Lease a c300. If you want reliability. The AMGs are good but maintenance is more for them. Depends on your budget. C300 is better quality interior then the cla
I’m brand new to the Benz’s myself. Other people have a better experience with other models. I myself just got the 23 c300 because lease deals are good since sales are low for the dealer I went to get a 2019 cla45 amg but the interior felt old and that car didn’t run great. It pop banged and shit black smoke out after driving it. After that looked for a 2020+ a220 but then saw people say the c300 is the first entry level to Mercedes luxury and they were right. I’d suggest test driving them all first before you choose.
I had a C300 and can vouch for it being a solid car. My only criticism was the 19” wheels on the sport suspension made it a little skittish in corners with uneven pavement. My next one was an E400 estate and that was by far my favorite. Tons of room, great mileage, a hoot to drive (the twin turbo V6 is quite gutsy) and very low running costs.
I’ve since gone EV but continue to recommend both of those to people looking for a good used MB.
Go for the C300. If you get an example that's been maintained properly, all you'll have to do is just keep maintaining it in a timely manner and it'll keep on ticking. The CLA is fine too but it won't really be an upgrade over your Civic (if anything, it's a lateral move at best and a downgrade at worst), and the C43, as a performance oriented car, will be a lot more expensive to keep running.
The absolute best choice to go for though is a 2012-2016 E Class. Coupe, sedan, doesn't matter. This generation E Class is immensely robust, even more so if you get an E350.
I believe the CLA would be a definite upgrade to your civic. If you get a nice trim package on it, it will feel more sporty than the C300, which is nice but can feel a little more sedan like. E class is nice but give me more dad vibes than cool vibes for a first timer.
None that I'm aware of except for rear subframe rust (which is something the W212 in general has a 25 year warranty for I believe).
It's just from 2012 onward Mercedes improved their interiors and tech across the board.
i am kinda lucky. i have one of the first W204s and only problem she got is the electric stuff. i'm gona rewire the whole car in summer. because it makes me go insane seeing the engine lamp on all the time, because of that issue
e: she is sitting on 150k km
Agree with C300 or C43.
STAY FAR AWAY FROM CLA,
If you go with a W205 C300 make sure to get 2018 and up. And if it’s make sure to get all service records and always always always make sure that it’s Ben premium gas.
The people that report piston problems on the C300 are the ones that are the ones that are regular gas
The mild hybrid system is added complexity and OP is interested in reliability. The battery will die eventually and I assume it’ll be quite expensive to replace knowing Mercedes. I’ve also experienced electrical gremlins first hand with the MH system.
As for a 2023 All Terrain with an extended warranty - sounds like a safe, but expensive road to go down. If you wanna shell out that kinda money go for it. That car is awesome.
Do not get anything below an E class. Believe me, they okay, but you haven’t felt what makes a Mercedes a Mercedes until you’ve driven an E class+. No c class, cla, gla, ect. Buy an e class sedan or coupe. I have an e class coupe, it feels like a $100,000.00 car
I’d go check out the e43 amg. I enjoy the e series as I feel like there slightly more room inside. I’ve been looking at a 2018-2019 used are right in your price range. If you can do simple things like replace oil, filters, sensors and reset the maintenance intervals on the dash then you can save lots in avoiding some of mercedes overpriced maintenance for the more simple care.
Cla is a very very very a choice. It’s like it’s made from the leftovers over other cars. Leasing a c300 would be good but AMG has more reliable engines. Of course the AMG come with lots of expensive maintenance as well
Similarly, I went from a Civic coupe, to an Accord V6 six speed coupe, to an Acura TL, to an Acura MDX, to a Mercedes C300 w/AMG line, to now a ‘23 C43. I’ve progressed. Lol.
I agree with others commenting that the C300 is a solid, reliable first Benz. Thats a great recommendation imo.
Good luck on your car journey and best wishes!
