Why do Merc, BMW etc seem to persist with non touch screens?

[Leagle]

Hi all, didn't quite know where to post this one.

But I recently travelled in a mate's new Merc C class and noted that the pop up GPS/multi media screen in his car was not a touch screen.

Whilst I was impressed with the quality and size of the screen (aside from GPS which is nowhere near as good with graphics as the RNS510 in my car), I found that not having a touch screen made it very fiddly and unintuitive to use.

Now having been in a fair few Mercs, BMW and Audis lately, I have noticed that none of them seem to have touch screens. Even Lexus has reverted to a non-touch screen for their new RX350.

For me, the BEST thing about the RNS510 is that it is a very easy to use, intuitive, touch screen.

Hence my question: why haven't the other (supposedly superior) makers cottoned on?

Is it just me or is this one of the best kept secrets about the RNS510?

[Buller_Scott]

cheaper to manufacture with just knobs and buttons, but mark up the price by trimming them in chrome?

test drove an x1 recently... that is NOT a 80-90 thousand dollar car on the inside.

[Rocket36]

or the outside!

[Buller_Scott]

ehem, or the outside...

true.

in my honest opinion, having driven both, the tiggy seemed like better value for sure.

[cme2c]

I don't know about the pop up screen in the C Class. you can see the brackets on the side when it's up. Doesn't your friends C Class have Voice control. My friends C280 Avantgarde does.

But i agree about COMAND. I think they were chasing i-Drive. I wonder WHY they were chasing I-Drive, but there ya go. RNS 510 is much better.

[bombsquad21]

I have a touchscreen in my Lexus RX330, works well, but some of the important climate controls (fan speed) are included in it. not cool or warm...

I don't like mine as much as the non touch screen and mouse like controller in the latest gen RX350, I much much prefer this. It opens up so many more functions with extra buttons and is much safer to use on the move, also it is easier to view as it is set back in the dash, more than an arms length away. Climate controls are still available in the unit, but also on the dash.. (temp and fan speed). Was a shame to give the 2010 RX back to the dealer after a full days driving actually, heaps to like about it..not $106k's worth of liking though!!


I have used the non touch BMW one (non-i drive) that sucked pretty bad i felt..
Most of the Mercs i've been in have skimped on the Navi...nothing like a brand new merc with a suction cup on the window!!

[Treza360]

My question in regards to touch screens is how dirty do they get with fingerprints and grime etc from the constant touching? Do they make it difficult to see?
Cheers,
Trent

[bombsquad21]

Mine is kept hidden from glare well, so fingerprints aren't a great issue. I lent it to a friend for 24hrs while I worked on his E46. Dude has some slimy fingers, smudges all over it... a little microfibre cloth i keep in the glovebox sorted that.

In Summary, if you have acceptable levels of personal hygiene and the maker has put some thought into the position of the unit, fingerprints shouldn't be an issue.

[Maverick]

My question in regards to touch screens is how dirty do they get with fingerprints and grime etc from the constant touching? Do they make it difficult to see?
Cheers,
Trent

No, but it does depend on the brightness of the screen and the quality of the lcd panel as cheaper ones start looking crappy when they have finger prints all over them. Plus if you eat in the car and tend to touch the screen with chocolate or grease they'll look average pretty quick. I only wipe over mine about once every month or two with a microfiber cloth with the same conditioner that I use on the dash so maintenance is minimal and the same as you would do for a non touch screen.

I have a screen protector on my RNS 510 which reduces the brightness of the screen by a fraction and changes the properties of the screen and it still looks good even with fingerprints all over it plus protects the screen from wear and tear along with scratches.