A Guide To Buying A Pre-Owned Mercedes
Posted on January 27, 2021
Is Used the Route for You?
So you’re ready to take the plunge and step into a Benz? Or maybe you’re a long-time loyalist of the Mercedes Benz and need no convincing to hop into one of this iconoclastic brand’s vehicles. Buying a new Mercedes-Benz could very well be the highlight of your year.
Have you considered purchasing pre-owned? If so, you’re in luck, CarHub Automotive Group happens to have one of the largest inventory lists of any dealership in the GTA. Both the North York and Caledon CarHub locations have a great selection of pre-owned Mercedes Benz’s for you to consider as your next purchase.
If you’ve made the decision to purchase pre-owned, there are considerations to be made that may not come into play when buying new.
Of course, there are many benefits to purchasing pre-owned that people tend to overlook. We’re going to give a basic rundown of the reasons that you should consider in your next pre-owned Mercedes purchase.
Style
Let’s be honest, if you’re in the market for a Pre Owned Mercedes, style is a consideration in your purchasing choice. For a similar price-range as a low-mileage, certified Mercedes, you could opt for a new but vastly more boring competitor. Mercedes are head-turners. They make the people you encounter while you’re driving take notice. The brand holds some panache that other brands do not. So if you’re the type of person who wants a car to be more than a way to get you from A to B, a Mercedes may be for you.
But why go pre-owned as opposed to new?
Buying a Pre-Owned Mercedes
Buying a new car is a genuinely satisfying experience. It’s exciting, it’s fun and it feels great to drive off of the lot in a brand new machine. Everyone should do it at least once in their lives.
Buying new is not without its pitfalls, however. Namely, as soon as you drive off of the lot in your new vehicle you take a depreciation hit. This is the nature of buying new.It may be worth it to those who truly value the new car experience but if you are a little more budget conscious in your vehicle consideration this year, purchasing pre-owned takes the pinch out of depreciation. Someone else has shouldered that burden for you. You get to drive away with a great example of fine German engineering without the hit to your wallet.
Quality and Longevity
A common concern for people who are in the market for a used vehicle is whether they will experience problems with the car throughout the course of their ownership. This is a reasonable concern but it is also a huge factor as per why so many pre-owned purchasers choose to put their money into a Mercedes. The Mercedes line has a reputation for longevity, performance and cutting edge technology. We all know that Mercedes’ don’t come cheap. There’s a reason. In this classic luxury brand, you truly get what you pay for.
Talkin’ Trim
One thing is for sure: you’d be hard-pressed to find a person who would turn their nose up at a fine example of German engineering. One problem that you could expect to encounter: making a choice between the Mercedes models and trim lines. So many fantastic options to choose from! Your preferences (and maybe your bank account) are the only things that will hold you back
The Mercedes trim levels take a bit of decoding, however.
For starters, let’s look at all of the G’s. There are GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, and GLS SUVs. Simple enough, right? But hold on a minute. Somewhat confusingly, none of these should be mistaken for the Mercedes G-Class.
And there’s more. Each of the trim levels features multiple options, including different engine sizes and body styles.
For a little bit of clarification, the basic Mercedes system is, basically, that letters found later in the alphabet attached to the name usually denote a larger engine size.
Still a little confused? Don’t worry, we’re going to dig in a little more to a smattering of model options that Mercedes has in its lineup.
Mercedes Terminology
First, Mercedes stands apart not only in class and components but in some of its terminology. It will help to understand the nomenclature of Mercedes a little first. Here’s a brief rundown:
- EQ Boost - this feature can be added to Mercedes-Benz engines with turbochargers. It’s a mild hybrid system that generates electric power through the turbocharger and applies it during acceleration.
- AMG - This denotes the vehicle came from the Mercedes-Benz performance division. All AMG model engines are sportier and more powerful than other editions in the line.
- 4MATIC - This is the name that Mercedes gives to its all-wheel-drive systems.
- Cabriolet - French for convertible
Mercedes A-Class
What better place to start than the top of the alphabet with the Mercedes A-Class!
The A-Class is a subcompact Mercedes and it slots into the entry-level for the Mercedes line. Entry-level for Mercedes is still a cut above the rest though and the A-class offer a host of luxuries and comforts as well as options for upgrades. This sedan-style line offers three models, the A 220, the A 220 4MATIC and the AMG A35.
The models in the A-class come standard with a turbocharged 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder engine. The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in the A 220 models produces 188 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque; more than enough to add a little zip to your day. On the inside, you’re looking at a dual screen, infotainment digital display and more amenities, based on the package that the original owner would have ordered.
C-Class
The C-Class is the Mercedes compact car. It comes as a four door sedan but is also available as a coupe or a two door, convertible. All versions come with a four, six or eight cylinder engine, and each one packs a punch: 255, 305 and 503 horsepower. That’s enough kick under the hood to give you the feeling of a sports car in a tiny, reliable city ride that’ll get the chores done before you’re ready to open it up on the highway.
The C-Class comes in sedan, coupe and cabriolet styles and offers a number of options under each heading. Here’s a quick rundown:
The C-Class comes in five versions of its Sedan, the C 300, C 300 4MATIC, AMG C 43, AMG C 63 and AMG C 63 S.
There are also five versions of the coupe, the C 300, C 300 4MATIC, AMG C 43, AMG C 63 and AMG C 63 S.
There are five versions as well of the Cabriolet, the C 300, C 300 4MATIC, AMG C 43, AMG C 63 and the AMG C 63 S.
