R232 Serious Design Flaws
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SLC43 - GLC 350d - 300SL 107
R232 Serious Design Flaws
Merc R232 SL - I am. Human Factors designer for the military and drive an SLC43 which is about the best Merc I’ve ever owned. Because it is now unfortunately discontinued I will want to replace it with the new SL. Having just driven the R232SL I think it has 2 fundamental design flaws unlike the SLC:
1. The 2+2 configuration gives you compromised boot space and an ungainly long door making access/egress difficult in car parks.
2. The central touch screen looks like a Halfords retrofit. It is not blended into the dashboard and a touch screen HCI (Human Computer Interface) is ungainly and dangerous on a moving platform. For example the procedure to lower/raise the hood is laughably awkward and takes your eyes off the road.
i want a bigger SLC but with traditional knobs and dials. Mercedes has lost its way in an area of design where it was once a world leader.
1. The 2+2 configuration gives you compromised boot space and an ungainly long door making access/egress difficult in car parks.
2. The central touch screen looks like a Halfords retrofit. It is not blended into the dashboard and a touch screen HCI (Human Computer Interface) is ungainly and dangerous on a moving platform. For example the procedure to lower/raise the hood is laughably awkward and takes your eyes off the road.
i want a bigger SLC but with traditional knobs and dials. Mercedes has lost its way in an area of design where it was once a world leader.
Last edited by MJ50; Feb 13, 2024 at 05:28 PM.
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Merc R232 SL - I am. Human Factors designer for the military and drive an SLC43 which is about the best Merc I’ve ever owned. Because it is now unfortunately discontinued I will want to replace it with the new SL. Having just driven the R232SL I think it has 2 fundamental design flaws unlike the SLC:
1. The 2+2 configuration gives you compromised boot space and an ungainly long door making access/egress difficult in car parks.
2. The central touch screen looks like a Halfords retrofit. It is not blended into the dashboard and a touch screen HCI (Human Computer Interface) is ungainly and dangerous on a moving platform. For example the procedure to lower/raise the hood is laughably awkward and takes your eyes off the road.
i want a bigger SLC but with traditional knobs and dials. Mercedes has lost its way in an area of design where it was once a world leader.
Tex Crampin - Human Factors Designer - Goodwood UK - texcrampin@me.com
1. The 2+2 configuration gives you compromised boot space and an ungainly long door making access/egress difficult in car parks.
2. The central touch screen looks like a Halfords retrofit. It is not blended into the dashboard and a touch screen HCI (Human Computer Interface) is ungainly and dangerous on a moving platform. For example the procedure to lower/raise the hood is laughably awkward and takes your eyes off the road.
i want a bigger SLC but with traditional knobs and dials. Mercedes has lost its way in an area of design where it was once a world leader.
Tex Crampin - Human Factors Designer - Goodwood UK - texcrampin@me.com
Welcome! Head over to the R232 section where you will find many who agree with you. No buttons or knobs coming back.
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From: Melbourne, Australia
2013 C204 C250 Coupe
I agree with your comments. Manufacturers appear to like sticking iPads on the dash as an afterthought. Mercedes does do it well with the E-Class integrated screen.
Welcome to the forum Tex. Good to have you join us 👍
Welcome to the forum Tex. Good to have you join us 👍
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Joined: Jan 2024
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From: DFW
SL63
TexCrampin54
I have a SL 63 2022
I am very much enjoying it, but as to your points, I can’t say you’re wrong.
In any event, Welcome aboard.
Welcome to MBWorld.
Glad to have you onboard.
I have a SL 63 2022
I am very much enjoying it, but as to your points, I can’t say you’re wrong.
In any event, Welcome aboard.
Welcome to MBWorld.
Glad to have you onboard.
Last edited by MB2timer; Feb 13, 2024 at 08:12 PM. Reason: +r
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From: Chicago and Palm Springs
2025 BMW Z4 M40i (Manual); 2025 Lexus NXH Luxury; 2021 Porsche Macan S; 2023 Audi Q5
The procedure to raise and lower the roof is pretty much the same as every other powered convertible top. You give the roof button a quick press, then press and hold it down while the roof folds/unfolds. You do not need to deal with the menu structure in the MBUX. You do not need to avert your eyes from the road. I am not sure how this popular mythology has taken hold. My guess is that MB did a crappy job explaining it to the dozens of YouTube “journalists” who reviewed the car.
The 2+2 configuration is a matter of taste. I would prefer the rear seats to not exist. Hasn’t hurt Porsche though.
The 2+2 configuration is a matter of taste. I would prefer the rear seats to not exist. Hasn’t hurt Porsche though.
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AMG GTR, SL63,SLSAMG
The besr SL its the SL FROM 17 TO 19
Merc R232 SL - I am. Human Factors designer for the military and drive an SLC43 which is about the best Merc I’ve ever owned. Because it is now unfortunately discontinued I will want to replace it with the new SL. Having just driven the R232SL I think it has 2 fundamental design flaws unlike the SLC:
1. The 2+2 configuration gives you compromised boot space and an ungainly long door making access/egress difficult in car parks.
2. The central touch screen looks like a Halfords retrofit. It is not blended into the dashboard and a touch screen HCI (Human Computer Interface) is ungainly and dangerous on a moving platform. For example the procedure to lower/raise the hood is laughably awkward and takes your eyes off the road.
i want a bigger SLC but with traditional knobs and dials. Mercedes has lost its way in an area of design where it was once a world leader.
1. The 2+2 configuration gives you compromised boot space and an ungainly long door making access/egress difficult in car parks.
2. The central touch screen looks like a Halfords retrofit. It is not blended into the dashboard and a touch screen HCI (Human Computer Interface) is ungainly and dangerous on a moving platform. For example the procedure to lower/raise the hood is laughably awkward and takes your eyes off the road.
i want a bigger SLC but with traditional knobs and dials. Mercedes has lost its way in an area of design where it was once a world leader.
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2022 AMG SL55
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As an owner of a 2022 SL55 I, too, thought the IPAD looking touchscreen appeared to be tacked on, however, since I primarily bought the SL55 to use for top down driving I've come to appreciate the tilt screen feature to reduce glare on a sunny day. Not sure how glare could be reduced with an integrated touchscreen unless it is hooded placing it further away from the driver.
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2022 SL63, 2020 Porsche Taycan
As the owner of two cars that have now gone completely touch screen based for the majority of controls, you get used to it after a few months. Maybe I'm weird but I rather enjoy it now. As someone else mentioned, there is a hard button for the top you can use that eliminates that concern and is handy to use when moving (double push and hold of the physical top button till top movement is complete)
