ammo_collector

I drove both an automatic and 6 speed C300 (Laguna Niguel MB). I bought the b8 avant due to looks, interior room and design, and the fact that you see a c300 at every corner. The C300's shifter was rubbery but the automatic was very smooth. The C300's clutch was light, but lacked feedback.

Chassis:
C300 wins here. Very solid and planted, yet comfortable. Felt like a very cohesive package.

Automatic:
C300 was smoother

Steering:
B8 wins

Brakes:
C300 had better feedback

Power:
Too close to say

Interior:
B8 wins. The C300's plastics and overall design looked taken from an economy car. The B8 also seemed bigger inside.

a5dude

I didn't know MB has manual C300s

av_audi

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

There seems to be a consensus that the interior is smaller. That is important to me, as my wife sometimes remarks that my B5.5 Passat's interior feels a little narrow, but more importantly, I sometimes serve on kid school shuttling duty and my son and his cousin are growing like weeds (should reach 6'3" if they continue their growth rates).

The cheaper looking interior doesn't bother me as much. It still is fine for my needs.

I am surprised that not many people mentioned the steering feel. Consumer Reports calls it "overly light." Has the A4 steering become lighter too?

mhender

a4 steering is very light at slow speeds, which i kind of like. when you get higher speeds i really like the responsiveness. test drive, my friend!

av_audi

Of course. But helps to have an idea of what things to watch for during a short test drive

irenesbob

True - a lot of people do not see the logic of slaughtering animals so their butts and egos can feel better. That might be an increasing trend in sentiment. I liek he leather in my '08 B7 but may try a non-leather interior on the next car - it depends.

Hobbes

Well, they're actually being slaughtered so we can eat tasty, tasty hamburgers, along with providing a nice home for my butt. Eliminating the use of leather in cars won't be saving any cows.

mhender

Exactly. Leather only makes use of parts that are otherwise useless to the cattle industry

av_audi

Just a few years back, Audi offered in the U.S. cars with high quality cloth seats. But in the U.S., luxury -> leather (whether real or fake )

iflywoe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M5VvtJxp0M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MnodSB9gOk

I HOPE THIS HELPS! LOL