New York May Finally Get a Mercedes Taxi- But Is It Worth It?

Go to Europe or the Middle East and a Mercedes-Benz diesel-powered taxi cab is the norm. Historically, Mercedes-Benz diesels have been the taxi of choice because of their proven robustness and ability to log hundreds of thousands, if not millions of miles. To get an idea of how far back this tradition goes back and why- click here. As of today, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has added the new Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec diesel sedan to its growing and evolving list of approved taxi vehicles in New York City.

Just a few years back, you'd be hard-pressed to ride in any other kind of taxi besides a Ford Crown Victoria, but that all changed when the TLC started commissioning other kinds of vehicles, in a addition to hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles to the fleet. Another small detail- the Ford Crown Victoria, the venerable "King of the New York Cabs" since the Checker Marathon, is no longer being produced with no real heir to the throne.

The Mercedes-Benz BlueTec technology is advanced. For the first time in years it's a 50-State EPA emissions compliant diesel- which was somewhat of a hurtle in the past. What makes the technology unique is AdBlue, an equine urea-based solution that reduces the harmful emissions diesel engines emit.

(Yes, horse piss makes it all better.) But it's a bit more complicated than that.

This solution is stored in the vehicle and gets used as the miles rack-up. At 100,000 miles it has to be replaced at roughly $1500 a shot- or think of it as a 1.5 cent surcharge-per-mile.

Pile this on to the $1500 increase in base MSRP over the similar gasoline-powered Mercedes-Benz E350, and you're looking at a 3-cent surcharge per mile for the diesel.

Is a sedan that lists for some $51,000 really a viable option these days for livery duties? I really don't know- but I will tell you- from a general consumers' standpoint, I don't think the diesel is a compelling choice as it once was.

The expensive initial price tag aside, the improved economy figures the E350 BlueTec promises, 24 city/34 highway miles-per-gallon, aren't exactly stellar given the costs. Especially these days, when all cars are getting better economy figures without going diesel.

Additionally, the TLC requires New York City cabs be retired or replaced every three-to-five years- not nearly enough time to recoup the high costs and the incremental higher costs of diesel fuel the Mercedes-Benz BlueTec racks-up.

Cabbies around the world bought Mercedes-Benz taxis because it was the only car able to rack-up hundreds of thousands of trouble-free miles; but I don't think this is the case so much as before. There are a lot of robust, cost-effective and efficient cars out there- and they don't cost $51,000. And $51,000 is a lot to depreciate over a scant three-to-five years.

The latest Ford Crown Victoria was so successful because it was simple, robust, cheap with a stellar support/supply chain of parts and service. I personally have been in Crown Vic taxis with half-a-million miles on them. I've also driven a Mercedes-Benz Diesel with hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock- and the costs of maintenance are considerable at these levels, trust me. The Ford Crown Vic is fool-proof at any price in comparison.

Will the city's cab fleets, many of which are independently owned and operated through the medallion system be willing to absorb the costs of a Mercedes-Benz?

Sadly, I don't think so.

About twelve years ago I was working in the city and had read that the TLC was willing to "try" other cab alternatives. Supposedly two Mercedes-Benz E300Ds from the late 1990's were painted yellow.

I personally saw one of these cars but have yet to have heard much anything about it since. But I did come across this old 1997 article by The New York Times here. The times, the Mercedes diesel, the prices and the rules have changed a bit since.

It's Just the Movies... It's Only Make Believe.

As an impressionable young man, I fueled my first car lusts with television shows- and movies. Knight Rider, Herbie the Love Bug, The Dukes of Hazzard, Christine, these kinds of pictures... CNBC ran a bit on 13 cars made famous by the movies- and although I'll contest- some of these cars are as obscure as the movies they stared in, having a car in the pictures can literally create a frenzy, for what would have been a "lost" or average car to begin with.

The Astrial Silver Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Convertible, as featured in The Hangover is such an example. Was the car iconic to begin with? Absolutely, it's a vintage Mercedes convertible- but truth-be-told, while there's collector interest in these hand-built four-seater cabriolets, the 280 SE is not the most preferred, investment-grade version; nor is it the most desirable- in fact, the 280SE was the middle-of-the-road variety- the more desirable 300 SE and later, low-grill 280SE 3.5 being the most sought-after, technically speaking.

They used the better part of half-a-dozen 280 SEs in the movie- and while its painful to see its abuse and destruction in the film- rest assured- the five or so cars that gave their lives to the production were in-fact saving tens or dozens down the road. (I'd say hundreds or thousands- but they never made as many...)

My point? People will be dusting-off these 280 SEs now more than ever. In fact, while CNBC claims they go for over six-figures when restored, this is only half true- nice, low-mile models can be had for less than half that quote; with only the very best of specimens, mainly the 3.5s, go for the "big" six-figure numbers.

But perhaps the biggest pop in collector interest for a single car (and ironically not one featured in the CNBC article) was for the 1958 Plymouth- as featured in the film-version of Stephen King's Christine.

They used something like 25 different 1957 and 1958 Plymouths in the films' production- destroying nearly every one of them.

Of some interest (in the original book) Christine was a specially-ordered, Autumn Red Plymouth Fury sedan- only one problem- Plymouth never made a such a car. And Autumn Red? It didn't exist.

The car featured in the movie is actually most similar to a '58 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe with a Golden Commando V8- though many call it a Fury, painted Toredor Red with Sportone trim- another car that never existed in real life- Furys in 1958 came one way- Buckskin Beige with special Goldtone trim. They were limited, sport editions, of the shittiest, lowest cars Chrysler made at the time, really...

