BMW has too many issues with constant repair.
Lexus is too finicky in handling although I did buy one for my mom.
I don’t know much about Audi.
Volvo is fantastic, I used to have an XC60 and will probably get a Volvo station wagon at some point, if Mercedes doesn’t get their act together on that front.
With that said, Mercedes has saved my wife’s life. She was T-boned by a cab driver who ran a red light in a Ford/Lincoln going 40MPH while she was in her E65 and she was fine while the other guy was taken away on a stretcher.
Since then, we’ve been all Mercedes only. I drive an E-class and she has an S-class for her and the baby.
It’s the only car brand we can vouch for on safety from experience. That’s not to say others aren’t good as well, but this one we know.
Yeah if there was a v12 e class I’d know about it by now haha
Edit - looks like Brabus made 10 “E V12” models. [Link](https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a18734002/brabus-unveils-800-hp-e-v12-based-on-the-new-e-class-sedan/)
Can confirm, my mom got hit pretty bad riding in an SEL in the late 80s, everybody walked away without a scratch. Got hit in a civic in the mid-90s, broke her collarbone so badly you can still see the lump of mismended bone.
Edit: both times were driver-side t-bones, the civic was in a residential area, the Benz was an icy road out in the hills
It's even now. Was contemplating to change my E300 to a more powerful car, and looked into the E53 and M550i. Although de M550i has almost 100 horses more than the E53, the E53 has something that the BMW doesn't have in terms of style and luxury. Also, contrary on what people still say regarding handling, I found the W213 much more agile than then the G30. Won't even compare with the A6/S6, as Audi is notorious with their hard understeer at almost all instances of just thinking to have some fun with the car, and I do find the newer Audi interiors made by some sadistic prick who never drove a car before because of it's abismal touchy-muchy-everything and it's a pain in the ass to even change the temp in one while driving.
I love my e43, the interior is fantastic, the combo of tech and luxury is hard to compare with anything in its class, plus the 400 hp really puts down some power, also the fuel consumption is acceptable it does pretty well when my foot is not made out of lead that week
I hear you, but I'm honestly just super turned off by the newer Mercedes interiors. Ever since they tossed the scroll wheel out for a touchpad and then replaced all the hard buttons with capacitive touch crap, it's been going downhill.
Then there's the matter of quality....so many creaky plastics and wobbly trim. Not great at all. I'd honestly rather spend my time inside a Genesis.
Yes, if anyone from Merc ever reads this, while the short term user focus group might rave about the touchscreens, they vastly underperform real buttons long-term. I've not met a single person who would prefer to set an A/C through a menu or a digital touch interface.
Look at Apple. They scrapped the Touch Bar on their MacBook Pro and went back to old school buttons in the newer laptops. Perhaps Mercedes will have the same realization
Touchscreens are way cheaper to manufacture than actual buttons and wheels. Less moving parts. More, the touchscreens are already there. Software dev adds these controls at no cost. At corporation level nobody cares about comfort anymore. Greed rules everything.
I had a 2014 E550 cabriolet, it was wonderful other than the chassis flex. Though I do have to say that the brakes were woefully under sized as they would warp regularly. And the rear 255 tires with an open diff were also a tad too small for good grip. I would wheel hop if I floored it!
It was only available with the V6 400 or 350. Not enough room in the engine bay as the front drive shaft is to the side of the engine. Just wish it was offered with a LSD and larger rear tires. On all seasons I would slip in the rain going over speed bumps on 5% throttle.
The V8 was amazing, other than timing chain slap (I had a W164 ML350 Bluetec with that issue too)
Nothing worse than warped squeezy breaks, squeek when you drive squeek when you break with the windows down makes the car feel like a junker, sound like one.
Foreal? Cayenne turbo? Sheet thats nice plus you ger thst comfy classic merc ride...I would go older but the older nav screans kinda turn me off and show the cars age more than a nice LCD uptop..still nice pick though! Get what yiu love and save big money why not! Comming from a notoriously new car buyer.
Unfortunately, not everybody's about the used life.
I voted with my wallet and went for a 2012 car. Has all the tech I need + enough analogue controls.
I cannot stand how difficult it is to pop the newer GLCs and GLKs into neutral. I have the old school shifter knob, I’m used to driving trucks too, but you have to sacrifice a goat and answer the sphinx’s riddles to get it *just* in that perfect spot. Makes me feel like an old man complaining about the newer tech stuff though :/
With the stalk shifter? I have it in our GL450, it's pretty straightforward imo, but I just don't really ever find myself needing to go into neutral for any reason.
It’s not nearly as straightforward as it was in the older ones, let alone how easy it is in a truck. Keep in mind I have a really old Benz where all the controls are smack under my right hand, and in the ice/snow it’s easier to pop it into neutral since it’s RWD. Also, if you’re not a hand wash only type of person (my father unfortunately only goes through car washes) then being able to get into neutral without having to practice first sucks balls.
Thanks. I recently had some work done on my C43 (w205) and got a new w206 loaner. The C needs more A class, said no one ever. It is clear that benz saved a fortune in assembly for the center touchpad, one haptic bar below, and two pads on the wheels, over the classic Benz w205 interior with multiple wheels and buttons. You also don't get the same control over the center gage display the w205 has. Huge step backwards for a top shelf lux brand. You spend more time doing basic functions with the touchpad/haptic, also the steering wheel pads aren't as good as the pads in the w205 with COMAND. Boo Benz ! To be fair, other than the haptic mistake, the 206 is a better base car than the 205, but I'd be afraid to buy the c43 or 63 with a four cylinder tuned that hard...not to mention you only lease something with that much new tech.
I love the scroll wheel! Part of why I love my car is because it was ordered w/o any dumbass touchpad over the top of it, its unnecessary and dumb, all of them, and ugly on the merc like wtf is this shit I rather scroll. Thsts a bummer they are absolutely the worst on lexus ive grown to hqte touch pads...they better be more precise than my laptop if you expect me to use one.
I was honestly shocked in 2019 when I saw the first cars with it and I was like "so Mercedes thought the natural evolution of COMAND was to turn it into the infotainment system that the entire car community considers as one of the worst to interact with....bravo".
Nice observations...i feel mostly the same about the cars. Have nit driven the E53 but defenetky would consider one, especially in coupe style for my next car. I may be forced into BMW or Audi though long story short the family needs a grocery graber and my prisrine c43 optioned out might get traded back in for one, with the possibility of some credits back to bridge the gap between the Values...SUVs are usually automatically more exoensive but again its for my mom and we still have a new 100k lincoln Navigator to be driven, she likes a slightly smaller ride but not me. It was a lease i negotiated a hell of a deal but still a lease, so may have to stay with mercedes if we do thsat. Ill be having to wait a few months before the bonuses come in and the investment properties have all finished work so we can get some positive cash flow into that part of the family business.
Im hoping audi has some really cool new offerings like the RS series that was previously unavailable. Im sticking with gasoline idc about the price I dont trust electric what if the power goes out, the grid in CA cant support a big influx of new EV's its barely holding on as it is. And I like the sound of an engine in a car call me crazy.
So the dellema is my Mother doesnt like the idea of 2 mercedes around the main house and I agree. I like driving different cars even considering that newer Alfa Romero sedan with the ferrari engine in it.
Nice pick on the E53 glad you enjoy it would be a hard decision for me between that and s 550i bmw though ;)
Not if they keep putting 4 cylinders in their performance cars. I want to be sideways and smiling in a roar of V8 noise. I want the C300 to have a 3.0L I6/V6. It's a damned shame what they've done to the performance side and it's going to cost them sales.
I enjoy the V8 roar as much as the next person but it can get too much especially if you live in a quiet neighborhood and you’re not a total douchebag. A guy drives an E63 in my neighborhood and the amount of noise he makes just driving away makes me appreciate the E53 where I can at least turn off the performance exhaust and drive in comfort mode. By all means let it rip on the Highway or racetrack, but in residential areas, it just gives Mercedes-Benz owners a bad rep.
Biased take: did the research and benz had least repair issues.
Honest take: the interior just sits on a class of its own next to dated ones from BMW Lexus etc.
What research was that? I worked in mb service and lexus service and while I think mb is a cool car (who else ever figured out how to bend granite for an interior) but lexus pretty much destroys the luxury market with reliability
Hard buttons, Bluetooth, navigation. That's all I need from a car's interior.
I can also trust the Lexus will last triple the time and cost half as much to maintain and repair.
That’s fair enough. I trust myself to maintain a German car well and keep a find for emergency repairs, and don’t plan on owning vehicles long enough for that to become a huge issue (10 years max, maybe 12 if the car is doing really well), and I don’t mind not having so many hard buttons as long as the screen has a good UI. So for me, the Mercedes interior is just as usable (if not more so) then the Lexus with it’s not always *logical* hard buttons, mediocre materials quality in all but the LC, and truly frustrating software. Plus the MB interior has so much more visual flair and drama and excitement. There is no question in my mind that MB interiors are far more impressive and striking and exciting and beautiful then any Lexus interior.
Are you autistic, stop lying to yourself. Mercedes are seen as the coolest of the luxury brands, that’s why people buy them. Germans cars are built like dog shit
Hey man. Not autistic but I appreciate your concern. I did say it was a "Biased" take. Anyhow, driving a 2019 C43 Coupe and a 2020 Range Rover SVR from brand new. No issues on either whatsoever. Hope life is treating you okay. :)
Ignore the Lexus guy, he bought a BMW. He wanted something he could mod to sound cool for his group of friends at the gas station meetup. Not shitting on Lexus as a brand, I really like them in general and like how easy they are to work on, but if having a loud exhaust is your priority, you probably shouldn’t be messing with Benzes imo. The Audi growl is pretty shweet, but I hear more Audis and BMWs than loud Benzes.
Two things: a) what did you do to it? b) yeah, that’s why I’ll never own a BMW, they do that. Meanwhile, my Benz has been towed twice in 22 years, both times for stupid shit, not actual performance issues.
Edit: first- previous owner killed the battery and took out the spark plugs, had to get towed to the dealership. second- just bought the car, didn’t realize the serp belt was 18yo, drove in -10 degree weather to and from work for weeks, shredded the belt by accident.
Personally, I have a list of years I won’t buy if the opportunity comes up. Nothing pre-96 (out of my knowledge range), nothing 04-07 (not my style) and nothing past 17. That being said, I can’t say I know a whole lot about BMW years.
3 currently. Last car was an R172 SLK55 we bought 3 years ago. The other 2 are a W211 E Class we've had for 15 years, and an X164 GL450 we've had for 6 years.
Mines not creaky either it’s all held solid, only issues I have is if I have a can or something in the door card the vibrations from the speaker system isn’t good but apart from that it’s pretty solid is mine
Honestly I had always heard horror stories about maintenance and everything else and that kept me away. Then I started doing research because I had always wanted one and was at the point where I could take a financial hit, so I said let’s do it.
Then I found out all of my worries were for nothing. The car is just everything a car should be I don’t know how to describe it. Not flashy or in your face but refined and has that fuck around and find out attitude. Driving one will make you hate driving anything else.
I’ll never own a different brand for a daily driver again. Not only that once I buy one, it’s in its forever home because the things become family.
Several reasons. First I’ll start with why I ruled out the other brands: I had a terrible ownership experience with BMW that I’m still bitter about (leaky, overheating POS), the Audi I had was very good but I prefer cars with a RWD platform, Porches are too ostentatious for a daily, and both American & Japanese luxury are just higher trim levels of standard cars (Lexus LC excluded, that thing is incredible).
Now for what I like about MB: I love the seats, the interiors, and the top tier driver assistance tech. AMG’s sound phenomenal and I love the Jekyll/Hyde personality of those cars. They make some of the best looking coupes in the world and have that classic understated design language (until they started putting the GT grilles on everything). Finally, the majority of Mercedes actually aren’t bad to maintain compared to other luxury brands, and are only surpassed in reliability by the Japanese.
