Overview

The old E-Class was the definitive executive Mercedes for the Nineties and it’s still a fine choice. It oozes quality thanks to impeccable construction, silky smooth six-cylinder engines and a luxurious ride. Although it’s expensive, E-Class does everything so well that it renders the behemoth S-Class redundant for all but the fattest of fat cats. For pace and grace, our choice would be a E280 Elegance or Avantgarde at half their original price.

Later diesels are the best bet for keeping costs down. We recommend the automatic transmission over the manual gearbox.

Parkers top buying tips

As with all used purchases, do remember to get a car history check. It might just save you from an unpleasant surprise later down the line. Also, don’t forget you can use our valuation tool to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car. You can also check our reviews section for more information about the cars you are interested in.