i stopped into my closest, but least favorite, benz dealer today to buy a part. while there, i decided to visit the showroom and eyeball the new models. i was especially trying to learn if the COMAND system was being forced on all models.

looking around, there were no customers in the showroom, i was eventually confronted by a sales guy. he should be at the chyrsler store - aggresive but ignorant.

eventually, i was able to determine that E, C, CLK, SLK models offer the Comand system as options. but that S, CL series have it as standard. the way this was said, i was supposed to like that idea. when i replied that i would prefer that the Comand system be an option delete, because until it was, i would be buying no S, CL level Benzes.

after having said this, i was essentially thrown out of the dealership. i got the feeling that benz is very touchy about this system.

there was one very supercilious salesman who responded to my comment by telling me that i could always turn off the screen if i didn't like it. i said it wasn't completely the screen, it was all the electronic glitches associated with the system. i was then coldly informed that the Comand system had never had any problems - that my information was incorrect.

finally, i guess my question is, why won't benz allow its north american customers to tailor the vehicles to their individual sensibilities?

all the same, i really don't want a new benz with that dealership being the closest one to me by some 60 miles. i know the new autonation service personnel well enough to know that the service operation is not the most conscientious or knowledgeable. and i know from the ex-service director that the electronics in the new models are overwhelming the service department.

viva 126's, 124's