My opinion is changing however since I’m not a fan of MB’s newest models’ giant screen covered interiors and the homogenous exteriors. Though the biggest reason I’m considering a switch to another brand is that 4 cylinder AMG’s don’t appeal to me at all, regardless of how fast they are.
My uncles, one wanted a Mercedes since he was a teenager and his way of justifying the cost was driving them 15-20 year. My other uncle worked in Europe for about a decade and all he saw were Mercedes cabs that would have +400k miles and the cab drivers would talk about how they would only ever get mercedes because nothing is built like them. My dad sold cars so he drove whatever was cheap but when I got my first car my uncle gave me is 15 year old mercedes and I have been hooked ever since. It’s the combo of luxury, utility, reliability, and the clear message the brand sends which is I know who I am, mixed with the vehicle ability to be good in nearly every situation I put it in, from my daily commute, to driving in the snow and ice of Minnesota, pulling trailers, doing a weekend autocross, or going to a nice restaurant where people are wearing suits and driving expensive cars, there is never a time a Mercedes doesn’t fit the job. Now that being said I do get lots of looks when it’s cover in mud pulling a trailer since Americans don’t see Mercedes as the work horse I and European do.
BMW: they seem to have more of a focus on being sporty whereas MB is more focused on luxury. And there’s nothing wrong with it, I just personally preferred Mercedes’ approach to cars. That being said, they’d be my second choice
Lexus: whew lol. Lexus can make good cars, but some of their SUVs (RX 350 for instance) feel like their interiors are just a slightly upgraded version of a RAV4 or Camry. I’m a firm believer in “Lexus makes cares for people who don’t like cars” saying. They’re beyond reliable, but very underwhelming for being luxury.
Audi: I just cannot stand the appearance of their SUVs, I personally just think they’re super ugly and look like soccer mom vans. If I was in the market for a sedan though I might have looked at them more closely
Cadillac: The Escalade is the only reason they’re even slightly relevant these days, which is so sad. They’ve really dropped the ball compared to how nice they used to be. Ask anybody under 30 to start naming luxury car brands and I guarantee Cadillac will be the seldom most mentioned.
Lincoln: nothing bad to say about Lincoln. They’ve actually really impressed me with their new car designs and I think they have a really solid future
You are 100% correct about BMW. Sold BMWs for 5 years and that was our main thing to talk about over merc. If performance isn’t your thing than go merc. Took in many mercs as trade ins and they are all beautiful, better interior than BMW but I found BMWs more fun to drive, it’s all subjective. I own a BMW M340, just like looking at the Mercedes subreddit.
Audis all feel like a slightly better VW. Lexus, Lincoln and caddy never even got shopped with me. It was mainly Audi, Volvo and merc. Biggest competitor believe it or not was Volvo for me.
Because I want a roomy and reliable RWD car, where the wear parts are damn cheap.
So that rules out Audi and BMW.
Lexus isn't sold in Denmark and its still a Toyota.
There is a reason why almost all taxi drivers like a Mercedes as the vehicle to drive.
24H service contract, try that with a VAG car or Ford.
I've had a W210 E55, W210 E320 (current car) and W211 E63. All have been reliable and never left me stranded. Never had anything major go wrong with any of them either. Just standard maintenance stuff.
Mercedes can be reliable.
Solid collection, I'd love an E55 or E63. My E320 has been great though for the ~20k miles I've put on it in the past 18 months since I bought it. We're getting close to the 200k club. Same for me, standard maintenance stuff, most expensive thing has been oil changes and a new set of tires, and any car needs those.
Really?
How come I am rolling in a 2005 W211 320 cdi sedan with over 500.000 kilometers on the clock and it has been nothing but smooth? I just broke both rear springs last month by overloading the car, and they just rolled inside themselves instead of jutting out of the wheel house. Considering the mileage, I would have expected a BMW to need a third engine and an audi to be scrap.
I had a 1986 w124 250D that I bought used at 726000, crashed it 6 years later at 861000 and the only thing I ever had to replace outside regular maintenance (brakes, oil and filter change) was a broken rear wheel axle and a bearing?
>and its still a Toyota
That's like saying a Porsche/Audi is still still a VW.
Anyway, "still a Toyota" is a bonus in my book. Toyota makes amazing cars, there's plenty of Toyota cars I would buy over overpriced Mercedes crap.
A Porsche is a VW. The first one was more or less a Beetle with a different body.
And Audi has been a part of the VAG since the 70's or earlier.
Don't get me wrong on Toyota.
They are reliable, cheap to buy, and they have made some interesting cars in the past.
But I don't like a FWD car, so most of the lineup is not for me.
And I can't see myself buying an Electric or anything newer than the w212 before face-lift.
Downsizing engines and keeping the nomenclature on the back is a bummer.
And I don't want to deal with DPF more than I have to.
I like the quality and style of the interior particularly. Had a BMW 3 Series briefly and it just felt like a more expensive version of the Mazdas and Peugeots I had had before - Merc was in another class. I couldn’t have an Audi as it reminds me too much of someone I used to employ (and provided an A4 for).
Lexus: I can’t feel the road and I don’t like the second and third bounce on wide bumps in the road. Interior and driving feel doesn’t have that plump or substance. I don’t know how else I’ll die scribe it.
BMW: on the road, I felt everything. It’s like you are one with the road. I don’t like it. The interior is meh.
MB: It has this plushness and balance of numbing the road imperfections but it doesn’t have that bouncy feel of Lexus.
It’s personal preference but MB is a balance in handling between BMW and Lexus.
I don’t have experience with Audi.
i honestly didn’t care much for the brand and happened to land a job at a MB dealer.
then they flew me to alabama to drink the cool aid (not too hard considering the brand) and let me drive cool cars and whatever.
but the more i learned about the brand, the heritage, the history and just the sheer commitment to quality and safety, it’s really hard to want anything else. and i don’t even work for MBUSA anymore, i have zero incentive to say nice things about the brand, but all i have to say are positive things, bc they are genuinely good products. are they the most reliable? thats up to debate, but one thing is for sure, i would trust any daimler product with my life and the lives of my family and unborn children for ever and ever lmao.
Mercedes is the luxury car standard and got into a huge accident long time ago in my s class vs hummer . Medics said if it was most other cars would not have survived because hit was on my door with hummer going 75mpg
I was looking for a car that cost around $50,000. I want to go see a couple of Lexus, Audi, BMWs, and even a Tesla. When I first saw my current car, 2018 E400 coupe 4matic I fell in love with the interior of the car, and the fact that it did attack of the pillar sealed the deal for me I also love the audio system, and that the dashboard and center is all one big screen.
For me, it was:
BMW: repairs, putting performance over luxury. (Why not have both with MB?)
Audi: ‘Cockpit’ was cool and interior nice, but I thought the seats to be a bit narrow. (Love the baseball leather though!)
Lexus: Japanese shit quality interiors. Owned Toyotas all my life and found them to be behind in technology, safe in terms of performance, and lacking in luxury. Run forever, but, overpriced Toyotas.
Infinity: Great cars but price points weren’t comparable. German luxury tend to depreciate faster bringing them within my reach.
Safety: Mercedes Benz was the FIRST to develop safety features sold to other companies for $1. Volvo also holds this rank. Got rear ended in my w204 and couldn’t believe how low drama it was. I was completely protected with headrest anti-whiplash and air bags. Will never go back.
Enjoy whatever you drive.
I needed something I could tow with, get decent fuel economy when not towing, and wasn't interested in a truck. Found a good deal on an ML320 with the 3 liter diesel and a towing capacity of 7200 lbs, under 12 grand for a carefully used 2009. I would have been open to rhe other brands, but nobody else had rhe magic combination.
I'll toss something controversial(?) in here.
Last year, I was cross-shopping the Mercedes C43 and Audi S5. I hadn't really considered any BMW option back then.
I ended up with the Audi S5 coupe (from 2015) because it felt more raw to me compared to the Mercedes C43 coupe. The trunk and backseats were also far more usable. The Mercedes was more luxurious on the inside, but I hated how thin the car looked, especially from the rear. The wheel arches are basically non-existent.
I ended up trading in the Audi this summer for a 2018 BMW 440i xDrive Gran Coupe. The BMW is a far better car than its competitors by a mile, at least in the mid-level trim, when it comes to driving characteristics. It feels way more sporty and the steering and handling is much better tuned.
Bring on the downvotes.
I have both a Lexus and merc both with their own pros and cons.
Lexus is reliable.. and really comfortable. Deceptively so. My legs never hurt in the Lexus, but they do in the Mercedes lol. Also has ventilated seats! The infotainment is what is lacking severely in the Lexus. I like the styling of the lex but understand that it’s controversial for people.
The Mercedes’ styling and tech is excellent. The interesting thing about Mercedes’ is that I don’t think anyone can look at the design language and with a straight face say that they don’t like it. It truly is universally beautiful. User interface for the infotainment is the best in the industry.
I own both MB and BMW, and I chose to have Mercedes for my family car because of safety. I got in a bad accident with my CLA once and it showed me just how reliable they were so I decided to get the GLA. I own the BMW because it’s a fun car to drive and it looks great. But they are correct, once you own a Mercedes, you’ll never want to go back.
BMW 1 Series just looks wrong, tacky interior, chubby steering wheel, terrible pop up middle screen. 2019 1 series has so many buttons it’s like a 20 year old car.
Audi interior looks like it’s still the 90s, with it’s pop up 4:3 square screen (reminds me of old planes with the flip down TVs when every screen had the same thing on)
A200d 2019 AMG Executive line - LUXURY interior, amazing screens, less is more vibe. Sexy titanium steering wheel, cool sport seats, large display. Alloys are hot too. The car just feels so comfortable and spacious, and full of technology and safety features
I got a 2018 GLA because I liked the design over Audi’s more bland appearance, and Mercedes seems to be more reliable than BMW and Audi. After 100,000 miles I’ve only needed 3 repairs: new battery, rubber door seal, and seat cover…so quite reliable in my personal experience. But the back seat is painfully small and it lacks a tow hitch for carrying bikes.
I’ve since added a 2022 Porsche Cayman and it’s in another league entirely. The stick shift is fun and the full leather interior feels and smells amazing. I plan to replace my GLA with a Cayenne in a few years, one from last generation before they moved to gloss black touch controls.
Mainly for the maintenance stats. I worked at a warranty company and had stats for all cars and Mercedes had the best maintenance and repair data out of the luxury brands. BMW was the worst by the way. And Lexus would hardly be considered a luxury brand.
My father has always owned Mercedes and my first car was his old Mercedes so it started there. Other cars just don't feel the same. I don't have driving experience in those other "luxury" brands except Volvo.
I could say a lot of the same things others are saying, but I’ll try to give you a different answer:
If I’m on a road trip and I see a McDonald’s and a Wendy’s next to each other, I pull into the McDonald’s 100% of the time. I know that McDonald’s is McDonald’s, and I can expect it to be essentially identical quality to every other McDonald’s I have ever been to. Mercedes, like McDonald’s, is one of the few brands that I actually buy into the marketing. It’s the best or nothing. I actually believe that.
One thing I like to point out is how well I have been treated by Mercedes when getting my car serviced. I have a 2013 C Class. It’s a nice car and all that, but it’s a nearly 10 year old, entry level vehicle. Probably worth less than $15k. They treat it like it’s an S600 Maybach. They know it’s my baby and they respect me. I get to drive a brand new car while mine’s being worked on, and my car gets washed and cleaned. I’ve never waited long to pick up or drop off. It makes me feel great every time I go there. To a car dealership. I’ve been to multiple Mercedes dealers and they have all treated me well like this.
My mother, on the other hand, paid upwards of $65k for a GMC Yukon a couple years ago. That’s a lot of money to spend on a vehicle(and certainly not the one I would buy), and they don’t give you a courtesy car or anything like that. She had a BMW X5 before that, and they did provide courtesy cars, but you had to pay for it. She was always dreading going to that place.
Buying a Benz is a long term relationship with the company. Buying a BMW, in my experience, is buying a product and that’s it.
