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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  Does everything well... - 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Michael PFS - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Great car to own, does everything well...roomier then I thought, fast, handles great, very good sound system. Only complaints, hard ride, uncomfortable seats. Surprising gas mileage for such a sports car. Good luck getting an appt at the dealer...I would buy another...maybe.. lets see..

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  Poor quality throughout - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Alan Weinberg - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Its common for the front bumper grill to pop off and get lost on st - $400 to replace; MBnz "leather" is cheap, ext thin and easily torn/punctured vinyl; mini spare tire; interior windshield woodtrim placed where it can fade; outrageously designed & fragile cup holder;idles rough and loud - my 91 Lexus w/206,000 miles is smoother/quieter. Poorly placed frt seat belts - difficult to retrieve while std. Many horror stories heard from other owners at the Service Dept. "Chryslerization" of Daimler/Benz. Cheapness.

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  S430 Sport AMG / new 7 speed automatic - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By JoeyB - January 4 - 2:00 am

  This auto is Mercedes all the way !!! New Transmission and as smooth as can be!!!!Very Happy !!! An excellent saleman at Auto Haus / talk to Matthew

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  My 2003 E320 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim - Hollywood, FL - January 4 - 2:00 am

  The ride and overall performance are excellent. Have had some problems with the stereo, they have a computer glitch that they are correcting, had to install a new system in my car. The dealership had been fantastic, go out of their way to accomodate you in every way they can.

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  Merc E500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Tahojet - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Electronics need improvement, i.e. phone, nav system that was advertised but is now listed as "unavailable" Handling is great. Styling is great.

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  E55AMG - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Andy - January 4 - 2:00 am

  This is the fastest Benz they have built to date, they are not kidding . Its a handful. It will put a smile on your face every day. Iys all engine, brakes & suspension. It is also very comfortable for daily use . I have had 20 cars in a 4 year time span . From Ferrari, BMW, Audi, Maserati,Volvo,Nissan,9 Benzs . Including, the new 500sl, clk55amg . This is my favorite to date. I plan on ordering a new one to replace this one in august

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  mercedes benz 500sl - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By robo - January 4 - 2:00 am

  this is a fun car to drive.everywhere you travel someone will ask you questions about your car.my vehicle has the amg package, to me that makes it look just a little nicer.if you got the money,this is the sport car for you.

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  Best Car Mercedez has Created - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Chingon - January 4 - 2:00 am

  This car has been the car every little boy has ever dreamed of. I can sit here and write 100 pages on how this car is the best but go to your nearest dealer and test drive it 2day!!!!!

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  BLACK ON RED 2004 SL 500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Fred Hammerle - January 4 - 2:00 am

  This car has it all! Having driven BMWs for many years and being TOTALLY turned off by the new "edgy" Bimmer styling, I decided to go with a Benz to replace my 2000 BMW 540i Sports Sedan. The SL 500 handles better than the 540, is faster and looks BEAUTIFUL from any angle. The interior is also well designed, is comforatble and looks great! It is expensive @ $95,000 but the SLs are legendary and this car will contribute to the 50 year SL legacy.

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  If you want a headache buy an SL500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By meredith - January 4 - 2:00 am

  I waited and waited for my Red 2003 Sl500 to come in. The car had problems for the beginning....from break problems, knocking noises, radio going off, roof noise bulbs going out...should i go on? The last time it was in for service...the dealership got into an accident with it. I have not seen the car for 2 months b/c they are still working on it. They just want to fix it and give it back!! I wish I sent my $104,000 on something else. Do yourself a favor buy a Corvette and pocket the money you save...best bang for the buck and headache free! If you do decide to buy one GOOD LUCK!