Paddle shifter on steering wheel ?
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From: Mississauga, ON
GLK 350
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BMW 325iX Sport Wagon, Range Rover
I touched them in a GLK in Barcelona Spain and it was an off-road, smaller engine GLK. My wife thought I was crazy for going into a MB dealer in Spain and checking all GLK details. She is right sometimes. I did wife damage control by spending two hours in the Picaso Museum down the street. It was better than a GLK sighting.
We do not get many things that are available in Europe.
I am quite pleased with the optioned car we are getting in USA.
We do not get many things that are available in Europe.
I am quite pleased with the optioned car we are getting in USA.
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From: nyc
528i, GLK
When is MBUSA going to realized that we want tailored options??
not P1 or P2 or MM.... we want all these options that can be order individualy and available.
They are smart to remove pano from P1 and Navi from MM to make them separately.
MBUSA neeeds to know the only reason people are buying Mercedes because they are Mercedes, not because all these "smart" packagings they are putting together for USA.... stop trying to be like the Japanese dealers.
not P1 or P2 or MM.... we want all these options that can be order individualy and available.
They are smart to remove pano from P1 and Navi from MM to make them separately.
MBUSA neeeds to know the only reason people are buying Mercedes because they are Mercedes, not because all these "smart" packagings they are putting together for USA.... stop trying to be like the Japanese dealers.
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From: Northern NJ
GLK 350 / Porsche 993
^^^that's an endless debate options vs. packages. Packages make it easier in manufacturing process so cost can be also kept down.
Also most of the people will try to find a car already built with options that they want and packages make it easier to find one as you need to decide between 4 packages vs. 25 options.
I agree on making sun-roof and navi stand alone options. But I think many options should be standard on a luxury SUV to begin with (aka sunroof, memory seats, power tailgate, xenons). That's what makes it "luxury" SUV. Maybe it's just me but when I decide to buy a MB I'm expecting most of the options to be laready there. I would not care that it's base price would be 45k. It is MB, it's supposed to expensive. I do care that I see price of 33,900 and then have to add 12k worth of options to get what MB should be. This make me feel like I'm buying a Toyota and being ripped off for every little thing, including wheel locks, cargo cover etc.
Also most of the people will try to find a car already built with options that they want and packages make it easier to find one as you need to decide between 4 packages vs. 25 options.
I agree on making sun-roof and navi stand alone options. But I think many options should be standard on a luxury SUV to begin with (aka sunroof, memory seats, power tailgate, xenons). That's what makes it "luxury" SUV. Maybe it's just me but when I decide to buy a MB I'm expecting most of the options to be laready there. I would not care that it's base price would be 45k. It is MB, it's supposed to expensive. I do care that I see price of 33,900 and then have to add 12k worth of options to get what MB should be. This make me feel like I'm buying a Toyota and being ripped off for every little thing, including wheel locks, cargo cover etc.
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From: Mississauga, ON
GLK 350
^^^ Folks keep in mind they won't have all features or updates in first year launch. Best example is when I got my G35 coupe. Its fully loaded, but guess what I don't have bluetooth, I don't have the simple thing as memory seats. Both of these options are available in the 06.
I am sure the perks like paddle shifter, and other things will come as the year goes by. Its minor improvement, and something for them to add in new feature section.
I am sure the perks like paddle shifter, and other things will come as the year goes by. Its minor improvement, and something for them to add in new feature section.
Last edited by Baby G; Apr 19, 2009 at 05:53 PM.
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From: nyc
528i, GLK
I agree with BabyG's observation but just don't understand why that is when Europe version already have them. I can understand that if they don't manufacture it at all but that is not the case. So what is the decision for not offering them in the US?
Keep in mind that MBUSA is not MB. It operate as a separate company servicing US only. Likewise for MB Canada.
When the c-class came out with P1 P2 pkg, few of the dealers I talked to actually complaint about it, reflecting their frustratoin coming off w203 where options are broken out and gave customer alot more flexibility.
I honestly think there is some whacky marketing guy up there in MBUSA that thinks the "Acura" packaging is the way to go, either that or he has been eating way too much McDonalds...
Keep in mind that MBUSA is not MB. It operate as a separate company servicing US only. Likewise for MB Canada.
When the c-class came out with P1 P2 pkg, few of the dealers I talked to actually complaint about it, reflecting their frustratoin coming off w203 where options are broken out and gave customer alot more flexibility.
I honestly think there is some whacky marketing guy up there in MBUSA that thinks the "Acura" packaging is the way to go, either that or he has been eating way too much McDonalds...
