German Car Zone

Yes completely Just Me. The A4 felt cheap and hollow. The door panels are even made of a 'soft' foam that felt 'light' compared to the denser feeling materials used in the 3 and C.

LOL thats very kind of you Rob.

But seriously, If you've got some time you should check out the C-class's interior and A4's interior back to back. Just don't use the all black versions of either to judge them, as neither comes off particularly well in this colour.

I don't understand how you have not yet come accross a C's interior but have found the time to look at the A4. *tut tut*

^ my stepmother has a 2008 A4 ...I was visiting her about a month ago.

Honestly the new A4 has lost everything in the interior department. Plastics are average, finish is average, and I find it quite messy. The previous Audis had sublime interior, really the best in class, this is no longer the case.

One thing I read in a German forum, is that the Audis use hard platic with a huge layer of soft material on it. Good-looking, but with time the soft-paint tends to fall and it looks ugly. BMW or Mercedes don't use it: if a plastic is soft, it's entirely soft; if a plastic is hard it is hard.

Also the buttons in the Audi don't feel very upscale, some parts are quite thin... I prefer the interior of an A3 to the one in the new A4.

The interior of the C-Class looks way better IRL than in pics. Yet the material of the dash is not the best you can get. However, the finish is impeccable, and every button feels heavy, the door have huge fixations and make a good old noise when closed.... Everything feels over-sized and build to last, it's very Mercedes. Very comfy too.

For me, the Audi has the worst interior of the three, the Beemer has a good interior, the C-Class the best quality.

Concerning the reliability, the C-Class seems absolutely bullet-proof, the Beemer very reliable, the Audi not so good. Some probs with the 3.2 V6, ans with the Common-rail 2.0l TDI, I heard, and some interior issues too...

The Lexus, I don't know. Sat inside once, the finish was quite impressive, but no room at the back, and some probs with the 220d. Very good car it seems, but not as good as the Germans in the comparos.

Wow Amaury, you've sure made the Audi sound like crap

Let me be honest and open. I am very particular and a pain in the a$$ when it comes to INTERIOR QUALITY and MATERIALS USED. I've owen a W202 C180; W203 C180 model year 2000; W203 C180 Kompressor; E46 325Ci; 120i 1er and X5 4.4i the latter two my wifes and myne. Audi's precieved quality looks good! But durable and absolute QUALITY and BUILD-TO-LAST interiors ARE THOSE OF BMW - QUARANTEED! I've seen a 2005 A8 interior belonging to my Nephew Adam Human - switch gear in middle console white not black no more = painted plastic = perceived quality. NOT IN A BMW. NO HARD PLASTICS IN BMW with the exeption - the 1 Ser (BMW knows that and resolve the problem partially with the 1er facelift)

^ I agree with you. Whilst the visual and tactile quality of Audi's interiors is up there with BMW and Merc, the latter two have vastly more solid feeling interiors. Take the A6 for example: it's got lovely soft-touch surfaces and textures but a good wallop on the top of the dash reveals a very hollow sounding dash/bulkhead zone. It's like it's all a very expensive facade but underneath there's something altogether less substantial. I have never experienced this with an E60 or E90 and neither the current E-Class or new C-Class. Sure, some of the plastics in the BMW's are harder, rougher to the touch but they always come across as being solid. I can't say that for the Audis. Did I ever tell any of you how impressed I am with Merc's interior on the new C-Class? Rougher? Possibly. Tougher? Unquestionably!

Now Where are the Audi boys

LOL - great use of that highly appropriate popcorn emoticon Rob. Watch the kernels fly.

The B7 A4 had top interior quality and was one of the cars which led to Audi getting praised for their interior quality. With the B8 they have taken a step back while Mercedes have made a giant leap forward. Having sat in both cars the A4 center console is built using cheap plastic materials rather than dense and rubbery plastic used in the B7.

On the other hand reviews have been good, so don't let the drop in interior quality turn you off completely.