Mercedes-Benz Winter Wonderland...at Atlanta Classic Cars!

It snowed at the dealership! That never happens here. Happy 2010 Everyone!

2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 - Designo Porcelain Edition

This gorgeous 2010 S550 in Diamond White with the designo Porcelain Edition Interior just arrived at Atlanta Classic Cars. The pictures don't do it justice! This interior is a knockout from the contrasting colors to the wood to the stiching in the leather. If you are looking for an S-Class that stands out from the pack...this is the one!

2010 S550
Diamond White
AMG Exclusive Leather
264 designo Porcelain Edition Interior
P02 Premium 2 Package
321 Sport Package
413 Panoramic Roof
MSRP $116,210

J.D. Power - Mercedes-Benz Ranks Highest In Customer Retention

JD Power has announced that Mercedes-Benz topped the charts for customer retention in 2009! This study measures the percentage of vehicle owners and lessees who replace a previously purchased new vehicle with another from the same brand.

Our loyalty increased 8% over last year to 67% overall! In these tough economic times it speaks to the value of the brand that 2/3rds of our owners come back time after time!

The study says "Mercedes-Benz has steadily improved its customer retention rates during the past five years, and in 2009, has achieved the highest rate ever attained by a manufacturer since the inception of the study," said Festekjian. "In particular, customers cite the resale value and appearance and styling of Mercedes-Benz models as primary reasons to remain loyal to the brand."

You can read the full J.D. Power report here.

Next Generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class to be built in Tuscaloosa

It has officially been announced that a portion the next generation C-Class will be built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama beginning in 2014. The plant will continue to produce the ML, GL and R-Class and add approximately 1/5 of worldwide C-Class production.

"Due to tough competition in the C-Class segment, it is extremely important for us to optimize our production costs for the future," stated Rainer Schmuckle, the Chief Operating Officer of Mercedes-Benz Cars. As the best selling Mercedes-Benz model in the US, having production here will save time and money in distribution.

Atlanta Classic Cars - Daylight Saving Time & Free Multi-point Inspection

If you live in the Greater Atlanta area and need someone to adjust the time in your Mercedes for Daylight Saving Time you can bring your vehicle to Atlanta Classic Cars during normal business hours and our Mercedes-Benz trained technicians will be happy to assist you. They will reset your clock and answer any other operational questions you may have.

While you're here, request a complimentary multi-point inspection to ensure your vehicle is safe for upcoming shorter days and longer nights. If maintenance or repairs are recommended, receive 15% off parts and labor. But hurry! This offer expires on November 28, 2009!

You must set an appointment by calling 770 279 3600 and asking for the appointment desk.

If you don't live in the Atlanta area or would just like to take care of this yourself read my post on setting the clock in your Mercedes-Benz.

2009 Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-Day Starts Tomorrow!

I am walking in the Breast Cancer 3-Day to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure this weekend. This is a 3-Day, 60 mile walk from Lake Lanier to Turner Field! My team of 6 women has raised nearly $18,000 this year!

If you live in the Atlanta area please come out and support us. It is like cheering on a parade! The list of official cheering stations is below.


Thank you to my clients, my family and Atlanta Classic Cars for helping me to reach my fundraising goal!

Friday, October 23
8:45 am - 10:45 am
Downtown Buford
89 Main St.
Buford, GA 30518

12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Suwanee Station
Station Center Blvd.
Suwanee, GA 30024

Saturday, October 24
9:15 am - 12:00 pm
Oreck Vacuums Store & Plaza
5005 Peachtree Pkwy
Norcross, GA 30092

11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Duluth Monarch School
3057 Main St.
Duluth, GA 30096

Sunday, October 25
7:45 am - 9:30 am
Lowe's
4950 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Chamblee, GA 30341

10:45 am - 1:30 pm
Atlantic Station
171 17th St.
Atlanta, GA 30363

Buy A Mercedes-Benz And Stay At Wynn Las Vegas For Free

Mercedes-Benz has announced a partnership with Wynn Las Vegas that will garner our new owners one or two free nights at the world-renowned 5 Star, 5 Diamond Wynn Las Vegas in Nevada!

One night for C-Class, E-Class, CLK-Class, SLK-Class, ML-Class, R-Class, GL450 or GLK-Class.

Two nights for S-Class, SL-Class, CL-Class, CLS-Class, G-Class, GL550, Maybach, SLR or AMG.

Vehicle must be a 2009 or 2010 Model Year purchased between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.

