SL/R231: 2017 SL DOG
08-10-2016, 02:08 PM
#101
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Streamliner,
Mercedes was not famous for their all red or single color interiors. It was just what they used to do, primarily for simplicity. If anything, an all red interior was cheaper to produce.
I think you are talking about nostalgia
I absolutely agree with you that it would be fantastic to offer a wide variety of color choices and combinations and fault them to be not more imaginative. But I understand their rationale.
Porsche is a niche player that makes crazy margins on customer options. Mercedes as a large scale manufacturer has decided not to go there.
Mercedes was not famous for their all red or single color interiors. It was just what they used to do, primarily for simplicity. If anything, an all red interior was cheaper to produce.
I think you are talking about nostalgia
I absolutely agree with you that it would be fantastic to offer a wide variety of color choices and combinations and fault them to be not more imaginative. But I understand their rationale.
Porsche is a niche player that makes crazy margins on customer options. Mercedes as a large scale manufacturer has decided not to go there.
I don't agree about a one color interior being cheaper to produce, unless that is the ONLY color produced. For example: Prior to 1980, the dash pads on SL's were the same color as the interior or a slightly different shade. In 1980, they changed that and started making all of the SL dash pads black. They say they did it to cut down on windshield reflection, but it was a cost cutting measure. At the time, they made maybe four or five different color interiors, but all the dash pads were black. That's a cost savings no matter how you look at it. The current SL interiors have many pieces that are only produced in black and possibly brown, even though there are several interior color choices. That's a substantial cost savings to MB.
As far as Porsche being a "niche" player, compared to MB, I'm sure that's true, but you wouldn't know it in California, where new 911's are almost as common as CLA's. MB is trying to be everything to everybody and they can't do it all. It seems as though for every new model they come out with, they take an option away somewhere else. I realize that I am painting with a broad brush, but that's how it feels.
I just wish MB would greatly expand their Designo program, and allow for a much more simpler way to do some custom work. I've thought about going the special order route as our W222 buddy did with his car, but MB makes it way too difficult and way too expensive. Actually, I could live with the expense, but most dealers won't even talk to you about it, don't want to even admit the program exists and I'm not going to wait almost a year for a new car. It's frustrating.
08-11-2016, 02:34 AM
#102
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You're right, "famous" might have been a poor choice of words, but their solid color interiors were "famous" to me. I remember lusting after a Signal Red 450SL with a full "Bamboo" interior. That was my first new MB in 1979 and I thought it was just gorgeous.
I don't agree about a one color interior being cheaper to produce, unless that is the ONLY color produced. For example: Prior to 1980, the dash pads on SL's were the same color as the interior or a slightly different shade. In 1980, they changed that and started making all of the SL dash pads black. They say they did it to cut down on windshield reflection, but it was a cost cutting measure. At the time, they made maybe four or five different color interiors, but all the dash pads were black. That's a cost savings no matter how you look at it. The current SL interiors have many pieces that are only produced in black and possibly brown, even though there are several interior color choices. That's a substantial cost savings to MB.
As far as Porsche being a "niche" player, compared to MB, I'm sure that's true, but you wouldn't know it in California, where new 911's are almost as common as CLA's. MB is trying to be everything to everybody and they can't do it all. It seems as though for every new model they come out with, they take an option away somewhere else. I realize that I am painting with a broad brush, but that's how it feels.
I just wish MB would greatly expand their Designo program, and allow for a much more simpler way to do some custom work. I've thought about going the special order route as our W222 buddy did with his car, but MB makes it way too difficult and way too expensive. Actually, I could live with the expense, but most dealers won't even talk to you about it, don't want to even admit the program exists and I'm not going to wait almost a year for a new car. It's frustrating.
I don't agree about a one color interior being cheaper to produce, unless that is the ONLY color produced. For example: Prior to 1980, the dash pads on SL's were the same color as the interior or a slightly different shade. In 1980, they changed that and started making all of the SL dash pads black. They say they did it to cut down on windshield reflection, but it was a cost cutting measure. At the time, they made maybe four or five different color interiors, but all the dash pads were black. That's a cost savings no matter how you look at it. The current SL interiors have many pieces that are only produced in black and possibly brown, even though there are several interior color choices. That's a substantial cost savings to MB.
As far as Porsche being a "niche" player, compared to MB, I'm sure that's true, but you wouldn't know it in California, where new 911's are almost as common as CLA's. MB is trying to be everything to everybody and they can't do it all. It seems as though for every new model they come out with, they take an option away somewhere else. I realize that I am painting with a broad brush, but that's how it feels.
