AMG

It should go without saying that I highly covet the brand with the star on front. Yes, I'm speaking of Mercedes-Benz, a company with a few small achievements; one of which being the first automobile in history: the Patent Benz Motorwagen. Their name has always been synonymous with elegance, style, and quality. However, over the past couple decades, another word can be added to that list: insanity. 

Now I know what you're thinking; insanity seems a bit out of place in a brand commonly associated with elder church-goers and wealthy sultans. Well thanks to a little company known as AMG, these luxury land-yachts can be turned into monsters. The company was started by a couple of former Mercedes-Benz engineers and officially opened shop in 1967. At this time the company was primarily tuning Mercedes engines for racing. The tuning company became so successful that in 1990 a contract was signed giving the company access to develop and sell vehicles directly through Mercedes-Benz.

Since the merger, AMG has basically become an in-house tuning company, which is reflected in production model Mercedes vehicles. With AMG badging, along with upgraded wheels and body elements, these models differ ever-so-slightly in appearance when compared to the base. More substantial by far, though, are the engine upgrades. AMG take a stock Mercedes V8 or V12 and bore it, stroke it, and commonly add a supercharger or multiple turbochargers. The result is a vehicle closely akin to the traditional American muscle car: heavy, tail-happy, and loud.

What makes AMG models so great though is the fact that they are still Mercedes in every other aspect. Interior quality and luxury remains the same, unless you go for the optional carbon fiber accenting. The body and wheel modifications make the exterior that much more tasteful. The culmination of all these elements is a car that is unassuming, sedate, and elegant when you want it to be, but brutal, brash, and most importantly, fun at the simple flip of a switch.

You Like THAT?

You wonderful ladies and gentlemen are familiar with estates, correct? No, not like Clarkson's place in Chipping Norton. Maybe the term wagon is more familiar to you; those of you who are state-side, anyways. The unhappy truth, for whatever reason, is that the majority of my fellow citizens don't seem to share my sentiment when it comes to a four door with ample storage space. Maybe they just don't get it; maybe I do; maybe i'm just crazy. Whatever the reason, this societal disinterest in the wagon has ultimately lead to the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake not being available in this country for at least the foreseeable future.

I'm not just writing this about one car, but a style that has always seemed to fly under the radar, to remain unpopular, to be a niche (as Chris Harris has conveniently referred to the new Benz). But why? Your typical wagon has as much; sometimes more; storage space then the comparable SUV and achieves world's better fuel economy. I feel like the answer lies in the social construction of our society. For whatever reason, sport utilities have been deemed "cool" while wagons have been deemed just the opposite.

I feel like, to truly understand the appeal of the wagon, you have to be somewhat of a car enthusiast; someone who appreciates performance, styling, and practicality in a car. Which is why I bring us back to the CLS63 Shooting Brake. In my opinion, this is the finest example of an estate yet. Sure the engine is insane, but not as insane as it's badged even. The twin turbo V8 has a much smaller displacement paired with a start-stop feature, so combined fuel economy is not as painful as you would imagine. The cargo bay boasts more storage space with the back seats up or down than any competitor in it's class. By far the most important though is the exterior styling, which makes the awe-inspiring sedan look second best. It truly is one of the best looking cars I've ever seen.

Like I've said before, maybe I'm just insane in the head, but I know for a fact that least some people share my seemingly deranged point of view. For me, a wagon has appeal because it is different; it's not the most common nor the most sought after, and that, I believe, is why it's so great.

Another Site You Should Definitely Check Out

Repeat posts are redundant; pretty easy to wrap my head around. And I'm sure none of you, my audience, would appreciate very much. So instead I'm using this opportunity to spotlight/plug/what-have-you the other exquisite blog I contribute to, but that is ultimately run by the talented/suave/almost-as-car-saavy-as-myself gentleman known as Asa Hendrick; the blog is AsphaltAtl and it is on this very platform (at blogger.com). So basically, if you're interested in viewpoints other than my own, which you should be, then you absolutely should go give it a look. Have a pleasant evening, and look for a posting here about wagons later tonight or tomorrow!

Kompressing Your Beach Vacation

I’ve never really been the type to enjoy long vacations. A couple summers ago, for instance, I met a couple kids who would spend the entire month of July at their parents' condo in Destin. While this may sound like an ideal getaway to some, I personally have never been able to endure longer than a few days of beach vacation. Maybe it’s my personality, maybe it’s the people I’ve gone with (mostly my family). Whatever it is, I know that I can only lay in the sand and play in the surf for so many days until I’m absolutely sick of it and want to go home.

You can guess, and you'd be right, that day trips are just the sort of thing that’s right for me. So today my roommate and I decided to take the hour long drive to Tybee Island, a destination I visited not too long ago; documented in a previous posting, actually. Anyways, we spent a few hours playing in the surf before drying off, going to dinner, then going home. And I have to say, it was just enough beach for me.

And this brings me to the whole point of this posting. I know, it only took a whole two paragraphs, but hey, we’re here. Anyways, as no surprise to anyone who knows me, I spotted a favorite car of mine and had to snap a picture. The car in question was a Mercedes E55 AMG, a car I have always coveted. This car stands out to me because it's a car I believe I could own and drive every day without having a single complaint. The brutal powerplant coupled with it's luxurious nature makes it just the sort of car I yearn for.

Sure, I could easily buy a car with more impressive performance and handling specs for the same price, but I feel like these hardcore performance cars become sort of like my beach vacation. They’re awesome and exciting the first few days, but after that, I just want to go home.