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.

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!!!

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.

My back was pinned to the Flamenco Red, Nappa leather, upholstery all the way to Stanley Market a famous tourist attraction.

Times like these are when you really appreciate Mercedes Benz’s attention to detail. T

he SLK 55 comes with Active Body Control System.

What happens is hydraulics eliminate excess body motion thereby improving the SLK 55s’ cornering performance.

Thanks to the great suspension, I barely noticed the bumps (or were we simply flying over them?).

On the way back, we brought the top out. It’s stored in a section of the boot or trunk which if I may add is quite spacious for a convertible.

With the top up, it was extremely quiet with barely little road and/or wind noise.

According to my friend, Mercedes Benz is doing a lot of business here.

In an area of only 415 square miles there are 8 Mercedes Benz dealers.

The Mercedes SL600 Roadster is a turbocharged 5.5 liter, v12, 36 valve engine, 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds plant-you-firmly-in-your-seat rocket!

Though it may be slower (155mph) as compared to the Mercedes Benz McLaren (202mph), fact is how many times have you ever put the pedal all the way down to see how fast your car can go (and not getting written up for it)?

It may not be the McLaren Roadster but are you really willing to shell out another 370,000 clams for .6 seconds?

The MSRP is listed at 139,975 but with the market the way it is nowadays there’s a good chance you can get a better deal if not off the price but on the accessories and trimmings.

Leather seats, multi adjustable power seats for the driver and passenger and Tele Aid Vehicle Location System are just some of the standard goodies that come with it.

Take it for a test drive at the San Antonio Mercedes Dealership

As was the case with the 19th cetury carriage, a landau roof is a coupé with a folding top.In the 1950s opening-roof convertible automobiles were sometimes called convertible coupés, but since the 1960s the term coupé has been applied almost exclusively to fixed-roof models.

Coupés generally have two doors, however there have been three and four-door coupés and five-door hatchback coupés.
Modern coupés often have frameless doors, with the window glass sealing directly against a weather-strip on the main body.which distinguishes a coupé is from a two-door sedan by the lack of a “B” pillar to support the roof.

The Society of Automotive Engineers distinguishes a coupé from a sedan primarily by having a rear interior volume of less than 33 cubic feet  / 0.93 cubic meters.

Mercedes coupes are offered int the 3 “C” classes

CLK-Class
CLS-Class
CL-Class

Here are the 8 Mercedes Coupe Body styles that Mercedes offers

• CLK350
• CLK550
• CLS550
• CLS63
• CL550
• CL63 AMG
• CL600
• CL65 AMG

Click the image near the top of the page to get current prices for these Mercedes coupes.