2017 Mercedes-Benz S-class

Mercedes-Benz S-class

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class remains the kingpin of big luxury sedans, pitched at those who want more than a badge—they want the full-fat executive treatment, and they want everyone to know it. You could cross-shop the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, or even the Lexus LS, but none of them carry quite the same gravitas on Sandton Drive or outside a Cape Town hotel. Every one of the five used S-Class listings currently for sale in South Africa runs a petrol engine with an automatic ‘box—no diesels, no hybrids, just old-school Merc muscle. Prices run from R209,995 right up to a staggering R2,388,888, with a median at R1,688,888. That’s a narrow slice of the market, but the entry price hints at genuine value, on paper at least, for someone willing to take a punt on an older S. Dig into the details and each car is a story in itself. The budget S 350 at R209,995 will be an old-timer with a likely interstellar mileage tally—no surprise, considering the 2008–2022 year spread and an average of 77,629 km across the bunch. At the other end, you’ve got the S500 4MATIC asking R2,388,888, the S 65 AMG Coupe at R1,999,995, and the plush Maybach at R1,688,888—three wildly different takes on the Mercedes flagship. The S 63 AMG at R1,029,900 strikes me as the one to have if you care about performance and presence. Important to note: not a single new S-Class in stock, so if you want in, you’re playing in the pre-owned pool, where condition and service history can make or break any deal at these eye-watering prices. And that’s the point.