Top 10 Greatest Mercedes Ever Built

[Tony H]

111 Coupe prices are rising dramatically. This example is a little extreme but the trend is up.
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe | Gooding & Company

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by Tony H

111 Coupe prices are rising dramatically. This example is a little extreme but the trend is up.
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe | Gooding & Company

Ive been following a few driver-quality cars in the under $20k price range...

[jalopy_sec]

My list below. I am only including cars that were sold to the General public, meaning vehicles like the C111, 300SLR etc are not included.

500K Special Roadster
300SL Gullwing
W111 Coupe/Convertible
260D - First diesel vehicle that set up MBZ for success in this market for years
300SEL 6.3 - First of a series of high performance executive saloons
W126 - The benchmark for an S class
600 (W100)
190E - got the company into the smaller segment and potentially a reason why it still exists today.
Ponton - got the company back on its feet after WW2
patent motor wagon - the car that started it all

[vdubpower]

uh hello w126's

[graycenphil]

I think there has to be a diesel on the list. At least one...

[oilyrag]

You bet. Best Mercedes bar none is the 240D W123. Reliable, economical, run forever.

[JMela]

C111?

[vwnate1]

Gotta be the W123 followed by the W126, then fill in the blanks for the rest of the fine cars Mercedes produced .

[graycenphil]

Originally Posted by oilyrag

You bet. Best Mercedes bar none is the 240D W123. Reliable, economical, run forever.

I love my 300SD, but I think you're right. For one of the greatest, the 240D is probably the best candidate.

[ja17]

"Best" is too vague a term. Everyone has their own priorities when it comes to the automobile. Complexity, simplicity, styling design, build quality, curb appeal, cost of ownership, dependability, practicality, performance, rarity, ergonomics, safety, popularity and original cost are just some of the factors to be considered.

Some years back, Mercedes Engineers voted the 280SE 4.5 sedan as one of their post-war favorites. It impressed them as being very drivable by todays standards, had impressive classic styling, excellent build quality, great comfort, good performance and was economically attainable and maintainable by most buyers. All this with less complexity and less cost of ownership than the 6.3's.

In addition, unless you have actually owned and lived with each of these cars, you are just speculating on their real merits and value. Fuel is cheap these days, so power is king. Fuel consumption becomes a factor to some when pump prices go up. Even your family size may weigh in on your decision.

A very tough decision, if not impossible, to find the "Best". Might be best to take the consumer report approach, with different categories and scoring system?

[JMela]

Perhaps it's easiest to designate the 10 'least great' MB models.

[antonino]

I came to the world of Mercedes many years ago when I turned 40 and purchased a 1966 200 sedan. I loved this car but had my sights set on a 60's 220seb coupe and later a 230sl. Both eluded me and my one chance to buy a 230sl when I could afford it passed as well due to family obligations. That said, I am now the proud owner of a 91 300ce coupe and a like-new 88 560sl. Although I still believe that the pagoda 230-250 and 280 are visually more refined, one cannot ignore the legacy of the R107 which continues to be iconic and had such an amazing run. I think they will be around for years to come and increase in value. Love caring for my 560sl, love driving it and love seeing the many heads it turns and thumbs up every time I go out for a spin in this amazing automobile.

Antonino

[nikono]

4. CLK-GTR and his mom.

[gyrogear]

I'm an old school guy and really love the W123 diesels. They are durable, easy to work on, no electronics, many parts interchange among different models, built to last, cheap to acquire and operate and they run and run and run. I'm going to buy a few more!

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by gyrogear

I'm an old school guy and really love the W123 diesels. They are durable, easy to work on, no electronics, many parts interchange among different models, built to last, cheap to acquire and operate and they run and run and run. I'm going to buy a few more!

I completely agree. If you can deal with diagnosing the vacuum system problems (door locks, ignition shutoff, A/C vents and stuff on later cars...)

The W123 in its most basic form is so easy to maintain. Add in the later stuff and the SLS on the wagon and either version of the automatic climate control and things get a little more complicated, but still not anything in the way of electronics.