Do You Really Know Everything About Mercedes Benz?

10 Mercedes Benz Facts That Will Make You Go WOW

Everyone wants to know new facts about Mercedes Benz. To fulfill our readers’ expectations, here we publish 10 Mercedes Benz facts. We collected these Mercedes Benz facts from reliable sources. So, you would feel happy and educated while reading these Mercedes facts. So, start reading to know 10 most interesting facts about Mercedes Benz.

10 Interesting Mercedes Benz Facts:

1. The first petrol powered Mercedes vehicle was made by Karl Benz, the Mercedes-Benz co-founder. His fiancée, Bertha, had to invest in the project as a part of the prevailing marriage law.

2. Back in 2005, the automaker released 3 models of bicycles: the Mercedes-Benz Carbon Bike, The Fitness Bike, and the Trailblazer Bike. In future, Mercedes plans to release more sophisticated bicycles.

3. The Pope rides a Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV, with added features like oxygen system and bullet-proof glass. Mercedes has a reputation for supplying cars for VIPs with extra features.

4. Mercedes claimed the 30th place in a Fortune 100 “Best Companies to Work For” ranking in 2013. This proves that the splendid car maker also follows an employee friendly scheme.

5. The Mercedes-Benz 600 model is quite famous among celebrities. Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Hugh Hefner, Jack Nicholson, Coco Chanel, Aristotle Onassis, Fidel Castro, and Elizabeth Taylor owned this iconic model.

6. The Mercedes star symbolizes air, land, and sea. You can find the star in all Mercedes cars, on the hood.

7. The Mercedes motto is: “Das Beste oder Nichts” which literally means – “the best or nothing”. Indeed, they are one of the best carmakers in the world.

8. A billionaire from Abu Dhabi placed an order for a custom made Mercedes-Benz with a gold decorated exterior. White gold worth $2.5 million was used to complete the whole body work. That means the whole exterior was covered with gold.

9. It doesn’t matter how old is a Mercedes car there’s no room for squeak or rattle. Mercedes-Benz welds all of its vehicles in 10,000 different places to make sure no nuts or bolts get loose.

10. There is a sculptor of Mercedes-Benz 240 Diesel at Kinden Park Cemetery in New Jersey. The monument was made to remember the demise of a Mercedes enthusiast who died young. The brother of the dead, David, kept no stone unturned to make sure the monument resembles the actual vehicle and its every detail. In 1970, it cost $500,000 to complete work of this monument.

So, what do you think about these Mercedes facts? Feel free to share your opinion with us.

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Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Forester: Which sports utility is a better deal?

Sports utility cars are the trending favorites among the customers these days. Talking about the particular segment in modern times, the names like Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Forester has to be raised. Well, the best part about these cars is that these offer high-end family appeal, at the same time fitting well with the sports utility segment. However, we are not here to talk about the similarities. So, without making any further delay, take a peek at the Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Forester comparative analysis is given below.

Mitsubishi Outlander Over View

Being one of the oldest and best effort lines of Mitsubishi, the Outlander is one of the sportier cars in the compact SUV segment. The car was first published in 2001 as Mitsubishi Airtrek in Japan; and adopted “Outlander” in 2006 in all markets. Mitsubishi Outlander is currently in the third generation and has achieved 1.5 million unit sold by Oct 2016.

Subaru Forester Over View

Introduced in Japan Motor Show in 1995 and only until 1997 that Forester started to compete in the market. The car is currently in the fourth generation since from 2012 with some remarkable concepts like Forester XTI, Mountain Rescue Vehicle, and X Mode.

Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Forester

Performance:

The very first thing that an investor looks for its sports utility vehicle is its performance. Hence, this round of Subaru Forester vs Mitsubishi Outlander comparison is obvious to be most interesting one. Forester engine performs smooth and tranquil for even off-road and speeds up rapidly compare to its competitor. Outlander, in the other hands, is likely a relaxing cruise but still running strong on poor road surfaces.

Fuel economy:

Fuel economy surely isn’t the first priority of an SUV’s owner. However, better fuel consumption also means greener to earth and less money for yourself. At this field, we found Outlander slightly frugal for most of the run test. Fuel tank capacity is as well undoubtedly one of the crucial parameters for a sports utility vehicle. To compare Forester vs Outlander, obviously, for it’s bigger frame; the Outlander has to possess greater fuel tank capacity.

