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What do you look for when buying a car? Quality, reliability, safety features, good mileage? Yup all that plus I like technology and friendliness.
My new car has more cameras than Kodak. When I use the navigation it shows a live image of the turn so it’s hard to miss. It uses the cameras to find a space and park itself. If I get lost I just say, “Take me home.”
When I start the car it says, “ Hello Richard Quinn” That’s friendly. When I turn it off it says, “ Don’t forget your phone.”
When I started the car on Thursday April 10th, the screen showed the Masters Logo, an image of me in a green shirt and a golf ball. On Saint Patrick’s day there were shamrocks falling down the screen. I can’t wait for the Easter Bunny.
Making adjustments are done by voice command. Say, “I’m hot” and she will say okay I’ll lowered the temperature – and it knows if you are the driver or passenger. The other day I put the defroster on by mistake and it got really hot so I said, “I’m hot.” The car responded, “Me, too it’s really warm in here.” and turned off the defroster.
Concerned about tire pressure? Just ask. “Right front 41, right rear 40, etc.” How much gas do I have? “You can drive 264 miles.”
When Connie asks for something, she then says “thank you” The car replies differently each time. “You’re welcome or “My pleasure, have a nice day.” etc. The manual says the car is always learning new words. It makes me wonder who has the AI, me or the car.
If I wander near the white line, the car steers me back to center. Scared the heck out of me the first time.
At night, we are bathed in ambient light in a color of our choice, just ask.
I’m still learning all that it does and how, I guess I should actually read the full manual, but that is unlikely.
What does all this friendliness get you? More things to go wrong, higher repair costs and higher insurance premiums. It certainly isn’t necessary to go from A to B.
Truth be told, all, this stuff is like driving an iPad and a bit distracting at times. It’s like having eyes on every side of your head. I like it though, it’s fascinating. It’s cool. What will be possible in the future? And I thought robotic prostate surgery was neat.
My first car was a new 1962 VW Bug. It didn’t have AC or a heater or power anything and it cost $1,895. I competed in road rallies and drove it across the Country. Those were the good old days- but it never said a word.
What scares me about Mercedes Benz vehicles–read some of Scotty Kilmer’s articles on Youtube. The multiple number of mechanical and electrical systems are so complex and interconnected that he indicates even Mercedes technicians are having problems trouble shooting and repairing them–especially after operating 3 or 4 years. And the cost to repair them is really high. Otherwise, they look like awesome vehicles and from the comments I read on HD, most people are happy with them. But I’m just overwhelmed about all the technology in all the vehicles today–maybe because I keep operating vehicles for almost 20 years or more, as long as they’re safe and roadworthy. I go on manufacturers web sites and review all the things on the computer on the dashboard, steering wheel, doors, etc, and my head starts to spin.
You have a point. More complexity, more cost and sometimes difficulty to maintain. I always use a dealer for service because of the training needed, but a routine service without repairs can easily cost $700. On the other hand an oil change is once a year.
I waited 70 years to buy my first one and to 81 for the second. I paid cash for both because if you can’t do that I don’t think you can truly afford one. No regrets for me. It’s not an investment, it’s a non-necessity.
The way I see it is if a family can spend several grand on a trip to Disney which they may be charging or a person can spend a few thousand to cover body parts in ink, then saving for decades for your dream car is okay too.
Richard, I totally agree with you! You frugalized and saved/invested for years, and now you can enjoy the benefits. The MB vehicle lineup is awesome, and I think we’d enjoy one, mainly for the structural and safety aspects. Plus, as noted by other HD commenters, the prices aren’t that much different from a large SUV or pickup truck, or other comparable vehicles, e.g., Cadillac, Audi, etc. Good luck and health to you while enjoying your new ride!
Richard, I just got picked up at the airport using a private limo service in a high end Mercedes. It had many controls for comfort in the back seat like heated and multiple adjusted seats like a driver’s seat, along with personal temperature controls. The thing that surprised me the most was the soft closing doors!