To take adavatge of this offer you can e-mail or fax your purchase or lease agreement to Mercedes-Benz at wynn@mbusa.com or (201)476-2858. They will give you a special reservation code that you can use to claim your free nights. There are restrictions on minimum stay and the free nights cannot be on a Friday or Saturday. Mercedes will provide you with the details when you get your reservation code.

Mercedes-Benz Financial iPhone App

Mercedes-Benz Financial has just introduced their own iPhone application. It's available at the iTunes App Store for free to any Mercedes-Benz Financial customer who has an active account on MercedesBenzFinancial.com. With this app you'll be able to make your payment, request a current payoff, and view your account details. Users with and without a current Mercedes-Benz Financial account will be able to take advantage of the dealer locator and the ability to browse current lease and finance sepecials.

Please Donate to the Breast Cancer 3-Day!

Hello Blog Readers! I am going to visit my family in Illinois for a week and will be out of touch. I am hoping that while I am away you will suprise and delight me by donating to my Breast Cancer 3-Day Fund.

This is the second year that I am walking in the 3-Day to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This is a 3 day event, walking 20 miles per day and camping overnight - in a tent! My 16 week training program started this week and I will walk about 400 miles before I even start the 60 miles in October! It is a huge endeavor and certainly worth the effort. Last year the 10 women on my team raised over $30,000! This year I have raised my personal goal to $3000 and the team goal for the 6 of us signed up so far is $20,000. We really can make a difference in the fight against Breast Cancer!

If you have read anything of value on my blog over these last three years please support me in this effort to find the cure! Last year I had a few generous blog readers who helped me reach my goal!

You can visit my personal donation page by clicking the "Donate Now" button on the left of this page or by visiting www.the3day.org/goto/Jesse

Thank you! I'll be back in a week!
-Jesse

I Recommend You Join the Mercedes-Benz Club of America!

The Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA) is a non-profit group founded in 1956 as a way for Mercedes-Benz owners in the United States to keep in touch. There are currently more than 20,000 members who participate in car shows, driving events, tech session and social gatherings sponsored by the club. The MBCA is sanctioned by MBUSA, although not an affiliate.

MBCA member benefits include:
The Star magazine - this bi-monthly publication features beautiful photography, new-car road tests, MBUSA news, club events and much more.
MBUSA Loyalty Reward Program - If you are a MBCA member for more than 12 months immediately preceding the purchase of a new or pre-owned Mercedes you are eligible to receive a gift card for parts, service and accessories at the dealership. New cars qualify for $1500 and Certified Pre-Owned for $750!
Enthusiast Groups, Club Forums, Local Chapter Newsletters, Access to the Technical Library, Trips to Germany and more!

Membership is a bargain for all of the benefits that you receive. A one year membership is $45, 2 years for $87 and 3 years for $127. If you currently have a Mercedes you will appreciate the informative magazine and the network of other owners. If you are planning to buy another Mercedes in the future you'll benefit hugely from the Loyalty Reward Program.

Follow this link to sign up online!

Customer Testimonial - CLK350 Coupe

This is the second Mercedes I've purchased from Jesse in the past 3 years and I'm looking forward to making my next car purchase the third Mercedes I get from her. In addition, over the past 18 years I've purchased 9 cars and Jesse is to only person I've purchased more than one car from.

The reason I have and will continue to come back to Jesse to purchase new Mercedes Benzs is because of the outstanding customer service she provides. I had a very difficult schedule when making this recent purchase, my lease was about due, I was traveling Monday - Friday to the west coast, and often working through the weekend. Because Jesse took time to know me as a person, my preferences in cars, what I would want to have in my next Mercedes, and what my schedule was and then made the time to accommodate that schedule, I was able to get the exact car I wanted in under a few hours - including signing all of the paper work! And I love my new Mercedes.

I've also come to appreciate the customer service Jesse provides in the years between my purchases such as the reminders of important dates in my and my car's 'life', such as my drivers license renewal date (one I would probably have otherwise forgotten). Jesse has made me feel important and a part of the Atlanta Classic Cars and Mercedes Benz families.

Again, I look forward to purchasing my next car from Jesse and will encourage those I know to do the same.

All the Best,

Nathan Ives
Acworth, GA

JD Power Customer Satisfaction Service Results at Atlanta Classic Cars

The good news keeps coming for the Atlanta Classic Cars service department! The 2009 J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index has ranked us 34th out of 335 Mercedes-Benz Dealerships in the US so far this year! It is great for a large dealership like us to break the top 10%.

We were ranked in the following categories. Scores are out of a possible 1000 points.
Overall CSI Index : 919
Service Initiation: 916
Service Advisor: 925
Service Facility: 923
Vehicle Pickup: 911
Service Quality: 918

Mercedes-Benz as a whole has moved up 31 points over 2008, to place 12th in the overall manufacturer rankings. Our goal is to be back at the top of the charts as soon as possible!

