Stanton wrote:One of the reasons I did NOT get an SL was the solar panel. It didn't feed the traction battery and I felt I could get a better 12v battery down the road if I really wanted it (and I did--see my sig); I also figured it would be more trouble than it's worth if it was ever cracked or damaged. The other reason was I didn't want QC (at that time you had to get an SL to get QC).
I bought my SL because I wanted leather, the 30kw battery and the all-around view camera like my wife has in her Murano, I did notice the solar panel but didn't notice that the SV and S models on the dealer lot not having them, so it wasn't really in the calculus for me that day I'm embarrassed to admit. The Bose Sound System is noticeably better than the stock radio in our '14 S, but it's not worth $1000, that's for sure.
I did drive and S w QC (and eventually bought a '14 just like it for my sons for a great deal) but figured since I was going to all the trouble of buying a new car and getting a huge tax break in the process, I'd just go whole hog and get the top end model. I don't have that many miles on the car yet, (less than 3k), but the 12V battery seems to hold a charge just fine, I park at the train station in South Tacoma all day on weekdays and use Leaf Spy to eyeball things to/from most days when I'm driving around town. I can't seem to tell, or at least I haven't looked directly for the 12V battery voltage immediately after start when the car has sat in the sun all day, but I should I guess. I have noticed the 12V battery periodically charge itself now and then, actually had to look up the status light for it because I didn't know why LED #3 was blinking all by itself.