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Article states 300SL Roadster as inspiration, seriously? What a stretch of marketing BS. Nothing epic, nothing dynamic, nothing overtly stylish about this car. Perhaps on the performance scale it will impress, but certainly not in style or design. The questions for me is, can there be an emotional connection with car when you see it or sit inside? The only thing I really like bout the interior is the air vents, I think they look cool. I can get over the ragtop and even the 2+2 but that interior is a miss. Nothing that heightens the senses. As Streamliner asked, where's the wood (or any beautiful trim)?
Can someone PLEASE explain to me why MB is insistent on floating these tablets? Why can't they simply integrate into the dash and wrap with beautiful trim?
Looking at the pics I believe I can see the mounting points for a manually mounted wind screen a la the crappy manual rear screen contraptions common in 4 seat convertibles (see pics below from a 8 Series convertible we had as a loaner).
If that turns out to be correct, then the screen would cover the rear seats, making the whole point of having them moot. Huge turn-off for me! That means a lower quality top down ride due to increased wind buffeting. Much bigger issue than discussing a center screen.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Looking at the pics I believe I can see the mounting points for a manually mounted wind screen a la the crappy manual rear screen contraptions common in 4 seat convertibles (see pics below from a 8 Series convertible we had as a loaner).
If that turns out to be correct, then the screen would cover the rear seats, making the whole point of having them moot. Huge turn-off for me! That means a lower quality top down ride due to increased wind buffeting. Much bigger issue than discussing a center screen.
Why do I never mention this??? The top down wind buffeting in the R231 is practically nonexistent, even as I drive mine, with the windows and wind deflector down. Put them up (when my wife rides with me) and it is virtually like a sedan with the sunroof open—probably even better than some sedans. IMO, one of the best design features of the R231’s, but we just take it for granted.
Trying to be objective, I’m looking at this car from the perspective of a NEW product. Not so much as an evolution, but rather a distant cousin that has some of the SL’s “DNA”.
I personally like the interior and accents. Ambience lighting appears tastefully implemented.
But being old school, the screen is a distraction to me. I wish you could either fold or push the screen INTO the center console or dash and you could pop it up/out when you need to use it. It appears to be huge and feels overwhelming (to me). I’ve always felt like I was “driving an iPad” with Silicon Valley cars. But it now appears to be a permanent addition across all brands rather than a trend as younger drivers value interfacing with their vehicles through this tablet style interface. I think why many of us are polarized on this feature is because it is integral to the control of the car. My hope is that it is touchscreen instead of a different input method. The current automotive style contol of rotating knob/buttons etc… is kludgy. If the R232 uses that shifter thing as some form of input device, I believe it is doomed to fail. As time goes on, I’m hoping manufacturers partner with tech companies and offer a “CarPlay” type interface with your personal tablets.
I’ll save my final judgment until I see the complete package. I can’t help but wonder if they will ever release a coupe version of this car. To me, visually, the AMG GT is a better looking car as a coupe. If I valued speed above all, I’d drive a coupe for sure. No interior wind buffeting at 175mph 😀
Last edited by crconsulting; Jul 14, 2021 at 12:40 PM.
My 2018 SL is a Keeper - They could not pay me enough to put a rag over my head - The IPAD is just bait to create an accident, Eyes off the road. I have Front window display on my 2021 Lincoln Aviator Black Label - between the display on the front window and the Voice Audio for directions , they could eliminate the Ipad - (the after thought as well as they did not know where to put it )
No disrespect but the whole center screen or touch screen discussion is really becoming irrelevant as there won't be a single car without them in some shape or form in all cars moving forward....
One car argue about design elements but the screen is where it is for a reason (to be reachable while your arm is on the center rest) and the size is due to eliminating layers of menus. Touchscreens integrated into the dash are much worse in terms of usability and distraction and would be a negative (as can be seen on current MB's with MBUX).
MB is currently the benchmark for augmented reality HUD's, btw. and MBUX is designed for natural language voice commands.
Trying to be objective, I’m looking at this car from the perspective of a NEW product. Not so much as an evolution, but rather a distant cousin that has some of the SL’s “DNA”.
I personally like the interior and accents. Ambience lighting appears tastefully implemented.
