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Mercedes-Benz Cars

Euro · 29 models

Mercedes-Benz

AMG turned a humble tuner shop into the brand BMW M chases. The 300SL was the original supercar. The G-Wagen will outlast civilization.

Euro

Mercedes-Benz is the oldest car maker still in continuous operation, founded in 1926 from the merger of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. Karl Benz built the first automobile in 1886. The brand identity is luxury, durability, and (since AMG joined the family) genuine performance. The 300SL Gullwing of 1954-1957 is the foundational halo car. Direct fuel injection, six-cylinder, gullwing doors, and 161 horsepower made it the fastest production car of its era. Production was limited (around 1,400 cars), and clean examples now sell for over $1 million. AMG (Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach, named after the founders and the village where it started) was an independent tuner founded in 1967. By the 1990s it had become Mercedes in-house performance arm. The C36 AMG of 1995 was the first official factory AMG product. The C63 AMG, E63 AMG, and S63 AMG carried the formula through three subsequent decades. The M156 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 in the C63 AMG (2008-2014) and the M157/M177/M178 twin-turbo V8s in subsequent cars represent the engineering peak. The G-Wagen is the other Mercedes story. Originally developed for military use in the 1970s, the W463 chassis remained almost unchanged from 1990 through 2018. The current generation is more refined but maintains the boxy design and three locking differentials. The G63 AMG with the twin-turbo V8 has become a status symbol unlike any other vehicle in the segment. On WhipJury, Mercedes submissions span E55 and E63 AMGs (especially the M113 supercharged V8 era), C63 AMG sedans and coupes, G-Wagens, classic R107 SLs, and the occasional 300SL or modern GT/AMG GT.

Top Mercedes-Benz cars on WhipJury

2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 63
2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 63#1
Whip Score: 1218

Mercedes-Benz models we cover

190E
190E
190E Cosworth
190E Cosworth
300SL
300SL
A-Class
A-Class
AMG GT
AMG GT
AMG ONE
AMG ONE
C-Class
C-Class
CLA
CLA
CLK
CLK
CLS
CLS
E-Class
E-Class
EQA
EQA
EQB
EQB
EQE
EQE
EQS
EQS
G-Class
G-Class
GL
GL
GLA
GLA
GLB
GLB
GLC
GLC
GLE
GLE
GLS
GLS
Maybach
Maybach
ML
ML
S-Class
S-Class
SL
SL
SLC
SLC
SLK
SLK
SLS AMG
SLS AMG

The AMG era

AMG started as an independent tuning house specializing in Mercedes engines. The Hammer of the 1980s (an E-Class with a 6.0 liter V8 swap) put AMG on the global map. Mercedes acquired a majority stake in 1999 and full ownership in 2005. The W210 E55 AMG, W211 E55 AMG, and W211 E63 AMG covered the early modern AMG era; the W212 E63 AMG and current W213 E63 AMG are the modern flagships.

The M156 V8 is widely considered AMG masterpiece. Naturally aspirated 6.2 liters, hand-built with one engine per technician, 451 to 525 horsepower depending on application. The C63 AMG with the M156 (2008-2014) is one of the great modern muscle cars. Subsequent twin-turbo V8s have been faster but lack the same character.

The G-Wagen

The G-Class launched as the W460 in 1979 for military and government use. The W463 civilian version arrived in 1990 and ran almost unchanged for nearly three decades, a remarkable production run for a luxury vehicle. The current W463A (2018+) is mechanically a new vehicle but maintains the visual signature. The G63 AMG with the M177 twin-turbo V8 makes 577 horsepower in a chassis that retains live axles and serious off-road capability.

Mercedes on WhipJury

The community on WhipJury favors AMG cars heavily, particularly the M156-era C63s and E63s, plus modern GT and AMG GT 4-Door models. G-Wagens (especially custom Brabus-style builds) are common. Classic R107 SL submissions and W124 E-Class builds round out the older Mercedes presence.

Frequently asked questions about Mercedes-Benz

What does AMG stand for?
Aufrecht, Melcher, Großaspach. Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher founded the tuning shop in Großaspach (a village in Germany) in 1967. The company was independent for decades before Mercedes-Benz acquired full ownership in 2005.
What is the M156 engine?
The M156 is the 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 used in AMG cars from 2006 to 2014. Hand-built, around 451 to 525 horsepower depending on application, fitted to the C63 AMG, E63 AMG, S63 AMG, SLS AMG, and various other AMG products of that era. Considered one of the great modern naturally aspirated V8s.
Why are old G-Wagens so expensive?
Demand outstrips supply. The pre-2018 W463 G-Wagen has a cult following due to its boxy design and unchanged formula across decades. AMG variants (G55, G63) are particularly sought after. Even rough W463 examples now sell for over $40,000; clean low-mile G63 AMGs from the 2000s and 2010s can exceed $80,000.
Are AMGs reliable?
Generally yes, with strong maintenance. The M113 supercharged V8 (2003-2007) needs supercharger nose bearings monitored. The M156 V8 has a known head bolt issue that can require a top end rebuild. The modern M177/M178 twin-turbo V8s have been reliable so far. All AMGs are expensive to maintain due to specialty parts.
What is the difference between SL and SLK?
The SL (Sport Leicht) is the larger, more luxurious roadster, traditionally with V6 or V8 engines. The SLK is the smaller, more affordable roadster with four-cylinder or six-cylinder engines. The SLK was renamed SLC in 2016 before being discontinued. The SL continues today as a 2+2 grand tourer.

Mercedes-Benz on the WhipJury blog

Metallic, pearl, matte, and satin: what car paint finishes actually do
Metallic, pearl, matte, and satin: what car paint finishes actually do

Metallic paint uses aluminum flake, pearl uses ceramic crystals that refract light into different colors, and matte scatters light so you see form instead of reflections. Each one changes how a car's shape reads, and matte costs 40 to 50 percent more to repair because the clear coat cannot be polished.

Why Chinese EVs look the way they do
Why Chinese EVs look the way they do

Chinese EVs look European because Europeans designed them. Wolfgang Egger from Audi and Lamborghini runs BYD design, Kris Tomasson from BMW runs Nio's, and Stefan Sielaff, who drew the Audi A7 and Bentley Bentayga, runs Geely's. Here's why the cars share smooth surfaces, light bars, and living-room interiors, and what they still lack.

What Does EDM Mean? (European Domestic Market, Explained)
What Does EDM Mean? (European Domestic Market, Explained)

EDM stands for European Domestic Market: vehicles, parts, and styling built for sale in Europe, to European regulations. It is the European cousin of JDM and USDM, and the differences (engines, transmissions, lighting, and models we never got) are exactly why enthusiasts chase EDM cars.

What Is a Sleeper Car and Why Do People Build Them?
What Is a Sleeper Car and Why Do People Build Them?

A sleeper is a car with serious performance hiding under a completely unremarkable exterior. The classic formula is an economy car, family sedan, wagon, or even a minivan built to embarrass sports cars while looking like it is on its way to a dentist appointment. The whole point is that nothing warns you.

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