Porsche vs. Mercedes: What's the Scoop on Maintenance?
Genevieve Fraser
· 4 min read
Most car owners have come to expect (and dread) digging into their pockets from time to time for repairs. But some cars end up in the shop more than others, with
pricier maintenance bills
to pay when all is said and done.Luxury cars
, including Porsche and Mercedes
, often fall into this category. When it comes to maintenance and dependability ratings for Porsche vs. Mercedes, one of these automakers comes out on top. First, we discuss some of the most common issues faced by consumers of each brand.
Mercedes' inconsistency problems in the Porsche vs. Mercedes debate
Mercedes-Benz is known as a brand you can trust for top-of-the-line performance and comfortable luxury. The German automaker uses innovation and revolutionary technology to forge ahead of its competitors. But all these design changes seem to be a recipe for unexpected problems, according to
Car City Motors
.Mercedes' quest to provide an extra smooth ride prompted the company to rethink how their engine mounts are constructed. To reduce vibration, they decided to add oil to the mounts. Unfortunately, leakages around the mounts have been reported once some vehicles reach
100,000 miles on the odometer
.There’s no doubt that the Mercedes transmission is one of the best in luxury cars. But the various parts around the transmission, namely the valve body and 13-pin connector have a history of cracks and breakage. Perhaps unfairly, the transmission often bears the blame, tarnishing its reputation.
What’s more, the brand's complicated redesign of its suspension system in the S-Class W220 has led to disappointment for some Mercedes fans.
Replacing shocks and springs with an Airmatic system is supposed to yield a driving experience akin to “floating on air,” according to Car City Motors. But, the ambitious design has been known to fail and essentially deflate.
Some Porsche drivers experience frustrating and costly issues
When comparing maintenance and repair costs for Porsche vs. Mercedes, steep prices are an unfortunate reality that you should be aware of at purchase.
Just the idea of a Porsche car conjures up images of sleek sportiness and luxurious styling. Yet the iconic German brand is far from perfect.
Maintenance issues
made more significant by the cars’ precise designs call Porsche’s reliability into question. This reputation in conjunction with the brand’s steep price points make for a discouraging combination.According to Car City Motors, the most frequently noticed maintenance issues with Porsches are oil and water leaks. Repairing such leaks is usually as simple as sealing or patching the source.
With Porsche, however, the nature of the leak (stemming from a breakdown in the rear main seal) means the whole transmission must be removed to complete the fix. It's a costly problem and one that plagues plenty of the brand’s models.
Another common issue is specific to
Porsche's popular 911
Turbo. Drivers of this speedy sports car often encounter problems with the clutch pedal. Its heavy, unwieldy nature is a safety issue when you’re traveling fast. The pressure accumulator is likely the culprit, and the solution is simple: replace it with an OEM clutch. But, as Car City Motors noted, the issue shouldn’t even arise in the first place, given the purchase price of the 911 Turbo.
Which is better when it comes to dependability? Porsche vs. Mercedes
Considering Porsche vs. Mercedes overall, one of these brands is more dependable in the long run. According to the 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study by
J.D. Power
, Porsche ranked second overall, which is extremely impressive.If you’re curious, Lexus took the number one spot. Ironically, the Porsche 911 actually won the top award for Most Dependable Model.
Mercedes-Benz was ranked in 15th place out of 32 automakers—just below the industry average. J.D. Power explained that the rankings were determined as a measure of “the number of problems per 100 vehicles experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old vehicles.”
Porsche clocked in at 86 and Mercedes at 122. The industry average was 121.
The numbers speak for themselves. All things considered, both brands rank well—even with the pricey maintenance issues they may have. But if
dependability is a key factor
influencing your choice of luxury car, Porsche is the clear winner.Jerry is your ultra-talented car insurance broker for life. No need to sit across from him at a desk—Jerry is an app! It takes less than a minute to sign up and you’ll be presented with competitive rates from up to 50 top providers. Don’t lose coverage, find savings with Jerry.
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