The MYTH about the Audi A4 B8's interior quality...

[Poverty]

you only concentrated on audi's bad bits, and mercedes good bits. How about you show us all the crap bits on the merc, as quite frankly the mercedes interior still leaves alot to be desired of such a upscale brand.

 

[martinbo]

Mr Merc, to answer your question...

Being a Scoob owner one would think that I would have fairly low expectations around interior quality but actually it's the exact opposite. One of the main reasons why I went for a Subaru was - believe it or not - the interior quality! No sh!t. Plastics and finishing surfaces are mucho el cheapo but what can't be denied is the quality of the fitment and fastening. No rattles - largely as a result of the no frills, unimaginative interior design. I've been put off cars with dashboards that make use of extensive centre console panelling and surface finishes. My distaste for such is because of the rattle factor - more fancy bits more to rattle another reason I'm so keen on BMW's very solid, horizontally partitioned interior design.

I spent a great deal of time in the new A4. Fancy interior design, massively mediocre plastics, surfaces, switchgear tactility and panel fit. A good thump on the top of the dash reveals a hollow, empty sound. I've driven the new C-Class too and the interior is as solid as I could possibly expect - the new B8's interior is distinctly cheaper feeling. All in all a distinct disappointment and a far cry from that of the B7.

 

[Zafiro]

Car journalists aren't 100% correct, they are people like us, people with opinions. Like all people , we all see different on things. Some might think C-class have the best interior quality, others might not feel the same. Who is right? its in the eye of the beholder.

Car journalists are no Gods, they are people like us, they have different opinions just like us. Sometimes its scares me how much trust people put in those car journalists.
Make your own opinion, they are just as much worthful as the guys working at carmagazines.

 

[bmer]

Well, a quality interior is made from fine materials and built with precision. You definitely know when you're in one. You can feel it and usually see it as well. But it's not something you can have an opinion about. Either it is a quality interior or it isn't.

 

[Zafiro]

Well, a quality interior is made from fine materials and built with precision. You definitely know when you're in one. You can feel it and usually see it as well. But it's not something you can have an opinion about. Either it is a quality interior or it isn't.

Yes of course but the thing is, all three offer good interior quality. No one here can claim these three are bad. Which one is the best is still in the eye of the bolder and which one is the best, that we can argue all day long about without coming to an agreement.

 

[Yperion]

Car journalists aren't 100% correct, they are people like us, people with opinions. Like all people , we all see different on things. Some might think C-class have the best interior quality, others might not feel the same. Who is right? its in the eye of the beholder.

Car journalists are no Gods, they are people like us, they have different opinions just like us. Sometimes its scares me how much trust people put in those car journalists.
Make your own opinion, they are just as much worthful as the guys working at carmagazines.

I don't care what car journalists say i just used it as an example. IMO A4 is the leader and followed by 3 series which has a little bid worse materials but very good assembly , C class ranks third. The interior design and quality are not bad but are not as good as the other two cars.

 

[DaSilva]

Wow this was excellent...

 

[Tarek]

I don't care what car journalists say i just used it as an example. IMO A4 is the leader and followed by 3 series which has a little bid worse materials but very good assembly , C class ranks third. The interior design and quality are not bad but are not as good as the other two cars.

come one now! be fair man,the C's interior is FAR from being third and u know that

 

[VroomVroom]

Heres on of my pictures of the B8 interior!

The layers don't seem a bad in this A4, Maybe you got a faulty A4

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Thanks for the pictures Vroom. That vehicle does look like its got a much tighter finish.

But still some fundamental problems remain. While I can see from the pictures the car has an upgraded trim finish, overall the majority of the plastics I am complaining about remain. And the layer upon layer impression is still there.

@ Poverty - There are very few issues with the Merc interior that I have noticed and I'm pretty satisfied with it for the price. I did mention the dash material could be improved, but honestly there's little much else I would change. Maybe the silver finish around the Speedo, Temperature gauge etc.

Maybe there is a few things you have noticed that you could point out and give some examples?

