What to do with flood-damaged vehicles

Editor's note: This is a condensed version of an ABS-CBNnews.com article which was originally published in 2009, following the onslaught of tropical storm Ondoy in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces.

MANILA -- It is every car-owner's nightmare: vehicles floating around in muddy floodwaters and later, stacked on top of each other in odd angles in a storm's aftermath.

Here are some tips from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Asian Carmakers Corporation (the official importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines) on what to do in case car owners or passengers encounter floods on the road, and how to respond when their vehicle is damaged in a flood.

1. Park it somewhere safe. Park your car on high ground or places where floods are not likely to hit. Even if you don't know what will happen when a storm of flood hits, this is your best bet.

2. Avoid flood waters. If you are in traffic and floods are rising, turn off the engine, get out, and lock the car. Do not try to wade into the floods.

Go to a safe area while keeping an eye out for your car. It is not safe to stay inside a car while flood waters are raging, as this will also require you to struggle out of a car and climb on top of your vehicle. It is not safe to stay on top of a car.

3. Document what is happening. If you have a camera and are in a sheltered area, take pictures of what is happening to your car amid the floods. This is for insurance purposes and shows that your car was damaged in a flood.

4. Don't touch the car. After your car has been submerged in flood waters or damaged in a storm, wait for the water to subside.

Do not start the car or open the hood to check the engine. Do not open the engine or doors since this sometimes triggers a locking mechanism.

Do not act as if you know it all. Resist the urge to salvage your investments by doing things to your car without professional advice, since this might lead to more problems.

Call an authorized or reputable repair shop or serviceman to have it towed or put in a car carrier. Leave it to professionals, they know what they are doing.

5. Engine trouble. Those who left their cars in the garage are relatively better off than those whose cars were left in traffic conditions, because it is logistically easier to call an authorized service person to have it towed to a nearby workshop.

Have your car checked for engine breakdowns or block damage, which means you have to replace the engine.

6. Depreciated value. Flood damage or water damage will affect a vehicle's value substantially. It will naturally depreciate in value, depending on the extent of the damage.

Normal depreciation for vehicles is 10% per year. Supposing the car owner has the car repaired, the value would still go down to about 20% per year, off the car's original value.

7. Trade up. A good option is to trade-in your flood-damaged car with a reputable dealer. You can sell the car, and disclose that the car was damaged in a flood, or trade it in with your car manufacturer to get a good deal.

Car manufacturers like BMW, Honda and some auto-exchange establishments usually have a trade-in program. The company will then re-sell the flood-damaged car as a pre-owned vehicle.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Saturday Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

Start off your weekend of motoring with a quick take on something fast, fun or rare that's recently grabbed our attention in the automotive world.


The car: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

The power: 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque coming from a 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 routing power to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.



The photos: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG





The speed: 0-60 in 4.7 seconds and a 155 mph top speed

The bragging rights: Not the fastest SUV available (Porsche's Cayenne Turbo wins that distinction) but it's the most powerful. And it's possibly the best-sounding.

The price: $95,865 to start; $107,725 as tested

The details: We'll start by noting that these colossal power figures were even more colossaly-er on the model we tested because it had the $6,550 AMG Performance Package. This option group says "We laugh at your adorable 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, but we're really in the mood for 550 horses and 560 torques." (The added power comes from increasing the turbo's boost). The package also raises the ML63's top speed to 174 mph and adds red brake calipers; a unique steering wheel; and a carbon fiber engine cover.

Our tester also swapped out the ML63's standard 20-inch rims for 21-inchers ($1,610); added piano black wood trim ($1,600) and a driver assistance package that features adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist ($2,100).

All ML63 AMG's come with features that are optional on lesser ML's (like the ML350 and ML350 BlueTec we tested last fall), including a navigation system, Harmon/Kardon stereo, and an active suspension system. Other goodies include larger brakes, premium leather seats, more aggressive front and rear bumpers and quadruple tailpipes.

The drive: The best thing about this ML is the sound. Not the engine sound mind you, or road or wind noise inside the cabin; all are nigh imperceptible. It's the exhaust note that butters my toast. It's delectable. It's throaty and stout like some Detroit muscle of yore, and it will absolutely roar if you push this SUV hard enough. During shifts it kicks out a loud, extended, deep cough; think James Earl Jones trying to get your attention in a crowded room.

Also excellent was the adaptive air suspension that's designed to minimize body roll during cornering of any kind. The system does its job very well, staying compliant and comfortable over rough roads, and allows the ML63 to move with determined purpose

Things are less excellent in the steering and transmission departments, however.

The steering is a speed-sensitive electromechanical unit, used because it helps make the ML63 more efficient. But its movements are oddly light in the driver's hands and it returns too little feedback from the road. It's a little ironic that Mercedes' sport-oriented version of its ML SUV would be the one that needs to stiffen up a bit.

Meanwhile, the seven-speed automatic transmission ain't exactly quick. Even putting it into manual mode and stirring your own soup with the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters reveals lag.

All told, the ML63 is the muscle car to the Cayenne Turbo's sports car; straight lines in the former are just as much fun as curves in the latter. You'll get more dynamic enjoyment from the Porsche, while the Mercedes drives like a bank vault on meth.

Curb weight probably plays a role in this; though the Cayenne Turbo is down on power by as much as 10%, it's also nearly 400 pounds lighter than the ML63.

One final difference to consider? Price. A "base" ML63 starts at $95,865, while a "base" Cayenne Turbo will run you some $13,000 more.

source: latimes.com