Handling and comfort:

From the every first Forester, this car was made with the ability to dig into all corners; encourages you to explores as much as you can. Subaru keeps this trait as the inheritance, and all later Subaru Foresters are still running one of the best off-roaders in its segment.

On the contrary, Outlander is a bit more focus on passengers, as both front-row and the second-row seats offer more space for more comfort. Road and engines noise are well-blocked, too. Thou there is no match to Forester, Outlander surprisingly found good handling and well balancing up to rough surfaces.

Pricing

If comparing the same made years, then Forester is a better price in our stock list. Take 2005 made as an example. We have used Subaru Forester 2005 started from roundly $2,050, and Used Mitsubishi Outlander is around $2,780. Remember, our sales assistant are always there to help!

Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Forester Finale

It’s actually a hard job to say which is better. Both Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Forester have their strong points and none is too bad in particular. If you are that type of people who loves wet roads, dirt tracks, lots of mud, then Forester is the winner. If you prefer comfort and spacious, Outlander surely does the job.

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A COMPARISON BETWEEN TOYOTA RUNX AND ALLEX

A COMPARISON BETWEEN JAPANESE TOYOTA RUNX AND ALLEX.

The classiest automobile company Toyota started launching its ‘’Corolla” series in 1966. The name Corolla stands for “crown”; and it eventually became the best-selling car around the globe. The Corolla line has successfully managed to grab a spot in best-selling annual sales since 1974. In fact, nearly forty million cars have been sold till now. Let us give you a brief comparison of Toyota Allex vs RunX. These are the famous twin in Corollas family.

Toyota RunX Over View

While expanding their brand into the hatchback market; Toyota took the Corolla design and brought some implementations into it. The earlier model was simply tweaked a little. Toyota thus modified the back storage compartment with an upward-swinging door. The new modifications brought the birth of Corolla FX hatchback; which was later assigned with a new brand name, “Toyota RunX”. The RunX got popular as the Japanese domestic car.

Along with modifying the Corolla into RunX, Toyota produced another car with the same body design. This line was intended to be sold exclusively in Japan. They named it Sprinter, for it was envisioned as a sporty version of Corolla. As well, Sprinter was impressively well-received and gave a tough competitive in the market. Therefore, Toyota decided to collaborate with the US manufacturer General Motors and created a new car; especially targeting the American marketplace.

The Sprinter along with some powerful modifications and alterations in its design got rebadged as Toyota Allex. The car got the popularity after that.

Comparison between Toyota Allex vs RunX

The main difference between the two automobiles is their size. The result between Toyota RunX vs Toyota Allex shows that Allex is a bit more spacious and has a commodious design.

Allex offers slightly better fuel economy on the highway and better cruise control. It also offers a better balance between the engine power and the fuel economy.

RunX, on the other hand, has the better traction control and slip differential.

It is hard to compare between “Toyota RunX Vs Allex”. Both have excellent and handling attributes; as well as very popular throughout their run in both the domestic and international market.

Put it in an easy way, if you’re going go ride with the whole family, go for a Toyota Allex since it has more space, better fuel economy and cruise control.

For a good speedy ride on the highway and exploring places, then Toyota RunX is your better choice with excellent aerodynamics and handling attributes, optional sunroof, front fog lamp and also the Xenon headlight.

ARTICLE SOURCE:

Zim Govt clamps down on foreign-registered cars

Government has drastically cut the duration of stay for foreign-registered vehicles temporarily imported into Zimbabwe by visitors and residents living abroad following abuse of the facility by local car dealers.

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said government reduced the maximum period under which the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) could permit such vehicles to stay in the country to three months from 12 months with effect from January 1 this year.

 Foreign-registered private vehicles imported into the country by visitors are issued with a temporary import permit by Zimra upon entry. “ . . . beneficiaries of temporary import permits should abide by set conditions, which include, an undertaking to remove the vehicle at the expiry of the temporary import permit and non-disposal of the vehicle within the country, among others, this, however, has not been adhered to,” Chinamasa said in the 2017 National Budget. “Consequently, a significant number of motor vehicles under temporary import permits have not been acquitted, and some end up being disposed onto the local market, resulting in loss of revenue to the fiscus,” the Treasury chief said.


