I have a co-worker who is taking delivery of his new 2008 Audi A4. It's for his wife and it's replacing their older A4 (1998). She only drives it about 3000 miles a year since her work is so close.

Some background on the current car - Their current A4 is immaculate. It gets detailed at least once a year. They actually have a buyer who is paying like $13k for it since the miles are so low, not to mention it has $6k worth of audio equipment and performance goodies.

They plan on keeping the car for 8-10 years and wanted to know what would hold up better - the wood steering wheel or the standard leather wheel. I think with the wood wheel the shift **** would be wood also. They already have the sport package and the wood package on the interior.

The reason I ask is because my '99 LS400 has the wood wheel and the clear has cracked in several places on the wheel. It doesn't really bother me as I'm the 3rd owner.. but if this sort of thing is inevitable, they'd probably avoid the wood option.

Thanks in advance.....

 

The wood will structurally hold up better. It can easily be refinished.

Leather can unravel, and would have to be reupholstered if damaged.

Otherwise, I think it's a matter of preference. I like the look of wood steering wheels, but I prefer the feel of leather steering wheels...

 

I didn't know Audi offers wood steering whel for A4. I would go for wood steering wheel definitely. The wood steering wheel gives you the feeling that the wheel is perfectly grabbed in your hands, giving you a firm and secure feeling overall. But leather does feel good as well.

 

I would go with wood, looks better, feels better (imo), holds up to abuse/use better...

 

personally i have had both, either is ok to me. she should feel and drive both and see which one is better. and wood does hold up better, easier to maintain and refinish

 

I would go with the wood as well, I just prefer the look of it, the feel is nice as well and as I understand it, it lasts longer, not as much wear on as leather gets after constantly placing your hands the same place.

Although I am not sure any wear will occur in their car, even after 10 years, that is just 30K! Amazing!

 

yup, there's a car with each in my garage too ... the only thing i'm against is vinyl (did i spell that rite? it's a strange word) ... i think vinyl feels so cheep under my hands

 

Exactly how I feel.

 

how about a mix of both, when our es was new, the leather felt so nice on the sides, and the wood on top feels great

 

For me it depends on the car. For the Lexus I like the wood/leather combo. For the Audi A4 I'd take all leather.

PS. I wonder if the 99 year LS400 had a defective wood steering wheel? I've seen other LS400s that had no problem, but my 99 also had many cracks in the acrylic wood finish. My cars interior was really nice and the car only had under 55K miles on it when I sold it last month.

 

i feel the same way, sport cars/coupes: leather, full size luxury cars/SUVs: woodgrain gripping

 

I prefer the feel of a leather wheel also as people have been saying.

 

Wood. Wood. Wood. Nuff' said.

 

Love the wood-leather combo on Lexus & mercedes, that what I prefer for luxury car. For sports car I prefer all leather.

 

I would never buy a car with a wood steering wheel. Don't like them at all. Gets cold, gets hot, too slippery or grippy. And I REALLY don't like the combo wood/leather wheels because that means when I'm turning the wheel more than say half a turn my hands have to transition from wood to leather, etc. - nope, not for me.