Collectors of these Forward Look beauties cringe and cry over it today- for to find any 1958 Plymouth (regardless of color and trim) is a rare sight- many surrendered to rust long ago- but the hard fact remains- it's Christine that has forever immortalized this Plymouth, and many like it as a desired collectible.

So while the movie destroyed a couple dozen cars- it saved and promoted hundreds, maybe thousands.

I guess these cars are like famous people- while many spend their lives fascinated by celebrities, truth-be-known, their just regular people with better, more visible jobs and lives than the rest of us.

But while the famous still put their pants on, "one-leg-at-a-time" (or so many still claim)- these cars are just average, made-up at best, that got lucky into the land of make believe- the movies.

Mad About... The Wrong Watch

I'm a huge Mad Men fan- have been since the beginning... Multiple Emmy Award wins, countless raves- millions of fans around the world. It's a great show.

But what's unique about the show is its accurate depiction of life 45 years ago. Every week we're reminded of a historical event, a fad- a trend. The way life was.

The show is good, it's very good.

A few weeks back I commented on Don Draper's choice of watch- or rather, Jon Hamm's Rolex Explorer. Explorer I (One) for those who collect...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again- it's the wrong watch for the character- and specifically the time.

Here's why- like I've said in prior posts- no ad man in the 60's would have worn a steel-bracelet Rolex, let alone, an Explorer.

An Oyster Perpetual, an Air King or Datejust- maybe... But not the Explorer- what is actually a stripped-down, easy-to-read mountain climbers watch- a watch actually worn on Mount Everest and as described in the original Ian Flemming novels of 007 James Bond.

If Don Draper was a Vietnam War, and not a Korean War vet- maybe a Rolex GMT Master or Submariner would have been proper- after all, they were tools bought in the PX during the time- but what irks me the most about the whole Mad Men, Don Draper Explorer I thing is- it's the wrong watch- and specifically, the wrong reference.

In my prior post- after just the first episode of Season Four- I thought it a Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016- this would have been the correct version for 1965... And you would think the costume department was doing their homework... But seven episodes into the season- you're seeing this Rolex more and more. And more.

Pouring a drink, lighting a cigarette, picking up the phone, thumbing through a portfolio- even serving a can of Dinty Moore Stew- the watch is clearly a sapphire crystal, Ref. 114270 or similar- something out of the 1990's or later, made up until just last year.

The giveaway is the sapphire, flat crystal- something Rolex had not invented/brought-out until the late 1970's with their Beta Quartz and Presidential Day-Date models.

Eventually Submariners and all-gold GMT Masters got the scratch-resistant sapphire glass crystals in the early 80's- the pedestrian Oyster models didn't get them till around 1990.

The sapphire crystal is commonplace on most any modern watch- rumored to be scratch-proof, that's not entirely true- they scratch. They also chip and can shatter, which is something their acrylic predecessors wouldn't do- no matter what.

But the sapphire crystal was the answer to replacing your watch glass every year because of scratching- they run around $150 to replace and are not considered wear items anymore during a routine Rolex service- so, if you want another- you have to pay extra during a service.

Rolex has since started curving their sapphire glass crystals- giving them more depth, coating them with anti-reflection films- there's even a model that has a green-tinted sapphire crystal, the Milgauss.
What does this have to do with cars? Nothing- but the actor and Rolex "Don-ning" Jon Hamm was contracted by Mercedes-Benz to be the new voice of the brand.

Clearly the people at Mercedes-Benz were moved by this- from Season One.

"It's not called a car... It's called a Mercedes-Benz." That's coming next... watch.

But it's not a big deal, its still the best drama on television- but for all the Mad Mennies who have narrowed their lapels and ties, invested in pocket squares or have re-discovered and accepted Brylcreem- don't wear the modern-era, Rolex Explorer I with the light-refracting sapphire crystal- you would be making a mistake.

It's like driving a dark-blue '86 Cimarron- and thinking you're Don Draper in his powder blue metallic with the white-top '62 Coupe de Ville- it's just not the same. But they're both Cadillacs- if you could believe that...

But they did get the Cadillac showroom scene dead-on-correct- if you ask me... Back in Season Two.

Because Recalls...

Shouldn't be exclusive to Toyota drivers alone, Ferrari is recalling its 458 Italia supercar amid concerns of fire...

Last week I read of the suspicious, worldwide problems the owners were having of the limited-production, some $230,000 Ferrari super sports car. One burst into flames in Switzerland, another in China... France too...

Well, I'll say this- it takes more than two Ferrari owners worldwide to stir a concern- five fires have been reported, up to ten accidents have been rumored since the cars Summer 2010 introduction.

What's the world coming to?

Purportedly, a heat shield could come lose near the wheel housing, causing it to deform, heat and catch fire by the exhaust components. Or something like that.

Sounds like a reasonable, if not minor fix if you ask me...

Shit, the heat shielding on my '95 VW Jetta came lose all the time- and all I ever got to show for it was a resonating rattle at around 3,100 RPM, no fires... No crashes. And no glue!

I'm generally cool with complicated, exotic cars breaking- their supposed to- if you want reliable, buy a Toyota (right) but I do have a problem when I read-

Ferrari said the company is asking owners of the cars produced before July 2010 to bring them in to have the glue replaced with mechanical fasteners.

