The debate over whether BMW, Mercedes or Audi is the best everyday German brand will be argued over for the rest of time. In the modern day they produce scarily similar cars that is making the debate less and less relevant. When the debate was at its most fierce it was in the ’90s and late ’80s. This is when the identities were at their strongest.
I don’t really land on one side of the court as I’m a fan of all three brands, but if I look at the best cars each brand has produced over the years, Mercedes-Benz starts to look like the victor. Let me put forward my argument for them with the top 15 coolest Mercedes of all time. You can let me know how right/wrong I am in the comments.
Mercedes-Benz will always be champion in the car world!
Source: @jonsibal @slang500
AMG GT
In the last few years Mercedes have been smashing the coupe game. This culminated in the 911 challenger, the AMG GT. Even if it is just bought by footballers, it looks stunning from every angle.
W220 S65
If one of these pulled up outside your house, you're either being escorted to the embassy for crucial talks that could cost the country billions, or you're about to be put in the boot and feature on the 'missing list.' Either way, you'd get there quickly, smoothly and aroused.
SSK TROSSI ROADSTER
I mean… if you see me coming down the road in this thing, you're going to get the hell out of my way, aren't you? No matter what you're driving, I am more important than you in a Trossi Roadster.
CL55 AMG
This thing had more torque than a tractor. As Clarkson hinted, the world only spins on its axis because a CL55 AMG is accelerating somewhere.
CLK63 BLACK SERIES
I wasn't a fan of the standard CLK, but when I saw them bring out a mysterious 'Black Series' edition, I was converted. The noise this thing makes is biblical.
AMG HAMMER
The car that earned the nickname 'The Hammer.' A low burbling engine note and the simply sexy frame of the W124, what more do you want?
190E 2.5-16 COSWORTH
The E30 M3 challenger. It is everything you want from a performance version of a pretty mundane car. Massive wing, nearly always in black, more angles than Pythagoras and a Cosworth engine.
SLS BLACK SERIES
We're starting to get serious now. Go on, try and think of all those BMWs and Audis that challenge number 8 on my list of Mercedes. Hard isn't it?
SLR 722
"It sounds like the God of Thunder, gargling with nails." - Mr Clarkson. 'Nuff said.
300SL GULLWING
Those efficient and funless Germans proved us all wrong by making a car with bloody gullwing doors. Even if rest of the car was ugly, it would still be cool, but no, the rest of the car is insanely beautiful.
600 GROSSER
Clarkson's limo of choice, along with a variety of dictators. You know it is a cool car if dictators choose one.
C111
Potentially the most beautiful Mercedes ever made. Unfortunately, not a full production car, but that shouldn't take away from the presence this thing has when it is wheeled out at the latest car shows.
AMG ONE
The words 'plug-in hybrid' don't exactly get the juices flowing, but when you add 'Formula One-derived technology' it is time to get excited.
300 SLR/ STIRLING MOSS
It was too close a call between the original 300 SLR that Stirling Moss drove at a superhuman average speed in the 1955 Mille Miglia and the tribute released in 2009… so I've done both. Sue me.
CLK GTR
Was there ever going to be another choice? The CLK GTR may not look to everyone's taste, but it is one of the main examples as to why Mercedes just trump BMW and Audi in the ill-defined coolness level. Every now and again they do something utterly bizarre and fantastic.
