The Mercedes-Benz Stars of Service Championships is a multi-level national competition sponsored by Mercedes-Benz USA to identify the technicians and service advisors best suited to demonstrate world-class knowledge, skills, and teamwork.

After winning the Local Quarter-Finals, the Carousel Motors Mercedes-Benz technicians will be one of 120 Mercedes-Benz technicians to advance to the Regional Semi-Finals.

This achievement places the Carousel Motors Service Department in the top 2 percent of all technicians nationwide who were eligible to participate in the program. They’ve surpassed some of the best in the business by succeeding in the Local Quarter-Finals.

By getting this far in the competition, these technicians have demonstrated delivering the promise of “the best or nothing” day-in and day-out for our customers. By consistently delivering excellence in teamwork, expertise, and shared passion for Mercedes-Benz, we will continue to inspire the high standards we set in customer service.

Who would you trust your Mercedes-Benz with?

We did Audi last week, so let’s do Mercedes this week. Unfortunately, Mercedes is a little more complicated and isn’t entirely consistent.

GLK350 4MATIC --> Gelaendewagen Leicht Kurz with a 3.5L engine and 4MATIC all-wheel drive

Starting with the name of the car on the top left. The letters here give you an idea of the size of the vehicle within its segment. C is smaller than an E which is smaller than an S. Of course, this is completely abandoned in the SUV segment, where a GL is larger than an ML.

C:  ??

E:  Executive

S:  Sonderklasse  (special class)

G:   Gelaendewagen (German for SUV)

M:  ??

R:  ??

SL:   Sport Leicht (sport light)

xL:   Leicht (light)

xxK:   Kurz (short)

This is a rough guide, but as in the past, Mercedes reserves the right to change their logic at any time.

After these letters comes a series of numbers, indicating the engine size in Liters. If there are three numbers, then it’s the engine size times 100 (i.e. ML350 = 3.5L engine). If there are only two numbers, that indicates an AMG model (S63 = 6.3L AMG engine).

On the right  side Mercedes shows off any extra power-train upgrades. Whether it’s a diesel, all-wheel drive, or super-charged, you can find the indication in the graphic.

The Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), a nonprofit group of automotive journalists and public relations professionals, based its vote on cars that are reliable, efficient, versatile, and reasonably priced.  To qualify for the Family Vehicle of the Year award, vehicles had to have four doors, start at less than $50,000, appear at one of MAMA’s two annual rallies, and be new or significantly updated in within a year of the Spring Rally, which took place in May, 2011.  Voting took place at both rallies, creating a list of following 11 contenders: the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, 2011 Dodge Durango, 2011 Dodge Journey, 2012 Ford Edge, 2012 Ford Focus, 2011 Ford Explorer, 2012 Honda Pilot, 2012 Mazda 5, 2012 Subaru Impreza, 2012 Toyota Camry, and 2012 Volkswagen Passat.

Carousel Motors was excited to see the Volkswagen Passat at the top of the list. Considering they sell both VW and Mazda, they were also thrilled to see the Mazda 5 taking the number three spot. Bill Williamson, Manager at VW, states “The newly redesigned VW 2012 is consistently be recognized as the car to pay attention to this year, as it was also named Motor Trends Car of the Year, Cars.com’s Best of 2012, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top pick for safety, and US New’s top 3 for Affordable Midsized Cars. We enjoy representing a leader and providing Iowan’s with safe and affordable top picks!”

MAZDA

• 2012 Mazda 6, CX-7, CX-9 has 0% for 60 months!
• Owner Loyalty: $500 towards the purchase or lease of a 2011 OR 2012 Mazda 3, 6, CX-7, or CX-9
• 2012 Mazda 3 Sedan: $228 per month for 42 months, ZERO down (Sign and Drive!) + fees DOD, $18,490 MSRP
• 2012 Mazda CX-9: $386 per month for 42 months, ZERO down (Sign and Drive!) + fees DOD, $30,670 MSRP

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Mazda specials offers.