Glue? Are you kidding me?

For the record- when the heat shields on the old VW fell-off, it was because the fasteners were for shit...

But for $230,000- you get glued-on heat shields. They thought they out-smarted the old metal/mechanical, for shit clips trick...

Also for the record- when I thought I had a similar heat shield problem on my '85 Mercedes-Benz- much to my amazement (and chagrin) the axles had failed...

The car ran anyway.

Come to think of it- I'd hate to see a Ferrari run with failed axles.

Oh, BMW... We've Always Liked Thee Zippy

As parents, or so I've been told, one of their missions is to make sure their children seek-out the "right thing," whatever, however you define "thing."

Was it Spike Lee who taught us to Do The Right Thing? Right or wrong, I can only write about it... I'm not a parent. But I do know what I know- a thing, or two about cars.

My mother, God love her, somehow got it into her head that she wanted a new car after thirteen years. Something "zippy," as she called it- something smaller, sporty, easy and fun to drive; yet comfortable and smooth like her '98 Lexus ES300.

While many would think this "zippy" would be easy... You don't know my mother- or my father, or our, my family's foray into performance, luxury automobiles.

No, zippy... it ain't easy, not even in the least.

I guess you could credit a lot of my initial automotive enthusiasm on my parents; or maybe it was my father- for before my mother ever really had a say on what she drove (personally, I don't think the woman really cared... but now into her sixties, and having driven everything from Hondas, VWs, Nissans and Volvos to Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs and her beloved Lexus- she may well have a pretty good idea by now...) my mother drove what my father put her in. And he put her in some neat cars, looking back.

While all the cars were certainly nice cars by any conventional measure of the word- some, however, stick into memory as being real Deuseys... (No, she never drove a Deusenburg.)

Coming out of a fog of not one, but two very sedate (okay, read "slow" if you must) Mercedes-Benzes and a Peugeot 505 that wouldn't run right, 1983 brought to my father with the need for something different. Something fast, snappy, something zippy.

While most everyone else upwardly mobile was puddling around in 121-horse ETA-tuned BMW 528Es, my father gave my mother a Charcoal Metallic 533i, a limited-production, ultra-high-performance sedan (for the time) coming out of the Carter-era smog regulated '70s when there wasn't much performance- no, not even for The Ultimate Driving Machine...

Hailed as the "fastest sedan in the world" the Big Six 533i was as racy as it got- in a time, well, before most of mainstream America knew their B's from their M's, or their W's; nevertheless the difference between a BMW Big Six and an ETA-tuned 5-Series.

Gee, 181-horsepower sure seemed like a lot in those days. The car was so high-performance, BMW made the wheels on the 533i to fit one tire, and one tire only- the Michelin TRX. Want another kind of tire? You had to change the wheels entirely.

You so much as spit in front of that car- it spun-out. It didn't go in the rain. It idled erratically, smoked, burned oil and boiled-over in city traffic. BMW had to swap-out mom's short block, and every other 3.2-liter straight-six that year under warranty in 1983. The price you paid for fast. Zero-to-60 in 7.7-seconds.

Legend has it- my mother got pulled over doing over 100 miles-an-hour in it. The State Police had her in hot pursuit- they finally got her over the bull-horn, commanding her to pull over... My mother denies having been speeding, if she did, she didn't know it. The 533i saw very well to that...

The 533i was the first BMW, but it wasn't the last... Over the next 25 years- there would be a lot of great BMWs and a lot of other nice cars too. But you always remember your first...

2010, like 1983 before it- will forever be the year zippy came back into our lives.

While they've driven and considered everything from a VW Passat and Honda Accord to an Infiniti G37 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, I'm thankful both my parents did the right thing and went back to BMW.

After all, they're my parents.

It just seems right, like tradition in a way- and I'm especially thankful for them splurging on the twin-turbo-charged, 300-horse six-cylinder engine, a throw-back to when "35" meant "Big Six," or to my mother, just "zippy." They did it all by themselves too...

They really deserve it, it only seems right. After all, they knew fast BMWs before most everyone else... And you cannot argue with the reputation BMW has built for itself in the years since- I hear they even go in the rain now.

But after the better part of 30 years, I'm glad my mother is finally getting what she wants- an Alpine White BMW. 300-horses... This one even has the innovative xDrive all-wheel-drive, something also unfathomed in 1983.

As the son who knows cars- I can dutifully support- they couldn't have done better for themselves; because really, when it comes to zippy, no one spells it better than B, M & W.

And if my mother doesn't like it- well, she's just crazy. But that's another blog, for another time. Lets keep our fingers crossed...

I can only wish them well, hope they drive safe and enjoy it!

I mean, it's a BMW... What's not to like?

Wait, I'll let my mother answer that one...

Zippy... meet crazy.

Working On Forever- How Maintaining an Old Mercedes is a Lesson in Future Mortality

Probably the single most fun thing I do- the most enjoyment and happiness that I get out of anything- and despite hardly being a "master" at it, (I will contest, the more I know of anything- the less of a master I know I am) is working on old cars- specifically, my very-own, 1985 Mercedes-Benz Turbodiesel.

Over the years I've dabbled in it enough to do it okay- to a point- I mean, I can't do major engine or systems work- I just don't have the tools, experience or the facilities- but what I can do- I do... and I like it- its one of the few things- besides jogging that makes me feel good about myself.

I fiddle around and tinker more than anything. Since as long as I can remember- I've been screwing with this shit- I've learned mostly by getting frustrated, making mistakes and picking the brains of professionals.