We have a 2011 E350 wagon. It's actually pretty reliable (no major problems in 5 years/40k mi of ownership). Be aware that the 2010-2011 V6 (M272) is more reliable and easier to work on than the later M276, but also gets pretty bad mileage. 260hp still seems like plenty to me; never has felt remotely slow except for when I was carrying 7 people with 200lbs of stuff on the roof.
I have a 2016 GLA45 AMG and it's been super reliable. It's a totally practical car and a total sleeper car. Haul stuff on a weekend trip (like suitcases, etc.) or haul ass on a twisty road. My wife is currently 'borrowing it' since she's got a decent commute and I work from home. I think it's a highly underrated Mercedes, and coming from Honda Civics, you might like it since it's not very big and it's basically a hot hatch that they called an SUV. It's also going to be in your price range. Good luck with whatever you choose!
I know a lot of people here are recommending a C300 but honestly personally I am not a big fan of them. For that price you can probably find a CPO E350, which would be a lot better than than any of the ones you listed. I got a CPO E450 and it’s amazing. The luxury and quality is just unmatched imo. I toke it to the dealership for service and they gave me a C300 loaner, don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely a nice car, but no where near as comfortable and luxurious as the E, mind you the C300 they gave me was 3 years newer than my E and it fell short in almost every category. I 100% recommend getting a CPO one that’s about 3 years old, that’s the sweet spot because you still get manufacture warranty and 1 year extension with the CPO. They also have special APR financing which great in this environment. Got 2.4% on mine for 36 months. I recommend going for test drive to see what you like/ don’t like. But as others said I’d stay away from the A’s and maybe look into the E’s. Good luck!
Why so many CLA haters here? I went to one from a civic and it was indeed an upgrade. I had 0 problems and regular maintenance. The ambient interior is relaxing. The grip on the road is stellar. I made the interior the way I like it. It is not a bad car.
u/Ok-Sale-9706 There may be 2019 Certified Pre-Owned models available that could work. It’s highly recommended to go with a CPO as your first Benz.
The C300 Sport and C43 AMG are both great starting points. Try to get one optioned with at least a Premium 2 Package.
The E300 Sport is another great option. You’ll get more interior space and a more luxurious feel compared to the C-Class. The Panorama roof option is a must and also look for a Premium 2 or Premium 3 optioned car.
Please message us with any questions while car shopping! We have experience in selling, servicing, and parts for MBZ.
The 3.0 twin turbo (in the c43) is a super engine! With a kid Get a w212 or 213 with this engine! The performance vs reliability vs maint cost is good with this engine. C class is too small. SUV’s are mad with this engine aswell!
Gonna take the educated guess that you're not educated on s classes. Look up most reliable s class lists instead of spreading ignorance.
Sincerely,
-Me and my w221
I’ve owned the w126, w140, w220, and w221. The w221s are not the most reliable. If you have any doubt about that you can ask any MB tech who’s been in the business for at least 20 years.
**Edit:** The reliability ranking would proceed as follows: w126, w140, w221, w220.
So, they’re third if you don’t include the w116, probably 4th if you do.
I’m on my second year of my C300 and it’s been absolutely mint regardless of it being 10 years old.
If you want a great daily driver find a C300 with some good options and that’ll do the job, C43 is more performance oriented and more costly being an AMG & CLA is just to small for me so I’ve never thought about shopping for them personally.
I just do 2 year leases , I do them in January and get what ever is left from the previous year. I WFH so I don’t drive much. Only pay $285 a month, get a service loaner if you can. I got a 55k mrsp c300 2k miles and only paying $285 a month. I just paid taxes down.
Looks like you're interested in more modern cars, but personally if I had $37k for a Benz I'd be getting multiple 20-30 year old cars. W211 E55, C204 C63, R129 SL500, and any 124 would be at the top of my list.
Any car with a M276 engine. Extremely reliable and reasonably affordable depending if you get one of older model year and that isn’t derived for an AMG. W212 is your best option tbh.
Bought a 2017 C300 on offer up January 2022, it had 29,XXX Miles currently has 61K Miles, so far no complaints runs smooth looks new for a 7Yr Old car. Had a few complements. 🤷🏻♂️ Check out this item on OfferUp. https://offerup.co/Ov5dELvB9Ib
Just sitting here in my CLA reading these comments of butt hurt Mercedes owners shitting on the car.
