Recently a friend of mine wrote me saying that he won a huge pile in Vegas and was thinking about getting the 2009 Mercedes SL600 Roadster and wanted some advice.

Aside from the usual expletives and downright words of envy, here’s what I wrote back:

Great choice! Who wouldn’t want one?

The Mercedes SL600 Roadster is actually a rocket with wheels and a seat.

Turbocharged 5.5 liter V12, Alloy block and Alloy cylinder heads, 36 valve, 510 horsepower engine.

Gets to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds without so much as a wave!

It may be slower than a McLaren but then again when was the last time you put the pedal to the metal and didn’t get written up for it?

MSRP is $139,100 and TCO is $186,031.

This said (and if you’re really willing to shell out that much) wouldn’t you want to consider the other roadsters in the family?

Aside from your choice, there are three other variants in the SL class-the SL 550, SL 63AMG and the SL 65AMG.

The SL 550 has a 5.5 liter, 32 valve, V8 engine.

Its 382 horse power is fed through a Seven Speed Touch Shift Manually Interactive Automatic Transmission.

The SL 63AMG has a 6.2 liter V8, 32 valve, DOHC, SEFI 518hp alloy engine, 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds.

The SL 65AMG can hit 60mph in just 4.2 second and is powered by a 604hp, 6.0 liter Turbocharged V12 SOHC, SEFI engine.

FYI, the entire SL class got their own version of “Nip and Tuck”.

Redesigned Bi-Xenon headlamps with Active Curve Illumination, the two AMG’s have got a more aggressive body style and a new multimedia interface that has iPod, Bluetooth and DVD capabilities.

Personally, if I could only afford it, I’d go for the SL 63AMG which is actually a replacement to the SL 55AMG.

Why? Because:
• Both the MSRP and TCO is cheaper;
• Even if it’s cheaper you still get more “oomph” than the SL 600;
• It’s cheaper and easier to maintain a V8 than a V12

But to see what the best deal is on the street be sure to check in with the San Antonio Mercedes dealer.

With production limited to just 5000 units the Mercedes CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition is in demand. No one knows if Mercedes will do another production run or increase the number. The C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition model can be had in the following colors: obsidian black, palladium silver or iridium silver and the optional special paint finish diamond white metallic. For a sportier look the optional AMG sports package, this includes distinctively styled front and rear aprons as well as side skirts.
At an MSRP of roughly $54,000, it may not be that cheap but then again, what you shell out initially, you will eventually get back on fuel savings most especially if you intend to keep the vehicle for several years. On average the CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition consumes a mere 5.2 liters of fuel per 100 km or roughly 1.3 gallons per 60 miles. CO2 emissions are at a low 138 grams/km.
Without trying to get too techie, Mercedes’ CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition engine is a 2.2-litre inline four, with twin sequential turbochargers and the latest in common-rail piezo injection. The engine is more compact thanks to the fact that the cylinders are positioned 4mm closer. The piezo injection is doubly accurate as before; injecting the proper amount of fuel required and at exactly the right moment it is needed and it operates at a massive 2000 bar. To boost low speed response, a small, high pressure turbo unit initiates, and as the revs build, slowly shifts over the work to a low pressure turbocharger thereby guaranteeing a smooth, lag free acceleration. Also on board the C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition is a newly-developed gearshift display on the dashboard that not only tells the driver the best moment to shift gear in order to save fuel but also shows the precise current fuel consumption.
Check in with your San Antonio Mercedes Dealership for more info

The Mercedes E Guard. Just like its bigger brother, the Mercedes S 600 Guard, the E Guard is part of a line that continues Mercedes’ 80 years tradition of providing special protection vehicles while at the same time maintaining the level of excellence and comfort that its’ customers have learned to expect.

It appears that early on, Mercedes recognized the need for a special protection vehicle but not as heavily armored as the S 600.

Understandably, diplomats and royalty who are subject to acts of terrorism need a vehicle that can withstand armor piercing, automatic weapons fire. Hence the S 600 Guard with B7 armor.

For the wealthy businessman, the S 600 even if he could afford it, would seem a bit of an overkill.

The major threat to the rich would be pistol wielding muggers or carjackers.

The Mercedes E-Guard has a VR4 (formerly B4) Protection Level rating appears to fit this need.