B-Class
The B class is a smart, compact, urban chore runner with a little oomph to it as well. It’s a practical hatchback with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 208 horsepower and 285 lb-ft of torque.
The B-Class came in both front wheel drive and AWD, with 4MATIC inclusion.
This is enough to get it up to highway speed from a standstill in about 7 seconds, while fitting all of the groceries, kids and pets in the back. It’s less about style with this one but the Mercedes name still hits hard and the quality that the brand is known for shines through to make this one of the safest, most reliable compact hatchbacks on the road today.
The Mercedes-Benz B class did a solid fourteen year run in Canada, with excellent reviews throughout. It was phased out in 2019 but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a fine example of this solid, compact city runner on one of the CarHub lots. Check our inventory listings regularly for a Mercedes B Class!
CLA-Class
The CLA class is Mercedes’ four door coupe offering. It’s a sleek and stylish entry into the coupe class (obviously, it’s a Mercedes) but it also brackets its good looks with the practicality that Mercedes drivers have come to know and love. All of the CLA models utilize the powerful base-level 2.0-liter twin turbocharged inline four, but the CLA also comes in two AMG offerings, which boost the CLA’s power to up to 382 horsepower.
The CLA offers the kick and looks of a sports car with the same reliability and longevity that Mercedes is known for. This would be a solid choice for anyone in the pre-owned sedans market who is looking for Mercedes style for a little less strain on the wallet.
The CLA comes in CLA 250, CLA 250 4MATIC, AMG CLA 35 and AMG CLA 45 models, respectively.
E-Class
A step up from the C-Class, we’re moving into the midsize range with the Mercedes E-Class. E-Class Mercedes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible option. Comfort and sophistication are the name of the game with the E-Class.
The E-Class is yet another entry into the Mercedes-Benz roster that is just as at home picking up groceries as it is tearing up the road, with AMG versions kicking up to 603 horsepower. When called upon to, the E-Class has enough firepower under the hood to get you where you need to be on the double.
The E-Class comes in three engine options, the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged hybrid inline-six and the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, respectively.
It also comes in a variety of models. A sedan, which offers the E 350, E 350 4MATIC, E 450 4MATIC, AMG E 53 and AMG E 63 S options. A wagon, which comes in an E-Class All Terrain, AMG E 63 S. A coupe, which is offered as an E 45, E 450 4MATIC and a Cabriolet, which comes in an E 450 and E 450 4MATIC options.
GLA Class
The GLA-Class is Mercedes' entry-level compact SUV. As per usual, it offers the sleek styling and sporty good looks that the Mercedes brand is known for. As a compact SUV, you also get the grocery-grabbing, camping capabilities of a sport utility vehicle.
It comes in two models, the GLA 250 and the GLA 250 4MATIC, both come with the standard 2.0 liter turbocharged inline 4 engine, which is sure to make you feel like you have the power to rip when you want to mash the gas.
GLC Class
This compact, mid-level SUV is the step up from the base model compact SUV that the Mercedes line offers. It comes in three engine offerings, a four, six and eight-cylinder version. There’s also an option for a plug-in hybrid, which promises to increase fuel efficiency while lowering environmental impact. The GLC-Class SUV comes in both full-size and offerings.
As per usual, it comes in a variety of models, here’s a rundown.
As a full-sized SUV, the GLC comes in a GLC 300, GLC 300 4MATIC, GLC 350e 4MATIC, AMG GLC 43, AMG GLC 63.
There is a coupe offering, which comes as a GLC 300 4MATIC, AMG GLC 43, AMG GLC 63, AMG GLC 63 S.
There are also multiple engine offerings in the GLC-Class. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four + plug-in hybrid electric setup, a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 and 4.0-liter turbocharged V8.
GLE Class
On to the luxury class SUV! When it comes to Mercedes-Benz, luxury is a given but the GLE-Class is a step into a higher range for the Mercedes-Benz SUV. You’re going to get a sleek, stylish machine with a slightly upgraded materials package in the interior than in the more base models and a little more kick under the hood. The GLE-Class is also offered in a coupe or full-sized SUV sizes. This line comes with the standard six-cylinder or with a notched up AMG six-cylinder and eigh-cylinder.
Again, there are many models and styles to choose from in this line, so here’s a basic rundown:
In the SUV style, you get a GLE 350, GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE 450 4MATIC, GLE 580 4MATIC, AMG GLE 53 and AMG GLE, 63 S respectively.
For the coupe, you have the AMG GLE 53 and AMG GLE 63 S.
As per the engine, you will be looking at a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with hybrid assistance or a 4.0-liter turbocharged hybrid V8.
A Safe Bet
When it comes to style, safety, luxury and comfort, a Mercedes-Benz is tough to beat. If you’re looking for a pre-owned example of a German luxury car, you may find that the value for a pre-owned Mercedes is the perfect match for your goals and needs from a vehicle in 2021.
A pre-owned Mercedes Benz will save you on a depreciation hit - which becomes even more relevant on a Mercedes-Benz that is five years older or more. This is because of a longer luxury car lifespan, but either way, you’ll save on the initial hit.
Mercedes are known for their durability and longevity as well as their incredible attention to detail and high-level components, materials and gadgetry. Under the hood you know that no matter what trim level or model you choose, you’ve got a rock star of an engine that will be up to whatever task you ask of it.
Is a pre-owned Mercedes-Benz a safe bet? It would be tough to argue against it when your considerations are reliability, style and value.
You can book an appointment today to speak to one of our knowledgeable Product Advisors to learn about the Mercedes-Benz options that we have on our CarHub North York and CarHub Caledon lots today.