VOLKSWAGEN

• 2012 Jetta Lease Special, $149 per month for 36 months, 12,000 miles, $1,999 down plus TT&L and fees. $17,265 MSRP
• 2012 Passat Lease Special, $219 per month for 36 months, 12,000 miles, $1,999 plus TT&L and fees. $23,460 MSRP
• 0% APR FINANCING!
  0% for 72 months – 2012 CC, 2012 Routan
  0% for 66 months – 2012 Touareg (gas and TDI)
  0% for 60 months – 2012 Jetta (gas/manual), .9% for 66 mos. (gas),1.9% for 66 mos. (diesel)

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Volkswagen specials offers.

AUDI

• Just Announced!! Own a 2001 or newer BMW, Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, MB, Mini, Saab, or Volvo and receive $1000 bonus cash on A4′s, $1500 bonus cash on A6′s, and $2500 bonus cash on A8′s.
• Owner Loyalty continues for 2012. Own a 2001 or newer Audi product and get up to $3000 in Loyalty Cash!
• Great Lease Specials! See your Brand Specialist for details: A4 Quattro from $419 per month, A6 Quattro from $699 per month, Q5 Quattro from $529 per month and A8L Quattro from $1299 per month.
• Great APR rates! 1.9% financing on most models.
• Currently in a new Audi lease? You may be eligible to get out early! Contact us for a review of your account.

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Audi specials offers.

MERCEDES-BENZ

• Amazing Lease Offers: C Class 4matics from $379 per month, GLK 4matics from $419 per month, E Class 4matics from $619 per month, ML350s from $599 per month, GL450s from $649 per month and S550 4matic from $1199 per month. See your brand specialist for details.

• Conquest Cash Certificates available for February! Own a competitive make and get $1000 for C class and M class, $2000 on E350 4matic sedans/wagons, and $4000 on new S Class.

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Mercedes-Benz specials offers.

We’ll start with Audi for today.

A guide to numbers and letters on the back of an Audi.

The top left grouping on the back of your Audi is the car’s name. The first letter denotes what type of car it is. See the graphic for the breakdown of possible letters. The next letter denotes what size car it is. For normal A-vehicles, this starts at the A3 hatchback and goes up to the largest A8 sedan. Beyond size, you can assume that as the numbers go up, so does the cost. The one exception to this is the TT, which was named in honor of the Tourist Trophy, a famous motorcyle race on the Isle of Man.

If there is an ‘L’ after the letter, that denotes the long wheel-base version.

On the right side of the trunk is the engine info. This is the engine displacement (in Liters), followed by a T if it’s turbocharged. Audi typically has cylinders of ~0.5L, so multiply this number by 2 and you have the type of engine.  Ex: 2.0T x 2 = 4 cylinder Turbo.

Other possible markings include …

TDI for a diesel

FSI for direct-injection

Finally, just below the engine size may be the Quattro mark. This flaunts the fact that this car has Audi’s all-wheel drive system. Because this system has become synonymous with great driving, they typically also display the logo on the front grill and on the dash in front of the passenger.

So there you have it. Now you can impress all your friends with your knowledge of Audis, simply by glancing at the back.

Up next: Mercedes.

In this extended version of our 2012 Game Day commercial, the sporty, all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle inspires Bolt the dog to get in shape, and an intergalactic superstar makes a surprise appearance.

See more Super Bowl commercial videos by VW.

Order your VW Beetle from Carousel Motors!

Get your scrapers and snow brush ready. Last year, the brush side of the scraper was put to as much use as the scraper side! Don’t get caught at the office during the first snow and realize you don’t have your scraper.

Check your tire pressure. Your tires should be properly inflated to ensure you’ll have the best possible traction when driving. Often when the weather cools, your tire pressure drops and you may see your Tire Pressure light come on on your console, so now is a good time to check it. Refer to your owners manual for the preferred pressure.

Consider snow tires. You may be driving one of the many fine cars sold at Carousel, that handle the winter ice and snow very well. However, tires do wear, and you should check the tread before winter is upon us.  Some people prefer snow tires specifically, and although it’s not required, they can help you manage the winter roads.

Check wiper blades and washer fluid. When the car in front of you is throwing up slush and ice, you’ve got to have properly working blades and plenty of fluid to get you through the season. Now is an easy time to check your blades.