Lately- the old car- well, has been running like shit. Actually it runs okay- just the idle has been erratic. I had a sneaking suspicion that its fuel related- so I purged the mechanical fuel injection system- using a highly-concentrated detergent additive and a 20 oz. Gatorade bottle and some plastic tubing to act as a separate, bypassed, secondary and contained fuel system. Then I replaced both the primary and the secondary fuel filters- the turn of an adjustable wrench and a few screws later- I had new filters and clean injectors.

I then gave it an Italian Tune-Up- ask any real car guy and they'll attest- you can fix most anything with an Italian Tune-Up- think of it like exercise for machines and an excuse to drive in a lower gear and a little crazy, if only in the name of maintenance... It's the automotive equivalent to hitting the side of the television... or the ol' Seeburg if you're The Fonz.

Why am I going through all this? Because working on a car built literally of cast iron, aluminum, real rubber, copper, brass and steel- to last forever- I began to wonder- are the new Mercedes-Benzes today, or any other cars rather, made to last forever like these older ones?

Let me clarify- nothing is made to last forever- just sometimes, rarely- you get a machine that was built during a time and place, for a price, with basic, proven technologies and materials- that could last a very, very long time if well taken care of (read with simple tools and know-how)- like the old Mercedes- call it "forever" if you must.

That's not to say they don't fall apart- they do- but like the Brooklyn Bridge- whatever that eventually breaks- can be fixed or replaced (at a pretty price mind you) if you care to do so- and viola- you still have a great car in the end- or an on-going hobby at least.

Now, there comes at time when something happens and well, it's time to say good-bye. Nothing will last forever... It's just how you care to define forever- or prolong the inevitable?

Many of you who read The Car Guy Gets It know I'm also a bit of a horologist- or someone who studies the arts and sciences of timekeeping- basically I like watches. While horologists can't define forever, gosh-darn-it- they'll try to measure it... One tick at a time...

Ask any seasoned watchmaker and they'll tell you- high-grade watches can last several lifetimes- literally hundreds of years if properly looked-after. Watches like these can cost tens, or hundreds of thousands of dollars... Lots of money. Very few people wear them enough to realize forever, of course and none of them live as long to prove it... So... anyway- they're good conversation pieces for the mortal living at best.

Good, high-quality wristwatches can last maybe 30 to 40 years if worn everyday. Like a Rolex has a real-world wrist-life of around 35 years. That's not to say there aren't 60 year-old Rolex watches being worn- there are- but they're collectors' items at best. Rolex, the manufacturer- won't even support their existence with service, parts and expertise. In other words- they want you to buy a new watch after 35 years... That's what they do. It's business- to sell new watches.

Cheaper wristwatches- like quartz, battery operated-stuff- (stuff with a microchip or a circuit board) have a wrist-life of much less- maybe fifteen years or so... If you're lucky. Then it's a throw-away and an excuse to go to the mall to buy another watch. Again, there are outliers to the "rule," but they're seen as liabilities at best to any a horologist- one tick closer to gone, unless you're a hobbyist, of course- keeping shitty watches alive...

Okay- back to cars. So, I didn't solve my rough idle (but I have clean injectors, new filters and a better idea of- now- what it is...) and I got to talking to an old mechanic friend of mine- of whom I've been trying to re-connect-with for months... I was feeling like a mechanic all-day- why not try to talk to a friend who actually is a mechanic?

Lucky for me- I made contact- it was really nice catching-up. In talking about the business of fixing cars- my friend- an accomplished Mercedes-Benz mechanic for many, many years made a very good point to me- discussing about the virtues of older verses newer German cars like the Mercedes-Benz or the BMW... These newer cars, like the ones they're making today- just aren't going to last forever- forever is bad for business.

If it will be ten to fifteen years- it will be forever... Okay- maybe twenty years... But will you see people like myself wrenching the new cars of today in their backyards twenty years from now? No.

He continued... "look at the cars of just ten-fifteen years ago- the wiring harnesses go, they dry-up- and then that's it... you're screwed... what a nightmare..."

Like the watchmakers- the car manufacturers are in the business of not only selling new cars, but also fixing them... rather, making sure you can't do it without them... And cars today are sporting technologies and sciences that make The Apollo Program look like wind-up Mickey Mouse watches in comparison. That, and the materials they use today just aren't meant to survive- some car makers like BMW boast how environmentally friendly their cars are; able to be broken-down quickly and friendly too, of course.

Makers today are more interested in selling a recyclable product than building anything forever- not only is it good business but it's a good image and a marketing tool.

Toyota once ran a commercial where they made, out of sticks and leaves- a pile of bio-degradable shit made-up to look like a Prius- and time-lapsed the decomposition in an open field. Nice... if you're into John Denver too, of course.

But like the cheap, throw-away, battery-operated wristwatches- the technologies behind today's cars relies heavily on computer chips- silicon. Once the silicon chipboard or motherboard dries-out, breaks/shorts... it's throw-it-away, say good-bye.

Now if you dig deep- you'll learn- there's a big to-do about making sure the suppliers and venders of all these high-tech auto bits of today will still be available, if need-be tomorrow, forever from now. There are agreements and plans in-place- but... It's complicated and well, no one knows what the future is going to bring. Forever is not guaranteed for anyone, and alas not anything- especially new cars.

