Things That Could Make The Roadster Better
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2025 Lucid Air Grand Touring, 2022 F-150, 1926 Rolls-Royce SSG roadster
Things That Could Make The Roadster Better
With the new SL replacing the GT Roadster this is a nostalgia thread. It will be interesting to see if the new SL has these things (or fixes one of the issues leading to a suggested item).
HUD is something every 21st century sports car should have. To quote Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, "Would it spoil some vast eternal plan" to have had HUD in these cars? The technology has been around since at least 2005. (My 2006 BMW 650i had it.)
A rear view mirror camera. The soft top folds into a hump which decreases rear view vision. If only there were a rear view camera that could be switched on to display in the rear view mirror. An American manufacturer (I forget which one, but it advertised last year) has the fix when a back seat load obscures the view. I suspect the new SL won't be a humpback, but if it is, let's see if this gets fixed.
Analog controls. My MY 2018 coupe had them. I believe the 2019s also did. Then came 2020 when MBZ decided to make everything virtual and eliminated permanent buttons for most functions. The new controls are terrible and distracting for the driver but easier for the manufacturer since it simplifies the wiring harness. And along with the digitization the beautiful two rows of control knobs and buttons emulating the V8 engine are gone, with ridiculous curved and lighted rectangular touch screens. What a mess. I suspect the new SL will continue this progression into the digital world. The interior pictures I've seen make it look like the inside of a pinball machine, so goodbye analog.
HUD is something every 21st century sports car should have. To quote Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, "Would it spoil some vast eternal plan" to have had HUD in these cars? The technology has been around since at least 2005. (My 2006 BMW 650i had it.)
A rear view mirror camera. The soft top folds into a hump which decreases rear view vision. If only there were a rear view camera that could be switched on to display in the rear view mirror. An American manufacturer (I forget which one, but it advertised last year) has the fix when a back seat load obscures the view. I suspect the new SL won't be a humpback, but if it is, let's see if this gets fixed.
Analog controls. My MY 2018 coupe had them. I believe the 2019s also did. Then came 2020 when MBZ decided to make everything virtual and eliminated permanent buttons for most functions. The new controls are terrible and distracting for the driver but easier for the manufacturer since it simplifies the wiring harness. And along with the digitization the beautiful two rows of control knobs and buttons emulating the V8 engine are gone, with ridiculous curved and lighted rectangular touch screens. What a mess. I suspect the new SL will continue this progression into the digital world. The interior pictures I've seen make it look like the inside of a pinball machine, so goodbye analog.
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Bentley Continental GT; AMG GT
Rear view mirror camera comes on the C8 Corvette with the 2LT interior upgrade and higher. I had this option on the 2021 I had on order.
Mixed reviews on it. Some have difficulty with focusing it, The conclusion is - eyes that need optical correction, and probably older eyes too.
Mixed reviews on it. Some have difficulty with focusing it, The conclusion is - eyes that need optical correction, and probably older eyes too.
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
The answer to your question is very simple. Just look at the new S-Class and everything you see with the HUD (augmented reality) to 360 degree cameras to capacitive buttons (]aka buttons that respond to touch/pressure instead of moving parts), finger print sensor and touch screens will be on the new SL. Not sure about the gesture controls due to being a top down car...
AMG designed this car to be very quick, very capable and very comfortable but nothing like the current roadster. Think of it as an AMG GT 4 door as a convertible with all the same bits and better tech; heavy, (AWD on most models), Airmatic, regular tranny attached to engine, rear wheel steering, front engine vs front-mid layout, electronic LSD and engine/tranny mounts.
AMG designed this car to be very quick, very capable and very comfortable but nothing like the current roadster. Think of it as an AMG GT 4 door as a convertible with all the same bits and better tech; heavy, (AWD on most models), Airmatic, regular tranny attached to engine, rear wheel steering, front engine vs front-mid layout, electronic LSD and engine/tranny mounts.
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From: DFW
2018 AMG GTS, Ferrari 348TS, 308GTS
With the new SL replacing the GT Roadster this is a nostalgia thread. It will be interesting to see if the new SL has these things (or fixes one of the issues leading to a suggested item).
HUD is something every 21st century sports car should have. To quote Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, "Would it spoil some vast eternal plan" to have had HUD in these cars? The technology has been around since at least 2005. (My 2006 BMW 650i had it.)
HUD is something every 21st century sports car should have. To quote Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, "Would it spoil some vast eternal plan" to have had HUD in these cars? The technology has been around since at least 2005. (My 2006 BMW 650i had it.)
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Santa Monica Mountains
2025 Lucid Air Grand Touring, 2022 F-150, 1926 Rolls-Royce SSG roadster
1988: General Motors began using head-up displays. Their first HUD units were installed on Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Indy Pace Cars and replicas. Optional HUD units were subsequently offered on the Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix before being more widely available.
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2018 AMG GTS, Ferrari 348TS, 308GTS
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2016 Mercedes AMG GT S
Having driven and written reviews on the 2016 GT S, the 2018 GT C, and the 2019 GT R I completely agree with you that older analog buttons are much nicer than the little digital display buttons in the +2019 cars. The older glass buttons feel and look better to my eyes, and the V8 cylinder reference is fun!
Analog controls. My MY 2018 coupe had them. I believe the 2019s also did. Then came 2020 when MBZ decided to make everything virtual and eliminated permanent buttons for most functions. The new controls are terrible and distracting for the driver but easier for the manufacturer since it simplifies the wiring harness. And along with the digitization the beautiful two rows of control knobs and buttons emulating the V8 engine are gone, with ridiculous curved and lighted rectangular touch screens. What a mess. I suspect the new SL will continue this progression into the digital world. The interior pictures I've seen make it look like the inside of a pinball machine, so goodbye analog.
Analog controls. My MY 2018 coupe had them. I believe the 2019s also did. Then came 2020 when MBZ decided to make everything virtual and eliminated permanent buttons for most functions. The new controls are terrible and distracting for the driver but easier for the manufacturer since it simplifies the wiring harness. And along with the digitization the beautiful two rows of control knobs and buttons emulating the V8 engine are gone, with ridiculous curved and lighted rectangular touch screens. What a mess. I suspect the new SL will continue this progression into the digital world. The interior pictures I've seen make it look like the inside of a pinball machine, so goodbye analog.
Last edited by 503hp; Sep 13, 2021 at 10:39 PM.
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Schwinn
MBZ/AMG totally made the center V console look like a cheap thrill with the little screens in place of the actual buttons, the dash i could of lived with but still prefer my analog tach and speedo.
But they are gone and will not be brought back. Everything is made to look like Buck Rogers spaceship.
Those of you that are my age will know who Buck was without Googling. LOL
But they are gone and will not be brought back. Everything is made to look like Buck Rogers spaceship.
Those of you that are my age will know who Buck was without Googling. LOL
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,025
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From: Santa Monica Mountains
2025 Lucid Air Grand Touring, 2022 F-150, 1926 Rolls-Royce SSG roadster
MBZ/AMG totally made the center V console look like a cheap thrill with the little screens in place of the actual buttons, the dash i could of lived with but still prefer my analog tach and speedo.
But they are gone and will not be brought back. Everything is made to look like Buck Rogers spaceship.
Those of you that are my age will know who Buck was without Googling. LOL
But they are gone and will not be brought back. Everything is made to look like Buck Rogers spaceship.
Those of you that are my age will know who Buck was without Googling. LOL
