The Mercedes Benz CLS Shooting Break; a Merc gone A-WOL?

Hey all you soccer moms and dads, Mercedes has created a beast just for your garage; and even better news, it’s a station wagon. But don’t be fooled by the conventional look that the new Merc wagon has, or its four doors, or its class. This is an entirely new animal, and it is packed full of surprises.

It’s called the Mercedes CLS Shooting Break, and I have a few things to say about it. First, there is the issue of the name. Normally, when a car is labeled “Shooting Break” this term denotes a 2 door station wagon. What Mercedes have done, is ignore the rules and decided that they would put the name on the CLS station wagon anyway. That’s not the only thing wrong with this car. For years, owning a premium station wagon was very popular in Europe because of style, performance, and practicality. The CLS shooting break may look like a station wagon, but it definitely does not carry the practicality factor of one; nor does it really have much to give in the area of sleek styling.

The Wagon doesn’t really have much in the way of performance options either; but that doesn’t mean that buyers will be complaining. The CLS comes with one engine; the M157 5.5 liter twin turbo V8, which puts out 518 hp, and can be wound up to 550 hp if the buyer so chooses to upgrade to the performance package. That means that getting to and from soccer practice will take almost no time at all. And if you’re grocery shopping, getting home before the ice cream melts won’t be an issue either.

The CLS shooting break has an improper name, it’s unnecessarily fast, it has limited cargo space for a station wagon, it can go around corners, and if there is one thing you can be sure about, it’s 5.5 liter v8 will rattle the bleachers at your child’s next soccer game. It’s an interesting design, but I’m not quite sure many buyers will take interest in a coupe-gone 4-door-gone-rogue. In my eyes. what you’re buying is a merc gone A-WOL.

See a 60 second Presentation of the New Mercedes Benz CLS Shooting Break Here

Summer Driving Tips: Save gas, have a blast

It’s that time of year again; where the weather is warming up, and drivers all over can finally turn off the heat, and the de-frost and spend a little extra time in bed, as they don’t have to worry about scraping the ice off of their windshields in the mornings any longer. It’s that time when any enthusiast will call up any number of their good friends and go for a nice drive on a curvy challenging road, and stop by the lakefront grill for a burger and a shake with friends and family. But let’s not forget one important factor associated with all of this: Gas prices. It’s pretty common to see more vehicles on the road during the warmer months, which means that this summer, gas prices will be higher than ever. So, you may be wondering what you can do as a driver to enjoy summer driving, and save money at the pump at the same time. Well there is no need to worry, there are a few simple tips to consider that will save you plenty at the pump, and allow you to enjoy those long summer cruises you’ve been looking forward to.

When you drive, it is important to remember that the more aerodynamic your car is, the less fuel you will use. Whether your windows are up or down play a huge role in the aerodynamics of your vehicle, and can make a substantial difference in how much gas you’ll use in the same time span. When you’re on the highway, keep the air-conditioning on, rather than the windows down. A/C uses fuel, but compared to keeping the windows down, will use substantially less when you’re going faster that 50 miles per hour. You’ll stay cool, and your significant other’s perfect hair won’t be ruffled by the wind, which means that you’ll save yourself the money, and the complaints. It’s the best of both worlds. However, don’t get to close with the air-conditioner, because it can turn into your worst enemy off the highway.

When your off the highway, do the exact opposite. Turn off the A/C, and close the vents, and open your windows. Aerodynamics isn’t a big concern when you’re driving below 40 miles per hour, which means that your windows being up or down won’t have an adverse affect on fuel consumption. However, the air-conditioner will. A/C uses alot of gas, and when you’re off the highway, consuming city mpg’s, this can bring your needle down much quicker than you’d want it to. Open your windows, roll back the sunroof, turn up your radio, and let the natural breeze flow throughout the cabin. Your girlfriend won’t complain about her hair getting ruffled, and you can enjoy your summer cruise, while saving money at the pump.

With gas prices climbing, and no sign of them slowing down as we approach the summer months, it is important to know how to keep gas in your tank and drive conservatively as well. Take these two basic tips into consideration and you’ll not only save money at the pump, but you’ll enjoy being able to spend more time on the road, and less time at the pump. I follow these two tips every summer, and they work very well. Spend a summer following these habits and you’ll come to find that the extra money in your wallet can go towards that summer family vacation you’ve always wanted to go on. Drive safe, have fun, and enjoy your summer.