You know how it usually goes. You need a new car, so you go and buy a new car. Simple as that. Most of the time, folks will just buy newer, or brand-new, versions of the car they already know and trust. The dealership trade-in makes it easy, and broadly knowing what the car will be like, if you've already owned one, makes the transitional period all that much easier. It's an easy way of going about car shopping, and no one will fault you for it.However, what if you've got some sort of desire to try and get more power, luxury, and class for the same money as another brand-new Nissan Altima? Luckily, you absolutely can, but you'll have to turn back the clock a bit. That's because the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S 600 costs just a few hundred dollars less than a brand-new, base-spec Nissan Altima. That means you get more room, much better interior materials, more kit, more power, and a twin-turbo V12 under the hood. When looked at simply, how could you say no to that? Here's The 2026 Nissan Altima NissanIt's a nice, decently styled, middle-of-the-road midsize sedan. Nothing much to complain about, and it will get the job done reasonably well in a relatively reliable fashion. The base-spec Altima, also known as the Altima SV, comes standard with the usual sort of kit you'd expect from an entry-level model. Things like cloth seats, keyless entry, and electric windows are all featured as standard equipment. Those who want to throw a bit more money at it can opt for upgrades like a power moonroof, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a power passenger seat.Under the 2026 Altima SV's hood is an adequately powered 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine, boasting 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. The power is run through a Nissan-bred Xtronic CVT and through a front-wheel-drive drivetrain. When the rubber hits the road, and forward motion is achieved, expect to get around 27 miles to the gallon in the city, and 39 on the highway. In total, the 2026 Nissan Altima SV costs about $27,580 before any destination fees or taxes are factored into the price.But, what if you want more than that? More than a four-pot, cloth-seated new car that blends into every parking lot you pull into? The "More" Mercedes-BenzThat's where the big bruiser comes into play, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S 600. Nothing about it is small, or even average. It's a long-wheelbase sedan with a 12-cylinder engine and more than enough foot room for even the tallest humans. Not to mention, enough comfort, too. Of course, you can expect things like leather seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, and a great amount of power from the Merc, but there's a lot more to it.Mercedes-Benz The cabin is where the bulk of the 2013 S 600's luxuries hide. Those leather seats we talked about are finished in what Merc calls "premium leather". Said seats also take advantage of heating, cooling, and even a few massage settings up front. Rear-seat passengers are treated to heating and cooling, as well. There's even more rear seat comfort with things like quad-zone climate control, eight-way power reclining rear seats, and a pair of DVD screens built right into the front headrests.Mercedes-Benz Technologically, the older Merc is miles ahead of the hum-drum Nissan. As standard, owners are treated to Mercedes-Benz-bred Comand voice-activated navigation, along with a 15-speaker, 1,200-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system. Both the rear side windows and rear window boast power-activated rear sunshades, and a fiber optic cable runs throughout the cabin providing ambient lighting, which you can adjust. Of course, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof is also included. Under The Hood Mercedes-BenzAnother place where the '13 S 600 has a major leg-up on the Nissan is under the hood. First things first: it has three times the amount of cylinders, and twice the turbochargers of the Nissan. The mill in question is Merc's 5.5-liter M275 V12, which first entered the market back in 2002. It features a single overhead camshaft, three valves per cylinder, and twin-spark ignition, meaning each cylinder has two spark plugs.Both the block and cylinder heads are cast from aluminum, and it boasts loads of structural reinforcements to help keep its extremely powerful nature from harming it. Backing up the huge engine is a five-speed 5G-Tronic automatic transmission, as the seven-speed offered in lesser-engined S-Classes was simply deemed not robust enough. Rear-wheel drive is employed, with no option to spring for Merc's 4Matic all-wheel drive system.Mercedes-Benz Holding up the massive hulk of metal and leather is the Mercedes-Bred Active Body Control (ABC) hydraulic active suspension. It's a self-leveling setup, consisting of a swath of hydraulic lines. While the system is known for near-perfect road performance, it has been known to spring leaks as it ages. Stopping is taken care of by a set of ventilated and perforated disc brakes at all four corners. It also utilizes a brake drying system and a predictive braking program, which is able to detect collisions and apply the brakes. How Much You'll Pay Mercedes-BenzWhen the 2013 S 600 was brand-new, Mercedes-Benz asked for $160,300 right off the bat, and that's before any destination fees. If we factor inflation into that original price, it's really more like $227,196 in today's money. However, now that we're 13 years in the future, the flagship carries an average used price of approximately $26,440. Doing the math, that's just shy of a 90-percent overall reduction in value over 13 years, quite a steep hill to fall down.The Merc isn't alone in its losing battle with depreciation, however. Other flagships from the era, like the 2013 Audi A8 L W12, the Jaguar XJL Ultimate, and the BMW 760Li have also lost a huge portion of their original values. Let's take a closer look below... Some Caveats To Consider Mercedes-BenzBeing an older, German flagship sedan, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S 600 doesn't exactly score well when it comes to reliability. For the S 600 as a whole, across all model years, RepairPal.com reports a total of 48 common problems, the most popular of which being the Active Body Control system leaking hydraulic fluid, rough running, and driveshaft vibration due to cracked flex discs. All three of these issues can prove to be extremely costly.Speaking of cost, parts for the big Merc aren't cheap, either. If you just research some basic repairs, you're met with figures like $1,038 for an ignition switch replacement, and up to $1,409 for a spark plug job. On a regular car, swapping plugs costs roughly a 10th of that. In addition to the eye-watering prices, RepairPal.com cites the '13 S 600 as having an average annual repair cost of about $1,431, almost $1,000 more than the '26 Altima's $481-per-year figure. Verdict Mercedes-BenzIt's easy to say yes to something that offers miles more kit, power, and prestige for the same money as a brand-new, base Nissan Altima. In all honesty, I wouldn't blame some folks for going for something like the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S 600 over a brand-new family sedan. However, your best bet, before you do anything like pull the trigger on the big Merc, would be keeping in mind the laundry list of repairs that may or may not need to be undertaken. Not to mention, the sheer amount of money you might end up spending just to keep it on the road.If you're confident, and pack a good bit of DIY knowledge, though, it's safe to say you'll probably enjoy driving the '13 S 600 much more than the brand-new Altima SV.
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