Poll: BMW 1er vs. Audi A3 vs. MB A-Class

Checked out the blue A3 today with the diamond stitching and a silver A-Class. Just a couple thoughts. I still prefer the A3.... I dunno, it's a phase I'm going through... but I can imagine with the very simple design the interior has, that in a base version it could feel lacking. I'm not sure if Audi have changed their plastics either but it's seems slightly shinier than in my A1, or in A4s I've been in. (Audi drivers will know what I am talking about as they have to clean the dirt marks thesetype of plastics attract)

Merc had 5 A-Class on display and they were getting a lot of attention. The design is really emotional even though it's not typical Merc. Looking backwards toward the rear quarter panel I can't help but think of Peugot. Though some typical Merc things can be found in the interior. It seems silly but things like the electic seat control/memory function on the doors. Which I prefer over the simpler seat based buttons offered in the Audi.The leather on the dash is MB-Tex I think, however that just means it will last. The car will be everywhere soon. Also it looked amazing in the mat finish.
The comparison is just to show how much nicer the door handle and surrounds are compared to the E, which uses all aluminium instead of chrome, plastic chrome and aluminium.
That's all I remember before I got booted out of the car so they could do a show. So annoying.

A picture from our X5 (my sister in law will kill me if she saw this posted here lol). The paint which you believe is such a big deal on the A-class is clearly visible in this vehicle costing at least twice as much. What's more is that paint is also visible at the trailing edge of the leather door trim panel where it meets the A-pillar. I unfortunately don't have a picture of this, but if you really push me I'll have to go get one at the BMW dealer. It's always cleverly obscured by the seats in press photos.

The current Golf, which receives endless praise for its interior quality, also has the same exposed metal.

So I firmly believe that you judging the interior quality on the basis of some exposed paintwork is completely baseless and there is no way you can ascertain from this one element if it is any inferior to the 1-series of A3. In fact I am willing to bet my bottom dollar it will be superior in tactility and finish to the 1-series having poked around the X1 and new 1-series. The A3 could go either way judging from Audi's recent efforts. They manage to create a flawless impression in press photos which does not always live up to expectations in reality.

I previously owned 2x E53 X5's, now on my 2nd X6 and a X1 currently. The door rubber around the contour of the side windows seals tightly against the plastic trim, no exposed paint. Only exposed paint is lower (part between the lower door trim and lower b-pillar). Not where your photo suggest. I am not near either my cars as I post, but will get a detailed pic. If that part is paint in your pic, take the car back to BMW becuase for certain the car in your the photo was not finished or missing something neither one of my cars is missing. OR it maybe that the inner door rubber may have reflected into the camera. Whatever the case maybe I will be back with solid proof.
I know my cars.


Below, best example I could find now is the E70 X5, door rubber and velvet trim that tightly seals, connects and forms part of the B-post

I know my cars too, and that is the exposed 'space grey' paint on the B-pillar of the current model X5 we owned for 2 years. The vehicle is still in the family, my cousin now owns it, and it is definitely not a reflection from any sort of rubber trim. It's paint. This is on top of the exposed paint between the lower door trim panel and pillar which you also refer to.

I don't have any major issue with it and am just suggesting it's not such a big deal that the A-class is finished similarly. It's on the current model Golf, X5 and A-class. No big deal. I'd rather have some exposed paint that the hallow light feeling plastics experience in some Audi's.

Now I'm really curious....

The X5.... Is it, or isn't it?!

That would be very very upsetting if a car in that "league" has exposed paint. I'm with Human in the fact that exposed paint is a BIG no no on Luxury/Premium cars, or really on any cars for that matter. Very unfinished, crude, cold look and feel. It is a good and simple way to have a car tell you at what price point it's designed at.

I can't recall seeing any paint work showing on the brother's X6 and I know that all my Audis never had it, plus the new A3 continues this tradition as you can see in this picture.



I'm not saying it's a sign of premium quality in any car but it's these attentions to detail that set them apart from the rest and I'm a little surprise to see Mercedes not offering it on their A-class.

And just for interest sake, TEVO Micro Fiber cloth moistened by a Genesis Steam Cleaner and my own two hands cleans the interiors. The seats gets BMW's Leather cleaning foam and leather cleaner applied by myself with a black micro fiber cloth and yellow one for wipe down to show if all residue is wiped off, when necessary. The insides of the side windows, windscreen and rear glass gets the BMW glass cleaner treatment with a micro fiber towel for windows. I know every nook and cranny of my cars inside.

Outside is done by the local car wash.

I'm not in favour nor against exposed pillars, it does nothing for me. However, I don't think it's about money as probably is more expensive and certainly more labour intensive to polish a small part like the exposed pillar than cover it with a piece of rubber or plastic.

Now, if it's not polished and just let raw after the clearcoats have been aplied, well, then yes, shame on you Mercedes.

Regards!

It is not left raw. It made nothing for me good or ad for me. Now on a S Class I would not like it, but on a A Class it makes no difference.