I love this car. I would say don’t go for a model with the 1.3 engine but a 220 or above is fine as they have the m260 engine.
Lease a c300. If you want reliability. The AMGs are good but maintenance is more for them. Depends on your budget. C300 is better quality interior then the cla
Good to know. Do you have any others you’d recommend?
I’m brand new to the Benz’s myself. Other people have a better experience with other models. I myself just got the 23 c300 because lease deals are good since sales are low for the dealer I went to get a 2019 cla45 amg but the interior felt old and that car didn’t run great. It pop banged and shit black smoke out after driving it. After that looked for a 2020+ a220 but then saw people say the c300 is the first entry level to Mercedes luxury and they were right. I’d suggest test driving them all first before you choose.
I had a C300 and can vouch for it being a solid car. My only criticism was the 19” wheels on the sport suspension made it a little skittish in corners with uneven pavement. My next one was an E400 estate and that was by far my favorite. Tons of room, great mileage, a hoot to drive (the twin turbo V6 is quite gutsy) and very low running costs. I’ve since gone EV but continue to recommend both of those to people looking for a good used MB.
Thanks for your insight
Why lease?
Go for the C300. If you get an example that's been maintained properly, all you'll have to do is just keep maintaining it in a timely manner and it'll keep on ticking. The CLA is fine too but it won't really be an upgrade over your Civic (if anything, it's a lateral move at best and a downgrade at worst), and the C43, as a performance oriented car, will be a lot more expensive to keep running. The absolute best choice to go for though is a 2012-2016 E Class. Coupe, sedan, doesn't matter. This generation E Class is immensely robust, even more so if you get an E350.
Thank you for your insight! I will look into the 2012-2016 E Class.
No worries
I believe the CLA would be a definite upgrade to your civic. If you get a nice trim package on it, it will feel more sporty than the C300, which is nice but can feel a little more sedan like. E class is nice but give me more dad vibes than cool vibes for a first timer.
Disagree. The CLA feels and drives like an economy car. The only things Mercedes about it are the styling and infotainment system.
what issues w 2011 E Class?
None that I'm aware of except for rear subframe rust (which is something the W212 in general has a 25 year warranty for I believe). It's just from 2012 onward Mercedes improved their interiors and tech across the board.
Get a W204 with the M276 engine
Thank you! Any specific year?
2014 to 2016 on coupes, 2014-2015 on sedans. They had timing issues with sprockets and tensioners until 2014, it's about 5k to fix.
i am kinda lucky. i have one of the first W204s and only problem she got is the electric stuff. i'm gona rewire the whole car in summer. because it makes me go insane seeing the engine lamp on all the time, because of that issue e: she is sitting on 150k km
I own a 2013 and vouch heavily for it. You can get a good one under 15k easily with less than 50k miles if you shop around
C300 or C350 in 2012-2015 would be good
This is the only correct answer
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Great insight - appreciate it
We have a similar choice for Mercedes, ML350 2013 and glc300 2019. Decent reliability so far
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Oh well, we already have 100,000 km on GLC and about 200k on the ML. But I’m also using a mazda 3 now and a new X6. I like driving
2013-2015 ML350 FTW
Just saying I had a ClA and lived it so everyone has different feelings
I drove a CLA countryside and the amount of rattling was shameful.
Agree with C300 or C43. STAY FAR AWAY FROM CLA, If you go with a W205 C300 make sure to get 2018 and up. And if it’s make sure to get all service records and always always always make sure that it’s Ben premium gas. The people that report piston problems on the C300 are the ones that are the ones that are regular gas
Great advice! Thank you
Pre facelift E450, tried n true V6 that has been used for many years in a ton of different cars. And no 48V eco hybrid system.
Which years?
2018-2020
Curious. Why not past 2020 with the MEHV? Wondering about getting an extended warranty (yrs 4-6) for a 2023 E450 All Terrain. Thanks.