As for my old Mercedes, well, I'm literally a two open-ended-wrench-turns away from a fix, I think... I'm 99.9% sure I know what it is now, thanks to some online reading and some friendly advice from an old friend... I'm also 99.9% sure that twenty, thirty years from now, I'll be bent over the left fender of some old Mercedes (quite possibly the one I'm driving now...) trying to figure-out something on a nice, Saturday afternoon.

I could only hope- after all, the future isn't guaranteed for anyone you know.

But maybe, just maybe there will be a fix for the future tinkerer. Maybe there will be an app for that... Or something... for making an old pile of whatever- quite literally- last forever.

Lord... Won't You Finance Me... A Mercedes-Benz

Trending on Yahoo between Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian and Mortgage Modifications is Adolf Hitler.

Adolf Hitler?

And I'm like "hmmm, what did he do now..."

Seems not only was the world's most infamous douche bag still proving just that- like most have thought and confirmed- a letter was discovered begging for a loan for a new Mercedes-Benz.

One thing I hated when I sold Mercedes-Benz cars myself- or when I sell anything today is a beggar.

While in prison he wrote his Mein Kampf but before the royalties came rolling-in, just as he was planning his bids to takeover the world- he was concerned about His Struggle to finance a 1924 Benz 11/40. (Figures... the jack-off.)

As written in the Seattle Times:
"Hitler wrote to a Munich car dealer, the future dictator says he is having a hard time making up his mind about whether to purchase a newer model Benz 11/40 or the older 16/50 because he had concerns that the higher RPM's of the motor in the former might mean that it would have more mechanical problems.

"I can't get a new car every two or three years," he wrote.

He also noted that he had many court costs to pay once he was released and asked the dealer if he might arrange a discount for him, indicating that he had his eye on a particular 11/40 on the salesman's lot.

"In any case, please reserve the gray car that you have in Munich until I have clarity about my fate (probation?)," Hitler wrote."

And if its another thing I hate- is customers that assume either one thing or the other because of their own screwed-up logic.

Though I don't know if the Benz 11/40 was prone to mechanical failure because of higher RPM over the 16/50- this is just an example of what I like to call "a little bit of knowledge."

Most assholes today still have this little bit of knowledge that makes them the armchair expert in anything they spin- or swindle. Or beg for.

The 16/50 (Series 16- 50 Horses) was a 4-door 5-seater sedan; 6-cylinder, 12-valve straight (inline) gas engine; side valves (flathead, L-head), about 4-liters in displacement, 37.3 kW / 50.0 hp / 50.0 hp @ 2000 rpm / 2000 rpm / 2000 rpm, (or 50 horses) manual 4-speed transmission, rear wheel drive, 90 km/h / 56 mph / 56 mph top speed... About 55 MPH with a tailwind.

The 11/40 Hitler had his grubby little heart set on was a 4-door 5-seater sedan; 6-cylinder, 12-valve straight (inline) gas engine; side valves (flathead, L-head), about 3-liters in displacement, 29.8 kW / 50.0 hp / 50.0 hp @ 2250 rpm / 2000 rpm / 2000 rpm, (or 40 horses) manual 4-speed transmission, rear wheel drive, 80 km/h / 56 mph / 56 mph top speed... This thing barely made 50 MPH.

Either which way, neither of these cars were top Pre-War Mercedes-Benz offerings for their day- compare them to a modern-day E-Class if you will. And for the record- try finding an official photograph of either of these heaps- you can't- they just weren't important enough, let alone pretty- to take pictures of!

Maybe Hitler was just cheap? Add that to his attache of characteristics. But just thing- if it weren't for Hitler- none of these cars would be considered Pre-War. Think about it...

Actually- these first cars Hitler was going after were just called "Benz," the "Mercedes" moniker had not become paramount till a few years later.

Hitler did go on to owning (quite outright without a loan too, mind you)- a lot of Mercedes-Benz cars throughout his remaining years. Quite simply- they were his domestic car of choice- much like Elvis Presley preferred Cadillacs. It was just his preference.

Mercedes-Benz; however, was more than happy to oblige- doing anything they could to stay afloat during the war. They produced a lot of things for the effort- but limousines remain one of their obvious works.

Some (with a little bit of knowledge) assume Mercedes-Benz (I think it was Daimler-Benz at the time) was anti-Semitic in "offering" their cars at his disposal- when in actuality, something like over half of the Mercedes board was Jewish- the company having spent considerable efforts in hiding the fact- if anything, to save their co-workers!

Then again- Hitler was Jewish too- according to some accounts.

Just goes to show how twisted the man, the facts, and history sets out to be discovered.

No matter how it's paid for- he had good tastes in cars.

Strange Days Indeed... Life Imitating Art & That Crazy Look In His Eyes...

Okay- no excuses- I know, but if I had to give you something today, it would be, well, an excuse.

I haven't written in over day. Not because life hasn't been interesting and I have nothing to share- but rather- I've just been busy. Very busy.
In a day that starts at 5AM and is just going to end in about 10 minutes or so (or however long it take me to write something), well, I can't help buy marvel how life sometimes imitates art.

Busy day, computer work, gym, breakfast, chores, had a meeting... Had some more work to do, then Staples, then went to look at cars... then back home, and looked at yet another car for a friend (more on that one below...). Then back to a meeting/dinner with an associate and more computer/camera work to do. Must have driven 200 miles today- no shit.

But the absolute highlight of my day (besides seeing an old car-biz buddy of mine), was meeting a young seventeen year-old boy, who had just gotten his license and was shopping for his first new car.