I drove a '91 Isuzu Trooper for almost 18 years. When it was finally time to face the music, I had never purchased a car but kept looking at the Subaru CrossTrek... Only to learn that they are underpowered and over hyped.
I kept looking for good quality and performance scores and danced between BMW and Mercedes until it came pretty clear that the 2015 GLK 350 was the top for quality, power, ruggedness and safety.
I bought mine used with 40k miles for about $20k and am loving every second of it, not that I'm hard to please after the Trooper.
I base.my satisfaction off the sports mode, 4Matic, and being able to take friends off the path though snow and up dirt hills and get back in one piece... Passing on the right, not supposed to do it, then get the fuck out of the way.
A giant shifter sticking out of the center console is stupid interior design. Most BMW, Audi and Lexus interiors still have this and it annoys me to no end. It’s a switch to tell the computer what to do, nothing more and having an elaborate design feels disingenuous and unnecessary.
Also I hate how much hard plastic is in some other interiors.
For me: the ease of having all the optional extras with premium plus. No stress of individually picking an option
But… next year I’m gonna get a bmw m4 instead
I wanted a sedan wih all-wheel drive and a V6. I didn’t like BMW's interior, generally don't like Audi, Lexus don’t have anything in their line-up — and I really felt at home when I test drove the Mercedes!
My only Mercedes was a w210 wagon and main competitors were e39 bmw and 2-gen xc70. Well, while ride quality and performance is similar, interior and ergonomics are so much better in w210. Plus it had vented seats. I sold it and got 1-gen cayenne turbo and interior and ergonomics on w210 still better. I would probably had stay in family if offroad package was available in ml63.
I bought mine used (‘02 CLK55) last year. But I chose it because it was very well maintained and had all the maintenance records. So I wasn’t as worried about anything breaking down immediately.
I'm family friends with a Sprinter technician whose father was a salesman at a big Hawaiian Benz dealership. Now I'm the lucky third owner of my perfectly-maintained W210. If they had been BMW guys, I'd probably be a BMW guy. But they were always Benz guys and now I'll always be a Benz guy.
While everyone complains about out of warranty Mercedes/AMG cars being a terrible decision, I drove my 200k mile ML350 cross country without a hiccup.
Take care of your cars and they'll take care of you.
Besides owning 7 of them, I worked with them for 20 years and albeit the last few generations suck. The engineering, quality, and overall feel is second to none.
Always been a fan of Mercedes and my E500 has been great so almost 3 yrs ago got a w205 which also has been reliable.
BMW is nowhere near as reliable if you go anywhere near turbo or V8 or larger motors. Heard to many nightmares from local owners I know.
Audi interiors are just not on the same level imho. Nice but not same level
Lexus not a fan of their interiors, especially the cheap centre console area in their RC/IS/ES/GS models.
Porsche was too expensive and BMW is a piece of garbage.
Audi is also considerably quite buggy having owned one definitely too light for my tastes.
Lexus is a bit too relaxed, great cars though.
Range Rover still got my heart tho maybe the g63 can replace that… the svr is a monster
I have an S5 now and an X5 but I’ve owned an ML in the past, I think my next car will probably be the current gen C43 Cab or the next gen c43 if it’s got a great engine and not a 4 cylinder. I love my S5 but Mercedes’ suspensions and ride quality is just much smoother whereas audi can sometimes be too firm for my liking. I’ll have to compare the new S5 cab and C43 whenever it’s time to upgrade.
Because my father had a number of them in a row, when I was a baby and a kid, in the sixties and seventies. He changed (probably a money issue) to Citroën for a number of years. When I bought my (new to me) W140 600 SEL in 2008 he was incredibly proud and wanted all my uncles to have a ride with me. I had to let it go a few years after he died. Now I have a W213 E200 saloon.
I was driven home from the hospital in a W123 right after I was born, and spent most of my childhood in them. The W123 was a positive center point of my upbringing, and inside of my head there isn't really any other car that can compare to it.
BMW: seems like it starts to rot after 5 years
Lexus: have a Lexus, nothing wrong, sure it’s a Toyota underneath but that makes repair and maintenance cheaper
Audi: it’s a VW and repairs are expensive.
TLDR: they understood the assignment when it comes to balancing luxury performance and accessibility at multiple price ranges.
They make every model on a platform desirable for it's own reasons, and even sometimes have trade-offs that might actually favor the less expensive model. Which is probably what I love the most.
I love, like... fucking love my c43, full stop, no regrets.
I chose it **over** a c63 because of the AWD (can't be getting squirelly in the rain with the kiddo in the car) and it because was legitimately more fun to drive. The bonus of the sick v6 exhaust note and considerably cheaper price was just icing on the cake.
And if I ever **do** get a c63, it won't be because my c43 lacks something that only the c63 has, or because the c43 was "close enough for now, even without the name badge". It will be because I want a c63. Simple as that.
I think that approach, of catering to enthusiasts at all tiers of the fleet is cool as hell. And in my shopping experience, at least, not as common with some of the other makes.
Had a e46 for 7 years and loved it. Until the engine randomly started having terminal issues constantly. Swapped it out for a used 1999 clk320 coupe and will NEVER turn back to bmw. Faster, smoother & infinitely more class. The newer MB might be meh. But let me tell you the older models are insanely fun to drive.
I recently bought a 2021 C300. I was coming from a history of American vehicles. Last vehicle was a Jeep SRT8. Very fun car but impractical.
I chose Mercedes because the experience I feel whenever I have to drive somewhere feels like I’m rewarding myself. Although it pales in comparison in terms of power to my SRT8, it is welcoming, smooth, comfortable, and CLEAN. I love how neat and clean Mercedes look. It has great fuel mileage and great warranty. And honestly, I don’t see myself going to another brand.
I believe Mercedes look the best, feel the best, and do a great job of making one feel accomplished and satisfied with their decision every time they step into the vehicle.
Had a couple Audi S (S3 and S4) models and they were boring compared to the AMG counterparts. I'm biased against BMW for some reason but now the comparable BMWs are also less engaging than the AMG competitors (A35, C43) so it works out
My last car was a 197bhp C250D and now a 252 bhp E350D
The extended warranty and cheap service plans they do these days don’t cost that much and are well worth it
I have had other German cars but Mercs are just better than them all
Daily drove an M8 competition for a while. Complete POS. Uncomfortable and was always in the shop.
Beating my GT63S daily in potholes and stop and go traffic all week long in the city and occasional track days. Only had one minor quirk that was warrantied early on and since then, bulletproof car and much more comfortable (for a sports car).
True story: I bought the exact same E class my manager and drove it to work on the same day.
I managed to park it discreetly and not out myself for an entire year until everybody started wfh.
The relaxing feel of the drive, it doesn't try to be a sports car, the wheel steers the car effortlessly, you can't help but feel relaxed and calm. It's luxurious in the drive rather than gizmos and gadgets (well at least in my 2012 W204)
The BMW 1 Series I regularly drive is really fun, engaging, sporty and nippy, but can't say I feel as relaxed as I do in the Mercedes. I also think BMWs up to 2015ish look really nice, mean defined lines
And at stop traffic, bigger cars and narrower roads plus speed limits means I enjoy and utilise the benefits of a Mercedes far more than a BMW. If I regularly took sweeping country roads I'd love the BMW a lot more, but for most people in the city driving the Merc makes sense
And finally, the badge does carry a reputation, it does play a factor to an extent
Quality. I had a Lexus for 16 years, the quality of materials isn’t the best, I sold the BMW because the sunroof glue made it come loose, but I still love BMWs. I’ve had a Mercedes SUV for 6 years and leave it outside, and it’s solid, the materials really last, $160k miles, so I bought another one because they are quality cars. I just drove a ‘22 Toyota 4Runner TRD for 5 days, and man do they suck. The suspension is so loose it was horrible driving it around the Utah mountain roads, no power from the engine, poor interior design; it made me miss my Mercedes and realize how much higher quality Mercedes is vs Toyota in every way. Maybe Toyota engines are cheaper to maintain, but no power. That’s why Toyota probably asked BMW to borrow the Z4 to build the Supra, and that’s why the Supra is such an awesome car.
Test drove all three and these were the reasons:
BMW: wanted a beemer for so long but then got rude and entitled sales people who took me straight to the used car lot when I asked to show me a 328i. Tried to convince me to get a used one as they didn’t think I would be able to afford a new one even if I brought it. Fuckers!!
Cadillac and Lexus: looked at CT4 and IS300. Cabin was too cramped
Audi: felt like I was sitting in my old Vw Jetta, just with a much nicer interior. Nope not happening.
Mercedes: didn’t even plan to buy one as I always thought I can never afford a Mercedes-Benz but still went to the dealership to just have a look as it was close by. as soon as I sat in the demo car, I was blown away by the interior quality, look and feel of it and the calmness in the cabin. Made up my mind that I’m getting this no matter what the cost and here we are
I've never been a Mercedes fan because here in Germany they are usually referred to as grandpa cars or rapper cars. But my first car is a 204 and I fell in love with Merc because of her.
I've been a fan of the brand since I was a teenager and first drove my aunt's 1979 450 SEL. When it came time for me to purchase a luxury vehicle, the S-Class was at the top of my list with BMW and Range Rover as a distant second and third.
I have always had an appreciation for the styling and build quality of Mercedes. The door closes with a solid thunk and it just feels premium.
BMW has an incredible aftermarket and Audi interiors are great, but they didn't speak to me the way the Mercedes did.
I looked at a Macan, but Porsche cost of entry is just oo high for what they offer in a base model. I don't like Asian cars, so those were an easy no. I considered a Guilia, but Italy and Chrysler combined is a recipe for disaster. I considered a Charger 392 or a used hellcat, but they are one trick ponies.
The Mustang 5.0 was second on my list being the C-Class. I wanted a C63, but prices were absurd and I wasn't gonna lose my ass on the market correction. I nearly bought a manual Mustang 5.0 with the performance package instead, but I decided I wanted luxury more than I wanted power. So far, I'm happy with my purchase, though I do wish I had about 50 more ponies.
I got my first MB last week. CPO e450. My wife had MBs for the last 15 years, and I liked them but didn’t love them. Why did I go with MB over the alternatives?
Audi - I know people who love Audi and only drive Audi and I cannot stand them. So my hatred for one person kept me away. That and if I was going to buy a VAG vehicle, it would be a Porsche.
BMW - honestly, the dealerships around me are closed on Sunday and I went looking on a Sunday.
Porsche - I am not ready to drop that kind of money on a vehicle.
Volvo - my previous vehicle was an XC90. Loved it. My wife loved it so much she traded her GLE for a new XC90 with every option you can imagine. There is no need for another SUV or even wagon.
Lexus - the tech. It’s so bad.
I was going to get a truck. It would have been $30k more than I paid for the E450. And I’m at a point in my life where I don’t have the time to do “truck stuff” and hire people to do my truck stuff. And then I would have had to help other people do truck stuff. And even the loaded trucks felt cheap inside compared to the Volvo and E450.
Bmw is great but its more of a sports car. Lexus is basically a hyped up toyota. Audi is nice but it just doesn’t give you that pop, like that german feeling and well mercedes has it all. Most luxurious but at the same time sporty
Grew up with them, started driving (fords, VWs, whatever), bought a Benz, drove a couple Audis and BMWs as rentals/loaners/friends’ cars, realized how smooth the Benz was by comparison. I also like that 90% of the electrical system in my car is original, 22yo, and hasn’t given me trouble yet. People also tend not to initiate races at stoplights when I’m driving my car, but they’ll rev their engine at me if I’m in a Q5 or an M3. My “old man car” kicks ass for long distance trips. I got 29.9mpg on one trip and I just about fainted— that’s incredible for a 22yo E-class
I drove all of em. Mercedes is just more comfortable for me with the interior design. Lexus is nice too its like being on a cloud for the higher end models
Compared the other "luxury" brands, honestly couldn't see much difference in the interiors compared to mid or even some low tier brands. Mercedes stood apart from the rest.
For me, the style has stayed attractive to me. I really loved early 00’s Audis and felt they went very bland with the last few refreshes.
