The Sedan - More Than Just an Everyday Car

When looking for a car which can offer you more in the way of space and comfort, there is no better model to look at than the sedan. There are many reasons why Sedans are the most popular cars on the road. The primary reason that of being able to provide ample space, both cargo and passenger space. Another really good reason to buy a sedan is because they come in different price ranges as well as different styles. In this article I will briefly introduce you to the Sedan and some of the varieties of sedans which exist on the market. The aim of this article being to give you a better understanding of what you can expect from a sedan. Gathering all the information you possible can before purchasing a car, or any product for that matter of fact is always a good idea.

How is a sedan structured?

A sedan is given its name because of its structure. The car has an engine section in the front of the car, passenger in the centre and a cargo section at the rear end of the car. Typically a sedan is a 4 door car, although certain models are also 2 doors. A sedan is made to accommodate 4 or 5 people, with space in the rear for cargo.

Different types of sedans

The structure sounds pretty simplistic doesn't it? Well you do not have to fear that you will be constricted when it comes to personal preference. There are different models which can be found under the category of sedan. Sedans may have the same basic structure but there are models to suit all tastes and budgets.

The three basic models are based on size. In the sedan class you may get small, mid-sized and large sedans. The size of the sedan will also impact on the overall design of the car. The smaller sized sedans are those which are better suited to single people as they are not very spacious yet they are very economical. You will pay less for a smaller sedan and you will also save on fuel costs.

Mid-sized sedans are those cars which are perfect for smaller to medium-sized families. Parents and two to three children. These sedans also have more cargo space.

Larger sized sedans are obviously those which cost the most and have more luxurious extra's built into the design. But the most noticeable difference is that they are much bigger in size. These cars are perfect for those families who need to cart around lots of sports and recreational items.

Sedans can be sporty and can have really great performance and handling. So you need not worry that you will have to compromise if you like a car with a bit of speed, after all these types of cars are not just made with families in mind. That being said however I should emphasize that different sedans have different safety features, so be sure to detail your concerns with the sales agent when looking at the various models.

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By Jonathan Morleson

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History of Mercedes Benz: The 190SL (1955 - 1963)

Without Max Hoffman, famous New York based importer of cars, the history of Mercedes would have probably never shown a 190SL. But when Hoffman entered into an agreement to sell the 300SL in the United States, he asked the Daimler-Benz management to have in addition a similar car with a smaller engine and a lower price tag. The prototype was shown alongside the 300 SL Gullwing at the New York Auto Show in February 1954. As the response was very positive, it was decided to go ahead and prepare the new car for series production. Max Hoffman was right, the 190SL would find a sufficiently large customer base.

More than a year after its first introduction, the 190SL was finally presented in March 1955 at the Geneva Motor Show. Its base price in Germany was 16,500.- DM ($4,125.-). Its starting price in the U.S. was slightly less than $4000.-, making it more expensive than the Jaguar XK140. In memory of the Silver Arrows racing cars the 190SL was in its initial year only available in silver metallic.

Its engine was a fairly advanced four-cylinder 1.9 l (116 cu in) inline version, which was originally developed in its basic concept for the 180 ponton sedan. It had a chain-driven overhead camshaft with two Solex 44PHH governor downdraft carburetors and developed 105 hp at a relatively high 5.700 rpm. The 190SL could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h or 60mph in 14.4 seconds and gave a respectable top speed of 172 km/h or 108 mph.

Petrol consumption was fairly moderate with an average of close to 9 liters for 100 km, which equaled some 26 mpg. Also the 65-liter or 17 gallons tank proved to be quite adequate. Although never officially advertised, the car could be ordered with four different gear ratios: 3.70:1, 3.89:1, 3.90:1 and 4.10:1. The 3.90:1 was the most common one, as it offered the best balance between acceleration and top speed.

The car has always been compared with the more powerful 300SL, but there never really was a need for that. It did not have the muscles of this pure thoroughbred, but its quality and sophistication was the same. For some its road holding ability was even better. There was broad agreement at the time that the car could do with a more powerful engine to match the "S" for sport in the name of the SL, but resources in Stuttgart had been limited to finish this project. A larger engine had to wait for a successor model.