He also highlighted that Zimra was to develop a system that links motor vehicles issued with temporary import permits to the Central Vehicle Registry and the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration in order to deter registration of such motor vehicles. Zimbabwe banned the driving of all imported motor vehicles in transit in November 2010.

However, local car dealers have been allegedly importing foreign-registered cars under the guise that they are temporarily staying during visit only to dispose of them locally without proper documentation to evade taxes and fees.

According to the Zimra website, motor vehicles in transit are not allowed on Zimbabwean roads following amendment of Section 234 of the Customs and Excise Act, which states that motor vehicles in transit must be transported on long-haul carriers with effect from November 1, 2010.


Meanwhile, government is mulling introducing conformity tests for Japanese vehicle imports in a move set top see all car imports being tested before they are allowed into the country. Since introduction of the multiple currency system in 2009, Zimbabweans have resorted to importing second-hand vehicles, mainly from Japan, as they are cheaper than those assembled locally. - See more at Nehanda Radio

Zimra to auction abandoned cars

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has announced that it will auction vehicles that were abandoned at Plumtree Border Post within 30 days, if the owners do not claim them.

Some of the cars have been at the border post — separating Zimbabwe and Botswana — since 2012. Zimra is responsible for assessing, collecting and accounting for revenue on behalf of the State through the Finance ministry as well as facilitating trade and travel by ensuring smooth movement of goods and people through border ports.

The Authority said it has no details of the importers or vehicle owners, according to the Government Gazette general notice 2 of 2017 published on January 6. “It is hereby notified, in terms, of section 39(2) of the Customs and Excise Act (Chapter 23:02), that the following vehicles will be dealt with in terms of section 39(3) and (4) of the Customs and Excise Act (Chapter23:02) if not claimed within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Gazette. All the vehicles were abandoned at Plumtree Border Post and will be disposed of by auction,” read a notice by acting commissioner general Happias Kuzvinzwa.

The abandoned vehicles include an ERF-E58 Crane truck, 2006 Kia Seddona, 1999 Landrover Freelander, 1996 Toyota Hiace, 2002 Lexus IS200, 2000 LDV 400 Series and a 2004 Lexus GS300, among others. This comes as government has launched a clampdown on foreign-registered vehicles temporarily imported into Zimbabwe by visitors and residents living abroad by drastically cutting their duration of stay in the country following abuse of the facility by local car dealers.

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said government reduced the maximum period under which Zimra could permit such vehicles to stay in the country to three months from 12 months with effect from January 1, this year.

Foreign-registered private vehicles imported into the country by visitors are issued with a temporary import permit by Zimra upon entry. “…beneficiaries of temporary import permits should abide by set conditions, which include, an undertaking to remove the vehicle at the expiry of the temporary import permit and non-disposal of the vehicle within the country, among others, this, however, has not been adhered to,” Chinamasa said in the 2017 national budget.

“Consequently, a significant number of motor vehicles under temporary import permits have not been acquitted, and some end up being disposed onto the local market, resulting in loss of revenue to the fiscus,” the Treasury chief said. He also highlighted that Zimra was to develop a system that links motor vehicles issued with temporary import permits to the Central Vehicle Registry and the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration Agency in order to deter registration of such motor vehicles. - See more at/Article Source

Mercedes A-class review: better than a BMW 1-series?

A Review of the Mercedes A Class in Comparison to The BMW 1Series.. By Alex Robbin, Consumer Editor, Telegraph Cars


The Mercedes A-class was originally a tall, boxy car. But as practical as this shape was, it simply couldn't cut it in the style stakes.
That's why Mercedes decided to give this latest version of the A-class a sleeker - and more conventional - hatchback body.

The A-class also performed well in independent safety tests. And Mercedes engineers were told to make it the sportiest car of its kind. The A-class was given a midlife makeover in 2015 in an attempt to improve ride comfort and fuel economy.

Space 4/10

Fine in the front, but less impressive farther back

In the front, the A-class is as roomy as rivals. However, the back seats feel slightly cramped compared with those in the Audi A3 Sportback and BMW 1-series, primarily because the small windows make it quite dark.
Small, awkwardly-shaped doors mean you have to be quite flexible to climb in and out of the back, too. And while the boot is big enough to take a large suitcase, you may have trouble manoeuvring it inside due to the boot’s narrow aperture.
At least you get rear seats that fold flat and some useful in-car storage space.