Make sure you have routine service and maintenance scheduled. It’s smart to go into winter with all the proper fluids and a fresh oil change. The service professionals at Carousel will also check your coolant levels to make sure you have the proper mix of antifreeze and water.  We’ll go over any questions and concerns you have about you and your car facing winter. Together…we can brave another Iowa winter! You can schedule your service on-line now!

Lastly,  play it safe, you never know what may happen out on the road, even when your being careful…pack a “just in case” emergency kit today! Here’s some must-haves for your kit!

MAZDA

• 2012 SPECIAL APRS: Mazda 3 has 1.9% APR financing for 60 months, Mazda CX-7 has 0% for 60 months, and Mazda CX-9 has 0% for 60 months.
• Owner Loyalty: $500 towards the purchase or lease of a 2011 OR 2012 Mazda 3, 6, CX-7, or CX-9
• 2012 Mazda 3 Sedan: $195 per month for 36 months, $1,965 + fees DOD, $18,490 MSRP
• 2012 Mazda CX-9: $349 per month for 36 months, $2,943 + fees DOD, $30,670 MSRP

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Mazda specials offers.

VOLKSWAGEN

• 0% APR FINANCING!
  0% for 72 months – 2012 CC
  0% for 66 months – 2012 Touareg (gas and TDI), 2012 Routan
  0% for 60 months – 2012 Tiguan (FWD only), Jetta (excludes GLI/TDI manual only). 
• 2012 Jetta Lease Special, $149 per month for 36 months, 12,000 miles, $1,999 down plus TT&L and fees. $17,265 MSRP
• 2012 Tiguan Lease Special, $249 per month for 36 months, 12,000 miles, $2,499 plus TT&L and fees. $25,160 MSRP

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Volkswagen specials offers.

AUDI

• Just Announced!! Own a 2001 or newer BMW, Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, MB, Mini, Saab, or Volvo and receive $1000 bonus cash on A4′s, $1500 bonus cash on A6′s, and $2500 bonus cash on A8′s.
• Owner Loyalty continues for 2012. Own a 2001 or newer Audi product and get up to $3000 in Loyalty Cash!
• Great Lease Specials! See your Brand Specialist for details: A4 Quattro from $419 per month, A6 Quattro from $699 per month, Q5 Quattro from $529 per month and A8L Quattro from $1299 per month.
• Great APR rates! 1.9% financing on most models.
• Currently in a new Audi lease? You may be eligible to get out early! Contact us for a review of your account.

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Audi specials offers.

MERCEDES-BENZ

• Amazing Lease Offers: C Class 4matics from $379 per month, GLK 4matics from $419 per month, E Class 4matics from $619 per month, ML350s from $629 per month, GL450s from $649 per month and S550 4matic from $1199 per month. See your brand specialist for details.
• Conquest Cash Certificates available for January! Own a competitive make and get $2000 towards your new Mercedes-Benz. Limited availability of certificates.
• Great Rates: 1.9% up to 36 months on most new 2012 Mercedes-Benz products 

Contact your Brand Specialist for full details.
See all Mercedes-Benz specials offers.

Please note that lease prices quoted do not include additional fees, such as; tax, title, license, acquisition fee, etc. Please consult a Brand Specialist for more accurate details.

This large hatchback could be the most attractive Audi on the road today. Its silhouette is long, wide and low, with clean lines all the way around. Its performance is as pleasing as its looks. The vehicle glides over uneven roads with far more grace than ever before, and with none of the harshness that characterizes many other Audi models. Inside, the A7 is opulent, yet not overly so. “The Audi A7 is just so … beautiful,” says Chuck Tannert, MSN Autos contributing editor. “It elegantly bridges the divide between sports car and luxury car better than just about any vehicle I’ve been in.”

Read the full story and see the other vehicles.

Our "wall of checks" displaying 6 years of sponsorship.

Three days of fun and excitement featuring 1200 cyclocross racers, at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. VW and Carousel Motors celebrates the commitment and determination that these racers bring to the table. We relish the competition and excitement of this famous race and are proud to be the major sponsor. Over $100,000 was raised for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. We congratulate the winners and everyone who participated and made it another successful year.

For more information and race details and results, visit the Jingle Cross website.

Jingle Cross ’11 Friday night cyclocross from Keith Walberg on Vimeo.