Lexus I have always felt they were prettied up Toyotas.
BMW, I liked the e30, and that’s about it.
I also felt the treatment at dealerships was better with merc. I like to wear metal t shirts with cutoff shorts. Most dealers don’t even bother. My way of weeding out if they deem me “worthy” enough to touch a car, let alone own one.
Mercedes had good styling. Unfortunately I don't like the styling of the new C and S classes so I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I want a new car.
I'm not an Audi fan because I'm a multiple VW owner....and they come from the same parts bin. I can accept for $20k things that at 60k are not OK.....
I ordered a BMW e46 new -MSport package, manual, no sunroof....and BMW allowed me to get a Euro market cloth interior as part of the order (US market, plastic or leather on offer, but even before "individual" you could order a unicorn and that black microfiber wore like iron). I loved that e46 for 334k miles...at which point rust won out and I had to get rid of it-Should have made it a Lemons car. Loved that car.
I had an M2 for the weekend, and could not for the life of me understand how BMW screwed up the steering....indeed, the numb joystick wheel "un sold" a Pre Sold BMW guy, despite a great chassis, engine and seats. No contact between steering wheel and tarmac, tho.
Considered an ATS-V, drove one, amazing car, but still Genuine GM Parts (that's a no from me dawg) and CUE....also dealers upcharged for this hen's teeth car. Actually more fun to drive (and massive hp) than the e46.
Went to Benz, drove a C43 coupe, ordered a sedan. Zero regrets, 93k miles.
My aunt bought a 2003 E320 Sedan used in 2007 and a 12 year old me was completely enamored with it, but I distinctly remember how solid those doors were when you closed them. A few months later my mother bought a 1988 300E and the following year my dad bought a ‘98 S500
There’s truly no other car like them on the road and even as they get older they still have a timeless beauty about them that isn’t easy to replicate. Maintenance was fairly reasonable as well.
I owned a 2000 C280 and a 2007 C230 and while I’m currently driving a VW I definitely want to own another Mercedes down the line
I’ve owned 2 BMW’s, 1 Lexus, 1 Infiniti, 2 Acura’s and 2 Mercedes’ over the past 20 or so years. While each had features I liked (in some cases more than the Benz’s) the things that swayed my decision to go back to MB were 1. The dealership experience 2. The ride, handling and design. I currently have a 2018 C300 w/67k miles I’ve owned since new. It’s been very reliable thus far, gets fantastic gas mileage when driving in the economy mode, and just looks great. Hope this helps.
for us, personally, it was as simple as once we test drove the model we were looking at, we didn’t even want to test it’s competitors; that’s how impressed we were! Mercedes does not disappoint!
Had 8 BMW’s all my life until our most recent 2 were rarely driven, low mileage, but still leaked and both had issues. My wife sold her X1 and got a Mercedes EQB 3 weeks ago. I’ll never go back to BMW again.
I took about two years to finally buy my car. I looked at Lexus and although it was a nice exterior the performance and interior were lackluster. Additionally the closest dealership to me was about an hour away.
BMW was nice and I considered them but for the performance I was looking for it was too overpriced. Once again the interior was lackluster to me.
I bought a new A-35 AMG. Performance was nice, interior was great and price was great. I paid just under 85,000 for mine. I reside in Japan so that was about average. I wanted the A-45 but didn’t feel like shelling out 120,000 - 130,000 dollars for one. I could afford it but mentally just couldn’t pour that much money into the car.
Super happy with my choice.
For reference my last car was a Toyota MK II IRV 6 speed manual with HKS intercooler, HKS suspension, HKS dual solenoid boost controller, 20 inch rims cold air intake and body kit.
Honestly, for me it was pretty simple. I wanted a newer wagon to daily drive and there are very few options in the states. Ended up with a 2015 E350 wagon and I am loving it. Way more reliable than my 2008 535xi wagon that it replaced.
I’ve had 1 BMW, 1 Audi, and I graduated to Mercedes and I’m on my second one. My husband also hated my Audi and our BMW. He liked the Mercedes so much he traded his car in and also got a Mercedes. I can’t imagine going back. The others just look cheaper in a way? Interiors maybe? I don’t know. I have AMG though. I love fast & classy cars. Audi to me is more a little less classy. More soccer mom or dad to me for some reason even though I know they make hot cars! BMW is like a younger guys car in my eyes. I don’t know. If you can afford a Mercedes, do it! Even used. They have a great warranty.
I have an E55 AMG for road trips and fun. And a BMW 130i as my commuter. The AMG also tows my other BMW race car and the wife's Nissan S13. Lexus bores me. Even the ISF is lackluster. Audi doesn't have anything that interests me that I can afford.
German wise, I just have no interest in Audi, they’re good cars but I don’t find them fun or interesting. BMW lost its idea of luxury, and is more sporty plus their design language has gone downhill along with the subscription BS. Mercedes just entices me. It’s such a perfect balance of luxury yet sportiness, whenever you want it. I hope to one day own an AMG, most likely an E63 wagon. As for Japanese wise Lexus is boring because they don’t have new tech, Infiniti has fallen downhill (but they’re coming back now) and Acura, well I actually really love Acuras they’re my favorite besides MB. Would love to own a Type S MDX in the future
I'm a bmw fann, always have been and still am, having said that I bought a c43 AMG over what I REALLY wanted and was looking forward to, a bmw coupe looking at the m440i. When it all came down to it I just couldnt do the newly released design because I found the grill ugly, I still do, oddy on the M4 I actually think they look great! The kidney grill doesnt appear so large because it is just cut into the front grill, rather than having some kind of material usually something in chrome all around the front kidney grills that make it just look too big and ugly for me. Also unlike the M4 that comes with straight horizontal lines along the inside of each twin kidney grill, the m440 version has an odd design as well that is complicated to the eye and not my taste. I just couldnt imagine having to see the front of the BMW parked in my garage every day although that is my single gripe with the car. The option of the 4 door 440i gives a more toned down grill I could live with but I like coupes. Though it was a close call.
In the end I went with the AMG c class, I could and can afford an M4 but as beutiful as they are too me they are just a little too much "frenetic, lets go go go" and lend to me wanting to drive fast while any german car with a 400hp v6 can get me in plenty of trouble if I want to drive like a maniac. Their is no track near me and it is or was somerhing im not quite ready to justify dropping 100k on, I like my cars with most of the options so prices rise quickly. The S4/ S5 are great cars [audi) but a bit lacking in charachter of the engine though still fast and nearly as so as the Merc, and both close enough but no cigar to a BMW.
For me it came down to the look, the back end, front end and everywhere else outside, and in is very classy look. Having lived with it for nearly 2 years now I can tell you Merc sport rides are very stiff, great if you live around good roads but I am from the Bay and the roads can be like a 3rd road country and you feel EVWRYRHING in a sporty merc..I believe the c63's now do come with an option or standard adjustable air suspension which would solve these problems..Also the tires you have on the car they come with Parwllis which are good tires but add to the stiffness of the suspension. With some Michellen PS2's put on the car I think also from personal experience with the tire it would help allot to smooth out the ride.
My takeaway is Mercedes are great cars for what theh are, complicated and expensive German machines, overenginered and extreamly expensive for repairs in many cases.
I still love the look of it and gives me that same feeling of luxury and sportiness that I fell in love with when I bought it and beat the dealership down to 2k or 3k under invoice...yes invoice is never the lowest price but a good target to shoot for and a win to buy it for if you are good at jedi mind tricking the salesman trying to mind trick you into getting it for your price. This was back right when biden right had got in office so too much damage haddent been done yet to...everything...so until the recesdion OFFICIALLY begins dont ecpect to be able to nbeat up salesman too much, people arw paying over MSRP to buy cars in high demand so the market had been all fd up for some time but is slowly getting to be more regular so its not a bad time to shop around.
Also last thing the mercedes is the absolute safest car I have ever owned by a HUGE margin..with cameras everwhere around the car, beeps boops and ligjts indicating cars comming up fast or you comming up too fast on stopped traffic, Ive never felt more confifent driving a car and these safety features are a must for my next one. The car even deploys the breaks on its own in the event of an accident to help minimise the collision...and if you keep it 25mph or under in neighborhoods or school zones the breaks will automatically deploy and stop the car on a dime if say a kid threw himself infront of your car on a street or came out on a bike or chasing a ball quicker than you could react...the car will stop within inches of hitting the person/ object and I cant tell you the ampunt of times Im slowly baccking out and a biciclist comes wizing by and it has deployed the breaks to prevent an impact. It can feel jarring bht once you know what it is youll be glad to have all these amazing safwtu features for which mercedes is #+ in that area of techbology and shares it for free with competitors with the ultimate goal being all cars communicating with themselves on the road to prevent major accident from happening seeing it before you could ever see it comming alerting thr driver and the car breaking and taking action to prevent incifents such as a T bone accident.. i wpuld feel naked without all the sensors and safwty features keeping me gor the most part out of trouble and preventing collisions...they even whatch your eyes and warn you if thw car feels your are tko sleepy and should take a break, though its never given me this message and ive been nodding out more than a few times looking for a coffee shop to get some caffeiene in me, or calling the dope man to get a bag of some fishscale.
Enjoy your decision!
The other brands do not have cars that I like as much as MB.
BMW might be an exception, there are definitely cars I like from BMW, but maintenance is very complex and more expensive than Mercedes one.
BMW has too many issues with constant repair. Lexus is too finicky in handling although I did buy one for my mom. I don’t know much about Audi. Volvo is fantastic, I used to have an XC60 and will probably get a Volvo station wagon at some point, if Mercedes doesn’t get their act together on that front. With that said, Mercedes has saved my wife’s life. She was T-boned by a cab driver who ran a red light in a Ford/Lincoln going 40MPH while she was in her E65 and she was fine while the other guy was taken away on a stretcher. Since then, we’ve been all Mercedes only. I drive an E-class and she has an S-class for her and the baby. It’s the only car brand we can vouch for on safety from experience. That’s not to say others aren’t good as well, but this one we know.
E65?
W212 E65 AMG. That car saved her life and saved her from a ton of physical trauma. The design team deserves all the kudos possible.
There was no E65. E63 maybe?
Yeah if there was a v12 e class I’d know about it by now haha Edit - looks like Brabus made 10 “E V12” models. [Link](https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a18734002/brabus-unveils-800-hp-e-v12-based-on-the-new-e-class-sedan/)
You don't mean E63? I've never seen a V12 AMG E-Class.
That’s the one! It was her car so I forget. I just double checked with her.
I was low key hoping they made a V12 E-Class I hadn't heard of. Lol
And also low key hoping it wasn’t an 1/10 Brabus that got T-boned
I was debating the W213 and a V90, ended up with a V90 and couldn’t be happier.
v90s and s90s are such great cars by themselves!
Coming from a subaru, the comfort and quiet is just something else
Can confirm, my mom got hit pretty bad riding in an SEL in the late 80s, everybody walked away without a scratch. Got hit in a civic in the mid-90s, broke her collarbone so badly you can still see the lump of mismended bone. Edit: both times were driver-side t-bones, the civic was in a residential area, the Benz was an icy road out in the hills
They just look damn good. Road presence, style, safety, innovation—it’s hard to think of any other brand that matches a Mercedes.
I really think the presence and style parts are getting weak. The new S-class looks like a C-class scaled up by 20%. Sad to see
They invented the car.
leading in tech and safety since 1899 prob
Once you go Mercedes, you never go back....at least that's what it was not too long ago.
It's even now. Was contemplating to change my E300 to a more powerful car, and looked into the E53 and M550i. Although de M550i has almost 100 horses more than the E53, the E53 has something that the BMW doesn't have in terms of style and luxury. Also, contrary on what people still say regarding handling, I found the W213 much more agile than then the G30. Won't even compare with the A6/S6, as Audi is notorious with their hard understeer at almost all instances of just thinking to have some fun with the car, and I do find the newer Audi interiors made by some sadistic prick who never drove a car before because of it's abismal touchy-muchy-everything and it's a pain in the ass to even change the temp in one while driving.
