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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  Purchaser of Used 2006 SL55 AMG - 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Bob Conrad - March 1 - 2:42 pm

  Buying this car at 10 years old is a bargain among bargains. Having been overbuilt in every way by M-B, then made even better by AMG, I honestly cant believe I am driving a car of this caliber. And besides all that, it is an absolute joy to drive. The SL55 is a high-end muscle car, its a gorgeous, top-end sporster/roadster, and its a highway blaster like no other. (Think mind-bending acceleration and V8 sounds of a modern Mustang or Camaro, but the build and technology of a top-end German masterpiece). I truly cherish every moment behind the wheel of this beautiful automobile. As for some of the down comments posted here, I would say "lack of instruments" is part of this cars wonderment, not a downside. For example, last night I received a "please add one quart of crankcase oil" instruction on the dash readout. And so I will, today. If there is a problem, this car knows it and tells the driver before it needs to be determined by symptoms or gauges. This is my "fun car" and not a daily driver, although I have already driven it 6,000 care-free miles in 9 months. I do hear of service issues and the previous owner of this one shows some of them in his thorough records, but Ive been most fortunate to have nothing more than a tire go flat (nothing to do with the car). Aside from a quart of oil, Im hoping to make it to the ten thousand mile service before anything goes wrong. PLEASE NOTE (as I have): When you buy a car of this caliber (remember, this is the SL55 AMG (not the SL500), its not going to be cheap to maintain. Despite its classy lines and luxury feel, THE SL55 AMG IS A SUPERCAR. The only difference here is that most folks drive these as every day drivers and are surprised when service costs are high. Despite its feel of being a great every-day-er, its far beyond that. I would suggest the SL500 if you want an amazing every day car. Less issues likely, and do you really need to get to 60 MPH in under 5 seconds? Me... I love the beautiful sound of that AMG motor and the overall AMG tuning. I got in for cheap, so some higher maintenance costs will be okay by me if they keep it on the road. I built them into the budget :)

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  Exceeded expectations - 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Joey - February 27 - 10:46 pm

  I consider myself a savvy consumer and when a popular consumers mag didnt produce a top notch review, at first I was skeptical. Now after living with the MB320CLK for almost 2 1/2 years, I couldnt be more in love with this vehicle since the day I purchased it for my wifes wedding. It remains absolutely flawless in every aspect. Great looking car, great handling, and you just cant beat a convertible like this in the California sun!

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  As advertised and more!!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By AMG Al - February 27 - 2:00 am

  This car has all the bells, whistles, toys, etc!!! It seems that everything was thought of on this model. PRO: The car itself. It is built well, zero problems so far. After breaking in, the car seems to adapt to your driving style in an almost eerie manner. It is almost like it can read minds... CON: The fuel mileage is horrid but I knew what I was getting into at the altar!! Other than that, this thing is great!!!

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  GREAT!!!! - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By wilkinson - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Previously owned a BMW 323i which I did love but there is no comparing w/ my new C230 -- The C230 is much sporty and easier to handle. I love this car!! Great visual appeal.

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  The Car-1998 Mercedes Benz C230 - 1998 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By toros888 - February 26 - 6:46 am

  I bought it in Nov 1997 brand new with 4 miles on it.Its now 16 years old in Nov 2013 and accumulated about 85,ooo miles.My verdict:this car is extremely reliable and economical to maintain,during the past 16 years it never turn me down,never brakes down on the road,in parking lot or at home,it starts on time,i follow the car maintenace program every 10,000 miles,the major expenses on this car is my battery last year and replace my 4 tires 3 time during the last 15-16 years and the rest are minor repair or maintenance,annual inspection for sticker thats why i never traded it to any type of car,my 98 Mercedes Benz C230 is my buddy for the last 15 years she is always with me all the time.

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  Better than I expected - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By gb36 - February 25 - 7:30 pm

  I bought this car certified from dealership with the extra year warranty and remainder of factory maint. I bought sight unseen over internet but had test drove one locally. Its black with black which I think is a great color for this car. First impressions: Roomier than looks on outside. Great pickup, esp when you use the manual shift feature that comes with automatics. Fun to drive and handles corners and curves like a bimmer. Its definitely has riding on rails feel. It came with performance tires and 17 inch rims which are amazing on drive smooth roads. The problems are snow and bumpy roads. All and all am happy every time I get in and start her up.

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  Great Car - 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Mfetzner - February 25 - 10:00 am

  Its been a great car. Im looking now for another for my wife. We fight over who gets the car!

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  oh baby - 2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By oduenyi - February 25 - 10:00 am

  Drives like a car and highly recommended for any one that has taste of quality suv.

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  Best and nicest car I have ever owned. - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By ktmolloy - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I would like the standard radio to produce a better-quality sound. In addition, I would like the passenger outside mirror tilt-down to be standard. The a/c on high or auto could be quieter. For some reason the parking brake (which I appreciate on the floor like American cars) seems to have loosened. However, when I called the 800 number, the person with whom I spoke (who was very attentive, interested, and nice) told me it could be normal. Yet he advised me to take it to the Dealer, and he would send me a tow if I were worried about driving the car (much appreciated).

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  Best MB - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Tully - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I traded my CLK55 and my wifes SLK320 for the SL500 - its the best of both worlds. Great fun on the curves, acceptable power and lots of comfort. Its the best of the 5 MBs Ive owned.