Throughout its career the car had seen minor upgrades, either in form of broader chrome trim at the upper door part in March 1956 or in form of enlarged rear lights in June. Those lights were now shared with the six-cylinder 220 sedans. The previously optional clock at the right side of the dashboard became now standard equipment and an ATE Hydrovac brake booster was added. In 1959 the rear window of the hardtop was redesigned, it looked now similar to the one of the 300SL roadster.

But if it would have been only for the 300SL, the exercise to build a SL would have been a single one. Sales of the 300SL had been relatively slow and it's a safe assumption that Daimler-Benz had lost money on every car produced. The 190SL sold 25,881 units in its career and it was already decided in 1958 to develop a new SL. In the history of Mercedes the "lesser" SL was the more convincing one.

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By Bernd S Koehling

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A Consignment Car Can Be A Good Deal For Your Money

Consignment cars are a good deal if you are in the market for a used car. Many people are unaware that some dealers sell used cars on consignment. If you are one of these people you could be missing out on a good deal, and may want to read further.

Because of the economic situation in the United States (around the world for that matter), many people are choosing to buy used cars over new. Because of this demand more and more auto dealers are selling consignment cars.

Dealerships that offer cars on consignment may be the first place to visit if you are shopping for a used vehicle. There are a few reasons you may want to consider consignment cars over private party or used car lots.

To begin with, auto consultants are the professionals when it comes to selling or buying a car. Cars are their business and they have the expertise to help you find the car you want at a price you can handle.

Next, cars on consignment would be a much more convenient way to purchase a used car. They most likely will have several to shop from in one location. This prevents you from having to test drive several cars from private parties or run from dealer to dealer to strike the best deal possible.

With consignment cars, the dealer has no investment in the vehicles as cars that are purchases to resale. Therefore, there are no overhead costs to pass on to buyer. This allows you to get a car at a fair market price.

The dealer will complete a market analysis for each of the cars they take on consignment. They do this for both the seller and the buyers benefit. This makes your homework easier by simply comparing what you find using a Blue Book value with the price they have the car listed for. If they are similar, you can feel confident you are paying what the car is worth.

In addition, the dealership wants to feel confident that the car is road worthy and safe for the buyer so they will do what they can to be sure the car is in good condition. Most dealers perform a thorough safety inspection to ensure the car will be safe for you and your family. Also, the consignment agreement may include a complete detailing. Because the auto company is representing the sale of the consignment car, they most often do what they can to assure the car is in tip-top condition.

These are all things you would have to spend a lot of time doing yourself through a private party or used car dealer. It may be a much better idea to have the experts who sell consignment cars complete all this work for you.

By Mike Reitz

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Smart Tips for Buying Used Cars

In this day and age, it is not very common for the average American to buy a freshly manufactured, car of the year. It is simply too expensive, and not always the best idea for a growing family. Thus, many people turn to used car dealers to find their next family vehicle. However, you may worry about being able to do so without running into any cons or traps, and finding a good, honest dealer who will not rip you off. This is most definitely possible, but any seeker of used cars must be on their toes, and well-informed with the things that will help him or her avoid any funny business.

One of the best things to do is find a car dealership that is well-known and largely trusted by the public. Most often, you can find out this kind of information by searching the internet for reviews or comments by previous customers, as well as speaking to people in your neighborhood or work social circles about what they might recommend. By finding out some of the reviews on these places, you can better determine what the services of the dealership are like on a general scale.

Often, those larger places that sell both used and new cars will have a team of certified technicians who will go over each vehicle, making sure that it is suitable for their lot. They don't want their used cars to look very used at all-and thus will do what they can to help them seem like new. This may mean that these cars may be priced at a higher end, to keep both the used and the new cars in the same playing field. However, a person knowledgeable about the car's make, model, and year, may be able to haggle the price a little bit.

There are other dealerships that specialize mostly in used cars, and these can be just as reliable as any other lot. No matter what, make sure that the car you are looking at has been inspected recently, and is in decent shape to last you for a while. You really do not want to buy something that will end up back in the shop in a month, or cause you to buy yet another vehicle in only a short amount of time. Do what you can to find the vehicle that will seem like new to you, and serve you well for a long time.

The way to do that is to be prepared before you go out shopping. Know the kind of thing you are looking for. Before you make a decision, generate a mental list of the different models you have looked at. Then, you can look up the value of the car, and take your time with a decision. Decisions made on the spot are not always the best decisions. Do not succumb to the pressure of salesmen on the lot. Tell them to give you time to think about it, so that you can choose what will be best for your family.

By Paul Townsen

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