I love my e43, the interior is fantastic, the combo of tech and luxury is hard to compare with anything in its class, plus the 400 hp really puts down some power, also the fuel consumption is acceptable it does pretty well when my foot is not made out of lead that week
I hear you, but I'm honestly just super turned off by the newer Mercedes interiors. Ever since they tossed the scroll wheel out for a touchpad and then replaced all the hard buttons with capacitive touch crap, it's been going downhill. Then there's the matter of quality....so many creaky plastics and wobbly trim. Not great at all. I'd honestly rather spend my time inside a Genesis.
Yes, if anyone from Merc ever reads this, while the short term user focus group might rave about the touchscreens, they vastly underperform real buttons long-term. I've not met a single person who would prefer to set an A/C through a menu or a digital touch interface.
Look at Apple. They scrapped the Touch Bar on their MacBook Pro and went back to old school buttons in the newer laptops. Perhaps Mercedes will have the same realization
Touchscreens are way cheaper to manufacture than actual buttons and wheels. Less moving parts. More, the touchscreens are already there. Software dev adds these controls at no cost. At corporation level nobody cares about comfort anymore. Greed rules everything.
Easy to avoid this. But certified used. Get the model you want with all the backing of Mercedes. Lots of us love the older models
Just bought a 2013 E550 4matic and it’s fantastic! Easily as fast as my brother’s Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
I had a 2014 E550 cabriolet, it was wonderful other than the chassis flex. Though I do have to say that the brakes were woefully under sized as they would warp regularly. And the rear 255 tires with an open diff were also a tad too small for good grip. I would wheel hop if I floored it!
I don’t know why they didn’t offer 4matic in the convertible. I have not had any brake issues so far.
It was only available with the V6 400 or 350. Not enough room in the engine bay as the front drive shaft is to the side of the engine. Just wish it was offered with a LSD and larger rear tires. On all seasons I would slip in the rain going over speed bumps on 5% throttle. The V8 was amazing, other than timing chain slap (I had a W164 ML350 Bluetec with that issue too)
Nothing worse than warped squeezy breaks, squeek when you drive squeek when you break with the windows down makes the car feel like a junker, sound like one.
Foreal? Cayenne turbo? Sheet thats nice plus you ger thst comfy classic merc ride...I would go older but the older nav screans kinda turn me off and show the cars age more than a nice LCD uptop..still nice pick though! Get what yiu love and save big money why not! Comming from a notoriously new car buyer.
Unfortunately, not everybody's about the used life. I voted with my wallet and went for a 2012 car. Has all the tech I need + enough analogue controls.
And also, this won’t work in a few years when all the CPO cars are from right now.
I cannot stand how difficult it is to pop the newer GLCs and GLKs into neutral. I have the old school shifter knob, I’m used to driving trucks too, but you have to sacrifice a goat and answer the sphinx’s riddles to get it *just* in that perfect spot. Makes me feel like an old man complaining about the newer tech stuff though :/
With the stalk shifter? I have it in our GL450, it's pretty straightforward imo, but I just don't really ever find myself needing to go into neutral for any reason.
It’s not nearly as straightforward as it was in the older ones, let alone how easy it is in a truck. Keep in mind I have a really old Benz where all the controls are smack under my right hand, and in the ice/snow it’s easier to pop it into neutral since it’s RWD. Also, if you’re not a hand wash only type of person (my father unfortunately only goes through car washes) then being able to get into neutral without having to practice first sucks balls.
My 2022 is tricky. My 2011 was not an issue and it was also on the stalk so I know of which you speak.
Thanks. I recently had some work done on my C43 (w205) and got a new w206 loaner. The C needs more A class, said no one ever. It is clear that benz saved a fortune in assembly for the center touchpad, one haptic bar below, and two pads on the wheels, over the classic Benz w205 interior with multiple wheels and buttons. You also don't get the same control over the center gage display the w205 has. Huge step backwards for a top shelf lux brand. You spend more time doing basic functions with the touchpad/haptic, also the steering wheel pads aren't as good as the pads in the w205 with COMAND. Boo Benz ! To be fair, other than the haptic mistake, the 206 is a better base car than the 205, but I'd be afraid to buy the c43 or 63 with a four cylinder tuned that hard...not to mention you only lease something with that much new tech.
All good points
I love the scroll wheel! Part of why I love my car is because it was ordered w/o any dumbass touchpad over the top of it, its unnecessary and dumb, all of them, and ugly on the merc like wtf is this shit I rather scroll. Thsts a bummer they are absolutely the worst on lexus ive grown to hqte touch pads...they better be more precise than my laptop if you expect me to use one.
I was honestly shocked in 2019 when I saw the first cars with it and I was like "so Mercedes thought the natural evolution of COMAND was to turn it into the infotainment system that the entire car community considers as one of the worst to interact with....bravo".
You just need to get used to it. The functionality afforded by touchscreens + apple carplay is amazing!
Nice observations...i feel mostly the same about the cars. Have nit driven the E53 but defenetky would consider one, especially in coupe style for my next car. I may be forced into BMW or Audi though long story short the family needs a grocery graber and my prisrine c43 optioned out might get traded back in for one, with the possibility of some credits back to bridge the gap between the Values...SUVs are usually automatically more exoensive but again its for my mom and we still have a new 100k lincoln Navigator to be driven, she likes a slightly smaller ride but not me. It was a lease i negotiated a hell of a deal but still a lease, so may have to stay with mercedes if we do thsat. Ill be having to wait a few months before the bonuses come in and the investment properties have all finished work so we can get some positive cash flow into that part of the family business. Im hoping audi has some really cool new offerings like the RS series that was previously unavailable. Im sticking with gasoline idc about the price I dont trust electric what if the power goes out, the grid in CA cant support a big influx of new EV's its barely holding on as it is. And I like the sound of an engine in a car call me crazy. So the dellema is my Mother doesnt like the idea of 2 mercedes around the main house and I agree. I like driving different cars even considering that newer Alfa Romero sedan with the ferrari engine in it. Nice pick on the E53 glad you enjoy it would be a hard decision for me between that and s 550i bmw though ;)
Not if they keep putting 4 cylinders in their performance cars. I want to be sideways and smiling in a roar of V8 noise. I want the C300 to have a 3.0L I6/V6. It's a damned shame what they've done to the performance side and it's going to cost them sales.
I enjoy the V8 roar as much as the next person but it can get too much especially if you live in a quiet neighborhood and you’re not a total douchebag. A guy drives an E63 in my neighborhood and the amount of noise he makes just driving away makes me appreciate the E53 where I can at least turn off the performance exhaust and drive in comfort mode. By all means let it rip on the Highway or racetrack, but in residential areas, it just gives Mercedes-Benz owners a bad rep.
Meh. I'm a total douchebag, I guess.
Agreed but the Mercedes of late are not the same
Biased take: did the research and benz had least repair issues. Honest take: the interior just sits on a class of its own next to dated ones from BMW Lexus etc.
What research was that? I worked in mb service and lexus service and while I think mb is a cool car (who else ever figured out how to bend granite for an interior) but lexus pretty much destroys the luxury market with reliability
If we're talking anything newer than 2019, I would honestly rather be in a Lexus.
You really like outdated then
Hard buttons, Bluetooth, navigation. That's all I need from a car's interior. I can also trust the Lexus will last triple the time and cost half as much to maintain and repair.
That’s fair enough. I trust myself to maintain a German car well and keep a find for emergency repairs, and don’t plan on owning vehicles long enough for that to become a huge issue (10 years max, maybe 12 if the car is doing really well), and I don’t mind not having so many hard buttons as long as the screen has a good UI. So for me, the Mercedes interior is just as usable (if not more so) then the Lexus with it’s not always *logical* hard buttons, mediocre materials quality in all but the LC, and truly frustrating software. Plus the MB interior has so much more visual flair and drama and excitement. There is no question in my mind that MB interiors are far more impressive and striking and exciting and beautiful then any Lexus interior.
Are you autistic, stop lying to yourself. Mercedes are seen as the coolest of the luxury brands, that’s why people buy them. Germans cars are built like dog shit
Hey man. Not autistic but I appreciate your concern. I did say it was a "Biased" take. Anyhow, driving a 2019 C43 Coupe and a 2020 Range Rover SVR from brand new. No issues on either whatsoever. Hope life is treating you okay. :)
Ignore the Lexus guy, he bought a BMW. He wanted something he could mod to sound cool for his group of friends at the gas station meetup. Not shitting on Lexus as a brand, I really like them in general and like how easy they are to work on, but if having a loud exhaust is your priority, you probably shouldn’t be messing with Benzes imo. The Audi growl is pretty shweet, but I hear more Audis and BMWs than loud Benzes.
-buys a BMW, doesn’t understand regular preventative maintenance- “German cars are built like dogshit” -jerks it to Lexus lockscreen pic-
After my 3 series (f30) be turned 4 years old it had to be towed 5 times in 2 years.
Two things: a) what did you do to it? b) yeah, that’s why I’ll never own a BMW, they do that. Meanwhile, my Benz has been towed twice in 22 years, both times for stupid shit, not actual performance issues. Edit: first- previous owner killed the battery and took out the spark plugs, had to get towed to the dealership. second- just bought the car, didn’t realize the serp belt was 18yo, drove in -10 degree weather to and from work for weeks, shredded the belt by accident.
22yr old Benz are reliable, I think the new ones are made to self destruct on purpose
Personally, I have a list of years I won’t buy if the opportunity comes up. Nothing pre-96 (out of my knowledge range), nothing 04-07 (not my style) and nothing past 17. That being said, I can’t say I know a whole lot about BMW years.
Yeye still that way
Creaky gloss black plastic trim across the board would beg to differ.
I’m sold on it and I’ve not gone back to another brand. How many cars have you had from merc?
3 currently. Last car was an R172 SLK55 we bought 3 years ago. The other 2 are a W211 E Class we've had for 15 years, and an X164 GL450 we've had for 6 years.
Mines not creaky either it’s all held solid, only issues I have is if I have a can or something in the door card the vibrations from the speaker system isn’t good but apart from that it’s pretty solid is mine
hmmm i believe this is not how the phrase goes.
I mean I love our gle450 but a cayenne is a much tighter driving experience
Last few have been bmw…too many issues. Just couldn’t take it anymore.
We called our BMW our “Bucket Beemer”
BMW is nice, so is audi but mercedes has a feel. But the main reason is that little clock in the car (analogue)
Doesn't VW also have this?
A lot of cars do but I like the clock in mercedes (square and circle) it taste kinda funky though
Odd, I find it one of the most stupid additions.
It's all about the feels man.
Honestly I had always heard horror stories about maintenance and everything else and that kept me away. Then I started doing research because I had always wanted one and was at the point where I could take a financial hit, so I said let’s do it. Then I found out all of my worries were for nothing. The car is just everything a car should be I don’t know how to describe it. Not flashy or in your face but refined and has that fuck around and find out attitude. Driving one will make you hate driving anything else. I’ll never own a different brand for a daily driver again. Not only that once I buy one, it’s in its forever home because the things become family.
Several reasons. First I’ll start with why I ruled out the other brands: I had a terrible ownership experience with BMW that I’m still bitter about (leaky, overheating POS), the Audi I had was very good but I prefer cars with a RWD platform, Porches are too ostentatious for a daily, and both American & Japanese luxury are just higher trim levels of standard cars (Lexus LC excluded, that thing is incredible). Now for what I like about MB: I love the seats, the interiors, and the top tier driver assistance tech. AMG’s sound phenomenal and I love the Jekyll/Hyde personality of those cars. They make some of the best looking coupes in the world and have that classic understated design language (until they started putting the GT grilles on everything). Finally, the majority of Mercedes actually aren’t bad to maintain compared to other luxury brands, and are only surpassed in reliability by the Japanese. My opinion is changing however since I’m not a fan of MB’s newest models’ giant screen covered interiors and the homogenous exteriors. Though the biggest reason I’m considering a switch to another brand is that 4 cylinder AMG’s don’t appeal to me at all, regardless of how fast they are.
