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<misc/E-36> A4 vs 328i interiors

TM wrote:
 
>Hi,

>The E36 interior is a little stark to the average American citizen I think,
>which is another reason why 3 series sales have suffered in the face of the
A4. >I think BMW should offer the Luxury (interior only) as an option across
the >whole 3 series (not just the M3), which competes favorably in terms of
upscale >feel vs. the A4 interior.  This would further tip the price scale
in the A4's >direction however (value retention not withstanding).

I guess what keeps the world a fascinating place is the wide variation in
individual tastes.  As far as I'm concerned, wood is for trees and
furniture.  Look at any older Jag's dash and you'll see that beautiful
varnished veneer peeling and cracked.  Wood is just a poor choice of
materials for a car interior exposed to successive cycles of freezing cold
and hot sun.  True, it looks sexy as hell when the car is new, and the wood
is nicely integrated into the design. Some cars integrate wood much better
than others.  I always found the wood kits and factory wood options
available on the E-36 tacky as hell, like a real add-on, an afterthought. On
the other hand, the Audi A4 does a reasonably aesthetic job of incorporating
the wood, as does the new 5-series (although I think they go a bit too far
with the garish wood shift knob, and a nice leather knob is much nicer from
a tactile viewpoint).

What I like about the E-36 interior, especially in black, and without wood
trim, is its no-nonsense, this car is for driving, feel and look.  Apart
from the arc of the instrument binnacle down into the dash vent and center
control, which looks fairly graceful, the rest simply says precision
instrument, with no unnecessary frills. As a pilot and aviation enthusiast,
I'm rather partial to all-business and logically organized instrument
panels.  But we all have different tastes.  For some, wood trim and leather
in a "luxury" car are must haves. I view the E-36 not as a luxury car but a
sports sedan/coupe.

Mike Gammon
1996 328i Arctic Silver, Anthracite cloth interior, 5-speed.