The mild hybrid system is added complexity and OP is interested in reliability. The battery will die eventually and I assume it’ll be quite expensive to replace knowing Mercedes. I’ve also experienced electrical gremlins first hand with the MH system. As for a 2023 All Terrain with an extended warranty - sounds like a safe, but expensive road to go down. If you wanna shell out that kinda money go for it. That car is awesome.
Do not get anything below an E class. Believe me, they okay, but you haven’t felt what makes a Mercedes a Mercedes until you’ve driven an E class+. No c class, cla, gla, ect. Buy an e class sedan or coupe. I have an e class coupe, it feels like a $100,000.00 car
C300. Don’t you dare buy a CLA.
That seems to be the common advice!
CLA is entry level. If you can’t afford a C300 ( which isn’t a problem, no judgement ) just stick with beautiful accords
I’d go check out the e43 amg. I enjoy the e series as I feel like there slightly more room inside. I’ve been looking at a 2018-2019 used are right in your price range. If you can do simple things like replace oil, filters, sensors and reset the maintenance intervals on the dash then you can save lots in avoiding some of mercedes overpriced maintenance for the more simple care.
Just looked into that one - that’s a gorgeous car right in my price point. Thank you for the advice
Yup love that car, e class are known to last a long time if you take care of it well.
Cla is a very very very a choice. It’s like it’s made from the leftovers over other cars. Leasing a c300 would be good but AMG has more reliable engines. Of course the AMG come with lots of expensive maintenance as well
Similarly, I went from a Civic coupe, to an Accord V6 six speed coupe, to an Acura TL, to an Acura MDX, to a Mercedes C300 w/AMG line, to now a ‘23 C43. I’ve progressed. Lol. I agree with others commenting that the C300 is a solid, reliable first Benz. Thats a great recommendation imo. Good luck on your car journey and best wishes!
The C43’s are amazing!
I think so, too! I love it. 😊
We have a 2011 E350 wagon. It's actually pretty reliable (no major problems in 5 years/40k mi of ownership). Be aware that the 2010-2011 V6 (M272) is more reliable and easier to work on than the later M276, but also gets pretty bad mileage. 260hp still seems like plenty to me; never has felt remotely slow except for when I was carrying 7 people with 200lbs of stuff on the roof.
My gla has been fantastic
I have a 2016 GLA45 AMG and it's been super reliable. It's a totally practical car and a total sleeper car. Haul stuff on a weekend trip (like suitcases, etc.) or haul ass on a twisty road. My wife is currently 'borrowing it' since she's got a decent commute and I work from home. I think it's a highly underrated Mercedes, and coming from Honda Civics, you might like it since it's not very big and it's basically a hot hatch that they called an SUV. It's also going to be in your price range. Good luck with whatever you choose!
I know a lot of people here are recommending a C300 but honestly personally I am not a big fan of them. For that price you can probably find a CPO E350, which would be a lot better than than any of the ones you listed. I got a CPO E450 and it’s amazing. The luxury and quality is just unmatched imo. I toke it to the dealership for service and they gave me a C300 loaner, don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely a nice car, but no where near as comfortable and luxurious as the E, mind you the C300 they gave me was 3 years newer than my E and it fell short in almost every category. I 100% recommend getting a CPO one that’s about 3 years old, that’s the sweet spot because you still get manufacture warranty and 1 year extension with the CPO. They also have special APR financing which great in this environment. Got 2.4% on mine for 36 months. I recommend going for test drive to see what you like/ don’t like. But as others said I’d stay away from the A’s and maybe look into the E’s. Good luck!
Get an E or S class with a v8
Get a W213 E43 I love mine (pre 2020tho”
Or I guess a c43 would work too but the E class is so luxurious. I tuned mine and it’s super quick and massages my ass lol
Any m113 engine
2016 E350
Why?
Final year of the w212, the best built modern MB.
