Distronic Plus
#51
Otherwise I wholeheartedly agree...even if it isn't standard you shouldn't need to equip the C-class to the extent you must to get the feature.
#52
I think it will just be in tiers
more advanced driving capabilities on higher packages
And basic full range cruise as standard.
more advanced driving capabilities on higher packages
And basic full range cruise as standard.
#53
My only gripe with the feature is that even at the lowest setting, there is still a large gap to the car in front...at highway speeds. What then happens is that cars behind you get impatient and go around (to the left or right) and jump in the gap and you are "pushed" further back in the line.
#54
Member
In Australia or Malaysia, I'd never use Distronic in bumper-to-bumper traffic, because even at the minimum setting, queue-jumpers would still cut into my lane.
#55
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Posts: 789
Received 47 Likes
on
40 Posts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
Wild in the Streets and the effect of yellow centerlines
My only gripe with the feature is that even at the lowest setting, there is still a large gap to the car in front...at highway speeds. What then happens is that cars behind you get impatient and go around (to the left or right) and jump in the gap and you are "pushed" further back in the line.
Massachusetts likes to be different in everything, and one of those differences is yellow centerlines. I now believe that this is why my Steering Assist has never really worked. It just struggled a little, enough to relieve steering effort a little. I just got back from a trip to northern Maine, round trip over 750 miles. I discovered that Steering Assist worked well on Maine Interstates and even on well-marked secondary roads. In Maine, all markings are white. On the return trip, Steering Assist also worked well in the center lane of Massachusetts Interstates, where the markings were white on both sides. Steering Assist still did not work well in the left lane, where the line on the left was yellow.
I also found that, even when my Steering Assist is guiding the car okay, it is very fussy about the amount of pressure required on the steering wheel. Just a couple of fingers (as I have seen illustrated) is not enough. I must grip the wheel with a full fist and remember to maintain that exact pressure. Just a little too much pressure, and the system thinks that I want to drive myself and quits guiding. But on the whole (and for the very first time), Steering Assist made a valuable reduction in the fatigue of this elderly driver on a long trip.
Last edited by gfmohn; 08-25-2017 at 08:08 PM.
#56
Super Member
Odd, my 2015 C300 does not have that problem. At the closest setting and low speeds, it stays close enough to the car ahead that I am a little uncomfortable. I can even back off the setting a little without inviting line jumpers. There is nothing civilized about the traffic in my area, either. I live in Eastern Massachusetts, where drivers are a little proud of being the worst drivers in the U.S. The accident statistics (and the insurance rates) prove it, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles said it (several decades ago), and there is an extremely funny book about it. (The book is entitled "The Boston Driver's Handbook: Wild in the Streets. That is the second edition. The first edition was called simply "Wild in the Streets", but copyright problems arose when it came time for the second edition.)
Massachusetts likes to be different in everything, and one of those differences is yellow centerlines. I now believe that this is why my Steering Assist has never really worked. It just struggled a little, enough to relieve steering effort a little. I just got back from a trip to northern Maine, round trip over 750 miles. I discovered that Steering Assist worked well on Maine Interstates and even on well-marked secondary roads. In Maine, all markings are white. On the return trip, Steering Assist also worked well in the center lane of Massachusetts Interstates, where the markings were white on both sides. Steering Assist still did not work well in the left lane, where the line on the left was yellow.
I also found that, even when my Steering Assist is guiding the car okay, it is very fussy about the amount of pressure required on the steering wheel. Just a couple of fingers (as I have seen illustrated) is not enough. I must grip the wheel with a full fist and remember to maintain that exact pressure. Just a little too much pressure, and the system thinks that I want to drive myself and quits guiding. But on the whole (and for the very first time), Steering Assist made a valuable reduction in the fatigue of the this elderly driver on a long trip.
Massachusetts likes to be different in everything, and one of those differences is yellow centerlines. I now believe that this is why my Steering Assist has never really worked. It just struggled a little, enough to relieve steering effort a little. I just got back from a trip to northern Maine, round trip over 750 miles. I discovered that Steering Assist worked well on Maine Interstates and even on well-marked secondary roads. In Maine, all markings are white. On the return trip, Steering Assist also worked well in the center lane of Massachusetts Interstates, where the markings were white on both sides. Steering Assist still did not work well in the left lane, where the line on the left was yellow.
I also found that, even when my Steering Assist is guiding the car okay, it is very fussy about the amount of pressure required on the steering wheel. Just a couple of fingers (as I have seen illustrated) is not enough. I must grip the wheel with a full fist and remember to maintain that exact pressure. Just a little too much pressure, and the system thinks that I want to drive myself and quits guiding. But on the whole (and for the very first time), Steering Assist made a valuable reduction in the fatigue of the this elderly driver on a long trip.
I agree that in stop and go traffic, Distronic can follow very close. It’s difficult for someone to cut in front, but some will still try. The system will detect the car that cuts in, but it can get a little scary.
Last edited by BenzC400; 08-25-2017 at 07:32 AM.
The following users liked this post:
gfmohn (08-25-2017)
#57
Member
#59