Used 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S420 4dr Sedan Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Best car I've ever had.
I bought this car in Nov. 1996. After 80,000 miles I had to replace the transmission. That was the blast and only unreasonable repair I've made. I now have 200,750 miles on it. At 200,000. the evaporator in the A/C was leaking and had to be replaced. It was costly, $3400. but it is a great car and I paid the price. My family suggested`I buy a new car, but even an E class was going to cost me close to $60,000. and since I love this car it was`a no brainer. The trunk is large, and as they say, I could raise a family of five in the back seat. When I buy a new car it will probably be a diesel, not because of gas mileage, but because of less maintenance. I get 17.5 mpg city.
Speed, smooth, solid nickle & dimer
She's a highway machine. Silky smooth accelleration. She holds the road like an autobahn purebread. The engine rules, except for those pesky oil journals (nice job designer guys). When the miles start to rack up, the strangest things start to go out on it. Air coditioner wierdness, transmission gremlins (limp home mode?!) leave you and the dealership scratching your head as to what's wrong (computer diagnostics?!). The heaviness of the car eats suspension and brake parts. On a positive note, if you can find a mechanic who can identify and fix the little strange things that will happen to this car, it will last forever!
- S320 SWB SedanMSRP: $14,900103 mi away
- S500 SedanMSRP: $18,995732 mi away
- S320 LWB SedanMSRP: $7,9951,677 mi away
The Black beauty
The S 420 is an excellent example of German made excellence in motorvehicles. The comfort level is impecable and is one of the smoothest rides i have ever ridden in. The car is perfection at its best.
My Last Mercedes
This was the car that turned a certified car nut like myself into someone who just wants cheap transportation. I bought this car new and in the first year had over $10K of warranty work . . . I finally sold it after 12 months and bought a Volkswagen! A partial list: engine torn down to replace timing chains due to constant whine, transmission slip shifting, rattles, radio not connected at the factory, temperature sensor intermittent, damaged paint, and finally, the total arrogance of the factory zone reps!
Ageless
Well this is my third w140 s class, this one is a 1997 s420 with only 235k pampered miles and it still gives me a great feeling to get in and drive. My wife's car is an 05 s500 4matic, and I would much rather be in the 97! We've owned several other Mercedes styles,but the w140 is the best of the best! Half way do the maintenance and they'll run forever. Once you spend time in one you will not want anything else! ENJOY!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value