Not just any car, mind you, a W123 Mercedes-Benz 300CD Turbodiesel- an '85, a car that I actually stumbled across last night coming back from burger night with the boys...

Okay- let's back-up a second.

Last night, as I do most every Monday night- I head-out with a few friends for half-priced burger night in Red Bank.

On the way back home, my eyes caught an Astrial Silver, vintage Mercedes coupe- of course, I snapped my neck to look it over as I passed by... The car looked straight... I knew I had to find out more. But it was raining... Maybe tomorrow, if I have time.

In an ironic twist of fate (is it ever really fate?) my friend who I'm helping get a new/used car had gotten a call about a used car, a friend was selling.

Diesel Mercedes, original owner, guy's in his 80's, bought the car brand-new 25 years ago- 150,000 miles, all original.

Now, she's telling me this- and I automatically know what car it is... It's the coupe I saw last night- has to be.

Well, it was. And my friend was saying how the family would like to help her out- and sell her the car for cheap. Real cheap. And she's interested in it... Hell, if I have anything to do with it- she's interested in it!

Now, you may not know this- probably my number-one passion in life is my old, vintage W123 Mercedes-Benz. If I love one thing, it's that car.

That car, is perhaps my best and oldest friend in the whole world. As shallow as that may sound- we've been everywhere and through everything together- for better or worse.

I've often thought it like a muse most times- an obsession, like Christine; maybe a bit of a curse; to be quite honest- the last 11 years that I've had her; well, maybe weren't the best years of my life to date- but that's not entirely the car's fault.

It's just seen and done everything and through thick and thin- I've held on to her- much to everyone's chagrin.

People resent her (the car); it's not valuable or anything- but I think a lot of car people hate what it represents. They hate that I still have it, spend money on it... They'd like something to happen to it. It's just the impression that I get. Mechanics, service writers, old girlfriends, neighbors- all at one time or another disliked her. It was competition. A reminder of how mortal you are- yet- this car is surviving- my life anyway.

Maybe they knew... I liked the car better than them.

So, my friend tells me of this cheap W123 coupe and all I could think is... "I'm buying it... I don't care... I'm f'n buying it." (Wouldn't have been the first stupid car thing I've done...)

The '85 300CD coupe is the halo, the holy grail of Turbodiesel ownership. The last of it's kind, it was a rare combination of hand-crafted beauty, utilitarian diesel engineering; and, despite what you think you know of performance- the car's quite the stunner. I'll put it to you this way (kindly)- you may catch it- but you'll have a hard time keeping up with it... Even today.

When it was state-of-the-art circa the late 70's, early 80's, they were hailed as the best sports sedans of their kind. Road & Track claimed it had the best suspension in the world- a suspension so advanced, even the seat cushion springs are matched to the spring-rates of the suspension itself.

Comfortable, fast, nimble, built like a tank, and it'll last forever. And the pillar-less coupe version is rare- we're talking only a few thousand to the sedan and wagon's numbers, which range in the several hundred thousand... Literally, a fraction of Turbodiesels are the coupe version- and it was only made for North America.

Now, I have a very foolish, selfish plan to have one of each- a sedan (the one I have now) a wagon (I'd like to buy my friend's old car...) and now I'm thinking... this coupe.

I don't have shit- but I'll tell you this much- if I had this car, I'd be happy. And to most anyone, being happy is having everything.

So, we went to look at the car- my rational was true- if I like the car- tell my friend to buy it... If she hated the thing... I'd buy it.

I wasn't letting this opportunity pass me by. I better be careful what I call an "opportunity..."

(Part II tomorrow... I promise... )

The Only Thing Harder to Find Than a Good Used Car... Is a Good Friend

I met Theresa at the local Borders for tea last night, as we do a few times a week. Her faded wagon in the parking lot... While we enjoyed tea and good discussion she reminded me- "we don't have much time."

"Time for what?" as I sipped the cup, knowing full-well what she was talking about- yet still not able to comprehend, rather accept, the situation (nor wanting to).

"In three weeks time, I need a new car... something cheap, and something that will last me at least two years. I can spend $3,500 tops..." Theresa pleaded to me. Neither she or I were particularly happy about the situation- and who could blame us?

And $3,500 is not a lot of money to spend on something with the words "good," "cheap," and "reliable" all in the same sentence.

She already had a good, inexpensive and reliable car, the wagon- so what gives? We both knew we had our work cut-out for us, emotions aside.

Theresa and I have become great friends under a unusual set of circumstances. Now we're in a situation where literally, two 31 year-olds, a man and a woman, are trying to hold-on to a 31 year-old car of all things- but it's not just any car. This is George's car- a vintage Mercedes-Benz station wagon- good, honest, inexpensive transportation... And the only heirloom of a great man.

It's better than anything we'll find on any lot for the money and it's ours, it's Theresa's; yet last night she was handing me the keys to drive- and we set-off looking for used cars.

This, was going to be hard... This... was killing me.

...

I was at George's desk when he bought her, the faded and Diamond Blue 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD wagon- taken in-trade from the original owners- an elderly couple in their 90s- no pets, no children... Just more money than sense, than they knew what to do with...

George sold them what would surely be their last car- a Pewter Silver wagon with 4Matic. (Pewter Silver was THE color in 2005- I think 7 out of 10 Mercedes-Benzes were painted that God-awful color- it was like a tinted, more like a tainted silver- that didn't know if it wanted to be brown or graphite...)