Last edited by webada; Apr 19, 2009 at 07:43 PM.
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From: Los Angeles
2013 Infiniti G37 Coupe; 2011 GLK 350 w/ Premium 1, Multimedia & Sport Appearance; I LOVE IT!
I don't even drive my GLK in Sport mode; I don't think I would bother with paddle shifters.
FWIW, I have them on my G37 and I think I've used them maybe twice in the past year and only for a few moments before shifting back to regular automatic.
FWIW, I have them on my G37 and I think I've used them maybe twice in the past year and only for a few moments before shifting back to regular automatic.
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From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
I hope to have them on my next GLK.
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From: Northern New Jersey
2010 GLK Black, Premium 1, Lighting, Multimedia, Appearance and Media Pkg, 2012 Corvette Grand Sport
I know that there are people who like the paddle shifters but IMO your hands have to be in the right place at the right time to use them. Two hands on the wheel may be better. I'm not a race car driver but it seems very intuitive for the shifter to be on the console. Then again if you are always on the straight aways then the paddles might work.
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From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
In this regard, paddles/buttons on the wheel or a console shifter work, but the wheel-mounted controls eliminate the distraction and distubance of extra hand/arm movements. For routine driving it doesn't make much difference 'cause automatic transmissions these days are so responsive and well designed.
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From: S.F. Bay Area
E320 CDi 2k SLK230 Designo 04 SLK 320 Final Edition 2010 GLK350 06 VW Beetle TDi 2012 Plug In Prius
Yep, with spirited driving, the trick is to get any down shifting completed on the straights before entering a turn rather than shifting in the turn so that the driver has full control of the vehicle with both hands on the wheel in the turn.
In this regard, paddles/buttons on the wheel or a console shifter work, but the wheel-mounted controls eliminate the distraction and distubance of extra hand/arm movements. For routine driving it doesn't make much difference 'cause automatic transmissions these days are so responsive and well designed.
In this regard, paddles/buttons on the wheel or a console shifter work, but the wheel-mounted controls eliminate the distraction and distubance of extra hand/arm movements. For routine driving it doesn't make much difference 'cause automatic transmissions these days are so responsive and well designed.
The AMG versions also had the torque converter lock-up in all of the forward gears and you could tell this immediately when applying power coming out of a turn because you could hear and feel the engine loading down with the added throttle which is something I never experienced in my non AMG Benz loaners under the same conditions.
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From: VanCity (but in the 'burbs of the tri-cities)
GLK 350
I actually haven't tried the paddleshifters on my GLK yet. Can I use them while still in "Comfort" mode, or do I have to switch to "Sport" mode to utilize them?
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From: Tromsø, 69° 41' N
2010 GLK 220CDI 4M BlueEFFICIENCY
Either way. They are as well convenient for downshifting prior to entering loong downhills - providing enginebraking and "smoothing" the ride vs. braking periodically.
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From: Vancouver, BC
2011 GLK350
Once in manual mode, the only way that I've found to get back to auto is to move the main shifter to a different gear (N, R, whatever) and back to D. There may be another way but I haven't read that bit in the owner's manual yet.
Kn.
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2000 W210 E55->2003 R230 SL500->2004 W211 E55->2007 997TT+2007 E63->2010 GLK350->2012 E550 4matic
Probably not that easy to add to cars without the paddles from the factory, unfortunately. I miss this feature from the E63.
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From: Northern New Jersey
2010 GLK Black, Premium 1, Lighting, Multimedia, Appearance and Media Pkg, 2012 Corvette Grand Sport
I'll bet the same way that when you hold the shifter to the right for a couple of seconds the trans comes out of manual and into automatic or that when you depress and hold the + on the paddle the trans will revert to automatic. Thats the way it works on the console shifter. Does it work the same way with the paddles?
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From: Tromsø, 69° 41' N
2010 GLK 220CDI 4M BlueEFFICIENCY
All you have to do is trigger the paddle (up or down) and it'll jump out of whatever mode you're driving in and change to "manual" mode. The dash display changes - instead of showing "D" for drive, it displays "M1, M2, M3, etc." to indicate what gear you're in.
Once in manual mode, the only way that I've found to get back to auto is to move the main shifter to a different gear (N, R, whatever) and back to D. There may be another way but I haven't read that bit in the owner's manual yet.
Kn.
Once in manual mode, the only way that I've found to get back to auto is to move the main shifter to a different gear (N, R, whatever) and back to D. There may be another way but I haven't read that bit in the owner's manual yet.
Kn.