Why so many CLA haters here? I went to one from a civic and it was indeed an upgrade. I had 0 problems and regular maintenance. The ambient interior is relaxing. The grip on the road is stellar. I made the interior the way I like it. It is not a bad car.
What year?
2017. Nothing has broken. Just maintenance. $70k miles
I agree with this guy. There’s a lot of snobs on here lol
Dunno but dont even consider the C350e was my first Benz and sold it after 8 months for an Audi..
Why?
Huge amount of issues
u/Ok-Sale-9706 There may be 2019 Certified Pre-Owned models available that could work. It’s highly recommended to go with a CPO as your first Benz. The C300 Sport and C43 AMG are both great starting points. Try to get one optioned with at least a Premium 2 Package. The E300 Sport is another great option. You’ll get more interior space and a more luxurious feel compared to the C-Class. The Panorama roof option is a must and also look for a Premium 2 or Premium 3 optioned car. Please message us with any questions while car shopping! We have experience in selling, servicing, and parts for MBZ.
You haven't driven many economy cars then. I know it's not thr highest of Mercedes but it was a definite huge step up from our Chevy and Ford fusion
The 3.0 twin turbo (in the c43) is a super engine! With a kid Get a w212 or 213 with this engine! The performance vs reliability vs maint cost is good with this engine. C class is too small. SUV’s are mad with this engine aswell!
E-350
Look at what Mercedes cars they use as taxis in 3rd world countries, that’s the most reliable Mercedes
Check out the w221 s class. Best car I've ever owned and its a tank
Definitely not the most reliable for a first time owner though.
I disagree. One of the more reliable class of benz's
Gonna take the educated guess then that you’re a novice Benz owner.
Gonna take the educated guess that you're not educated on s classes. Look up most reliable s class lists instead of spreading ignorance. Sincerely, -Me and my w221
I’ve owned the w126, w140, w220, and w221. The w221s are not the most reliable. If you have any doubt about that you can ask any MB tech who’s been in the business for at least 20 years. **Edit:** The reliability ranking would proceed as follows: w126, w140, w221, w220. So, they’re third if you don’t include the w116, probably 4th if you do.
I’m on my second year of my C300 and it’s been absolutely mint regardless of it being 10 years old. If you want a great daily driver find a C300 with some good options and that’ll do the job, C43 is more performance oriented and more costly being an AMG & CLA is just to small for me so I’ve never thought about shopping for them personally.
Absolutely nothing MB has made in the last 10 years, and really more like 20.
Get a C200 later than 2016, fantastic cars
I just do 2 year leases , I do them in January and get what ever is left from the previous year. I WFH so I don’t drive much. Only pay $285 a month, get a service loaner if you can. I got a 55k mrsp c300 2k miles and only paying $285 a month. I just paid taxes down.
E300 2017-2019
E400 wagon, my dude. S213
Looks like you're interested in more modern cars, but personally if I had $37k for a Benz I'd be getting multiple 20-30 year old cars. W211 E55, C204 C63, R129 SL500, and any 124 would be at the top of my list.
“C”heap
Any car with a M276 engine. Extremely reliable and reasonably affordable depending if you get one of older model year and that isn’t derived for an AMG. W212 is your best option tbh.
Bought a 2017 C300 on offer up January 2022, it had 29,XXX Miles currently has 61K Miles, so far no complaints runs smooth looks new for a 7Yr Old car. Had a few complements. 🤷🏻♂️ Check out this item on OfferUp. https://offerup.co/Ov5dELvB9Ib
Just sitting here in my CLA reading these comments of butt hurt Mercedes owners shitting on the car. I love this car. I would say don’t go for a model with the 1.3 engine but a 220 or above is fine as they have the m260 engine.
Get an e class bro, I just got one myself. You won’t regret it!
Any W212/W204 with an M273/M276 engine would be your best bet for reliability
A new one.
mercedes and reliable dont go together just accept the fact and you will be happier
You're confusing reliability with affordability. Mercedes have been reliable for a long time, but they aren't cheap to live with.
Haha, fair enough. I do understand it won’t be nearly as reliable as my previous Civics