"What are you going to do with her?" I winced at George, as I sat at his desk.

"I'm gonna buy it, keep it as an extra car... you never know when you're gonna need a car like that..." George said proudly as he stretched his neck out of his collar... adjusting his tie as he had the habit of doing. "It'll be a good extra car to have around..."

"I know, but it's not even a Turbodiesel... It's gonna be a pig... and it needs paint." I said in a friendly way as if to say "you could do better..."

"Nah, it'll be fine- I'll put some alloys on it- make it handle a little better... It'll be a great race car..." George was always the optimist.

George ran local running events for the New Jersey Road Runners Club, and was a founder of the New Jersey Marathon among other things... He loved to run and organize races.

"And you gotta see the interior- they had no kids, no pets- It's like brand-new... I don't think the rear seats have even been sat in..."

Clean she was, despite minor body issues and faded paint on the hood and roof- the wagon was looking good for a '79- all original down to the 13-inch steel wheels with matching silvery-blue hubcaps. Very straight and clean... pretty dry too- rare for a W123 that was, then, over a quarter-century old.

That was the summer of 2005.

...

The middle of December, 2009 found me sitting at George's desk- as I did quite often- but this time it wasn't out of circumstances or work related- George and I were friends above everything- he knew me, quite literally, since I was just a kid- either eleven or twelve; we'd chat when I would visit, or I'd sit and wait at his desk when my Turbodiesel sedan was in for service across the street.

Catching up on life and whatnot- George was excited. Excited was a good way to describe George. Positive and compassionate was another- George was a lot of things to a lot of people that knew him. He even had his own charity called Bosco's Buddies- a Hepatitis C awareness organization that raised money through running and different sponsored events. Amazing person.

George was excited to be welcoming Theresa, a friend of his from Germany coming to stay with him permanently, for good.

"She's going to live with me... take care of me... and she's going to live here..." George said with a faint smile and a beam in his eye.

"She's going to what?" I blurted (as if to say "What are you going to do with her?"- like I did the old wagon years prior...)

"She's great, she's like a daughter to me, and she's a nurse- and she's going to take care of me... cook for me, I can't wait... She's around your age... She's moving back to the States, you should meet her, she'll need friends her own age once she gets here... and I'm going to give her my old wagon..."

Don't quote me- but along these lines, this is how I remember the conversation.

...

Eight weeks later- George passed away with Theresa, his caretaker and daughter-like-figure by his side.

...

Fast forward a few months and Theresa and I have become quite close and I'm proud to call her a true friend. We have lots in common, enjoy doing the same things- and in our own unique ways- compliment each other quite nicely despite being totally different from opposite ends of the globe. She's a terrific person in a world that is largely, well, horrific.

She's a rare, old soul in the truest sense and I'm lucky to know her. I care a lot about her and look out for her always. George, who loved bringing people together, has brought us together; even after George could no longer be among us...

So when Theresa came to me with a car problem... Lets just say, I was happy; yet a little heartbroken to help.

...

George gave Theresa his '79 Mercedes wagon... It was now Theresa's car, but he never thought to officially sign-over the title. He just ran out of time. Theresa has been paying the insurance on it, and needs the car to get to get around. It's her only transportation as she's trying, quite diligently, to get-up on her own two-feet.

(Despite being as old as both Theresa and myself- the old wagon is surprisingly still quite practical...)

There was also no official will set-in-place, and the estate is insolvent at the moment- largely due to a family unwilling to take responsibility and action on any accord.

The old wagon is the only thing of material value left in the estate. And what's it worth? Well, that's a tough question for even The Car Guy Gets It... The numbers vary, depending on who you ask- but as the car sits- the value isn't worth a quibble. A few dollars, here or there. That's it.

It's worth more to Theresa than anyone else.

But the State may be getting involved with regards to the estate- and... you guessed it- the old Mercedes-Benz wagon is, ironically... The Estate. It was, technically, George's only material possession (in title anyway) at the time of his death.

After helping, getting lawyers involved and researching most anything we can do about the car- the only viable solution at the moment is to park the car- let the State handle what they have to... And in the meantime- Theresa needs a good, but cheap used car...

Good and cheap... That's the catch. At the budget we have in mind- that can be the most expensive bet in the car business.

...

Last night I drove the wagon, with Theresa in the passenger seat and the manual sunroof open- (which I showed her how to work). We had a lovely time.

Though not a sprinter, the normally-aspired diesel wagon was quite enjoyable, lively, even more linear in performance than its Turbodiesel successor (my car). It plodded along quite nicely- this one was surprisingly still very tight and nimble for its age... I was amazed how good the steering felt, though the recirculating ball steering box is perhaps the biggest Achilles Heal of any W123 generation Mercedes-Benz- mine own especially.

My Turbodiesel sedan felt drunk, light and unruly (however much, much faster) compared to George's wagon. Though surely much slower, the wagon didn't seem to care much, and if you know what you're doing on the road- as I've known for the decades I've known these cars- if you play your game of chess right- you can't beat them as drivers.

You just have to know how to drive them- understand their limitations, and once you get passed them- they don't disappoint, even at 88 horsepower.

George's wagon surprised me. It felt so, so nice. Most everything, except the air conditioning (another Achilles Heal in any older Mercedes) worked well. The interior still felt and looked like new- even better than my own car- which is six years the newer- and I have, what a lot of people would consider a "nice" W123.