But being old school, the screen is a distraction to me. I wish you could either fold or push the screen INTO the center console or dash and you could pop it up/out when you need to use it. It appears to be huge and feels overwhelming (to me). I’ve always felt like I was “driving an iPad” with Silicon Valley cars. But it now appears to be a permanent addition across all brands rather than a trend as younger drivers value interfacing with their vehicles through this tablet style interface. I think why many of us are polarized on this feature is because it is integral to the control of the car. My hope is that it is touchscreen instead of a different input method. The current automotive style contol of rotating knob/buttons etc… is kludgy. If the R232 uses that shifter thing as some form of input device, I believe it is doomed to fail. As time goes on, I’m hoping manufacturers partner with tech companies and offer a “CarPlay” type interface with your personal tablets.
I’ll save my final judgment until I see the complete package. I can’t help but wonder if they will ever release a coupe version of this car. To me, visually, the AMG GT is a better looking car as a coupe. If I valued speed above all, I’d drive a coupe for sure. No interior wind buffeting at 175mph 😀
The new MBUX is primarily a touchscreen with no control knob, however you can use the haptic buttons on the right side of the steering wheel to control the MBUX display as well. The pad in the center console is not a shifter, just simply somewhere to rest your hand when using the touchscreen, as the shifter is column mounted like all other MB's.
No disrespect but the whole center screen or touch screen discussion is really becoming irrelevant as there won't be a single car without them in some shape or form in all cars moving forward....
Not irrelevant when considered in the context of “should I keep my r231 or trade in for an r232?” I’ll be keeping my r231 until they take my license away.
Not irrelevant when considered in the context of “should I keep my r231 or trade in for an r232?” I’ll be keeping my r231 until they take my license away.
Completely agree. It just isn't a discussion about a particular car rather where automotive tech is going in general. I really like our AMG GTC and that car is vey low tech when it comes to interior amenities but an excellent top down roadster...
Looking at the pics I believe I can see the mounting points for a manually mounted wind screen a la the crappy manual rear screen contraptions common in 4 seat convertibles
Where does that contraption go when it is not in use?
The pad in the center console is not a shifter, just simply somewhere to rest your hand when using the touchscreen, as the shifter is column mounted like all other MB's.
So it’s a “hand rest”?
That doesn’t seem very German 😀
Neither the current S class nor the EQS appear to have this “hand rest” but it apppears to be on your new GLE.
Ergonomically on that SL it seems awkward/worthless and an expensive piece for a factory to just add to a production line when they could just eliminate it to match the S/EQS class. It does seem more functional and in a better location on the V167’s as you’re sitting higher.
I still have to hope it will be a shifter. Guess I’m going to drive down to Pebble Beach to find out for sure. 😀
(I do see the column shifter 😕 )
Last edited by crconsulting; Jul 15, 2021 at 10:35 AM.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by crconsulting
So it’s a “hand rest”?
That doesn’t seem very German 😀
Neither the current S class nor the EQS appear to have this “hand rest” but it apppears to be on your new GLE.
Ergonomically on that SL it seems awkward/worthless and an expensive piece for a factory to just add to a production line when they could just eliminate it to match the S/EQS class. It does seem more functional and in a better location on the V167’s as you’re sitting higher.
I still have to hope it will be an input device or shifter. Guess I’m going to drive down to Pebble Beach to find out for sure. 😀
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by crconsulting
Haha that’s just old guy logic right? I would have thought the same thing or at least have some purpose like shifting, but I believe JS_CLS is correct
MB is touting their new vehicles as having multiple methods of controlling the features: voice, hand gestures, touchscreen, steering wheel buttons AND a touch pad. Believe me, it’s a touch pad. But, I must admit that it doesn’t look like a touch pad.
None of us like change, but for a new gen vehicle we knew it would be different. We knew they would put the newest stuff into it to reignite interest in for all intents a stale marquee. Let’s not rush to judgement until we can see it and touch it.
i have seen the new S and there are good and bad with it. I imagine the same with this AMG only SL.
It is not. In other photos you can see a leather/leatherette grain to the pad. It may possibly be used somehow for another function such as the top mechanism, but at the moment there is no information. The only ways of using the screen are by the touchscreen, the touchpad on the steering wheel, as well as voice (MB Assistant).
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
