advantage of a specialist used car website is the information that you can gain regarding buying used cars and what to look for, the majority of cars that are listed online are what they say they are but then unfortunately some people take advantage and do embellish about the car they are selling. There should be plenty of hints, tips and advice on a specialist used car website and this is where you should start off when it comes to buying a used Mercedes Benz. It is essential that you know what to look for in used cars especially when it comes to going and looking the car over and taking it for a test drive and unless you know a little about cars and especially the Mercedes Benz then it is essential you read up on the car.

When you have narrowed down your search based on the particular model, colour, price and distance you wish to travel then you will have to narrow down your choices even further, to help you do this there should be photographs of the car and if you are lucky these will show you different angles of the car which can give an excellent indication of the state of the car. While the photographs can go a long way to helping you narrow down your choices of used Mercedes Benz the listing that accompanies the photographs can give detailed information regarding the car.

The majority of people who sell their car online will have taken the time to not only out all the essential details into the wording but will also have included anything that makes that particular car stand out such as any additional parts fitted and extras. Of course all of these go a long way to you finding your ideal used Mercedes Benz and can help you to narrow down the list considerably, however once you have narrowed down your choice then of course there will be contact information which then allows you to ask any specific questions regarding the car.

When going to look the car over and take it for a test drive always remember the advice you should have taken beforehand on what to look for in a used Mercedes Benz and always take the car for a test drive before handing over any cash along with making sure that the documents relating to the car are in order and all is upfront.

SUVs began life as trucks. Trucks are bouncy and push a lot of air, which requires a lot of gas, and they’re hard to maneuver. No fun. So SUV makers with sports car genetics, such as BMW and Porsche, have tried to marry fun driving with truck utility.

The BMW X5 is a V8-powered SUV aimed to provide the driving fun of a sport sedan. A mid-size luxury SUV, the first X5 was introduced for the 2000 model year. It was a trim-looking, tightly handling, tall-riding wagon. We drove this model with its 4.4-liter engine several thousand miles. It was short on utility, which is these days described as the ability to carry bikes and boards (sand, surf, sail, skate and snow), which the original short X5 could barely accommodate. In fact, it had less cargo space than a 5 Series wagon. A bigger BMW X5 would better meet the requirements of luxury SUV buyers, more in line with SUVs from Cadillac, Mercedes, Acura, Audi, and Volvo.

For 2007, BMW stretched the X5 seven inches, while preserving its ability to handle well and be nearly as fun to drive as BMW’s sport sedans. BMW also expanded the height and width of the wagon two inches each dimension. This bigger X5 is known as the second-generation X5, same name, bigger body.

A BMW X5 adds a dimension to its intended tasks, traveling to places where active, fun sports take place, for example. Instead of hauling equipment and gear, the X5 gives sensitive automotive connoisseurs the top equipment they want to enjoy the activity of driving as much as possible. That’s why BMW is trying to get its SUVs to be called SAVs, for sport activity vehicle. In other words, it’s better for driving than hauling. This is not the wagon you fill with mulch for the garden and lumber to finish the basement. This is the car you take to the resort, and enjoy the drive, no matter the weather.

Powerful, smooth engines propel the X5 and exhilarate the driver with quick reflexes. Handling is intuitive, like a sculpted water ski, and ride is supple, like a freshly adjusted and tuned full-suspension titanium Merlin mountain bike. If you enjoy the sport of driving, you’ll like the dynamics of the X5 every bit as much as the nimble old X5. That’s a tough feat to pull off, since the new X5 outweighs the old one by about 400 pounds. A new suspension design and special variable ratio steering contributes greatly to the ride and handling.

Like other BMWs and the previous X5, the 2007 BMW X5 is pretty, with swoopy sheetmetal, a trademark double-grille fashionable nose, and deep, shiny metallic paint. Now this new version of the SUV fashion statement will hold more of the gear and boards that active folks use.

Model Lineup

The 2007 BMW X5 comes in a choice of two models, distinguished by engine.

The BMW X5 3.0i ($45,900) is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that makes 260 horsepower.

The BMW X5 4.8i ($54,500) is powered by a newer 350-hp 4.8-liter V8 engine. The 4.8-liter model also makes available a host of extra high-tech gizmos, such as headlights that move with steering inputs, multiple variable electrically operated front seats, and both models include the iDrive control for the navigation, climate, entertainment, and personal preference functions.

Options include a premium sound system with a six-CD changer ($1,800); rear privacy glass and front and rear climate zones ($700); driver’s massage seat and front seats with fan-powered ventilation and multiple adjustable contours ($2,100); DVD rear-seat entertainment system ($1,800); satellite radio ($595); rear-view camera with parking assist system, satellite navigation, voice activation for some functions, and traffic information ($2,600); integrated garage opener and light switches, full-roof sunroof and power shade, auto dimming mirrors, adjustable lumbar supports, cargo cover, compass, vanity lights, and a live service assistance with Bluetooth phone function ($2,650); front seat heaters, headlight washers, heated wheel, and ski cover for luggage compartment pass-through ($900); leather steering wheel, 19-inch wheels, run-flat tires, anti-roll-over stability system, electronic damping control, larger seat bolsters ($3,600).

Safety features include the mandated dual front airbags which have two-stage threshold activation, plus side-curtain airbags for head protection and side-impact airbags built into the front seats. Active safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, all-wheel drive, traction control, front seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, adaptive headlights and cornering lights. Optional safety features include a rearview camera and parking assist as part of a Technology Package ($2,600), and anti-roll stability system and run-flat tires as part of a Sport Package ($3,600).

Since the earliest days of the company, BMW Coupes have been elegant expressions of individual style and passion for driving. By the 1930’s, a coupe was widely appreciated as a special automobile for people who regarded automobiles as much more than convenient transportation. The BMW 327 Coupe, introduced in 1938, was widely regarded as a truly outstanding example of that viewpoint and remains a legend to this day.

With totally new looks and thrilling performance, the all-new BMW Coupe once again sets the benchmark for elegant design, luxury and value. In true BMW tradition, it also establishes new standards of performance and driving dynamics with the introduction of an exceptional engine: the first inline six-cylinder engine with twin-turbochargers, high precision fuel injection, and an all-aluminum crankcase.

The performance potential of the new 300 horsepower turbocharged engine ensures that the 335i Coupe delivers a significant improvement in performance while maintaining the efficiency for which the BMW 3 Series is renowned. The 335i Coupe will be joined in the U.S. by the 230 horsepower 328i Coupe. » Read more after the jump →

Few other automobiles stir emotions quite like a convertible. Whether it’s the feeling of freedom created by top-down driving or their seductive shapes, convertibles have long been regarded by many car enthusiasts and casual onlookers alike as providing a one-of-a-kind exhilarating driving experience.

As proof of their special lure, late last year Neiman-Marcus sold 50 specially equipped BMW M6 Convertibles featured in the retailer’s Christmas catalog in one minute, 32 seconds.

The new BMW 3 Series Convertibles provide a new dimension to that experience with the introduction of a retractable hardtop. Made of lightweight steel and operated by a hydraulic system, the three-piece roof opens in just 22 seconds - takes only one second more to close - and folds smoothly into the rear compartment of BMW’s newest convertibles. The three-element steel roof structure ensures lower noise levels even at high speeds, enhances safety, creates a more luxurious and comfortable cabin and helps stiffen the chassis to provide precise handling. » Read more after the jump →