Super post Roberto... you make it quite clear that you've an exceptional eye for the aesthetic. You draw some very valid visual parallels and I consider myself privileged to learn from your insight.

Essentially, at 34, I'm probably stuck with preconceived notions and a visual paradigm of what modern interiors ought to look like, though this doesn't change the fact that I still have a frame of reference built up over the years of emotional preference and subjectivity.

Without question, as you so aptly pointed out, the A6/Q7 interior is a far cry in terms of tactile and visual quality from the aforementioned Japanese models I'd posted about previously. That doesn't change the fact that I just don't identify with the shape of the dashboard in the Audi. It simply doesn't engage me in the same way that the BMW interior does.

It is fitting however, for me to point out that I'm not presenting my opinion in an anywhere near as articulated and well-founded fashion as you have done.

Thank you very much Martinbo, those are very kind comments.

I might have been a little obsessive in my posts in this thread - but I really wanted to make my opinions as clear as possible.

I should make it perfectly clear that I am not an Audi fanboy - my appreciation for the Audi marque is relatively recent, but I really do admire the quality of their recent work.

Ultimately, as several people have very rightly pointed out, it all comes down to personal preferences in the end

yes suh....i dont understand all the audi hype...i think theri interiorsnare really bad...i don't like the surfaces or hard plastics either

Lol, Rob, why get upset? And what conspiracy? I have nothing aginst you or your pic choice, i just pointed out it's one of the the worst pics and many will comment the pics you posted and taking them for comparisons in this thread and that pic, my friend, doesn't do any good to 5er's interior.

Still, you could have chosen even worse looking one, i still choose MY interior in this thread. Case closed.

I edited the first post Tyc.

Hmmm, some of you Beemer boys sure get ill easily - you sure must use up a lot of sick-bags when you see an X3.

....I have to ask you, what is so vomit-inducing about this interior, sure, unlike the 5er, it's not like Disneyland in there but it's still very attractive - and oddly enough, not unlike some of the older BMW interiors ....but I guess you don't have a problem with them.

roberto, thank you for all those insightful comments, the truth is, some ppl are just biased, if u put a different badge on that audi steering wheel, they will praise it up to high heaven, and if u put, say the audi four rings, on the 5er steering wheel, then they would say that interior makes them want to puke. the vomit inducing factor is the badge, some ppl just cant see pass it.

as for me, even tho im an audi fan, i still think e-class has the most pleasanton design of the three, tho may not be the most ergonamic one. audi, on the other hand has a very purpose oriented design fitted with high quality material, and im not judging from the pix, i've seen all three of them in real life (of course not the facelift e-class, they might have improved the quality).

i also have to admit, 5er interior is a lot better looking in real life than in any picture. it is very exciting in real life, a lot of new ideas and stuff.... argh im tired now, so that's it for now......peace.

OMG!!!! I have not heard a good comment from you on audi yet.

Aside from aesthetics I think we might be pushing the quality issue a little far with the Audi A6.

Well, I personally have not talked about build quality, the pre-FL E-class was not so great, but I think Mercedes have tried to fix things. In the photos, the FL interior looks relatively well made to me - it's just that it has all the charm and style of a suite at a mid-range hotel chain - in other words, it's totally banal....but to be fair, I could say all three cars are not really spectacular.