Mercedes-Benz USA March Sales Results

We hear so much bad news about the auto industry right now that it seems like every manufacturer is on the brink of collapse. That just isn't the case. The new car side of MBUSA is down about 30% this year. The good news is that the pre-owned side has picked up the slack and is up about 30%! This is the end-of-month press release from MBUSA. It is exciting to see how many new GLKs are now on the road!

MERCEDES-BENZ REPORTS MARCH SALES OF 15,602

04/01/09

MONTVALE, N.J. - Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported March sales of 15,602 vehicles, a decline of 25 percent. The volume leaders for the month were the C, E, and GLK-Class with sales of 5,008, 1,978, and 2,598 respectively. On a year-to-date basis, the company sold 40,234 new vehicles, a decrease of 30.2 percent over the comparable period last year.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,614 vehicles in March; a 29.4 percent increase compared to March 2008 sales of 5,110 vehicles. Year-to-date sales for the MBCPO program are 19,162, a 44.6 percent increase over 2008 year-to-date sales (13,252 vehicles) during the same timeframe.

Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. For more than forty years, MBUSA has taken pride in its commitment to the customer by providing superior quality luxury vehicles coupled with outstanding customer support. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.maybachusa.com.

Results from the 2009 Atlanta Auto Show

I had a great time at the Atlanta Auto Show this year! I enjoyed meeting a lot of enthusiasts and it was an excellent opportunity to check out the competition. I was able to see the new 7-Series, the Q5, the Lexus RX, a VW CC that caught my attention from its commercials. I do have a couple of free passes left if you are near Atlanta Classic Cars and want to go to the show this week.


These pictures are of the Lexus RX and the Honda Odyssey interiors. The Lexus RX interior has always been a little strange to me. I really don't understand the gearshift sticking out of the dashboard. The column mounted selector in all of the Mercedes SUVs seems to be a more efficient and attractive solution.

2009 Atlanta Auto Show

The 2009 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Auto Show kicks off this weekend at the World Congress Center. I am scheduled to work in the Mercedes-Benz area on Saturday the 14th from 4-9pm. Come by and say hello if you are in the neighborhood!

Unfortunately, Atlanta is not considered one of the BIG auto shows and we will not have any of the upcoming 2010 Mercedes models on display (except the 2010 GLK which is already in showrooms). I am looking forward to checking out some competitors while I am there. Look for my photo comparison of the similar dash layouts in the updated Lexus RX and the Honda Odyssey minivan.

Stimulus Bill - New Car Tax Deduction

As part of the recent stimulus bill you can now deduct the taxes that you pay on a new car purchase. If you have been on the fence about purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes versus a new one this may help make that decision. Since most of our models will max out the $49,500 of purchase price that can be used for this deduction, residents of Gwinnett County (6% sales tax) can expect a maximum deduction of $2,970. This deduction is not avaliable for leased vehicles. If you're looking at purchasing a new Mercedes here is an outline of this deduction.

What taxes are deductible?

• State Motor Vehicle Sales
• Local Motor Vehicle Sales
• Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes

What Customers qualify for the deduction?

• Individual customers with modified adjusted gross income of less than $125,000 or joint filers making less than $250,000 a year in 2009 would qualify for the deduction.
• Deductible as in "above the line" (for itemizers and non-itemizers) deduction on federal tax return.

Effective Date

• New vehicle purchases shall apply to purchase on or after the date of enactment (February 17, 2009) until December 31, 2009.

What New Vehicles Qualify for the Deduction?

• Any new vehicle UNDER 8,500 gross vehicle weight.
• New vehicles of any model year - when the original use commences with the taxpayer.
• Any vehicle sold for under $49,500 qualifies for the FULL deduction. Consumers may deduct sales taxes on the first $49,500 of any vehicle sold above this price.

This is a Generalized Summary. Tax savings will depend on one's individual tax rate. For more specific information on eligible customers, taxes, and applicability, dealers are encouraged to consult with an accountant or tax professional.

Seasons Greetings

My stockings are hung by the E-Class with care!

Happy Holidays!

-Jesse

Master Guild Trip to Germany

I returned from Germany about a month ago now. Sorry for the delay in posting!

The trip was fantastic! I can't believe how much we were able to see in such a short period of time. You can see the day by day in the slide show above.