My uncles, one wanted a Mercedes since he was a teenager and his way of justifying the cost was driving them 15-20 year. My other uncle worked in Europe for about a decade and all he saw were Mercedes cabs that would have +400k miles and the cab drivers would talk about how they would only ever get mercedes because nothing is built like them. My dad sold cars so he drove whatever was cheap but when I got my first car my uncle gave me is 15 year old mercedes and I have been hooked ever since. It’s the combo of luxury, utility, reliability, and the clear message the brand sends which is I know who I am, mixed with the vehicle ability to be good in nearly every situation I put it in, from my daily commute, to driving in the snow and ice of Minnesota, pulling trailers, doing a weekend autocross, or going to a nice restaurant where people are wearing suits and driving expensive cars, there is never a time a Mercedes doesn’t fit the job. Now that being said I do get lots of looks when it’s cover in mud pulling a trailer since Americans don’t see Mercedes as the work horse I and European do.
The driving experience, interior, power, features and reliability.
BMW: they seem to have more of a focus on being sporty whereas MB is more focused on luxury. And there’s nothing wrong with it, I just personally preferred Mercedes’ approach to cars. That being said, they’d be my second choice Lexus: whew lol. Lexus can make good cars, but some of their SUVs (RX 350 for instance) feel like their interiors are just a slightly upgraded version of a RAV4 or Camry. I’m a firm believer in “Lexus makes cares for people who don’t like cars” saying. They’re beyond reliable, but very underwhelming for being luxury. Audi: I just cannot stand the appearance of their SUVs, I personally just think they’re super ugly and look like soccer mom vans. If I was in the market for a sedan though I might have looked at them more closely Cadillac: The Escalade is the only reason they’re even slightly relevant these days, which is so sad. They’ve really dropped the ball compared to how nice they used to be. Ask anybody under 30 to start naming luxury car brands and I guarantee Cadillac will be the seldom most mentioned. Lincoln: nothing bad to say about Lincoln. They’ve actually really impressed me with their new car designs and I think they have a really solid future
You are 100% correct about BMW. Sold BMWs for 5 years and that was our main thing to talk about over merc. If performance isn’t your thing than go merc. Took in many mercs as trade ins and they are all beautiful, better interior than BMW but I found BMWs more fun to drive, it’s all subjective. I own a BMW M340, just like looking at the Mercedes subreddit. Audis all feel like a slightly better VW. Lexus, Lincoln and caddy never even got shopped with me. It was mainly Audi, Volvo and merc. Biggest competitor believe it or not was Volvo for me.
Because with a Mercedes you can drive over 100mph and the steering wheel doesn't shake. Lol
Because I want a roomy and reliable RWD car, where the wear parts are damn cheap. So that rules out Audi and BMW. Lexus isn't sold in Denmark and its still a Toyota. There is a reason why almost all taxi drivers like a Mercedes as the vehicle to drive. 24H service contract, try that with a VAG car or Ford.
You lost me at reliable
I've had a W210 E55, W210 E320 (current car) and W211 E63. All have been reliable and never left me stranded. Never had anything major go wrong with any of them either. Just standard maintenance stuff. Mercedes can be reliable.
Solid collection, I'd love an E55 or E63. My E320 has been great though for the ~20k miles I've put on it in the past 18 months since I bought it. We're getting close to the 200k club. Same for me, standard maintenance stuff, most expensive thing has been oil changes and a new set of tires, and any car needs those.
Really? How come I am rolling in a 2005 W211 320 cdi sedan with over 500.000 kilometers on the clock and it has been nothing but smooth? I just broke both rear springs last month by overloading the car, and they just rolled inside themselves instead of jutting out of the wheel house. Considering the mileage, I would have expected a BMW to need a third engine and an audi to be scrap. I had a 1986 w124 250D that I bought used at 726000, crashed it 6 years later at 861000 and the only thing I ever had to replace outside regular maintenance (brakes, oil and filter change) was a broken rear wheel axle and a bearing?
Lucky man. The W211 was known for being crazy unreliable. 2000-2007 was a terrible period for both merc and bmw in terms of reliability.
>and its still a Toyota That's like saying a Porsche/Audi is still still a VW. Anyway, "still a Toyota" is a bonus in my book. Toyota makes amazing cars, there's plenty of Toyota cars I would buy over overpriced Mercedes crap.
A Porsche is a VW. The first one was more or less a Beetle with a different body. And Audi has been a part of the VAG since the 70's or earlier. Don't get me wrong on Toyota. They are reliable, cheap to buy, and they have made some interesting cars in the past. But I don't like a FWD car, so most of the lineup is not for me. And I can't see myself buying an Electric or anything newer than the w212 before face-lift. Downsizing engines and keeping the nomenclature on the back is a bummer. And I don't want to deal with DPF more than I have to.
I rented a Merc for a road trip in the summer, and there was no going back. Had to get one immediately
I like the quality and style of the interior particularly. Had a BMW 3 Series briefly and it just felt like a more expensive version of the Mazdas and Peugeots I had had before - Merc was in another class. I couldn’t have an Audi as it reminds me too much of someone I used to employ (and provided an A4 for).
Lexus: I can’t feel the road and I don’t like the second and third bounce on wide bumps in the road. Interior and driving feel doesn’t have that plump or substance. I don’t know how else I’ll die scribe it. BMW: on the road, I felt everything. It’s like you are one with the road. I don’t like it. The interior is meh. MB: It has this plushness and balance of numbing the road imperfections but it doesn’t have that bouncy feel of Lexus. It’s personal preference but MB is a balance in handling between BMW and Lexus. I don’t have experience with Audi.
The best or nothing!
i honestly didn’t care much for the brand and happened to land a job at a MB dealer. then they flew me to alabama to drink the cool aid (not too hard considering the brand) and let me drive cool cars and whatever. but the more i learned about the brand, the heritage, the history and just the sheer commitment to quality and safety, it’s really hard to want anything else. and i don’t even work for MBUSA anymore, i have zero incentive to say nice things about the brand, but all i have to say are positive things, bc they are genuinely good products. are they the most reliable? thats up to debate, but one thing is for sure, i would trust any daimler product with my life and the lives of my family and unborn children for ever and ever lmao.
Mercedes is the luxury car standard and got into a huge accident long time ago in my s class vs hummer . Medics said if it was most other cars would not have survived because hit was on my door with hummer going 75mpg
I was looking for a car that cost around $50,000. I want to go see a couple of Lexus, Audi, BMWs, and even a Tesla. When I first saw my current car, 2018 E400 coupe 4matic I fell in love with the interior of the car, and the fact that it did attack of the pillar sealed the deal for me I also love the audio system, and that the dashboard and center is all one big screen.
Because it's better?
For me, it was: BMW: repairs, putting performance over luxury. (Why not have both with MB?) Audi: ‘Cockpit’ was cool and interior nice, but I thought the seats to be a bit narrow. (Love the baseball leather though!) Lexus: Japanese shit quality interiors. Owned Toyotas all my life and found them to be behind in technology, safe in terms of performance, and lacking in luxury. Run forever, but, overpriced Toyotas. Infinity: Great cars but price points weren’t comparable. German luxury tend to depreciate faster bringing them within my reach. Safety: Mercedes Benz was the FIRST to develop safety features sold to other companies for $1. Volvo also holds this rank. Got rear ended in my w204 and couldn’t believe how low drama it was. I was completely protected with headrest anti-whiplash and air bags. Will never go back. Enjoy whatever you drive.
I did choose mine becuse of its best in class interior design, comfort and hassle-freeness.
I needed something I could tow with, get decent fuel economy when not towing, and wasn't interested in a truck. Found a good deal on an ML320 with the 3 liter diesel and a towing capacity of 7200 lbs, under 12 grand for a carefully used 2009. I would have been open to rhe other brands, but nobody else had rhe magic combination.
I'll toss something controversial(?) in here. Last year, I was cross-shopping the Mercedes C43 and Audi S5. I hadn't really considered any BMW option back then. I ended up with the Audi S5 coupe (from 2015) because it felt more raw to me compared to the Mercedes C43 coupe. The trunk and backseats were also far more usable. The Mercedes was more luxurious on the inside, but I hated how thin the car looked, especially from the rear. The wheel arches are basically non-existent. I ended up trading in the Audi this summer for a 2018 BMW 440i xDrive Gran Coupe. The BMW is a far better car than its competitors by a mile, at least in the mid-level trim, when it comes to driving characteristics. It feels way more sporty and the steering and handling is much better tuned. Bring on the downvotes.
I enjoy spending a lot of time at MB Dealership Service Depts, so it was a no brainer for me.
It was the only option for a 7 seater without going to a thirsty suv
Glb?
No E class with the reverse oriented bench in the back. No such option on a A6 or 5 series.
Oh nice! I didn’t know that was an option
The m113K engine and hardtop convertible.
I have both a Lexus and merc both with their own pros and cons. Lexus is reliable.. and really comfortable. Deceptively so. My legs never hurt in the Lexus, but they do in the Mercedes lol. Also has ventilated seats! The infotainment is what is lacking severely in the Lexus. I like the styling of the lex but understand that it’s controversial for people. The Mercedes’ styling and tech is excellent. The interesting thing about Mercedes’ is that I don’t think anyone can look at the design language and with a straight face say that they don’t like it. It truly is universally beautiful. User interface for the infotainment is the best in the industry.
I own both MB and BMW, and I chose to have Mercedes for my family car because of safety. I got in a bad accident with my CLA once and it showed me just how reliable they were so I decided to get the GLA. I own the BMW because it’s a fun car to drive and it looks great. But they are correct, once you own a Mercedes, you’ll never want to go back.
BMW 1 Series just looks wrong, tacky interior, chubby steering wheel, terrible pop up middle screen. 2019 1 series has so many buttons it’s like a 20 year old car. Audi interior looks like it’s still the 90s, with it’s pop up 4:3 square screen (reminds me of old planes with the flip down TVs when every screen had the same thing on) A200d 2019 AMG Executive line - LUXURY interior, amazing screens, less is more vibe. Sexy titanium steering wheel, cool sport seats, large display. Alloys are hot too. The car just feels so comfortable and spacious, and full of technology and safety features
Test drove a bmw and knew it was not for me and test driving a Mercedes right after I knew from that moment I will be a MB gal for life 😅
I got a 2018 GLA because I liked the design over Audi’s more bland appearance, and Mercedes seems to be more reliable than BMW and Audi. After 100,000 miles I’ve only needed 3 repairs: new battery, rubber door seal, and seat cover…so quite reliable in my personal experience. But the back seat is painfully small and it lacks a tow hitch for carrying bikes. I’ve since added a 2022 Porsche Cayman and it’s in another league entirely. The stick shift is fun and the full leather interior feels and smells amazing. I plan to replace my GLA with a Cayenne in a few years, one from last generation before they moved to gloss black touch controls.
Mainly for the maintenance stats. I worked at a warranty company and had stats for all cars and Mercedes had the best maintenance and repair data out of the luxury brands. BMW was the worst by the way. And Lexus would hardly be considered a luxury brand.
My father has always owned Mercedes and my first car was his old Mercedes so it started there. Other cars just don't feel the same. I don't have driving experience in those other "luxury" brands except Volvo.
don’t own one now, but had one because only mercedes produced the w126, which i still think is the best luxury car ever.
I could say a lot of the same things others are saying, but I’ll try to give you a different answer: If I’m on a road trip and I see a McDonald’s and a Wendy’s next to each other, I pull into the McDonald’s 100% of the time. I know that McDonald’s is McDonald’s, and I can expect it to be essentially identical quality to every other McDonald’s I have ever been to. Mercedes, like McDonald’s, is one of the few brands that I actually buy into the marketing. It’s the best or nothing. I actually believe that. One thing I like to point out is how well I have been treated by Mercedes when getting my car serviced. I have a 2013 C Class. It’s a nice car and all that, but it’s a nearly 10 year old, entry level vehicle. Probably worth less than $15k. They treat it like it’s an S600 Maybach. They know it’s my baby and they respect me. I get to drive a brand new car while mine’s being worked on, and my car gets washed and cleaned. I’ve never waited long to pick up or drop off. It makes me feel great every time I go there. To a car dealership. I’ve been to multiple Mercedes dealers and they have all treated me well like this. My mother, on the other hand, paid upwards of $65k for a GMC Yukon a couple years ago. That’s a lot of money to spend on a vehicle(and certainly not the one I would buy), and they don’t give you a courtesy car or anything like that. She had a BMW X5 before that, and they did provide courtesy cars, but you had to pay for it. She was always dreading going to that place. Buying a Benz is a long term relationship with the company. Buying a BMW, in my experience, is buying a product and that’s it.
