Overview & Reviews

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and good taste.

In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.

In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were used in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.

Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.

The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.

The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.

Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce ultra-high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.

The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did four decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.

User Reviews:

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  Dont Buy - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Ed Ray - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I had one problem after another. Sorry engineering! Things that should never break broke with little use. My parents had one also and had to have it towed 4 times.

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  SHE BANGS!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By maloguapo - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Most Bang for the buck! Ive owned my 2004 for about 8 months now. I initially was out to get a BMW 325. However, after driving the C230k, the BMW was out of the question! In my opinion, the exterior styling/whoa factor cant be beat by any car in its price segment. The interior materials are grade "A". Also, performance is awesome! Everyone who I let drive my car, usually is quite shocked after I tell them that theres a 4cyl under the hood, not a 6cyl. I will admit that handling isnt as precise as that of the Bimmer, but I will say this...the c230 is the BEST combination of sport/luxury that one can get for barely over $30k!

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  C230k 4dr - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Fun and Sexy - March 3 - 9:06 pm

  A very cute and aggressive looking car, with MB AMG appreance. Interior is a little bit tight inside, but its a small car. So far so good with out any problems. Gas mileage is about 22mpg.

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  Love my E - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Emperor Hsu - March 3 - 6:56 pm

  I just bought the 05 E Class as a late B-day present to myself. I love the car so far. I have heard about the electronic gremlins in the car. Hopefully there arent any in mine. The obsidian black paint is just gorgeous. I definetly reccomend the premium package. You get everything you need with that package except for the heated seats of course. I hope I am still in love with this car when I have to decide on getting the extended warranty. The appearance package is great. Except for the black wood trim, and the nasty looking rims. The stock rims look so much better. I wish they would bing back the window controls in the center. That was trademark mercedes!

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  What a find ! - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Fritzmeister - March 3 - 7:26 am

  I just bought a 1999 E320 wagon with actual 11921 miles on it! What a dream! Within the first 2 weeks I put about 1000 miles on it because I want to drive it. Smooth handling yet sporty, a wagon that goes from 0-60 in under 9 seconds all with an average 23mpg. Luxurious, comfortable and huge! Lots of cargo room. Wish it would have been a 4-matic, yet if you know how to drive, the anti-slip control should get you safely through the winter. At 90mph it runs as it is on tracks and is incredibly quiet. Third row option allows you to go on short trips with 5 adults and two kids! This car is a dream and is as classy as it is practical. I will definitely own it for quiet a few years to come.

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  The Real Deal - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Jayrock - March 3 - 1:50 am

  The classy/sporty combination this car boasts is unequalled in todays market. She handles remarkably well at any speed and is quite responsive when asked to politely grace the left lane. I cant keep from peeking back at the sporty, low-profile appeal she exudes inside and out. Soft leather, multiple steering wheel controls, and premium sound will keep this Benz in my garage for a long time. This entire purchase, from the test drive to the daily drive home from work has been the real deal!

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  Dream SUV ML 500 - 2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Carl Schulz - March 2 - 10:00 am

  This is the car to own. The power is excellent. Function is great. Unfortunaly I had to call for road service twice in the first week. The ML would not start. Service was OK the dealer replaced the starter. I like the service - no charge for 4 years! What more could one want. Space plenty. The nav system could be easier to load. This is my second ML. The first one had no problems ever for 65 K. Again great car, my entire family likes it.

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  Loads of fun, but at what price? - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Speedmaster - March 2 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun to drive, but a sturdy performance car its not. Nothing but problems since day one of ownership. First the suspension had to be reinstalled, as the car wasnt level. Next, all of the brakes and tires had to be replaced due to severe vibrations at speed. Then the supercharger had to be replaced due to excessive noise. To top that off, a couple of interior cosmetic items had to be replaced as well. All of this under warranty of course, but the depreciation of this car is outrageous. I guess thats the price you pay.

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  Still pleased - 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By john - March 1 - 9:56 pm

  This is my third Benz and Im still quite pleased with selection. Even thought this is a large car, the sport package helps make it look and perform like a smaller sport sedan. Styling of the car sets it apart from the competition. Dealer support remains strong. Only dissatisfaction is in rear tire wear.

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  Supercar for Corolla Money!! - 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By yellowabarth - February 28 - 4:46 pm

  Just purchased my 5th SL and might be the best. Full option 2002 model with 152000 kms and appears tight as a drum. The FSH and one lady owner might help, plus she never lowered the roof during ownership!! Love the Radar Cruise and cooled seats here in Dubai, had 2 Sl55s 02 and 04, but felt they always wanted to blast down the road and noisy. Loved them but never in love with them. I think for just short of £7000, there is nothing better to play in the Sun.... Everything works, except the Pulse seats (common fault ) will see what the dealer estimates next week, but was not a deal breaker. You need to have it inspected, especially the hydraulic susphension before you buy as I did.