I understand the 2 offered touchscreens allow Mercedes to create only one dashboard but to me it appears the screen is just stuck on. As I research competitive vehicles all are built into the dash giving it a finished look. If I wanted to look at a bump in front of me, I'd stick a $99. portable nav on the windshield. Anyone else see this as a distraction or deal breaker?
Touchscreen
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It is definitely a love it or hate it type thing. It does look a little bit stuck on there and 'half assed' if you ask me... but everything else in the interior looks top notch so its one of those things that you have to be able to live with ;(
Thanks Rocket88, now I hate it even more. I saw a picture from the front right fender looking at the driver through the windshield and it looks like it's held on with a piece of double faced foam tape from HD. I'm sure it's affixed better than that, but the more I look at it the more I'm jumping off the CLA bandwagon.
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It's not a make-or-break deal for me, FWIW. It's on par w/ late-model European designs & their ICE/sat-nav displays which either pop-up and/or are independant of the dash/center-console.
Despite looking tacked'on (which perhaps was by intent, much like how Apple's iOS mimics real-life sounds/motions/etc, MB may have inferred as so much as well w/ young(er)/active types w/ having Garmins, Magellans, TomToms affixed to their windscreen / dash).
Despite looking tacked'on (which perhaps was by intent, much like how Apple's iOS mimics real-life sounds/motions/etc, MB may have inferred as so much as well w/ young(er)/active types w/ having Garmins, Magellans, TomToms affixed to their windscreen / dash).
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It does look like an afterthought. That was what I saw when I first saw it in the pictures. It was like they pulled the dashboard out of a parts bin for a downmarket car for which there isn't a GPS option and they didn't have an economical way of adding a GPS without tacking it on like...well...they did. I have to imagine they could have cut a hole in the dash and developed a mechanism for it to pop up. That said, it DOES look better in person. It's not as wart-like of an appendage in the metal (or plastic) somehow. It actually looks more...intentional(?) and less like an afterthought. I hadn't really thought about the long term "squeaking" that could develop from the appendage until reading MrRyte's post but I guess that's ultimately a risk with any parts on a car. If it's assembled with quality parts it shouldn't sound like a puppy's chew toy as you drive down the road. Only time will tell. 
-Eric
-Eric
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I will hold off on judgement until I see it in person.
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lol- damn that would drive me insane. When my dog chews on a squeaky-toy for more than five minutes I throw her a ball or a treat to distract her.If it's assembled with quality parts it shouldn't sound like a puppy's chew toy as you drive down the road. Only time will tell.
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i think you;ll get used to it. i agree i would of been more fond of the E-Class type of implemention. but you cant get the best of both worlds haha. you have to see it to believe it
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Oh BTW, its not a touchscreen. Its just a display.
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I have had my CLA with comand for just over two months now and have to say the dash layout in my opinion is perfect. The screen does not look out of place at all. The placement of the screen allows a much better dash profile in my opinion, for exams the dash horizon is lower allowing a better field of view. If the screen was integrated in the dashboard it would have a much higher profile. Just my two pence worth from an owner.
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I have to believe that the MB interior design engineers created this look intentionally and it's not an afterthought. The standard layout where the screen is lower and fully integrated into the center stack has been around for several years. I believe that this "high pedestal mount" will be more functional and keeps your eyes closer to the windshield. My bet is that there is far less eye fatigue and distraction with this design. We're going to be on the foreskin of technology!
It was kind of weird the first time I saw it on pictures, but when I saw the car in London, I thought the screen was fine. I would also imagine that this kind of layout is better for repairs or upgrades. My only concern is the glare that might happen at certain times of the day.
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I think you hit this one on the head. Seems like I remember reading that pending U.S. standards will require this type of display to be place relatively high in the dash. And when I test drove the car today I don't recall it seeming odd or as standing out in any way.
Totally agree.
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