This means that for example, the polycarbonate windows can withstand fire from 9mm, .357, and .44 Magnum and 12 Gauge Slug ammunition rounds and the metal plates that form a protective cage can put up with DM 51 hand grenades.

Again like its bigger brother, the E Guard looks practically identical to its unprotected version. Like the S Guard model (Incidentally, a G-Class Guard is also available) the E Guard is also built on its own assembly line, which lets Mercedes armor up the car as part of the original production process.

There are currently 2 E Guard trims available: the E 320 CDI and the E 550.

The E 320 CDI has a V6, 24 valve, 224hp engine and has a top speed of 140 mph.

Not bad considering that the E 320 Guard is 800lbs heavier than the standard E320 which has a curb weight of 3,858 and a top speed of 153mph.

More to follow…
Or just stop by your San Antonio Mercedes Dealership and have them order you one!!!

Mercedes S 600 Guard Continued
Aside from armor and other protective equipment, the Mercedes S 600 Guard naturally comes equipped the same cutting edge innovations that are present in the regular S 600s/S class.
• Brake Assist PLUS-Basically radar that detects incoming vehicles and other cars in front. A proximity sensor in the system warns the driver if and when the S 600 gets too close or when it advances too quickly. If the system detects a risk of collision, it automatically calculates the required braking power and applies this as soon as the driver steps on the brake pedal-even if the pedal is not pressed hard enough.
• PRE SAFE Occupant Protection System- is a preventive emergency system. In conjunction with the Brake Assist PLUS, it warns the driver if and when the distance between the S Guard and the car in front gets critical. The system will also calculate the optimal braking power required so even if the driver stomps on the brakes, the system will only use the necessary braking power needed in order to safely decelerate the vehicle. If collision is imminent, PRE SAFE immediately closes all windows, tightens seat belts and reverts seats to a safer position thus minimizing the effects of the crash. The system also detects if and when there is a risk of skidding due to rapid deceleration. PRE SAFE then proceeds to: 1- increase tension in the front seat belts and 2- inflate air cushions in the multicontour seats in order to provide support and keep the driver, front and rear passengers in place.
• Enhanced multicontour seats and a relaxing back massage- These newly developed seats can be customized by customers to suit their individual comfort needs. Standard are 12 way power adjustable front seats. Dynamic multicontour seats for the front, heated and actively ventilated luxury seats and front and rear multicontour seats are available options.

Mercedes continues its’ almost 80 tradition of producing special protection vehicles by way of the Mercedes S 600 Guard.

The S Guard provides the ultimate level of protection against attacks and other acts of terrorism.

The B6/B7 rated armor, together with the other protective measures such as a special protected fuel tank that re-seals itself if perforated by bullets or shrapnel, an optional emergency fresh-air system which is capable of counteracting dangerous gaseous substances, a fire-extinguishing system that can be triggered either automatically or manually, sensors that detect smoke and/or tear gas and the Michelin PAX run flat-tire system are factory installed.

Since armoring is integrated in the production system, customers can be assured that all the required body structure reinforcements made necessary due to the extra weight of the protective systems are properly installed as opposed to post production armoring wherein the armor plates and defensive systems are retrofitted into the finished vehicle.

It also goes without saying that the Mercedes S 600 Guard comes with the same hi-tech innovations as its unarmored S 600 brethren.

These include:
• Brake Assist Plus
• Pre-Safe Brake
• Enhanced Pre-safe anticipatory occupant protection system
• Distronic Plus
• Night View Assist

In cases of stop and go traffic, Brake assist Plus and Distronic Proximity Control can maintain the distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you.

Distronic Proximity Control is a radar based system that can also slow the car at a rate of up to 4 m/s2 and if necessary, to a complete stop and accelerate again to a speed as programmed or set by the driver.

The MSRP of a standard or regular S 600 is $147,450.Total Cost to Own is $177,551.

As of this time, I have yet to find a quote for the S 600 Guard.

I have been told though that depending on the customer’s specific needs, you can expect to pay anything between $700,000 and $1,200,000.

Did I mention the US Army’s Stryker, an armored combat vehicle costs $1.4 million?

But you won’t find one of those at your San Antonio Mercedes Dealership.