1st off, this is not a rant or complaint. I'm working on a project in school about interaction and user experience, specifically focused on the nuances of user-subject interactivity, so I need you guys to chime in with the context of user-experience in mind.
I'm simply wondering why Mercedes decide to use the standard automatic shifting layout for cars like the SLR 722S instead of redesigning something that creates a more sporty driving experience for the drivers? My topic has to be focused very specifically on a part, so I picked the automatic gear shifter in the SLR 722S with the focus on its "manual" mode.
IMO, it may be "unique" and may be simpler to the average driver who uses the vehicle for transportation purposes, but for those who are after the sportiness and the driving experience, it's not working out. In a C-class? Sure, why not. Not everything in the car has to be designed with "sportiness" in mind. It fits the paradigm of the "P R N D" auto box.
In a
SLR 722S? Unacceptable IMO.
The target users of the 722S are those with a great amount of wealth (ballers) and sports car enthusiasts. Therefore, the design of this car should be luxurious and sporty. Now, these 2 attributes may conflict each other in situations such as the car being filled with all these luxurious shit, so the car becomes an obese motherfucker. If you take too much shit out to save weight for better acceleration and cornering ability, the car may become too stripped out to satisfy the ballers.
I don't see how shifting "sideways" is contributing to the car being "sporty" or "luxurious". It also takes away the "Gestalt" and metaphor of using a stick-shift simply because when driving a manual car, you shift by pushing and pulling the shift knob forward and backward. Tipping the shifter left and right feels unnatural, as it breaks away from the standard gear-shift pattern and it defies ergonomics (pushing forward and pulling backward is way easier for the human body).
The SMG shifter in a E92 M3 definitely suits its target users. The neutral position of the gear shifter sits in the middle, so the driver can shift manually by pushing up and down from the neutral position. It makes sense, since when you're accelerating, you're being pushed back so you should be pulling when you shift; when you slow down, vice versa. The shifter is also fairly short, mimicking the feel of a sporty short-shifter. IMO, this offers the driver way more "sportiness" than the one in the 722S.
In the Ferrari F430, there is no "gear lever" for the driver to use, so the drivers are bound to stick with the paddle shifters. Obviously, Ferrari and Pininfarina designed the car for the driver to interact mainly with the paddles. The design hierarchy is clear. It also suits the intended target users (sports car enthusiasts) since paddle shifters give the driver more control over the vehicle since it keeps both of the driver's hands on the steering wheel. The paddle shifters contribute to the user's experience by its interaction with the driver.
Even though the current paradigm is that a lot of wealthy individuals drive expensive sports cars for its status symbol (not for the driving experience), cars like the SLR 722S is designed with sporty driving experience at a higher priority than luxurious driving experience. The car may be considered "tamed" compared to cars like the LP670SV, but it's definitely not a C300. Maybe Mercedes Benz should put more effort in evaluating user experience.
What do you guys think?
