2005 Mercedes 500 Sl 56k Miles "right Colors" on 2040-cars

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Car subscription services: A slow, expensive start — but the potential is huge

Americans are used to paying for subscriptions — to magazines and cable television, for instance — but experience shows they'll cancel when the price of admission gets too high, or there are more tempting alternatives. Cord cutters ditched nearly 1.5 million pay-TV subscriptions in 2017, according to a survey by Leichtman Research Group. Cable TV started out cheap with basic offerings, and then got expensive. The auto industry's subscription offerings are new, but they're starting out costly, and not price-competitive with traditional leasing. The upside is that they take the hassle out of car ownership for busy people by letting the service take care of maintenance, insurance, licensing and taxes. And they give consumers choice, often allowing relatively painless switches between different cars in the automakers' lineup. Subscription services also point the way toward an ownership-free auto experience, and offer an easy transition to a potential world where ride- and car-sharing will be dominant. Subscriptions are here to stay, but consumers may take a while to "get" them. Lincoln's subscription service for lightly used 2015 to 2017 models, offered through the Ford-owned Canvas beginning this year, got off to a slow start. Many early subscribers canceled. Last month, Cadillac announced it would " temporarily pause" its $1,800-per-month Book subscription service for "adjustments" as of December 1. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Snags with the back-end technology used to support the service made some customer-service functions tedious and time-consuming, adding costs for the company." The challenge for automakers is to come up with a strategy that offers consumers a compelling, affordable option to regular ownership, and one that can also make a profit. I think they'll find that sweet spot, but they're not there yet. Jack Nerad, former executive editorial director at Kelley Blue Book and author of " The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying or Leasing a Car," points out that "A lot of people expected that subscriptions would be very valuable for people who wanted inexpensive transportation, but the reality is quite the opposite. Subscriptions are offering more choices for the wealthy.

Mercedes owners cause traffic jam during 40 minute standoff

Two Mercedes-Benz drivers in the UK refused to give way in a one-lane tunnel causing a frustrating traffic jam for everyone else on the road. The tense standoff occurred on Forlease Road in Maidenhead, England. A woman in a convertible Mercedes entered a tunnel where she had the right of way to proceed, according to The Daily Mail. However an older man, also in a Mercedes, was almost through the tunnel and seemed unable to reverse. In the video, frustrated drivers are seen negotiating, pleading, and arguing with each of the drivers, trying to convince one of them to give up the ground. While traffic was piling up behind the woman's Mercedes, a man in a reflective vest yelled at her in frustration. "There are mums around here trying to get their kids from school," he pointed back at the cars standing still behind her. "Just back up, love! You're being ridiculous." Bystander Brad Haverly shot the video. He told The Mail that the woman wouldn't give up because she had the right of way, even though the elderly driver was too scared and confused to back up. His first attempt almost sent his car careening into the oncoming Mercedes. After 40 minutes the elderly man reversed with help from bystanders. Traffic began to flow through the tunnel shortly afterwards. Both motorists were gone by the time police arrived. News Source: The Daily Mail Weird Car News Mercedes-Benz Driving Luxury Videos traffic traffic jam

Mercedes spotted testing updated A45 AMG

Now on the market (or some markets at any rate) for a couple of years already in its current form, Mercedes is preparing a slight refresh for the A-Class. And that means a new A45 AMG performance version, as well. Pictured undergoing testing in Germany, this prototype is hiding some enhancements for the littlest Benz. We're expecting the updates to be rather subtle, but they ought to help the Silver Star hatch keep up with the likes of the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 in the increasingly competitive premium hatchback market. Best of all, Mercedes is tipped to be preparing an even more powerful A45 AMG S with over 400 horsepower to keep pace with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R400. Unfortunately the A-Class isn't offered in North America, but we can hope that some of the enhancements (especially in the performance department) are ported over to the CLA-Class sedan and GLA crossover as well. Related Video: