Yes, Parktronic is indeed part of the Premium Plus package. In the 7 months of ownership I've only seen the radar detection offer me the Parking Assist option once. It will do conventional parallel parking as well as supermarket parking. Be aware the system is not clever enough to leave you enough room to get the doors open if you find your self sandwiched between two other cars. But on the upside, having pulled the trigger on the Premium Plus option, you will also benefit from the panoramic sunroof as an escape route. And if you are not athletic enough to take advantage of that, just enjoy the superb Burmester Surround Sound system until one of the other cars move. Personally, I just "Clarkson park" - afterall, it is a Mercedes. >
Mercedes refer to their standard trim as "man-made leather". I think this appeases potential customers with a conscience about using animal hides. I find I am now getting judged every time I wear my designer trenchcoat fashioned from baby sloth pelts. What is the world coming too? Anyway, people also know the interior trim as MB-Tex. Admittedly it fares better than real leather in terms of cracking and UV resistance and, TBH, I find it very hard to tell the difference. There's plenty of leather fragrance air fresheners you can pop in the cabin.
The Off-Road package really does represent excellent value for money. I love the way you can easily clean the wheel wells by passing your hand through the narrow spokes of the 18-inch wheels. The restyled front end for improved approach angle adds a nice bit of bling and for those without the increased ride height of the Air Body Control suspension, the uprated underbody panelling gives more peace of mind if you ground out. Throw in the additional off-road modes complete with a wider headlight spread and the package is a no brainer. As for sidesteps I think they are simply an exercise in form over function and I'd definitely put the money towards something more useful like the 360-degree camera. Running boards may look cool but in reality you will be stepping over them and the only real purpose they serve is to deposit all manner of crud on your trouser leg. And as for pencil skirts, they would definitely be out of your cross-dressing armoury :wink2:
My 220d Sport Premium Plus with Off-Road package and 360 Camera was also optioned with the air suspension. The car was a bucket list purchase and I was chasing comfort with a capital C. I test drove the conventionally sprung version and there is no comparison. It allows the Sport and Sport+ modes to be far more engaging and in Comfort mode delivers that magic carpet ride I was seeking. It would be where my first £1500 would go before seeing what else I could incorporate. It was easy for me to ignore the highly rated Intelligent Light System option as I rarely drive at night these days and I see the HUD option as more gimmick than "must-have". I can honestly say I have not had one ounce of buyer's remorse even though I had to sell a kidney to make it all happen.
