Regardless of where the car is produced, the features on the car are tailored to the wants/needs of the market and the customers as to provide the best value (selling proposition) to the customer at the greatest marginal profit to the VM (vehicle manufacturer).
As an Yank living in Switzerland for the last 10 years (incidentially working for the company which produces the steering column for the ForTwo), and as the driver of a 2004 W450 Brabus ForTwo coupe (with factory cruise), I can say that with the perponderance of low speed limits 50, 60, 80 km/hr (30, 35, 48 mph), I wouldn't have bought my car without the factory cruise.
Frankly, lack of optional factory cruise in the W451 is a mystery to me (esp since it was available in both the W450 an the W452 Roadster, nd the basic system must have already been homologated in the US for M-B vehicles), and is rather a barrier to my thinking about buying the new W451 model ! Esp when one considers the extra, unusual, and desireable feature of the M-B cruise system ... besides the cruise doing the normal holding the set-speed thing, it is possible to set (in 5kph increments) a maximum speed; one can cruise thru town and not exceed the speed limit (except on "kick-down" and then only for safety reasons) ... tickets over here are exceedingly expensive... So hopefully, the lack of a factory cruise/speed-limiter system (which i see as a deficiency) will be remedied in the near future. In the meantime, there are a number of competent suppliers making retro-fit kits which provide the same functionality (look to other threads for more detail on the topic.)
Lack of column adjust was a decision by smart, since they thought that few owners would find value in a feature that adds weight and cost and reduces fuel econ. Simple as it may be, it is a relatively high-tech column made by the same manufacturer, and in the same european plant, and with the same production and quality standards, by which we produce columns for a variety of VM's and their market and segment leading european vehicles.
Thank you for the most intelligent response to my point!
My daily commute is 60 miles each way to and from Chicago, there is never a time when I could use cruise control because of traffic. BTW, the commute is 98% freeway. I don't think there is any area east of the Mississippi River where cruise can be used for any length of time that I've seen.
I'm in So. Cal. and our situation is a bit different. There really are stretches of freeway where cruise is very useful. I want one not out of laziness but because the holding of a of constant speed thereby maintains consistent MPG. Also great for avoiding speed creep and a half hour with the CHP.
On long surface streets and boulevards, (35-45 speed limit), I've a;ways used cruise as a ticket dodger. I haven't had a speeding ticket in twenty years.
I'm 6' #" with log arms. an armrest would allow me to comfortably rest my right arm while holding the wheel. Besides a proper armrest would provide an much needed added cubby hole storage spot.
My wish list would include the bump out in the door map pockets to hold a water bottle, (see Hyundai and Kia).
I am actually really glad to not have and armrest. I thought I like the one in my other car, but now that I don't have one, I realize the arm rest in the other car is at the wrong height and position for me and really just gets in my way.
As for cruise control, I do miss sometimes. I wish I had cruise in my "Little Blue".
I couldn't disagree more concerning cruise control. I live east of the Mississippi and I use mine all the time. I believe in obeying the posted speed limits (within reason/5mph) and cruise simply makes this easier. I also have a bad right ankle and knee which make it quite painful to asume the same relative seating position for more than a few hours. (too many years of martial arts) Mostly it's just the convenience, but one greatly appreciated.
This will upset some people, but then, oh well!!! I have read all these points of view and by gosh!!! how lazy are we that it's so hard to push a pedal with your right foot, I guess NASCAR Drivers could put cruise control and just lock it in for a few hours to win the race, or how about if you just get a driver (choffeur) and just ride on the passenger side then you wouldn't have to use cruise control and you could always lean on your driver for arm rest.... he could even hold a bottle of water for you with his free hand...Give me a break!!!!, go buy a Lexus you hippy....if not then...Drive your car, enjoy the ride. I know I do.
I want cruise due to my lead foot. I don't need another speeding ticket. Besides I would like to get that extra few miles per gallon that you can get with cruise (IMHO.) I understand some people dont like or need cruise but I would like to have the option for it. Besides if I could afford a lexus I wouldnt be waiting 15 - 18 months for a car, Mike (not mad just saying )
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(not mad just saying 
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