Comfort 5/10

Diesel engines are noisy

The seats are comfortable and supportive, and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver. Unfortunately, you hear too much engine noise in diesel models, while wind noise is noticeable in every version.
The suspension was revised for the 2015 facelift, and as a result the A-class does offer a smoother ride than before. In addition, it can now be ordered with adaptive suspension that reacts to bumps in the road with the intention of offering smoother progress in comfort mode or a sharper, more driver-focused set up in sport mode. We've yet to try the adaptive suspension in the UK, but can report that on standard suspension and 18-inch wheels the A-class is a much improved car, if still not as smooth as an Audi A3 or Volkswagen Golf.

Dashboard layout 6/10

Looks and feels great, but not as intuitive as it could be

A premium hatchback needs a high-quality dashboard, and here the A-class does well. Solid materials and an attractive design give it an upmarket feel, which is marred only by a tablet-style screen that looks like it was tacked on as an afterthought.
Sadly, useability isn’t as good as it could be. The menus on the screen can be confusing to navigate. And the sheer number of buttons on the dash means it can be difficult to find the one you want without taking your eyes off the road for longer than you'd wish.

Easy to drive 6/10

Light controls and a good forward view

Reverse parking is harder than it should be due to a small rear screen that limits your over-shoulder view. However, there’s a subtle, bowed curve to each side of the A-class’s windscreen, which helps minimise forward blind spots.
You also get light controls and a slick manual gearshift to make driving easy when you’re going forwards. And most versions of the A-class are available with an automatic gearbox, although this can be a bit jerky at times.
Just make sure you avoid the A180 and A200 diesel engines because these feel gutless.

Fun to drive 5/10

Disappointing unless you go for the expensive A45 AMG model

In the second half of 2015, Mercedes installed a Dynamic Select button in the A-class, which when pressed alters the weight of the steering and response of the accelerator to give the car a sportier feel. It works to an extent, but the A-class still isn't the kind of car that will tempt you into taking the long way home.
The A45 AMG, however, is a different story. Sharper steering, fantastic body control and incredible grip make it a truly exhilarating thing to drive fast. It’s a sledgehammer of a car, which uses brute force to smash its way down a fast road.

Reliability 9/10

Mercedes has a good record here
Mercedes has a great record for reliability, finishing as the fifth out of 26 manufacturers in the 2015 JD Power Dependability study.
You also get the reassurance of a warranty that lasts for three years, no matter how many miles you do, whereas Audi and Volkswagen cover you only for the first 60,000 miles.

Fuel economy 8/10

Many rivals are more efficient

The most efficient A-class, the A180d, returned 80mpg in official fuel tests, putting it on a par with rivals. In the real world, expect economy of about 50-55mpg from the diesel A-class models, which again matches what you'll get from rivals.
Petrol models ranged from between 40-50mpg in official tests, but again you should expect to see a drop in real-world driving.

Affordability 7/10

Strong resale values keep leasing costs down
The A-class might have a headline-grabbing model that emits just 89g/km, but as with rivals most versions miss out on a sub-100g/km rating. Still, company car drivers will find that the latest A-class is more appealing than the pre-facelift model.
It's also worth noting that while as a premium model the A-class is expensive to buy outright, strong resale values do help to keep leasing costs down.

Safety 8/10

Not the safest, but still does well

A strong showing in Euro NCAP crash tests proves the A-class is a safe car. True, the rival Audi A3 scored better for both occupant and pedestrian protection, but the Mercedes wasn’t far behind, and it performed slightly higher than the BMW 1-series in most areas.
The long list of standard safety equipment on the A-class includes six airbags, systems to prevent skids and aid braking, and a bonnet that automatically lifts up in a collision with a pedestrian to help cushion the impact.

Standard spec 6/10

No version is too badly equipped

The cheapest, SE models come with front and rear electric windows, air-conditioning, a Bluetooth hands-free phone connection and a socket that lets you connect your iPod to the stereo.
We’d be tempted to upgrade to the Sport specification though, because this brings the Dynamic Select driver controls, and sharper looks, inside and out.

It’s little short of scandalous, however, that Mercedes charges extra for DAB digital radio when rivals include it in the standard price.

