What got you into the Mercedes Benz brand?

[Scooby_Doo]

Started off with 6 or 7 Fords when I was younger.Came into some money in 91 and boght a VW Corrado although a 190E was second choice. Next was a Golf VR6 followed by two BMW coupes. I'd lusted after an SLK since they were introduced and at the tender age of 48 got a cracking deal on an ex demo from MB Bristol.The novelty quickly wore off - too cold , too hot , too wet , too slow so swopped it for one of the first "C" class Kompressor Sports in 2003. I'm a big fan of two door coupes so Mk1 & Mk2 Audi TT's followed by a Passat CC after the birth of my first grandson and then two "E" class coupes after the birth of second grandson ( no way was I going to buy a people carrier). Now past pension age and some of my friends nearly spent the night in the back the "E" coupe so four doors called for and my current "C" class ticks all the boxes. What's next ??? Will probably be an MB but not for a good few years yet , there's nothing out there at the moment , finances not withstanding , that even remotely appeal to me in lieu of the "C" class - not too big , all the toys I want, 205 Bhp , 4matic , 40 mpg and I own it.

 

[T5R+]

I never really set out to buy one.

Went to auction to buy a decent car.........Volvo or Honda preferred due to found them very reliable.

A 2 year old tanzanite blue with offwhite interior W212 (E Class saloon) was about to go on the block, looked fantastic..........not sure how, but I bought it. Had been at the auction 8 minutes! Karma I suppose.

Over a decade later, have a love/hate relationship with the brand. Nowhere near as reliable as Hondas nor Volvos but really do like them on motorways.

 

[Philc57]

I've always been a stickler for rear wheel drive cars
I've had 2 cortinas 4 Granada's 1 Carlton
2 BMWs had a c220 for a weeks hire when my last BMW was in for repair and then that got left with a mb dealer when I drove my c200 home in July

 

[Dickster]

I’ve always been a fan of V8 70s and 80s cars, and the SL500, so with prices of the SL55 so attractive now it was a no brainer - the V8 itch had to be scratched

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I was a BMW E38 and E39 fan until I had to fly in and out of Germany regularly in the late 90's.

Those chauffeur and taxi W220's were outrageously comfortable despite having done crazy high mileages.

Then BMW brought out some truly ugly cars in the early noughties and I became a Stuttgart boy and gave up the Munich thing.

Twenty years on, I'm still convinced that Mercedes are capable of huge mileages, if maintained properly by their well-heeled owners.

 

[DPBpool]

In my late teens (many years ago) my friends parents had an 80’s thistle green SL and I once got to ride in it. As we moved out their driveway I asked if the engine was actually on.. it was that quiet. Always been impressed with most of the Merc styling and ages better than most. I’d like a classic SL but perhaps once I retire to a warmer climate

 

[Deleted member 149005]

A myth....

The best or nothing...

 

[Deleted member 126969]

A myth....

The best or nothing...

Not at all, that statement offers two possible outcomes. Which one do we feel we get?

 

[rf065]

A myth....

The best or nothing...

An original complete bodyshell after 30 years, or, a pile of brown rust. They can provide both so they're not lying!

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Further to my earlier post which didn't really answer the question of how I got into MB. I have to admit that top of my list when choosing a car is "does it look nice" hence the high incidence of 2 door coupes in my list.I've had two 4 door saloons , from neccessity , plus my current "C" class. MB make really beautifull coupes and if truth be told I would buy another "E" coupe if I could live without 4 doors. The diesels might be a bit rattly but the interiors and silky smooth auto boxes are hard to beat. The current BMW 3 coupe is hideous and I've never seen the lines of the Audi A5 as harmonious , the swage line running through at door height looks as if the front of the car has been bent downwards. Last but not least is the three pointed star on the front , yes I am a badge snob, as a female colleague once commented on my Passat CC - "it's a beautifull car but it's got the wrong badge on the front".

 

[Tblk]

I’ve always admired them since the 70s when i was a little boy and always remember the S class with the 2 rods that poked out from the boot when reversing. Came close to buying the W204 estate in 2012 even went to try it out until my missus said it looks like something my dad would drive. Fast forward 3years and there was a guy at the station who always parked his C63 near the entrance and I’m always nearby when he started it up and that was it for me. When I put the TVR for sale, I went straight to the dealership and bought my C63 coupe.

a few months later, had some warranty work carried out and they gave me a C220 estate for the weekend and when it was time to change my daily, I ended up adding an E220 estate to the fleet a year later

By the way, the missus loves both of them especially the C63

 

[bob6600]

I wanted the biggest estate on the market...a 210 fitted the bill in 1999.

