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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  Review for Mercedes C240 - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By sandra - April 6 - 1:33 pm

  I bought the C240 in Jan. 2005 and love it. It is a new vehicle with 6 miles to begin with on it. It is stylish and handles well. It is wider than the Volvo that I traded in and feels a lot heavier and safer to drive.The panel is clear and easy to follow/program. It is good in snow and severe weather which is why I bought it since I live in the mountains (Park City, Ut). It doesnt have the power that the Volvo S60 had but has more power than the C240 that I had in 2002. I am pleased with the car and the way it handles.

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  Less is More - 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By lessismore - April 5 - 10:10 pm

  When I picked up this car the salesman said that Id be getting all the build quality and safety features of the very expensives MBs. I thought "sure". He was right. My other two previous cars had both been back to the dealer for repairs in the first six months. Not this one. Theres just something about a Mercedes that connects the owner to it. No wonder people keep them for years and hundreds of thousands of miles. Im still finding small features now even after 6 months.

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  Superb Luxury Car - Feel like a King! - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dr. Warren Bruhl - April 5 - 3:00 pm

  I recently purchased this 2003 Mercedes S430 with 4matic and I was pleasantly surprised how well it handles the harsh winter snows with ample reliability and confidence. The luxury interior is wonderful and it garners great respect even from my 14 year old daughter. I love the way it feels to drive this car and I have been pleasantly surprised by the gas mileage. Driving this car makes me feel secure and confident. It is a truly an executive car driving experience.

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  my benz - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By rob c - April 3 - 10:00 am

  Great car love the design. Customer service has a lot to be desired (BAYSIDE dealership very shoddy at best). A good bang for the buck. Bought car certified and saved about $10000.

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  ML500 Inspiration Edition - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Laurenxesq - April 3 - 10:00 am

  We traded in our 2001 ML320 in orion blue for the new 2003 ML500 Inspiration Edition. The capri blue color is just beautiful. The handstitch seats with the new DVD-ROM in dash navigation sold us on the spot. After test driving the vehicle, there is NO COMPARISON on the ZOOM between the 320 and 500; 500 definitely beat the 320.

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  The Enthusiast C320 Coupe Fan - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Laurenxesq - April 3 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 2001 BMW 325i & 2002 C230 coupe for the new 2003 C320 coupe in 1/2003. I went in HOI in 1/2003 to check out the new C320 coupe. When I saw the xenon headlight & the 17 in wheel, I fell in love! After test driving the vehicle, I bought the car the next day.

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  amazing car, completley satisfied - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By prodigy1387 - April 3 - 10:00 am

  my parents bought the car back in march for my for my 16th bday (driving age in fl is 16) and id have to say im completely satisfied with it. yeah im probably a baby compared to most people on this site, but i still think my input couldnt hurt. the car runs great, i love hearing the engine roar from 4000 to 5000 rpms every so often, and i get lots of looks in it haha. i can definitely tell the difference between the 230 and 320 models, the v6 improves performance like no other - its a little rocket! id recommend it to anyone looking for a great car in this price range - i chose it over the audi a4, lexus IS300, and bmw 325i.

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  Style & Performance - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By HRK - April 3 - 12:30 am

  I have owned 3 other Mercedes & this is my favorite over my previous CL600. The understated styling & great performance are favorites. Handling is good for a heavier car but not in the Porsche range. Reliability has been good but one electrical problem which the dealer solved. This is my every day driver so I plan to put on a lot of miles & I keep my cars for several years. I purchased the extended warrantee based on my experience with my CL600. I would buy this car again & highly recommend it for performance, style & luxury, only I would get the voice activated controls, I miss the hands free calling on my previous CL600.

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  E320 CDI is a joy - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By K Marvin - April 1 - 10:23 am

  My E320 CDI (Turbo diesel) is a joy to drive. Mileage is amazing. A wonderful, solid feeling road car. Interior is miles ahead of BMW 535 and Audi A6. I drive 300 miles a week and I only get fuel once every 2 weeks! Navigation system is excellent as is the suspension. This car has been tweaked to near perfection. As promised by the dealer, cold weather starting is fantastic - 3 seconds of glow plug operation in 10 degrees and it starts faster that gasoline engines - WOW! My dealer, Leikin in Willoughby has been great. Mercedes is working very hard to make sure you love the vehicle and the dealer. Lots of surveys to insure satisfaction.

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  The pride of owning a 2003 MB S500 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By cherylrix - March 29 - 10:00 am

  This is hands-down the best & classiest auto built. I can tell you the looks that I get while driving this car are amazing! Valet always seems to run to park my car first! They all love the chance to drive this beauty! I have put more than 10k miles on it in 4 months because I love to drive it! Handles curves in the rain with no problem.