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Getting a new car is always an exhilarating experience, but it becomes even more exciting when purchasing your first luxury car. What should you expect when you buy your first new — or new to you — Mercedes? We’ve outlined the good and the bad to help first-time Mercedes owners get the most out of their new car.
Quality Spans the Decades
Even if you’re buying a used Mercedes, you can expect high quality and luxury if it was even remotely maintained. They look sharp, run well and are guaranteed to turn heads — older models especially. You may also find features like air suspension, power everything, digital dashboards and extra safety features that were probably standard equipment when your Mercedes was new.
There’s nothing like riding in a car with air suspension — you’ll never want to drive anything else again.
Not Without Its Problems
Even new Mercedes cars have their problems now and then — it’s the price you pay for having a 2000-pound machine with thousands of moving parts. A few things you should be on the lookout for include:
- Electrical Problems: Older Mercedes are known to have some electrical system problems. In newer cars, you might find faulty batteries and alternators, but most of the significant electrical issues have been solved.
- Window Regulators: This can be a problem in any car, but Mercedes is known for having issues with their window regulators.
- Turbo Failure: A lot of Mercedes come equipped with a turbocharger as standard equipment. Unfortunately, they tend to fail early because of excessive heat.
A lot of the problems that you might find in a Mercedes are problems you might experience with any other used car — and issues that can be fixed or prevented by following a basic maintenance schedule.
Sometimes, New Is Better
If you’re a first-time Mercedes owner, sometimes the best thing you can do is purchase your Mercedes new from the dealership. This gives you a few benefits, including:
- Warranty: Depending on the model you choose, your new Mercedes will come with some form of warranty that will likely cover maintenance and repairs for your first year. Look for a bumper-to-bumper warranty if the dealership offers it.
- Customization: When you choose your new Mercedes, you can have it customized to your liking. This includes electronic features, interior design options and much more. It might take a bit longer to get your new car, but it’s worth it when it was built just for you.
If You’re Handy, You’re in Luck
If you’ve decided to opt for a used Mercedes and don’t mind getting a little grease under your nails, they can be a great car to work on. They’re relatively simple to maintain, and taking care of your own repairs and maintenance can make them much cheaper to own.
Make sure you refer to your owner’s manual for things like fluid replacement options — many models require particular fluids you may only be able to get though Mercedes vendors or dealerships. Thankfully, even if you’re spending $200 on oil to complete your oil change, you probably won’t need to change it again for another 10,000 miles. In the long run, it doesn’t cost much more.
Fuel Efficiency Is a Concern
While gas isn’t as expensive now as it has been in the past, it can still cost you a pretty penny to fill up your tank. This is why so many car manufacturers have started focusing on fuel efficiency in their cars — the more efficient the vehicle, the better it looks to the consumer.
Older Mercedes cars aren’t exactly known for their miles per gallon rating and may end up draining your fuel budget if you use it as a daily driver. However, newer cars have more efficient engines and are a good choice if you’re concerned about fuel costs.
Still More Reliable Than Most Cars On The Road
When it comes down to it, even a used Mercedes is more reliable than many of the other cars you’re sharing the highway with. These vehicles are built to last, which is saying a lot in our society that seems to thrive on planned obsolescence.
When buying a car, you’re usually looking for something to get you from point A to point B safely and efficiently. When you buy a Mercedes, you get all that and more.
