question for ex-bmw/audi owners...
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
question for ex-bmw/audi owners...
How are you handling the cheap-*** interior of the Z? A local dealer had a demo in which I was able to expect but not test drive. I am really spoiled by my BMW and Audi's interior quality. I was expecting a downgrade of interior quality with the Z but not this much. Cheap hard plastic everywhere and that cover that replaces the navigation. A honda civic or toyota corrolla is better quality. Does the performance make up for it? I am hoping it will when I test drive it.
Before you guys flame me I am not looking for a luxury car so I am expecting a lot for interior quality.
Jeff
Before you guys flame me I am not looking for a luxury car so I am expecting a lot for interior quality.
Jeff
#2
Registered User
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had a 2001 Audi A4 Quattro, and when I sat in the "pre-production" Z a few months back I have to admit I was disappointed with the interior finish. HOWEVER...jsut went to the Anaheim auto show last night and sat in a production Z. MUCH better finish, I was impressed.
"I am not looking for a luxury car so I am expecting a lot for interior quality." --?
Isn't that backwards?
"I am not looking for a luxury car so I am expecting a lot for interior quality." --?
Isn't that backwards?
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: question for ex-bmw/audi owners...
Originally posted by Jeff_DML
Before you guys flame me I am not looking for a luxury car so I am expecting a lot for interior quality.
Jeff
Before you guys flame me I am not looking for a luxury car so I am expecting a lot for interior quality.
Jeff
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Re: question for ex-bmw/audi owners...
Originally posted by Matt
i think he meant 'i am not looking for a luxury car so i am NOT expecting a lot for interior quality'
i think he meant 'i am not looking for a luxury car so i am NOT expecting a lot for interior quality'
Also not sure if I confused you , kevintari, I guess I mean more of quality of the interior materials. But I do think the DVD space cover thingy is bad quality in general. Audi has the best interiors in the business so I am a bit confused about your response.
Jeff
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by jz350
i have a 97 bmw and i don't think the interior is such high quality.bmw is known for not having great interiors. they tried to address this problem with the e-46.
i have a 97 bmw and i don't think the interior is such high quality.bmw is known for not having great interiors. they tried to address this problem with the e-46.
#7
Registered User
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I meant that I thought the interior quality was much better on the final production model than the one I originally saw. And yes, the audi interiors are awesome--hard to compare a lot of other cars to them. And Nissan ain't exactly Audi, that's more on the Infiniti level.
Trending Topics
#9
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: San Diego
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by kevintari
Oh--yes, the nav door is pretty sucky, wish they would have cleaned that up better. Aside from that, I was pretty happy with it.
Oh--yes, the nav door is pretty sucky, wish they would have cleaned that up better. Aside from that, I was pretty happy with it.
thanks
Jeff
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have a new 2002 A4 3.0 Avant (Atlas Grey) and a 350Z Silverstone Touring. There is no comparison on the interiors. The 2002 A4 is unbelievably nice. It really is well designed and perfectly executed. The Z has some rough spots that have been pointed out - most notable is the "cheap" materials. The design isn't too bad but it's details like the "trailing edges" of console, radio face, dashboard trim that don't match the "rugged" yet beautiful appearance of the A4.
It will be interesting to see if these things improve over time given everybodies reaction. Nissan will still have to keep the price down to avoid the price creep that occurred with the 300ZX.
It will be interesting to see if these things improve over time given everybodies reaction. Nissan will still have to keep the price down to avoid the price creep that occurred with the 300ZX.
#12
Originally posted by TJZ
The nav door ISN'T that bad.
The nav door ISN'T that bad.
#13
Registered User
OMG, the nav door is cheap? I never noticed since I'm ALWAYS DRIVING AND NOT F**KING AROUND WITH MY NAV DOOR!!!
Everyone needs to come off this ridiculous interior quality trip. Really, people. Hard plastic .vs soft plastic. Who the f**k spends this much time caressing their interior? The steering wheel's supple, the shifter is tight. If you're rubbing your dash at every stop light, then you're not paying attention to your driving.
STFU AND DRIVE!
Everyone needs to come off this ridiculous interior quality trip. Really, people. Hard plastic .vs soft plastic. Who the f**k spends this much time caressing their interior? The steering wheel's supple, the shifter is tight. If you're rubbing your dash at every stop light, then you're not paying attention to your driving.
STFU AND DRIVE!
#14
Charter Member #44
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Wallingford, PA
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by droidekaus
OMG, the nav door is cheap? I never noticed since I'm ALWAYS DRIVING AND NOT F**KING AROUND WITH MY NAV DOOR!!!
Everyone needs to come off this ridiculous interior quality trip. Really, people. Hard plastic .vs soft plastic. Who the f**k spends this much time caressing their interior? The steering wheel's supple, the shifter is tight. If you're rubbing your dash at every stop light, then you're not paying attention to your driving.
STFU AND DRIVE!
OMG, the nav door is cheap? I never noticed since I'm ALWAYS DRIVING AND NOT F**KING AROUND WITH MY NAV DOOR!!!