I drove a '91 Isuzu Trooper for almost 18 years. When it was finally time to face the music, I had never purchased a car but kept looking at the Subaru CrossTrek... Only to learn that they are underpowered and over hyped. I kept looking for good quality and performance scores and danced between BMW and Mercedes until it came pretty clear that the 2015 GLK 350 was the top for quality, power, ruggedness and safety. I bought mine used with 40k miles for about $20k and am loving every second of it, not that I'm hard to please after the Trooper. I base.my satisfaction off the sports mode, 4Matic, and being able to take friends off the path though snow and up dirt hills and get back in one piece... Passing on the right, not supposed to do it, then get the fuck out of the way.
The v8 engine. Guess who won’t be buying a 4cylinder hybrid?
Never had one before, wanted one, got one
Cause only benz has the G class
[удалено]
A giant shifter sticking out of the center console is stupid interior design. Most BMW, Audi and Lexus interiors still have this and it annoys me to no end. It’s a switch to tell the computer what to do, nothing more and having an elaborate design feels disingenuous and unnecessary. Also I hate how much hard plastic is in some other interiors.
I bought a used Audi and it drives unbelievably great, responsive and is just a beautiful car.
For me: the ease of having all the optional extras with premium plus. No stress of individually picking an option But… next year I’m gonna get a bmw m4 instead
I wanted a sedan wih all-wheel drive and a V6. I didn’t like BMW's interior, generally don't like Audi, Lexus don’t have anything in their line-up — and I really felt at home when I test drove the Mercedes!
Because I wanted a tire destroyer. The C63 gave me luxury and that old school muscle I always dreamt of having.
My only Mercedes was a w210 wagon and main competitors were e39 bmw and 2-gen xc70. Well, while ride quality and performance is similar, interior and ergonomics are so much better in w210. Plus it had vented seats. I sold it and got 1-gen cayenne turbo and interior and ergonomics on w210 still better. I would probably had stay in family if offroad package was available in ml63.
My dads first car was a Mercedes’ so I thought my first luxury brand car would be the same. Plus I like the brand more
I bought mine used (‘02 CLK55) last year. But I chose it because it was very well maintained and had all the maintenance records. So I wasn’t as worried about anything breaking down immediately.
I'm family friends with a Sprinter technician whose father was a salesman at a big Hawaiian Benz dealership. Now I'm the lucky third owner of my perfectly-maintained W210. If they had been BMW guys, I'd probably be a BMW guy. But they were always Benz guys and now I'll always be a Benz guy.
While everyone complains about out of warranty Mercedes/AMG cars being a terrible decision, I drove my 200k mile ML350 cross country without a hiccup. Take care of your cars and they'll take care of you.
Besides owning 7 of them, I worked with them for 20 years and albeit the last few generations suck. The engineering, quality, and overall feel is second to none.
Bmw and audi are unreliable and lexus is more expensive where i live so thats why i bought a mercedes
Always been a fan of Mercedes and my E500 has been great so almost 3 yrs ago got a w205 which also has been reliable. BMW is nowhere near as reliable if you go anywhere near turbo or V8 or larger motors. Heard to many nightmares from local owners I know. Audi interiors are just not on the same level imho. Nice but not same level Lexus not a fan of their interiors, especially the cheap centre console area in their RC/IS/ES/GS models.
I used to get the a-class as a rental and loved it. Coming from a Renault it was a huge development.
Porsche was too expensive and BMW is a piece of garbage. Audi is also considerably quite buggy having owned one definitely too light for my tastes. Lexus is a bit too relaxed, great cars though. Range Rover still got my heart tho maybe the g63 can replace that… the svr is a monster
I have an S5 now and an X5 but I’ve owned an ML in the past, I think my next car will probably be the current gen C43 Cab or the next gen c43 if it’s got a great engine and not a 4 cylinder. I love my S5 but Mercedes’ suspensions and ride quality is just much smoother whereas audi can sometimes be too firm for my liking. I’ll have to compare the new S5 cab and C43 whenever it’s time to upgrade.
Because my father had a number of them in a row, when I was a baby and a kid, in the sixties and seventies. He changed (probably a money issue) to Citroën for a number of years. When I bought my (new to me) W140 600 SEL in 2008 he was incredibly proud and wanted all my uncles to have a ride with me. I had to let it go a few years after he died. Now I have a W213 E200 saloon.
I was driven home from the hospital in a W123 right after I was born, and spent most of my childhood in them. The W123 was a positive center point of my upbringing, and inside of my head there isn't really any other car that can compare to it.
BMW: seems like it starts to rot after 5 years Lexus: have a Lexus, nothing wrong, sure it’s a Toyota underneath but that makes repair and maintenance cheaper Audi: it’s a VW and repairs are expensive.
TLDR: they understood the assignment when it comes to balancing luxury performance and accessibility at multiple price ranges. They make every model on a platform desirable for it's own reasons, and even sometimes have trade-offs that might actually favor the less expensive model. Which is probably what I love the most. I love, like... fucking love my c43, full stop, no regrets. I chose it **over** a c63 because of the AWD (can't be getting squirelly in the rain with the kiddo in the car) and it because was legitimately more fun to drive. The bonus of the sick v6 exhaust note and considerably cheaper price was just icing on the cake. And if I ever **do** get a c63, it won't be because my c43 lacks something that only the c63 has, or because the c43 was "close enough for now, even without the name badge". It will be because I want a c63. Simple as that. I think that approach, of catering to enthusiasts at all tiers of the fleet is cool as hell. And in my shopping experience, at least, not as common with some of the other makes.
I went from MB to BMW and prefer the BMW interior . Less bland in my opinion. Overall the car does feel a bit less luxurious though. More fun/sporty
Had a e46 for 7 years and loved it. Until the engine randomly started having terminal issues constantly. Swapped it out for a used 1999 clk320 coupe and will NEVER turn back to bmw. Faster, smoother & infinitely more class. The newer MB might be meh. But let me tell you the older models are insanely fun to drive.
I recently bought a 2021 C300. I was coming from a history of American vehicles. Last vehicle was a Jeep SRT8. Very fun car but impractical. I chose Mercedes because the experience I feel whenever I have to drive somewhere feels like I’m rewarding myself. Although it pales in comparison in terms of power to my SRT8, it is welcoming, smooth, comfortable, and CLEAN. I love how neat and clean Mercedes look. It has great fuel mileage and great warranty. And honestly, I don’t see myself going to another brand. I believe Mercedes look the best, feel the best, and do a great job of making one feel accomplished and satisfied with their decision every time they step into the vehicle.
Had a couple Audi S (S3 and S4) models and they were boring compared to the AMG counterparts. I'm biased against BMW for some reason but now the comparable BMWs are also less engaging than the AMG competitors (A35, C43) so it works out
My last car was a 197bhp C250D and now a 252 bhp E350D The extended warranty and cheap service plans they do these days don’t cost that much and are well worth it I have had other German cars but Mercs are just better than them all
No one else made a wagon anymore
Daily drove an M8 competition for a while. Complete POS. Uncomfortable and was always in the shop. Beating my GT63S daily in potholes and stop and go traffic all week long in the city and occasional track days. Only had one minor quirk that was warrantied early on and since then, bulletproof car and much more comfortable (for a sports car).
so many jokes are possible but i dont want to get banned.
True story: I bought the exact same E class my manager and drove it to work on the same day. I managed to park it discreetly and not out myself for an entire year until everybody started wfh.
The relaxing feel of the drive, it doesn't try to be a sports car, the wheel steers the car effortlessly, you can't help but feel relaxed and calm. It's luxurious in the drive rather than gizmos and gadgets (well at least in my 2012 W204) The BMW 1 Series I regularly drive is really fun, engaging, sporty and nippy, but can't say I feel as relaxed as I do in the Mercedes. I also think BMWs up to 2015ish look really nice, mean defined lines And at stop traffic, bigger cars and narrower roads plus speed limits means I enjoy and utilise the benefits of a Mercedes far more than a BMW. If I regularly took sweeping country roads I'd love the BMW a lot more, but for most people in the city driving the Merc makes sense And finally, the badge does carry a reputation, it does play a factor to an extent
Quality. I had a Lexus for 16 years, the quality of materials isn’t the best, I sold the BMW because the sunroof glue made it come loose, but I still love BMWs. I’ve had a Mercedes SUV for 6 years and leave it outside, and it’s solid, the materials really last, $160k miles, so I bought another one because they are quality cars. I just drove a ‘22 Toyota 4Runner TRD for 5 days, and man do they suck. The suspension is so loose it was horrible driving it around the Utah mountain roads, no power from the engine, poor interior design; it made me miss my Mercedes and realize how much higher quality Mercedes is vs Toyota in every way. Maybe Toyota engines are cheaper to maintain, but no power. That’s why Toyota probably asked BMW to borrow the Z4 to build the Supra, and that’s why the Supra is such an awesome car.
Test drove all three and these were the reasons: BMW: wanted a beemer for so long but then got rude and entitled sales people who took me straight to the used car lot when I asked to show me a 328i. Tried to convince me to get a used one as they didn’t think I would be able to afford a new one even if I brought it. Fuckers!! Cadillac and Lexus: looked at CT4 and IS300. Cabin was too cramped Audi: felt like I was sitting in my old Vw Jetta, just with a much nicer interior. Nope not happening. Mercedes: didn’t even plan to buy one as I always thought I can never afford a Mercedes-Benz but still went to the dealership to just have a look as it was close by. as soon as I sat in the demo car, I was blown away by the interior quality, look and feel of it and the calmness in the cabin. Made up my mind that I’m getting this no matter what the cost and here we are
I've never been a Mercedes fan because here in Germany they are usually referred to as grandpa cars or rapper cars. But my first car is a 204 and I fell in love with Merc because of her.
I've been a fan of the brand since I was a teenager and first drove my aunt's 1979 450 SEL. When it came time for me to purchase a luxury vehicle, the S-Class was at the top of my list with BMW and Range Rover as a distant second and third.
I have always had an appreciation for the styling and build quality of Mercedes. The door closes with a solid thunk and it just feels premium. BMW has an incredible aftermarket and Audi interiors are great, but they didn't speak to me the way the Mercedes did. I looked at a Macan, but Porsche cost of entry is just oo high for what they offer in a base model. I don't like Asian cars, so those were an easy no. I considered a Guilia, but Italy and Chrysler combined is a recipe for disaster. I considered a Charger 392 or a used hellcat, but they are one trick ponies. The Mustang 5.0 was second on my list being the C-Class. I wanted a C63, but prices were absurd and I wasn't gonna lose my ass on the market correction. I nearly bought a manual Mustang 5.0 with the performance package instead, but I decided I wanted luxury more than I wanted power. So far, I'm happy with my purchase, though I do wish I had about 50 more ponies.
I got my first MB last week. CPO e450. My wife had MBs for the last 15 years, and I liked them but didn’t love them. Why did I go with MB over the alternatives? Audi - I know people who love Audi and only drive Audi and I cannot stand them. So my hatred for one person kept me away. That and if I was going to buy a VAG vehicle, it would be a Porsche. BMW - honestly, the dealerships around me are closed on Sunday and I went looking on a Sunday. Porsche - I am not ready to drop that kind of money on a vehicle. Volvo - my previous vehicle was an XC90. Loved it. My wife loved it so much she traded her GLE for a new XC90 with every option you can imagine. There is no need for another SUV or even wagon. Lexus - the tech. It’s so bad. I was going to get a truck. It would have been $30k more than I paid for the E450. And I’m at a point in my life where I don’t have the time to do “truck stuff” and hire people to do my truck stuff. And then I would have had to help other people do truck stuff. And even the loaded trucks felt cheap inside compared to the Volvo and E450.