There are no pictures from the Test Track at Unterturkheim, the Mercedes-Benz Engine Production Plant in Cannstatt, or from inside the AMG factory in Affalterbach, which were certainly some of the best parts of the trip. Mercedes closely guards their secrets and we were not allowed to take pictures there. I have included an old stock picture from Unterturkheim because I couldn't put into words what we got to experience there!

The Engine Plant was striking in how clean and efficient it was. They pride themselves on high standards for the workers, including a 35-hour workweek, over a month of paid vacation, facilities that are non-toxic and empowering the workers to fix things and stop problems. Here the engines start down the production line and both the workers and the robots add parts, adjust tolerances and test the components. I found it very interesting that the engines come down the line mixed together. It isn't 200 right-hand-drive V-6's one day and 200 diesel V8's the next. It is one of each of whatever is needed. They are currently expanding the facility because they also produce engines for some of our competitors and demand has grown.

At AMG, the facilities are just as impressive but the production of the engines is kind of opposite. The block is mounted to a cart and the single technician moves that cart from station to station adding the components and testing as he goes. After the engine is complete all of the V12 engines and a selection of the V8's go to the test bench and are put through their paces. We saw a V12 race around the track virtually and it shook the room! At this location they also do customization for an elite clientele. We saw elongated G-wagons, an ML with a royal blue and yellow interior and a CL with more security features that an embassy!

The day we were scheduled to go to the Production Plant in Sindelfingen the plant closed for a meeting! (The meeting was to discuss reducing production by 35,000 units for the rest of the year.) We were able to go to the European Delivery Center in Sindelfingen instead and see where our clients would pick up their vehicle. In Germany it is popular to pick up your new vehicle from the factory rather than the local dealership!

I had not been to Germany before and was surprised by the beautiful countryside and vineyards. It reminded me of upstate New York in the fall. The trip was a wonderful mix of the Mercedes production and history I was looking forward to and a tour of Germany that I wasn't expecting. Thank you to Mercedes-Benz Training and Education for arranging the trip and to Fred Schoeninger, our fantastic guide!

Atlanta Classic Cars - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Training

GLK Training was held at Atlanta Classic Cars today. We received a full introduction to the 2010 GLK350 and were able to compare it to the BMW X3 and the Acura RDX.

The GLK is quite impressive! You can tell that Mercedes put a lot of work into developing this model specifically for drivers who want a small SUV, rather than just adapting a current model to fill a niche. From the outside it has its own distinctive styling - it does not look like a shrunken ML or a GL. It also has a presence - this is a car that you would notice driving down the road. On the inside, I was impressed with the seating position. It is smaller than a traditional SUV but the upright seating position and great visibility make it feel very commanding on the road. It was also a pleasure to drive. The V6 engine is plenty of power and the car felt very agile. It even has a 3500 lb towing capacity!


As we compared the GLK to the BMW X3 I was shocked to realize that the X3 navigation system is the same system that was in my 2003 MINI Cooper S! That leads me to believe that BMW really hasn't devoted enough attention to the specific needs of their X3 driver. The character in the X3 also seemed to be lacking. It does look just like a small X5 and does not catch your eye on the road. I know that the X3 will be our main competitor and I really look forward to showing people how much more quality you'll get in the GLK.

I was unfamiliar with the Acura RDX (and I still probably couldn't pick it out of a line-up!). This car is a re-outfitted Honda CR-V. I can't believe that people would pay close to $40,000 for this vehicle. The RDX lacks all of the insulation, finishing, and attention to detail that makes a Mercedes a good value at any price. On the road the Acura has some torque steer, lets in a lot of road noise and is just not a compelling vehicle.

Overall I was thrilled with the GLK! I think Mercedes is really demonstrating a commitment to quality and serving their customers. I know that this vehicle will be an excellent choice for people who want more room than a sedan offers but don't need a huge SUV. Also, the pricing is fantastic. I was expecting it to come in only slightly lower than the ML350 and it turns out it is going to be very close to the price of a C350! Base MSRP is $35,900 and I think you max out around $47,000 if you get all the bells and whistles. I would guess that the most common set-up, Premium 1 Package, ipod and heated seats would be around $39,500.

We expect to get a demonstrator vehicle at the dealership in December and the GL350 will be for sale in January of 2009. If you live in the Atlanta area please let me know if you would like to be notified when the demo vehicle arrives. I can't wait to introduce you to the newest member of the Mercedes family!

Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-Day is this Weekend!

Finally, after 6 months of preparation it is time for the 3-Day walk! Thanks to the generous support of Atlanta Classic Cars, clients, friends and family the ACC Breast Friends team has raised more than $31,000! We are excited to attend the event and see if the more than 600 miles of training walks have prepared us for 3 days and 60 miles. Wish us luck!