In attempting to make the Cirrus panel more “car like” room for added equipment was sacrificed for the sake of cosmetics.
Cirrus is a smart outfit and I think they clearly understood this trade-off. And they had a plan to deal with it: the ARNAV display. Added equipment could use it instead of more panel holes as an interface.
This is why I think Cirrus should treat the ARNAV problem with a bit more urgency than they seem to be now. It’s not just a question of an added “supplemental” goodie not working right, it leads to hack sawing of metal and foam in an aircraft that hangs its hat, to a great extent, on looking car like.
IMHO, YMMV, etc.
Joe Mazza
Former Position Holder