Mercedes-Benz is one of the most intriguing luxury vehicles on the road. Thanks to its high engineering, luxurious features, excellent performance, and safety. But why should you not buy a Mercedes-Benz?
You should not buy a Mercedes because of its high cost of maintenance, high depreciation value, unreliability, out-of-warranty costs, and specialized repair and maintenance. All of these factors make buying a Mercedes-Benz to be stressful. Of course, unless you have enough money to maintain and repair the car.
The main reason why many people stay away from Mercedes-Benz is because of the high cost of maintenance. This cost rises even higher when the warranty elapses. Also, since Mercedes-Benz has over-engineered technology, they break down frequently than most car brands.
Why you should stay away from Mercedes-Benz?
High cost of repair and maintenance
The main reason why you shouldn’t buy a Benz is because of its high cost of repair and maintenance. On average, you will have to pay at least $908 annually to maintain a Mercedes. A simple task like changing the oil in a Mercedes can cost you around $800.
On the contrary, repairing major parts can cost over $1,000. For instance, replacing a transmission on a Mercedes can cost you an average of $1,800. Besides, it’s also important to note that the older the car, the more issues you should expect to deal with.
According to the JD Power survey, Mercedes cars record at last 134 problems per 100 vehicles. This is average but not so good news for Mercedes owners. Cars like Lexus and Toyota record less than 108 problems, which is why they are more affordable to repair and maintain.
Out of warranty costs
Another big headache of owning a Mercedes-Benz is when it runs out of warranty. Even though the cost of repair and maintenance is high when the Mercedes has a warranty, this cost goes way up when you run out of warranty.
Mercedes comes with a new vehicle limited warranty that covers defects in material and workmanship for 4-years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. On top of that, they also have the option of extending the warranty. However, when the warranty elapses, it’s very costly to repair or maintain a Benz.
Specialized repair and maintenance
If you don’t have a certified Mercedes mechanic or dealer in your area, buying one will be very expensive. But even when you have a certified Mercedes mechanic in your area, they are very expensive. Most Mercedes repairs require specialized tools and technicians to handle them.
The only issue that the services offered by these specialized Mercedes dealers are quite expensive. And if you opt to service your car at an unauthorized Mercedes dealer, you may void the warranty, which is something you don’t want to do.
Difficulty finding some parts
Depending on your Mercedes make and model, finding some Mercedes parts can be a daunting task. Since some parts are very expensive, you may not find them at the dealership or they may have to order them especially for you. In such cases, you may end up paying more to have your car fixed.
High depreciation value
Mercedes-Benz starts to depreciate the moment you leave the showroom. In the first year alone, it will depreciate by an average of 18%. After 5 years, Mercedes will have depreciated up to 45%. Mercedes has one of the highest depreciation values, meaning that you will sell your car at almost half the price after 5 years of ownership.
Unreliability
Another good reason why you should stay away from Mercedes-Benz is because of the brand being unreliable. Most Mercedes models are unreliable and rank among the bottom-most reliable cars. This means that you will spend more time in the garage fixing issues instead of enjoying your ride.
Over-engineered and complicated systems
Mercedes cars are fitted with some of the best technologies on the market. Despite these technologies making Mercedes more advanced than other cars, they are the source of problems. As a result, it’s easier for Mercedes to break down than a Toyota, Lexus, or Honda.
FAQ
Why should I buy a Mercedes?
Yes, Mercedes may have its share of problems, but the issues don’t outweigh the advantages of owning a Mercedes-Benz. Some of the reasons why you should buy a Mercedes is because of the comfort, status, safety, performance, and durability.
Why is Mercedes-Benz so unreliable?
Mercedes are so unreliable because they come with over-engineered technologies. On top of that, some of the cars are fitted with new technologies that haven’t been fully tested. These technologies make cars break down easily.
However, not all Mercedes models are unreliable as the E-Class is amongst the most reliable luxury cars. On the contrary, the Mercedes A-Class is among the least reliable Mercedes models. Before you buy any Mercedes model, it’s ideal to find out whether it’s reliable or not.
What is the average life of a Mercedes-Benz?
This depends on a variety of things. First and foremost, how properly you maintain your Mercedes will determine if it goes for more than 200k miles or not. Secondly, choosing a more reliable model like the Mercedes E-Class will ensure that the car lasts longer. Finally, not skipping the car’s scheduled maintenance can help to prolong its lifespan.
Is it worth buying a 10-year-old Mercedes-Benz?
If the car is properly maintained and in good condition, why not. You can buy a 10-year old Mercedes-Benz if it’s reliable and the previous owner has maintained it well. Also, the car should have a good history and few owners over the past 10-years.
Why are used Mercedes so cheap?
Used Mercedes are so cheap because of the high cost of repair and maintenance. When the Mercedes warranty is over, repairing and maintaining a Benz is somewhat costly. As a result, most Mercedes owners tend to sell them when the warranty is over or almost over at a throw-away price.
Conclusion
Mercedes-Benz offers some of the most fascinating cars on the market, but not everything that glitters is gold. These cars have tons of issues that should make you not buy them. They are expensive to maintain, depreciate faster, overly engineered, unreliable, and require specialized care. All of these factors should be enough to make you stay away from Mercedes.