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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  Love my little 320 - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By brittany - March 4 - 4:00 am

  I absolutely love this car! I get a lot of compliments on it and heads do turn. I wouldve liked the newer body style but I cant complain with this one. I bought it used and its very clean.

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  Hope Im Not Sorry! - 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Picky Lady - March 3 - 3:03 pm

  After owning two Audi A4s and a BMW I thought I would explore the "competition" in the auto world. I too was "lured" in with the "fantastic deal" and appropriate trade-in on a 2010 C300 4-Matic Sport that I had purchased in late November 2009. I live in Minnesota (which this year has had a lot of snow. So far, I must say that the handling in snow is not what I had expected from a all- wheel drive car. It does not compare at all to the A4 Quattro (much more sure-footed)or my BMW for that matter. MBs back end swerves out (and not at a fast speed!) when turning or cornering in snowy conditions. So far the final verdict is still out, but right now,not very impressed with Mercedes handling.

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  SL55 just OK - 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Phils View SL55 - March 3 - 12:30 am

  I have had this car since Nov 2002, but dont drive it much. The car is fast ,but drive by wire needs work [touchy brakes and lack of trottle response at times is dangerous. I had a defective digital display which was replaced but not improved. The dealer refused to let me speak to factory rep. After a year, I finally got the dealer to compare to another SL and they finally fixed it. Stereo amp blew out and had to be replaced. Sound system is average at best. Why do you have to push a button to use the steering wheel shift controls? Command center is way too complex. Nav system is very difficult and inaccurate. A stunning car, but I prefer to drive my 1998 Corvette Convertible.

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  Sexy car, a wee bit underpowered - 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By John - March 2 - 6:26 pm

  I bought this car used with about 25,000 miles on it. It is a base model, not many extras. The stereo system is excellent for sound but dated from a feature perspective. It is a great looking car, but I would like a bit more power. I added the H&R Sway bar kit to get better handling, zimmerman cross drilled rear rotors and SS lines. Cant do much with the engine, aftermarket parts are way over priced! I drive it in S mode except for long highway trips, I really like it for what it is. Decent gas economy, but upkeep is not cheap either. A good mix of price, looks, and performance.

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  I love the S class - 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By hihi456 - March 2 - 3:53 pm

  Not my first Mercedes, and this has definitely been the best one that I have purshased so far, not for its performance, but for its style and comfort. Its great

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  Only a Mercedes will do! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Maxi - March 2 - 11:26 am

  I just brought a 2000 CLK & I feel like I brought a brand new convertible. I have a ML320 SUV but wanted a 2nd car & have looked at other brand new 08 convertibles that I could have brought for a little more money, however, I would not have gotten the same satisfaction I get out of driving & looking at my Mercedes. Its a head turner everywhere I go. I am the envy of all my friends. I told them that when I turned 50 I was going to get a Mercedes convertible. They laughed because they dont realize that even an older Mercedes is always a classic & you can get them in mint condition. "OLordy thank you for buying me another Mercedes Benz.

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  Its a sweet ride, baby - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By r.e.achin md - March 1 - 8:23 pm

  This is my third Mercedes vehicle. I have driven a Toyota, a Mitsubishi and 2 Jeeps... so far I have been impressed by the Mercedes quality. I live in a 4 season climate, and whatever the season is, its a sweet ride!

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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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  Great for now - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Harry O - February 28 - 7:23 pm

  This car is my second Mercedes and my 4th car. I like the style and the handling. Gas mileage is great. The computer is great too. I notice small things like the windshield wipers not coming on when the door is open so as not to throw water on you (among several other neat attributes). The dash display seems to be shorting a bit or simply burning out. The sunroof doesnt close fully in auto mode as it should.

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  Nice Looking Car - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Nice Car - February 28 - 2:16 pm

  First time owner of a Mercedes. Engine and transmission very smooth. Nice handling. Lots of standard features, including safety features. Very fast in breaking. Took car to almost 130 - yeah, crazy me!! Car felt very smooth - cant feel the speed. I cruise on freeway and realize I have to ease on the pedal - Im doing 90. Only 1 complaint - you feel the bumps too hard. Needs improvement on suspension. Yes, it has a sports suspension which has been lowered over the luxury model, but you sure feel those bumps. Ive taken few pounds off pressure of the tires to releave this problem - much beter, however, my "check pressure" keeps coming up.