IAS5

+1.

Hate to say it, but there are some pretty weak excuses of complaints... like "having to reach way around...."


... what... reach an extra 1 foot? Give the thumbwheel a workout. Audi did design a solution that adapted ergonomics to make life simpler. It's a shame someone does not want to use it and then complain that humans have to adapt to the design...

Please......

SFV A4

1) I don't think that's an air vent.
2) What difference does it make which control goes on which side of the steering wheel? If one is not able to use it while shifting, it makes no difference what the button's function is. It's either accessable or not. If the station switching button was located there, you'd have the same problem. This question is a non-issue.
3) I thought leather was standard in the A4. Or even if it's fake leather, it's more durable than some real leathers. I've had them all, and the fake Audi leather took the longest to crack and soil.
4) Uhhh... the average buyer does not do power slides with the parking brake. This is rediculous. Why don't they add a parachute option...
Seriously, Audi is a leader here and you'll see more and more car manufacturers get rid of a parking brake lever. It frees up precious console space and looks far cleaner than having another "stick" jutting out.
5) I am with you on this. I think the B8's dash design is a step backward in time. But rather than the older Camry, I'd say it's thick vertical rim on both sides is straight off a 70's Ford LTD Country Squire wagon. And many '80's Buicks had a similar, all consuming and thick-rimmed dash. Hope Audi dumps this style for the B9. Or a shrunken down version of the A8 would have been nifty.

Proogz

I like how most of you have no idea how the cars interior is really designed..


The reason why the volume control is on that side is for the passenger to be able to play with the controls where all the fancy buttons are...

The driver uses the wheel to be able to switch up volume, and all that kewl stuff

LOGIC RULES

PAYCE

silverTL6

Mystery solved :thumbsup:

Bingo It's like there was no budget for the interior.

Because the left hand has fewer things to do? For manual drivers at least...

I thought my Camry comparison was harsh A mini A8 look would be nice for the 2012 refresh, but probably wishful thinking

koobah

Maybe I'm a little biased (coming from BMW), but I think that the steering wheel volume control on my A4 is on the wrong side. Since the left arm spends more time on the wheel, it would be more ergonomic to have the volume roller on the left. I don't know about you, but I tend to use volume control more than flipping through radio stations or songs. Speaking of ergonomics, another thing that is wrong IMO is the + and - on the auto trans shift lever. I believe Audi is the only manufacturer whose lever has to be pushed forward to upshift.

S4Tokyo

Interesting - I have RHD vehicle (inversely right hand spends most time on the wheel) and the volume roller is on right. Whatever ergonomic decision criteria was used to decide which sides of wheel the volume roller went, it seems it was decided there would be one layout applicable to both RHD & LHD vehicles. Cost cutting??

McGriddle

It makes sense to me as others have said to put the volume **** on the right side of the shifter to allow the passenger to control the volume without getting their hand in the way of the driver controls. Also, my hand seems to fall more naturally to that side of the shifter as opposed to the left.

Having the volume roller on the right side is something I've gotten used to since I've had an A3 before the S4 and the volume roller was on the same side there. It makes sense to me, however, since i don't really change the volume too often, and when I do, it only takes a second to change the volume, so my right hand doesn't need to stay on the wheel for very long anyway.

My left hand stays permanently on the wheel and it also takes more time when changing radio stations, etc., so it makes sense to have the mode roller on the left.

Yeah, the coin slot thingy is an afterthought, IMO. Totally useless since I use my ashtray as a coin holder.

About the 3-series interior... I've always felt that it was BMW's biggest fault in the car. From a design perspective, I've always thought of it as being too utilitarian and quite ugly. Ergonomic, yes.... but plain and spartan. It was a deal breaker for me and my wife. She couldn't bear the thought of riding in the Bimmer's interior.

Audi's interior design makes some compromises to allow for aesthetics. Since I have to look at the interior every time I drive, I find it nice that it's attractive. Everyone else whose been in the car says the same.

WatchNut

He's talking about the volume controller on the steering wheel, I believe.

Please...I said nothing of the sort. Don't put words in my mouth. I asked a question. That's all.

LOL

I completely understand that. You didn't answer my question though. How often do you find yourself needing to change the volume on the stereo so immediately that you cannot wait a second or two for your hand to return to the steering wheel?

Hobbes

It was the same for me. Those were my exact thoughts on the BMW interior. No matter how well the car drove, I couldn't imagine living with the interior day-in, day-out.

Dolphin Gray

Maybe I am biased but I think the interior overall is gorgeous. If I had to nitpick it would be the passenger airbag light and the silver plastic dash. Sat in a friends new 5 series, he and I both agreed the Audi interior was much better.

Call me strange but I am sitting in the car right now listening to the B&0 system! My wife said I should just move into the garage, she doesn't get it. Hmmm the seats are pretty confortable reclined all the way back.....

A new car is like a new lover....... you need to explore all the buttons and contours......