Im looking for my very first car and I got good enough grades to buy a car worth up to $20,000.

I really wanted a Mercedes, specifically an S-class. I looked at the years specifically 1997-2003.

I found that the 1997-1999 models looked much more muscular and did some research and found that these models are about 6 inches longer then the 2000-2003 and were built much like tanks (the 1997-1999).

I heard some bad stories about the 2000-2003 ones.

Whats your take on it?

I want the S500 model with the rain sensing wipers and the butter leather interior and wood accents. LOOKS GREAT