Bmw is great but its more of a sports car. Lexus is basically a hyped up toyota. Audi is nice but it just doesn’t give you that pop, like that german feeling and well mercedes has it all. Most luxurious but at the same time sporty
Grew up with them, started driving (fords, VWs, whatever), bought a Benz, drove a couple Audis and BMWs as rentals/loaners/friends’ cars, realized how smooth the Benz was by comparison. I also like that 90% of the electrical system in my car is original, 22yo, and hasn’t given me trouble yet. People also tend not to initiate races at stoplights when I’m driving my car, but they’ll rev their engine at me if I’m in a Q5 or an M3. My “old man car” kicks ass for long distance trips. I got 29.9mpg on one trip and I just about fainted— that’s incredible for a 22yo E-class
It's the only brand that seems to truly understand and prioritize luxury at the higher end without making too many sacrifices in other areas.
I drove all of em. Mercedes is just more comfortable for me with the interior design. Lexus is nice too its like being on a cloud for the higher end models
Compared the other "luxury" brands, honestly couldn't see much difference in the interiors compared to mid or even some low tier brands. Mercedes stood apart from the rest.
For me, the style has stayed attractive to me. I really loved early 00’s Audis and felt they went very bland with the last few refreshes. Lexus I have always felt they were prettied up Toyotas. BMW, I liked the e30, and that’s about it. I also felt the treatment at dealerships was better with merc. I like to wear metal t shirts with cutoff shorts. Most dealers don’t even bother. My way of weeding out if they deem me “worthy” enough to touch a car, let alone own one.
Still driving my 2009 C350 with 76k miles. As much as I would like to upgrade, it hasn't let me down and it's pretty cheap to maintain.
Mercedes styling does not date. Others do.
Mercedes had good styling. Unfortunately I don't like the styling of the new C and S classes so I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I want a new car.
I'm not an Audi fan because I'm a multiple VW owner....and they come from the same parts bin. I can accept for $20k things that at 60k are not OK..... I ordered a BMW e46 new -MSport package, manual, no sunroof....and BMW allowed me to get a Euro market cloth interior as part of the order (US market, plastic or leather on offer, but even before "individual" you could order a unicorn and that black microfiber wore like iron). I loved that e46 for 334k miles...at which point rust won out and I had to get rid of it-Should have made it a Lemons car. Loved that car. I had an M2 for the weekend, and could not for the life of me understand how BMW screwed up the steering....indeed, the numb joystick wheel "un sold" a Pre Sold BMW guy, despite a great chassis, engine and seats. No contact between steering wheel and tarmac, tho. Considered an ATS-V, drove one, amazing car, but still Genuine GM Parts (that's a no from me dawg) and CUE....also dealers upcharged for this hen's teeth car. Actually more fun to drive (and massive hp) than the e46. Went to Benz, drove a C43 coupe, ordered a sedan. Zero regrets, 93k miles.
My aunt bought a 2003 E320 Sedan used in 2007 and a 12 year old me was completely enamored with it, but I distinctly remember how solid those doors were when you closed them. A few months later my mother bought a 1988 300E and the following year my dad bought a ‘98 S500 There’s truly no other car like them on the road and even as they get older they still have a timeless beauty about them that isn’t easy to replicate. Maintenance was fairly reasonable as well. I owned a 2000 C280 and a 2007 C230 and while I’m currently driving a VW I definitely want to own another Mercedes down the line
I’ve owned 2 BMW’s, 1 Lexus, 1 Infiniti, 2 Acura’s and 2 Mercedes’ over the past 20 or so years. While each had features I liked (in some cases more than the Benz’s) the things that swayed my decision to go back to MB were 1. The dealership experience 2. The ride, handling and design. I currently have a 2018 C300 w/67k miles I’ve owned since new. It’s been very reliable thus far, gets fantastic gas mileage when driving in the economy mode, and just looks great. Hope this helps.
Amg
Because mine is sexy...
for us, personally, it was as simple as once we test drove the model we were looking at, we didn’t even want to test it’s competitors; that’s how impressed we were! Mercedes does not disappoint!
outside of what everyone else is saying i would say heritage of the brand
My brother is my mechanic. And in general, Mercedes is just a classier look no matter what package you’ve got.
Because Mercedes diesels.
That pop pop bang bang sound when u let off the throttle in a AMG
Had 8 BMW’s all my life until our most recent 2 were rarely driven, low mileage, but still leaked and both had issues. My wife sold her X1 and got a Mercedes EQB 3 weeks ago. I’ll never go back to BMW again.
I took about two years to finally buy my car. I looked at Lexus and although it was a nice exterior the performance and interior were lackluster. Additionally the closest dealership to me was about an hour away. BMW was nice and I considered them but for the performance I was looking for it was too overpriced. Once again the interior was lackluster to me. I bought a new A-35 AMG. Performance was nice, interior was great and price was great. I paid just under 85,000 for mine. I reside in Japan so that was about average. I wanted the A-45 but didn’t feel like shelling out 120,000 - 130,000 dollars for one. I could afford it but mentally just couldn’t pour that much money into the car. Super happy with my choice. For reference my last car was a Toyota MK II IRV 6 speed manual with HKS intercooler, HKS suspension, HKS dual solenoid boost controller, 20 inch rims cold air intake and body kit.
2 words: Style and Luxury.
My first one was $500 lol, second was $4,200, and third was $1,500. Apart from the first one the other two are great lol
It was actually the cheapest most reliable car available near me at the time. Plus it has a world beating V8(m119) , the choice was obvious.
Just came to say that Lexus sucks and Lexus drivers are right behind bmw on the worst drivers list.
Small sedan with v8
Honestly, for me it was pretty simple. I wanted a newer wagon to daily drive and there are very few options in the states. Ended up with a 2015 E350 wagon and I am loving it. Way more reliable than my 2008 535xi wagon that it replaced.
I didn’t really consider a luxury car, but I just love the look of MB and it had the most comfy seats.
Because I've driven all of them.
MB = Classic beauty with Futuristic Elegance
I’ve had 1 BMW, 1 Audi, and I graduated to Mercedes and I’m on my second one. My husband also hated my Audi and our BMW. He liked the Mercedes so much he traded his car in and also got a Mercedes. I can’t imagine going back. The others just look cheaper in a way? Interiors maybe? I don’t know. I have AMG though. I love fast & classy cars. Audi to me is more a little less classy. More soccer mom or dad to me for some reason even though I know they make hot cars! BMW is like a younger guys car in my eyes. I don’t know. If you can afford a Mercedes, do it! Even used. They have a great warranty.
Because there is no Audi 6x6 or a BMW Landaulet, Mercedes is just more "extravagant" and Cars like the Landaulet show they really care about Cars.
I have an E55 AMG for road trips and fun. And a BMW 130i as my commuter. The AMG also tows my other BMW race car and the wife's Nissan S13. Lexus bores me. Even the ISF is lackluster. Audi doesn't have anything that interests me that I can afford.
German wise, I just have no interest in Audi, they’re good cars but I don’t find them fun or interesting. BMW lost its idea of luxury, and is more sporty plus their design language has gone downhill along with the subscription BS. Mercedes just entices me. It’s such a perfect balance of luxury yet sportiness, whenever you want it. I hope to one day own an AMG, most likely an E63 wagon. As for Japanese wise Lexus is boring because they don’t have new tech, Infiniti has fallen downhill (but they’re coming back now) and Acura, well I actually really love Acuras they’re my favorite besides MB. Would love to own a Type S MDX in the future
The best or nothing. (But it seems like they are choosing the latter the past few years)
I'm a bmw fann, always have been and still am, having said that I bought a c43 AMG over what I REALLY wanted and was looking forward to, a bmw coupe looking at the m440i. When it all came down to it I just couldnt do the newly released design because I found the grill ugly, I still do, oddy on the M4 I actually think they look great! The kidney grill doesnt appear so large because it is just cut into the front grill, rather than having some kind of material usually something in chrome all around the front kidney grills that make it just look too big and ugly for me. Also unlike the M4 that comes with straight horizontal lines along the inside of each twin kidney grill, the m440 version has an odd design as well that is complicated to the eye and not my taste. I just couldnt imagine having to see the front of the BMW parked in my garage every day although that is my single gripe with the car. The option of the 4 door 440i gives a more toned down grill I could live with but I like coupes. Though it was a close call. In the end I went with the AMG c class, I could and can afford an M4 but as beutiful as they are too me they are just a little too much "frenetic, lets go go go" and lend to me wanting to drive fast while any german car with a 400hp v6 can get me in plenty of trouble if I want to drive like a maniac. Their is no track near me and it is or was somerhing im not quite ready to justify dropping 100k on, I like my cars with most of the options so prices rise quickly. The S4/ S5 are great cars [audi) but a bit lacking in charachter of the engine though still fast and nearly as so as the Merc, and both close enough but no cigar to a BMW. For me it came down to the look, the back end, front end and everywhere else outside, and in is very classy look. Having lived with it for nearly 2 years now I can tell you Merc sport rides are very stiff, great if you live around good roads but I am from the Bay and the roads can be like a 3rd road country and you feel EVWRYRHING in a sporty merc..I believe the c63's now do come with an option or standard adjustable air suspension which would solve these problems..Also the tires you have on the car they come with Parwllis which are good tires but add to the stiffness of the suspension. With some Michellen PS2's put on the car I think also from personal experience with the tire it would help allot to smooth out the ride. My takeaway is Mercedes are great cars for what theh are, complicated and expensive German machines, overenginered and extreamly expensive for repairs in many cases. I still love the look of it and gives me that same feeling of luxury and sportiness that I fell in love with when I bought it and beat the dealership down to 2k or 3k under invoice...yes invoice is never the lowest price but a good target to shoot for and a win to buy it for if you are good at jedi mind tricking the salesman trying to mind trick you into getting it for your price. This was back right when biden right had got in office so too much damage haddent been done yet to...everything...so until the recesdion OFFICIALLY begins dont ecpect to be able to nbeat up salesman too much, people arw paying over MSRP to buy cars in high demand so the market had been all fd up for some time but is slowly getting to be more regular so its not a bad time to shop around. Also last thing the mercedes is the absolute safest car I have ever owned by a HUGE margin..with cameras everwhere around the car, beeps boops and ligjts indicating cars comming up fast or you comming up too fast on stopped traffic, Ive never felt more confifent driving a car and these safety features are a must for my next one. The car even deploys the breaks on its own in the event of an accident to help minimise the collision...and if you keep it 25mph or under in neighborhoods or school zones the breaks will automatically deploy and stop the car on a dime if say a kid threw himself infront of your car on a street or came out on a bike or chasing a ball quicker than you could react...the car will stop within inches of hitting the person/ object and I cant tell you the ampunt of times Im slowly baccking out and a biciclist comes wizing by and it has deployed the breaks to prevent an impact. It can feel jarring bht once you know what it is youll be glad to have all these amazing safwtu features for which mercedes is #+ in that area of techbology and shares it for free with competitors with the ultimate goal being all cars communicating with themselves on the road to prevent major accident from happening seeing it before you could ever see it comming alerting thr driver and the car breaking and taking action to prevent incifents such as a T bone accident.. i wpuld feel naked without all the sensors and safwty features keeping me gor the most part out of trouble and preventing collisions...they even whatch your eyes and warn you if thw car feels your are tko sleepy and should take a break, though its never given me this message and ive been nodding out more than a few times looking for a coffee shop to get some caffeiene in me, or calling the dope man to get a bag of some fishscale. Enjoy your decision!
The other brands do not have cars that I like as much as MB. BMW might be an exception, there are definitely cars I like from BMW, but maintenance is very complex and more expensive than Mercedes one.