Everyone needs to come off this ridiculous interior quality trip. Really, people. Hard plastic .vs soft plastic. Who the f**k spends this much time caressing their interior? The steering wheel's supple, the shifter is tight. If you're rubbing your dash at every stop light, then you're not paying attention to your driving.
STFU AND DRIVE!
#15
Re: question for ex-bmw/audi owners...
Originally posted by Jeff_DML
How are you handling the cheap-*** interior of the Z? A local dealer had a demo in which I was able to expect but not test drive. I am really spoiled by my BMW and Audi's interior quality. I was expecting a downgrade of interior quality with the Z but not this much. Cheap hard plastic everywhere and that cover that replaces the navigation. A honda civic or toyota corrolla is better quality.
How are you handling the cheap-*** interior of the Z? A local dealer had a demo in which I was able to expect but not test drive. I am really spoiled by my BMW and Audi's interior quality. I was expecting a downgrade of interior quality with the Z but not this much. Cheap hard plastic everywhere and that cover that replaces the navigation. A honda civic or toyota corrolla is better quality.
The 3 series has very good fit and finish but the quality of the materials is not particularly high. Many surfaces are hard, there is significant use of plastic and the leather is CHEAP-***! Hard to tell the difference between it and vinyl.
And as far as the Audi TT--materials were very high quality and fit finish is excellent, but ergonomics are awful. Seats are cushy and poofy (read: not grippy or supportive) and the layout has ZERO sports car, cockpit feel to it. Beyond that, the car screams "upscale VW bug."
Might the Z be better off with a little higher quality material . . . maybe. But I love it the way it is. The seats (both leather and cloth) are some of the best available on any car regardless of price. The leather wrapped steering wheel is nice. The "hard" plastic dash and planels are not really that hard--they have a relatively pleasing feel to them. And the Nav-door operation is very cool so long as you take a little extra care in closing it (god forbid you should have to do that!).
Furthermore, the fit and finish is excellent. Overall, the interior is better than anything domestic, better than the G35 sedan by far and about as good as an Acura cl/tl. Not bad at all considering the performance.
If you want a (sub 50k) BMW/Audi, please get one. Just don't cry when Z out accelerates you, out handles you and definitely garners more admiration and praise from others.
And one more thing: if the Z were the new entry level porsche coupe, in exactly the same form, I doubt any of the German crowd would be complaining. Plus, they would probably be willing to pay about 10k more for it.
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Nassau, Long Island NY
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I love the car, but i think the most anoying ugly part of the interior is the door panels. Its just dotted plastic, it looks like sh*t. I think the center consol is not bad, and no probs with the nav door. I think when the car has leather, and if it had lather on the doors, and somthing else too, not one big peice of plastic, the whole interior would feel much better. The radio etc, feels fine to me.
Maybe ill custom leather, or vynyl, the doors? (prob to expencive, but worth a look)
-Josh
Maybe ill custom leather, or vynyl, the doors? (prob to expencive, but worth a look)
-Josh
#17
Nissan already did more than they had to for me to like it. The interior compliments the exterior well, and that's a rare thing in itself. I've seen 100k and up cars and I thought the interiors were horrible. I don't care for luxury interiors either. I must be crazy. But I'm happy crazy.
#19
EX BMW/AUDI
Originally posted by Slexis200
I love the car, but i think the most anoying ugly part of the interior is the door panels. Its just dotted plastic, it looks like sh*t. I think the center consol is not bad, and no probs with the nav door. I think when the car has leather, and if it had leather on the doors, and somthing else too, not one big peice of plastic, the whole interior would feel much better. The radio etc, feels fine to me.
Maybe ill custom leather, or vynyl, the doors? (prob to expencive, but worth a look)
-Josh
I love the car, but i think the most anoying ugly part of the interior is the door panels. Its just dotted plastic, it looks like sh*t. I think the center consol is not bad, and no probs with the nav door. I think when the car has leather, and if it had leather on the doors, and somthing else too, not one big peice of plastic, the whole interior would feel much better. The radio etc, feels fine to me.
Maybe ill custom leather, or vynyl, the doors? (prob to expencive, but worth a look)
-Josh
I think your eyes would be wide open to the Z's charm when you blast by everything except the exotics. By the way, EVO magazine did a road trip and was praising the Z and noting their chase car needed to use most of its power to keep up and it fell behind in some areas they drove to. The chase car was an M3. Believe me, your stock E46s and Audi TTs are not even close in performance. At $35K, the Z is one hell of a bargain and, my seats are leather. The Z is no poseur sedan. Slathering the interior w/ leather would add weight and raise the MSRP. I'll take the Z just like it sits, and I have the Auto 5spd w/ a manual shifting mode. I also prefer it to the Steptronic in the 3 series.
Last edited by Boomer; 10-17-2002 at 10:59 PM.
#20
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 808
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by DrDrilZ
i disagree. its too flimsy. i find that whenever someone else is in the car, they always open the nav door. and then i make sure that i close it. without knowing how to properly close it, i think most people will break it.
i disagree. its too flimsy. i find that whenever someone else is in the car, they always open the nav door. and then i make sure that i close it. without knowing how to properly close it, i think most people will break it.