Quick Impressions: A Trio of Mercedes-Benz Models at the TAWA’s 2015 Texas Auto Roundup

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Not all Texans ride horses. In fact, a bunch of us in the Texas Auto Writers Association recently got together at the Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas to drive three models from Mercedes-Benz, as well as dozens of other vehicles, during the TAWA’s 2015 Auto Roundup.

2015 GLA45 AMG ($66,975)

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It was a bit odd to see a three-point star on the front of this odd-looking, rough-riding little machine, especially since there was a large roof-mounted boy-racer wing just a few feet away from it. I was less surprised by the AMG badging because the GLA45 was a tiny terror. Its turbocharged 2-liter I4 pumped out an impressive 355 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. – enough to bump my head into my headrest when I put my right foot down. Every time I backed off of the gas, I heard an addictive popping and burbling sound from the exhaust.

2015 S550 4MATIC Coupe ($148,470)

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I knew this sleek, attractive two-door would be luxurious (it ended up being crowned the Full-Size Luxury Car of Texas), but I had no idea it would be such a muscle car. I got a clue when I gave it some gas and heard a four-letter word come out of my mouth. The back end dipped down as the 4.7-liter twin-turbo V8 sent its 449 horses to all four of the S550’s optional 20-inch wheels. For being 16.5 feet long, the S550 felt smaller than it was. I credit its low roofline, which still left me plenty of headroom.

2015 E400 Cabriolet ($76,225)

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The E400’s 329-horsepower, 3-liter biturbo V6 felt a little sleepy at the low end. I had to get deeper into the throttle than I expected to wake it up. Modern technologies such as full-LED headlamps and Active Lane Keeping Assist clashed with a blocky and dated center stack.
 

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via [Texas Auto Writers Association]

Looking for a good deal on a new Mercedes-Benz? Get insider information here.

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.


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