I just wish MB would greatly expand their Designo program, and allow for a much more simpler way to do some custom work. I've thought about going the special order route as our W222 buddy did with his car, but MB makes it way too difficult and way too expensive. Actually, I could live with the expense, but most dealers won't even talk to you about it, don't want to even admit the program exists and I'm not going to wait almost a year for a new car. It's frustrating.
Expanding MB's Designo program would be great but I won't hold my breath. I do like the two-tone interiors so it works for me. I can see your point though.
Personally, I don't have too much nostalgia about old MB's. The interiors were quite low-end compared to what you have today.
The SL's you mentioned were sporting hard plastic dashboards (which nicely cracked in time under the California sun) and the seat leather was very durable but thick and stiff leather. Even then, the door panel padded center prices were some type of plastic.
I absolutely love of how solid the doors closed, along with those huge hinges. They had a nice bank vault feel to them
08-11-2016, 02:57 AM
#103
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So our car finally came in on Tuesday and we picked it up today. The car was more or less a carbon copy of our old 2013 model since we liked the options as we had them.
Once we had a chance to drive it a bit, I'll post pros/cons with the earlier R231 if anyone is interested.
At first glance, the exhaust is louder on acceleration (which sounds nice) and the car is faster than the old one.
Will swap the wheels/tires and lower the car just a touch. Here are some quick pics.
08-11-2016, 10:32 AM
#105
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Congratulations Wolfman. I must admit, that is a beautiful car. I've never seen that color combo on an SL and it does pop very nicely. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I even find the two-tone interior very appealing here. Please do post your review on the way the car drives. I'm particularly interested to hear if the ride is improved over the pre-face lifted model. Have fun!
08-12-2016, 11:09 AM
#106
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So our car finally came in on Tuesday and we picked it up today. The car was more or less a carbon copy of our old 2013 model since we liked the options as we had them.
Once we had a chance to drive it a bit, I'll post pros/cons with the earlier R231 if anyone is interested.
At first glance, the exhaust is louder on acceleration (which sounds nice) and the car is faster than the old one.
Will swap the wheels/tires and lower the car just a touch. Here are some quick pics.
Very nice color combination--enjoy!
I understand that the exhaust note changes with the mode settings. I haven't played around with this yet but that's what the dealer said.
08-12-2016, 12:35 PM
#107
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Thanks! Same for you!
There are flaps in the exhaust but even in default Comfort mode, there is more of a throaty sound... I like it.
Funny thing is that the SL450 with the smaller engine sounds more sporty. But I prefer speed over sound
Last edited by Wolfman; 08-12-2016 at 12:53 PM.
08-12-2016, 03:48 PM
#108
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2014 R231
To those of you that picked up a '17 SL how well does the Apple Car Play work? Do you have to connect it to the system via a hard wire or does it simply wirelessly connect to your iPhone when you get in the vehicle?
Is the display screen touch sensitive or do you need to control the functions via the center controller?
Best of luck with your new cars...
Is the display screen touch sensitive or do you need to control the functions via the center controller?
Best of luck with your new cars...
08-12-2016, 07:35 PM
#109
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To those of you that picked up a '17 SL how well does the Apple Car Play work? Do you have to connect it to the system via a hard wire or does it simply wirelessly connect to your iPhone when you get in the vehicle?
Is the display screen touch sensitive or do you need to control the functions via the center controller?
Best of luck with your new cars...
Is the display screen touch sensitive or do you need to control the functions via the center controller?
Best of luck with your new cars...
CarPlay works well but it is the wired version, not the wireless one. I prefer wireless as well but a relatively new CarPlay feature that is just too new by carmaker standards.
I would expect that to be in cars in 2017.
Overall it works very well. Siri rocks compared to MB's lousy Voice control and I love that the Apple navigation map automatically routes me when it detects that I go to places I have been to (home, office, gym, etc.).
Things to know.
Using CarPlay disables the Mercedes Nav while the phone is connected (no loss)
The Favorites button is used by CarPlay, so your chosen shortcut is not accessible (not huge)
Music is great! Easy access and full control to playlists, radio stations, Apple Music suggestions or Pandora, iHeart music, Spotify, Tunein, etc.
CarPlay doesn't use the iPhone equalizer settings if chosen, so the equalizer in the car is up...
With IOS10, CarPlay is getting upgrades as well, so it is getting better as well. Since it was a no charge option, I am happy. 100 times more useful to me than Satellite radio...
08-16-2016, 02:51 PM
#112
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08-16-2016, 04:47 PM
#114
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08-20-2016, 11:45 AM
#116
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WOW! That's a very pretty car! Enjoy it.
08-20-2016, 04:28 PM
#117
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