Well I'm glad this thread has turned out pretty well. And it seems I'm certainly not in the minority in terms of dissatisfaction with the A4's interior. A LOT of you guys have noticed the exact same thing. As luw mentioned, keyboard like plastics and Martinbo noted, there is a hollow feeling to the dash.

So it appears while Jurno's continue to ramble on the same thing they have been doing for years, Raoul is right on point when hes says it often takes them years to change the perceptions, but they need to stop and take a closer look. MB and BMW are no longer inferior offerings to the Audi's in terms of interiors and I might even suggest the new MB's have an edge.

Well I better head off to drop my car off at the dealers. Fingers crossed they give me a face lifted 3 -series!

 

[VroomVroom]

^ No problem my friend!

Oh and if they don't give you a FL 3-er

Beg!

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

^ No problem my friend!

Oh and if they don't give you a FL 3-er

Beg!

lol...I did. All they had was a new mini cooper S. What a BLAST to drive to work.

Vroom, I noticed in your second picture, look at the panels just below the date. Another panel that isn't fitting quite right?

 

[DaSilva]

Hey Mr. Mercedes next time buy the A6 with leather interior + leather dash + alcantara roof.

 

[klier]

Lol that is hilarious, the difference in quality is night and day. Latest VWs like the Passat , the Scirocco and the Tiguan are very mediocre.

Hilarious to you maybe, but I have been driving a Passat CC 2.0 TDI (140 hp) this week, and the quality was pretty top notch. No less than the A4 imho.

 

[SKY]

Hilarious to you maybe, but I have been driving a Passat CC 2.0 TDI (140 hp) this week, and the quality was pretty top notch. No less than the A4 imho.

I like the Passat CC more than the B8 A4 in every aspect.

 

[Yperion]

Hilarious to you maybe, but I have been driving a Passat CC 2.0 TDI (140 hp) this week, and the quality was pretty top notch. No less than the A4 imho.

Ι test drove the normal Passat last year and the Tiguan and sat in a Scirocco last month. All had "mediocre" written all over the interior.

Previous generation Passat was among the best in it's class , it was very close to A4 and 3 series. VW's cost cutting measures have hurt the new model very much.

I have never driven the CC but according to the magazines the plastics are very improved over the sedan.

On the other hand if you are right and it's close to A4 then i imagine that means it's on the same level with 3 series also.

 

[Giannis]

Hey Yannis, i recall that Theofrastou in "Epi Troxon" said that the CC had top plastics on the top of the dash, but the lower-dash plastics were hard ones! Overall, much much better than the normal passat. And i trust this guy!

 

[Amo]

I went to see the Scirocco this weekend, and I was actually really impressed with the interior quality depsite cost-cutting measures. It felt like a huge improvement in interior quality to me. Maybe I wasnt looking properly...

I would say this - the B8's interior does not have the same 'feel' of quality as the B7 or indeed the current A3. However, I do find that the layout is fantastic, very ergonomic and by no means cheapy or bad.

 

[ree]

I'm impressed - one of the best quality "report" I read! Great detailed view and very good photos to compare. Never really notice, that the A4 interior is that inaccurate build for an Audi! Even the new Volkswagen models have more precise fitting of interior parts then the A4!

And what I can remember about the "Aluminium" in your Mercedes - gear knob etc - it is some kind of magnesium or magnesium alloy. Feels extremely high-class.

I also sat in a Q5 last week and I noticed, that the praised interior quality of Audi doesn't really touch my emotions. Parts feeling cheap - like the new MMI-knob with Joystick-function etc. And I still have the feeling by comparing the higher class models like the A6 and E-Class, W211. The E-Class interior feels much more integrated / harmonious. Just compare the door parts of the cars with leather interior…

So thank you so much!! Will give you karma, when I'm able to give it to you…

 

[Yperion]

I went to see the Scirocco this weekend, and I was actually really impressed with the interior quality depsite cost-cutting measures. It felt like a huge improvement in interior quality to me. Maybe I wasnt looking properly...

New Golf has a very good interior with quality plastics , buttons and seats.

Scirocco's interior (almost identical to EOS) is not bad but it's not one step above the competition as VW's used to be 5 years ago. Nowadays when even Peugeot and Toyota have improved in that aspect they should really try harder imo.