Speednet

I finally got around to watching the Autogefühl review. I gotta say that I was really shocked to watch him press the steering wheel "capacitive" controls, and I saw the entire set of buttons depress! That is insane. And there is really no volume knob at all?? More insantity. Even the Tesla Model S has a roller control that can be used for volume.

I am really excited by all the driving tech and especially the rear-wheel steering, but I am so disgusted by the interior design. The best move I made was to buy the 2020 S560, so now I can enjoy the best S Class, while waiting for the mid-cycle redesign, in which hopefully they will completely redo those awful interior choices.

Whenever they do the redesign, I hope they implement that super-wide screen design that was unveiled in the past week and ditch the separate mini driver and tablet screens. They can take those 4 vents adorning the top of the dash, where they look really bad, and move them someplace less conspicuous. Add hard buttons for major functions, like volume control, media back/forward, and climate. Put the hard buttons back on the steering wheel. Reinstate actual moving (tactile) seat buttons.

Overall, Mercedes needs to continue pushing technology forward, as the S Class has always done, but don't forget that it is made for actual human beings to control.

Speednet

Not really, you're watching too much YouTube. The actual younger generation still buys cheap cars. And you're seeing more BMW and Mercedes because now they make cheaper models that they never did in the past. Certainly you remember what life was like before a thing called the C Class, right?

Donnymac

For safety, control and situation awareness, I keep my eyes on the road ahead. Changing settings on the road using memorized knobs and buttons does not compromise mine or others safety. Force a driver to take his eyes off the road for a setting change on a glass panel.....I pass.

I'm sure there is a happy medium, but chasing sales revenue matters most and I get it.

Wolfman

The whole thing reminds me of discussions when the first iPhone came out. There were so many fervent supporters of buttons on a cell phone. People swore they never move away from their Blackberries

Speednet

The problem with your argument is that the buttons did not go away. They were converted into capacitive touch "pretend" buttons that offer no improvement over hard buttons. They make everything about using them worse. Or can you provide an argument for how the capacitive buttons are better?

SW20S

There are plenty of younger people who buy expensive luxury cars

hyperion667

The ones not living within their means you mean? For appearances only LOL!! We are a society of facebook in that I mean, 'may your life be a great as you pretend it is on fakebook'

SW20S

It depends on what your definition of "younger" is, when most people say "younger" they're talking about millennials. Plenty of high earning millennials

hyperion667

I may have to google millennials haha. You always hear and read about 'them' though. I was born in '75........1975 that is I am now considered old; how did this happen?!

SW20S

What you find is that as millennials get older, their buying behavior looks a lot more like older generations.

emilner

I'm a '76er myself and I swear all of a sudden the word old is creeping more and more into my life. Maybe it's the pandemic- I've felt old for a bit now (I have not been kind to my body!) but only recently has my mentality more closely aligned with old lol. A great day is one where I get to spend extra time on the couch...

superswiss

That's a bit sad honestly...haha. I was born in 73 and I don't feel at all old. Perhaps it's because I never wore myself out with trying to raise children. We are what's known as Generation X (1965-1980) and the Millennials are the generation that came after us. Gen X grew up with technology entering our lives. We still learned how to do things the old fashioned way, but over time adopted technology as a tool. The Millennials on the other hand grew up with technology in the first place. I agree with some of the things said in this thread that to some extent things are done for the sake of change, but don't necessarily improve the experience. I still think touchscreens are a bad idea in cars, but they are getting better in terms of ergonomics. I don't see the fuss about the new S Class. Maybe I'm thinking more like a Millennial, because I am in technology, but then again, one of my business partners is age 65 and still codes and keeps up with modern technology. He drives a Tesla and has no issues with the touchscreen. "Old" is a state of mind, mind over body and all, but yes eventually our biology gives in, so there isn't much we can do about physical aging other than regular exercise to keep our bodies as young as possible.

emilner

It's a lighthearted internet forum post, not a manifesto...

hyperion667

I don't spend much time on the couch, BUT I have been going to bed sooner than I used too! I do have kids too Three of 'em and have been raising them as my full time job! And yes, the pandamnit does NOT help to motivate me.
I am recovering from lung cancer plus surgery and that is part of my problem.....feeling old in a sense...been walking miles per day and do feel 100 times better after quitting the cigarettes too! I never did really take to tech in the sense that I still don't have a cell phone, participate in SM, unless you count the MB forums and don't spend a lot of time on my computer. I was recently talking with a friend about how we've been half in,half out when it comes to computer/internet usage over our lifetime......I was never into video games, although I do play some with my kids, on borrowed systems from 'said friend'.
I spent all of my formative years out in the streets with my friends on our skateboards. Not only that but also grew up playing music and playing in bands which was always much better than the whole gaming/technology scene. I am honestly not interested in touch screen cars but will probably end up in one in the near future And yes I have three children!

hyperion667

That 'may' be from figuring out the value of their dollar.....in a sense

PatentLawyer

Hyperion, wishing you the very best of health and a smooth recovery!!

superswiss

Didn't think it was. The real funny thing is that growing up in the old country I was never much interested in Mercedes-Benz. MB long had a reputation as being the cars for retired people and where I'm from E and S Classes are the yellow cabs, literally, the cab fleets are mostly high end MB cars, so they were never particularly aspirational. They eventually changed their image and rejuvenated the brand and they are going through a similar transition now. They are investing billions into digitalization to stay with the times.

Sorry to hear that. All the best for your health.

places

Hyper, had no idea. Wishing you all the best in the recovery. Sounds like you're on the way, keep up the healthy stuff!

Wolfman

Same here! Wishing you the best and a quick recovery!

hyperion667

VERY kind of you gents! I only shared that to support my 'I'm getting old' sentiment. In reality: I gave the cancer to MYSELF by smoking for many years! I haven't had a pity party for myself
because I earned it.......STILL......very kind of you guys to wish me luck.....FWIW, smoking was my only vice, never been into drinking or drugs, or even over eating! I'll never know what it was about the cigarettes either.........I just really enjoyed having a smoke!

Respect guys!

hyperion667

Thanks you kindly wolfman

Wolfman

No problem with my argument at all. We are talking primarily about screen vs buttons. If you talk about the steering wheel & seat buttons becoming capacitive I have no opinion thus far and neither can you, given that neither of us have tried them. We'll just have to see.
I personally like the tactile experience of a physical button but a capacitive button will be more reliable over time. I am personally not bothered by the capacitive buttons we have on our steering wheels already (2 trackpads).

as.thompson

Hyper, I was born in 1939 and I don't consider myself "old."

SW20S

All the best for a quick recovery!

hyperion667

I certainly understand.....I don't feel old mentally though
The surgery was last year in mid November, but I'm still lagging and have numb ribs from the lobectomy incision!

THANK YOU kindly!