George's car was very nice, but maybe it was the company, or the night... Or George, who, if I knew him, was sitting, watching over us in the backseat- which, for the record, still look to have never been sat in.

...

At the end of the night, after some shopping, dinner, and hours of conversation- we sat in the wagon, idling away as all diesels love to do.

We were both sick to our stomachs, at least I was, at a loss for what to say. How ironic everything was panning out. Here we were- looking for cheap used cars, when quite literally, we were driving in one ourselves- and we can't do anything about it. Not for all the money in the world.

I don't want to let this car go. Old cars like this have a strange way of talking to me and this one, I know, wasn't going to let Theresa down. This was the best, perfect used car at any price. Practical and sentimental. I vowed to Theresa- even if she gets another car, and we're finally able to buy the wagon from the estate- I'm going to make sure she gets it.

I'll buy it and give it to her. Just like George would have done if he were still alive.

When we hugged goodbye for the night- it dawned on me- the only thing harder than finding a good used car is... finding a good, true friend.

Friendship. It's about the only thing I can really seek comfort in knowing, at any price; and perhaps the truest legacy most anyone could ever hope to leave behind.

Growing-Up Mercedes... And the Slippery Slope of Power & Speed.

It's undeniable how much I know about Mercedes-Benz. I grew-up on them, I've driven them, owned a few of them, even worked for and with them.

(Today was a busy day- I should be posting more- but, alas, I'm trying to make something of myself beyond the cyberspace- and, while I'm exhausted... I can't help but draw the funny nuances- Mercedes-Benz- that have been dancing in my head all night.)

This morning I was doing some reading- and came across a factoid- I don't know how accurate it was- the most expensive car ever sold was $26,000,000 (at vintage auction)- it was a Mercedes-Benz W196 racer- circa 1955? I just read it, nodded my head- and forgot about it.


(The W196 must have been right before they pulled-out of factory racing and Grand-Prix in '55; either way- it was perhaps the bloodiest most horrific accident you'd ever want to see- killed something like 85 people... Sick... Anyway...)

The W196 is one of those Silver Arrow-like racers- long nose- they made two versions- a track version and a streamlined version- it was the premier racer of it's kind in its day.

(I think Fangio- perhaps the greatest racer of all time- drove one... for as much as I know about cars- I'm not the biggest racing fan- strangely enough.)

Anyway- in late 1985- Mercedes-Benz unveiled the W124 300E... It was much anticipated- totally new and revamped from the even-then out-dated W123 of the late 1970's... For the record- my mother had one, a 300E- she said it was "alright..." even back then.



A little known factoid- the then new 300E could keep pace with, on a track (maybe it was the Ring? Or a Stuttgart test facility?) with the W196 racer... on a straight-six engine with 177 horses. Not bad for "alright."

If you think about it- it only took 30 years- but a four-door production vehicle keeping pace with a state-of-the-art racer of just 30 years prior- is kinda cool. I mean- you wouldn't want to comprehend what a state-of-the-art racer today could do to even the fastest of road-going monsters you could buy- it's not even close... (Watch below...)

But what hit me today- and not nearly amazing, but just equally as cool is- is this...

In 1990- twenty years ago- if you wanted the very best Mercedes-Benz sedan- it was the 560SEL/SEC.

What a lot of people don't know- the 560 (its like a German version of a Chevy 350) was supposed to be a limited production/edition car- a spawn of the 500 prior- which, well.. Let's not get into the history of the Mercedes-Benz aluminum V8 engine... here, it's chock-full of technical BS, and politics too.

Okay- so the 560 put out 228 horsepower- it was the biggest, and baddest engine they made. Top-of-the-line in 1990.

(Yeah, I know, they also had the multi-valve 5-liter in the 500 SL that put out 322 horses- but don't kill the bit, you couldn't get a 500SL in 1990- they were on huge back-order....)

My family- having owned and driven all kinds of big-bore German might back-in-the-day- took a test drive in a bottom-of-the-line C300 today- with... Drum roll.... 228 horses too. My mother wants a new car... "alright?"

And they're complaining, worried, that 228 horsepower isn't enough to keep-pace with cars nowadays, putting-out easily over 300 at the crank (not the rear wheels mind you) like it's nothing.

I understand where they're coming from- I mean- what's 228 horsepower today?

Then it hit me- and I reminded them- just twenty years ago- the best Mercedes-Benz they made put out the exact same horsepower- the 560 @ 228-horses.

What does the best road-going Mercedes-Benz, production, put out today? In excess of 600 horses.

I really don't care or count beyond 600 horses- and either should you.

While the video(s) below are a little old- they showed them when I went to Mercedes school up in Montvale, and it's a testament to innovation- and how racing improves the breed... And how, well, it's still not even close- like it used to be.




And if you don't think the W210 AMG or the A-Class is fast enough- check this out.



And, finally, watch this one if you're hung-up on the newest, latest and greatest...



I told my family to sleep on the 228-horses; after all, it's still a Mercedes-Benz- it'll go like hell if you needed it to, and in all directions (which is more I can say for most other cars, even today...) but it got me thinking how even with innovation and progress- it was a quantum leap in 1986 to keep up with a race cars of the 1950s.

Now, it seems just a bold step forward. 228 horses, from the top, to the very bottom-of-the-line. And none of them can catch a race-car. It's not even close now.

As for my mother- I hear NASA is retiring the Space Shuttle- I think they'll have at least one to spare.... Maybe she'll look into it. Then again- everything is relative, as I've just demonstrated here.