So you finally decided to get yourself a premium vehicle after all those years of hard work. And what better way to celebrate than by getting your hands on one of the finest luxury cars Germany has to offer? Sure, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, two of the most prestigious names in the automobile industry, have developed a massive fanbase and still hold on to their reputation as some of the most desired car brands out there.
But which one is the better choice? Should you get a Porsche or a Mercedes-Benz? Well, it depends. To find a definitive answer to this age-old question, we need to look at several factors, including the additional costs of owning an expensive German luxury ride. After all, buying a Porsche or Mercedes-Benz is only a fraction of the expenses — maintenance and repair will take a significant part, too. Fortunately, you can easily cut those expenditures by using a Porsche or Mercedes-Benz repair manual and maintaining your car at home.
Of course, it might seem counterintuitive to get your hands dirty while owning a premium vehicle, but it’s a no-brainer in my eyes. When doing so, even those who are not, at first glance, financially sound to own a Porsche or Mercedes-Benz can now enjoy one while also making sure they maintain their resale value longer.
There is a reason why most second-hand German cars are so cheap — owner’s simply don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on maintaining them! But, if this wasn’t enough to persuade you into buying a reliable Lexus instead, let’s see whether Porsche or Mercedes-Benz is the best option for you!
Main Differences Between Porsche and Mercedes Vehicles
Porsche and Mercedes-Benz’s main difference lies in how they market themselves. The former portrays itself as a performance-driven luxury automaker, while Mercedes-Benz is all about comfort.
For instance, Mercedes heavily focuses on the back seat; a quick comparison between the Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes E-Class shows just that, with the latter offering more room in the second row.
On the other hand, Porsche prioritizes the driving experience. The 911 is easily the most popular sports car ever, and its ethos is channeled in every other vehicle from the brand. Even the Cayenne and Macan provide an exhilarating driving experience that other SUVs just can’t match.
However, despite the different target demographic, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have overlapped in many categories lately. For instance, the Cayenne can almost match the GLE-Class in overall comfort, while AMG versions of most Mercedes-Benz machines can now compete with the sportiest Porsches on offer.
Of course, Porsche still has the edge in the overall driving experience, and Mercedes is still better comfort-wise, but the line is getting blurrier with every subsequent generation. And with EVs gaining ground lately, expect Porsche and Mercedes-Benz vehicles to become even more alike.
But the two legendary companies also compete directly in some categories — the 911 and AMG GT sports cars, for instance, are fierce rivals. And in this case, deciding on one can be pretty hard. The 911 comes in many different flavors, each providing sharp handling and strong performance, with the GT2 and GT3 series being the sharpest to drive. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG GT is available in only a few trims, but each provides exceptional track and road performance.
Personally, I prefer the GT’s interior and overall refinement, as well as high-speed cornering, while the 911 is more agile in sharper turns and has more direct steering. But, honestly, both will provide you with an amazing driving experience.
Now, maintaining and repairing an AMG GT is probably not something you should do, even using the best Mercedes-Benz shop manual out there, as it’s a very complex supercar. Meanwhile, you can easily maintain and repair older 911s, though you’d still have issues with the latest-gen model. But a repair manual can definitely be useful on lesser models!
Looking for a Porsche or Mercedes-Benz auto repair manual to fix your ride and save on repair bills? Take a look at eManualOnline — you’ll thank me later!
Who Makes More Reliable Cars?
Porsche and Mercedes-Benz’s reliability battle has been raging for decades. The automakers are at the top of their chain, producing some of the most durable automobiles in the industry.
Mercedes-Benz is the older of the two, founded in 1926, though its founder, Carl Friedrich Benz, constructed the world’s first car, the Benz Patent Motorwagen, in 1886.
Meanwhile, Porsche only made its debut in 1931, with its founder Ferdinand Porsche at the helm, who interestingly worked on creating the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK before, the fastest supercar of its era.
From its early days, Mercedes-Benz focused on delivering the best automobiles, period. This also included reliability — classic Mercedes cars are easily the most reliable vehicles of their respective eras. So, if you are in the market for a classic Mercedes, you can expect pretty decent durability.
However, modern Merc’s aren’t as reliable — the brand has fallen down the pecking order in overall reliability. Today, the company ranks 18th in 2022 JD Power’s dependability study, thanks to frequent and rather expensive electrical/mechanical issues. Perhaps the race neverending race to always use nothing but the most advanced technology has taken its toll here.
Meanwhile, Porsche used to trail behind Mercedes in terms of reliability in the past, but today it’s the other way around. Clever engineering and the use of well-proven technology have launched Porsche as one of the most reliable brands in the world — it was seventh in the latest 2022 JD Power dependability ratings, just behind Lexus.
How to Choose Between The Two
Put simply, the choice comes down to individual preferences and how you plan to use your car. If you like to hit the track once in a while or enjoy active driving, a Porsche would be an ideal choice. The German automaker builds its vehicles to be thrilling machines, putting a smile on your face every time you hit a curve — and not to forget, you’ll look quite cool while doing it..
On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz is for those who want a leisurely life, sit in the backseat, and sip on expensive champagne. Its vehicles will always provide the most comfortable and quiet ride — it feels like riding on a cloud.
Hence, if you are a performance-oriented person, Porsche is the way to go. But if you like to take a chill pill and relax, only a few car brands can hope to match Mercedes-Benz in this field.
Last Words
Driving a Porsche or a Mercedes will certainly raise your social status, as both brands are highly-considered no matter where you live. That’s especially true if you own a classic model, with both companies having produced some legendary cars.
I actually prefer classic Porsches and Mercedes’, as they provide a more analog driving experience. And honestly, they don’t feel like appliances, unlike most of today’s models. Besides, you can easily maintain and repair those vehicles using a Porsche or Mercedes maintenance manual, as the electronics are much simpler.
But that’s not to say modern Porsche and Mercedes vehicles are bad — you’ll certainly enjoy covering thousands of miles in the latest Cayenne and GLE-Class! Still, you’ll also enjoy doing that in most BMW, Audi, and Lexus models, which wasn’t the case in the past.
That being said, make sure you have a big enough budget to cover the running costs — premium vehicles aren’t very fuel-efficient, and they are also quite expensive to maintain and repair, even when doing it in your driveway.