Our favourite version

A180 Sport, list price £22,005
Options you should add Metallic Paint (£575) and DAB digital radio (£420)

The verdict 6/10

The Mercedes A-class is one of the most striking hatchbacks around, but rivals such as the Audi A3, BMW 1-series and VW Golf are more capable.

2016 HONDA ODSSEY REVIEW

Honda Odssey Review...

Article Source.... The Car Connection.

Dear our Blog Readers, please note that the 2016 Model of the Honda Odssey is not yet available on the Durban South Africa Market/ Stock of Used Japanese Vehicles. Only the older models of the Japanese Honda Odssey is currently available in Durban.

Likes

• Good interior packaging
• Responsive handling
• Sedan-like fuel economy
• Innovative features, like a built-in vacuum
• More child-seat positions than other vans

Dislikes

• Front seats lack support
• Pricier than the competition
• No longer so "mini"

The 2016 Honda Odyssey stands at the top of the minivan heap, with more design flair and more driving enjoyment than most other three-row rivals.

Family vehicles don't get any more purpose-built than minivans. The 2016 Honda Odyssey isn't only an example of a minivan done well, but it's also an example of a family vehicle done well. It handles multiple combinations of passengers and cargo, kids and diaper bags—all while managing to be slightly fun to drive, and earning some of the highest ratings for safety around.


The current generation of the Odyssey definitely stands out a bit more, with its "lightning bolt" beltline design; a refresh a couple of years ago fine-tuned the visual appeal, with a more deeply sculpted hood, a bolder grille, darker-finish headlamp housings, and some front appearance tweaks that included chrome-trimmed fog lamps. In back, the LED taillight bars sharpen up the look, while inside a new center-stack design and fresh finishes keep the Odyssey up to speed in an automotive market that's constantly upping cabin appointments.


With 248 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque from a 3.5-liter V-6, and a 6-speed automatic transmission, this front-wheel-drive minivan has enough on reserve for strong passing, even with a full load. Although you'll never mistake the Odyssey for a sport sedan, the Odyssey definitely handles more like an Accord than a Pilot. The ride is a bit firm, but the Odyssey manages to combine ride comfort and handling prowess better than most family-haulers.

Inside—what matters most for a minivan, right?—the Odyssey is a surprisingly quiet and refined space. Active noise cancellation and active engine mounts both quell any vibrations from fuel-saving cylinder deactivation, as well as excess road noise. Cubbies and bins abound, with the center compartment between the front seats designed to swallow large items like a purse or tablet.
The seating layout is highly configurable, of course. An available split second row allows for the two outboard seats to be moved toward the doors (Honda calls this wide mode) to make more space for adults sitting side-by-side. The second and third row can also move relative to each other to provide better access to the rear seats or more comfort for the second-row passengers. There are five official LATCH connections, and in all, compared to most other three-row vehicles, even, you get a lot more flexibility in where child safety seats can be placed.

The current generation of the Honda Odyssey has been a standout when it comes to safety. It's been one of the few large vehicles to achieve top ratings from both U.S. safety agencies. The IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick, and the Odyssey has all the safety-feature bases covered, with a standard rearview camera system on all models, and the top Touring Elite getting an Expanded View Driver's Mirror, a blind-spot warning system, forward-collision and lane-departure warning.

Features, and value for money, are areas where the Odyssey doesn't quite add up to a grand slam. The base Odyssey LX includes Bluetooth hands-free calling, Honda's intelligent Multi-Information Display, and an 8.0-inch screen, in addition to a USB audio port and 2 GB of audio storage and a USB audio port; but many of the most desirable features remain the exclusive domain of the Touring and Touring Elite models.


The top Odyssey Touring Elite model gets many of the best features in the lineup, including the HondaLink infotainment suite, which allows owners to use a smartphone app to access Aha Internet-based entertainment, or hear Facebook and Twitter updates via text-to-speech. There's also a 650-watt sound system with hard-disk storage, the ultra-wide-screen system, theater surround sound, and HID headlamps, and a standout 16.2-inch wide-screen entertainment system, which can even split the screen in half to display two separate inputs (including HDMI).


Perhaps the Odyssey Touring Elite's most enticing feature is the HondaVAC system—a powerful integrated vacuum cleaner located on the left side of the cargo compartment.


....If you need to purchase the older models of the odssey in Durban, please phone or whatsapp Tami on +2783 784 1046.