I must be honest that it would bother me. If I'm not mistaken, the new Focus has the door frames all plasticed up (Unlike the Golf). However, there is a way to fix this. Just buy a black A class.

Actually, my good friend, the cars shells are "paint blasted", so the metal is painted even under the plastic. Basically meaning, without plastic it's "exposed/naked" in its bare form, and when they put plastic there, it's to cover and refine the look from the exposed metal.

Braaf: Yeah, the new Focus indeed doesn't have exposed metal, it has similar plastic to what M-B or Audi would use (Ford are very serious about the quality of the new Focus, saying they benchmarked M-B's materials and Audi's fit and finish for the car, and actually got about as close as you could get considering the cars relatively very low price range).

Me, being extremely picky about these types of details, and finding that it's the details that REALLY tell you the care and passion and refinement a car intends to pass over, I immediately notice and am "warmed" when I see a manufacturer do things like find it unacceptable to have exposed, bare/naked metal showing inside.

Yes K-A, I know the car is painted all over (I think is an electrostatic painting process) but what I mean is that having to polish an exposed pillar, which being such a small, intricate thing -probably isn't polished by a robot, instead by a person- is not cheaper in any way than having it covered by a piece of plastic, regardless of the quality.

If however, the pillar i less without polishing, well, that's another history and really cheap cost cutting!

Regards!

The more i look the more sucks the A class is. I'm getting sick of this MB face, it's really annoying... That exact same grille you see from the SLK to the CLS now even A class, large headlights that tries to make it look aggressive. just look at the blue car above, that grille is so huge that it is out of proportion. That strip of DRL or something on the top edge of the headlights, is like some bandage unremoved.
having said that, i don't think the Mpack 1series is appealing at all too, it's less ugly but still ugly. the problem is, the headlights don't make sense, even the Bangle era cars, everything tried to make a sense (at least independently), but this, no matter how you look at it, doesn't make sense. And the lines are way too not-aggressive, too soft, can't think of a reason why it must be softer than its predecessor.

^ I totally agree with you on every single point

Reading this thread its driving me mad
So i have joined up and will post my views , not wanting to cover old ground but i am sick to my back teeth of avid anti BMW petrol heads posting how ugly the F20 is. I may be biased to this car as i own one , a 116Sport in Alpine white.
But sitting on the drive now it looks stunning,, i agree it may not be the most photogenic of the bunch but it really does look better in the flesh.
The A3 looks identical to the old one , so much so that 99% of civilians (non petrol heads) would not be aware that is a completely new car. It is also the most boring and sensible, and therefore will be the Estate Agents perfect subtle companion. As jezza says the A3 is like water , its great and does the job well but no excitement.

The Mercedes gets slated by WhatCar , with a 2 star out of 5, and quotes ::The Mercedes A-Class looks great inside and out, but rivals are classier, better to drive and more refined, so it’s hard to recommend.

So clearly its not all about looks , and i would of thought GCF would appreciate this. When im driving my BMW i dont have to look at it.
I feel the complete 50/50 weight distrubtion combined with the Longitudinal engine mount for perfect balance. I also get perfect feedback through the steering as the front wheels only have to handle the steering and not torque. And of top of that it has the most advance in class, aluminum multilink suspension. BMW is about engineering not shallow depths of just looks. Any professional driver on here will tell you that

No doubt the 1er is the best of the bunch IF the front was more universally appealing. Though if you love the front, then you pretty much have no reason to feel it's lesser than it's two rivals, IMO The A-Class is a goofy looking car which will gain initial popping-smoke popularity but it'll wane soon. I saw a new 1er when I was in Europe and the sides are by far the most elegant and appealing in this class.

As for drive? It won't be a contest for sure. BMW is eating M-B's lunch when it comes to drive in general, and if you factor in the 1er being RWD VS the A's FWD, and those points you made about the engineering methods that dictate said driving characteristics, technically speaking the 1er is far ahead.

^I don't completely agree with your opinion here because the 1er still lacks the over-engineered interior of the A3 so whilst it might be slightly better to drive I doubt it's the most enjoyable one to own longterm, after all you spend an awful long time driving up and down motorways at a steady pace or in traffic jams and then the quality of your living space is number one priority.

^ When you're a 70 year old grandpa maybe.

The A3 looks nice, but it's just a remodelled VW, and a 'nice' interior is it's one and only selling point. The car is boring as hell to drive (and yes, I have driven one).
And 1er is not slightly better to drive, but it's much, much, MUCH better.

Cough cough!! I had my 1-series for 4 years now and my parents are on their second 1-series...We are all satisfied with the 1-series and the new 1-series is even more comfortable for long journeys. I strongly disagree here.

I'm not talking about comfort or anything else because you will agree that both are equally good at these two things, it's solely the interior quality and feel which is where I reckon the A3 far exceeds the 1er. It's simply a nice place to be.

Oh come on the difference isn't that great, definitely not in the normal models where both drive equally well. It's their style of driving that mostly differs and it's this where preferences can be made.