Ditto! I needed a big estate with a decent engine for not much money. I'd never driven a Mercedes before and was blown away how good the 12 year old car was. It was huge, had plenty of power and enough toys to keep me happy. I didn't even know about the 6th and 7th seat at the time, they were very handy and saved us having to take a 2nd car on a couple of occasions. I do miss it.

 

[JamesE400D]

Lewis Hamilton.... No seriously though

I'd say my hands on exposure to the brand at Mercedes-Benz World... Always lusted after an E63 since a driving experience there, a few years later went for an E400D due to my miles and fuel budget, she's pretty much the most powerful diesel estate on the market and not far off AMG pace!

Unlike others on this thread I've always had a much better experience at BMW dealerships than Mercedes, could just be the Poole dealership ignoring you if you're under 40 perhaps...

 

[John]

Always had an interest for 60s / 70s and 80s US muscle cars and that distinctive V8 burble and have always had an appreciation.

When I started to travel abroad in my early jobs 20 years ago now, whenever I ended up in Germany or The Netherlands and the like, there were always wall to wall W210 and W211 E Class Mercs everywhere near to the airport.

I remember thinking to myself how amazing they looked and that I would love one one day but never really considered I could afford one.

Then a few years later, we moved house and very local to me was a W211 E55 which I heard burble down the street sometimes (even from my house).

I presumed it would be too expensive but to my surprise, the car was the same price as a nearly-new Lexus IS250 I was (sensibly) considering after my Saab 9-5 Aero (albeit obviously an age difference between the cars).

Once I'd discovered more about it and lined up an inde to look after it and inspect whatever I found, that was that.

Was by far one of the best cars I've owned out of the 15 I'd owned at that stage.

When I got itchy feet and used to the performance and was far too happy using it to the max on the open roads, it had to go to be replaced with a non-AMG but something special and that was the CL.

The novelty wore off of that after a couple of years as it was a bit of a pain in practical terms even though I absolutely loved how it looked.

Then I was aiming for a later W221 facelift with lots of options and by chance I found my W222 S500L which is loaded to the gills with equipment.

After a test drive lasting approximately 3 minutes, I knew it was the car for me and have been incredibly happy with it since.

So I've been very happy with all three cars and my experience on the whole with Mercedes has been mostly positive albeit not perfect although I only use them if I have to for warranty work or a locking wheel bolt and use indies for servicing.

 

[Jobsworth]

I had my first experience with Mercedes working as an apprentice around 1987 or 1988. The W201 really gripped me. The BMW E30 was a more exciting drive, but I really liked the way the Merc was put together. I left that place and went to work for another German car specialist for three years. Lots of Mercs, VAGs, BMWs and Porsches. I left to start my own place, and the boss said he'd be annoyed if I did Porsche as those were his favourite. I said I'd rather specialise in the Mercedes as I preferred them. He was happy with that, as he was never that keen. We're still in touch, and I resolve a few problem Mercedes jobs for him to this day. I'm a tad unusual in that I'm a time-served Mercedes mechanic that still has enthusiasm for the cars in and out of work. I've owned loads. Loved em all!

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Always liked MB’s. Appealed even more when they started powering McLaren. Couldn’t afford a new one and was never into older used models as the latest design was always so much better.

Enjoyed first MB via cheap lease deals and a few thereafter.

Our current car is the first time we’ve actually owned. It will be a keeper.

 

[Gollom]

I was "on the road" selling IT and often did 500 mile round trips for meetings. Someone tipped me off and Mercedes (W203 220CDi) was the first car in which I could drive to the meeting and be as fresh as when I set off. Then I discovered this forum and that MB could actually be very good value - the trick was to get the right one! Been pretty lucky really. I never got on with the ML personally and the B-class (new on the market then) never really felt like a Merc to me. Other than that will stay with MB

 

[simB]

AMG V8. Never had one, so when the 3rd child came along, I had to sell my R35 and the Merc fit the bill.

 

[clk320x]

Saw a CLK on autotrader - knew nothing about Mercedes at all but thought the shape looked stunning for the money.

Turned up, didn’t test drive the car at all - saw it, made an offer and drove home! Never looked back. I must have completely lucked out as I had bought the bulletproof M112 and 722.6 combination without even knowing it!

Shortly after the purchase I joined this wonderful forum - learnt so much about the brand, gained a wealth of knowledge and made some wonderful friends.

I now own 3 Mercedes cars, and I love the brand so much I don’t think I’ll ever look elsewhere... once I get a bigger driveway the collection will grow!

 

[hgb]

Needed to replace my 3-series Touring with something bigger. Despite years of BMW ownership the 5 didn't float my boat so I looked at Volvo V90, E-Class and Skoda Superb/VW Passat. E-class really impressed us both so we bought there and then.
Never really considered MB before - closest I came was years ago choosing between an E30 M3 and a 190E 2.3. Made the right choice though and wish I still had the E30 today.