There's a long list of things to get excited about within the swanky confines of our impeccably crafted A8, but one of my favorite things about the cabin is its handsome, well-designed steering wheel.
I like the grip circumference of it; it's easy to wrap your fingers around yet has a chunkiness about it that conveys just how substantial this car is. The steering wheel is one part of the car that the driver is always in contact with, and with the A8, it's interpreted in a way that's a pleasure to look at and to use.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor
rioranchonm says:
01:47 PM, 02/ 7/12
My 2012 Golf TDI has the same feeling at 1/4th the price.
cjasis says:
02:02 PM, 02/ 7/12
The three spoke wheel in our sport package equipped 2010 A6 Avant 3.0T is also very nice and I share your sentiment... a proper steering wheel does a lot for how a driver feels about the interior of his/her car.
I am curious; however, about the paddles behind the wheel. These look like the same, un-inspiring, plastic units that we have in our car. One of the only let downs of the interior. I find them both too small for my like and disappointing in that their construction (plastic vs. aluminum) doesn't fit with the materials or feel of the rest of the interior.
Do you guys at IL agree or disagree?
sharpend says:
02:29 PM, 02/ 7/12
Maybe it has to do with the feeling that 'driving is serious business' but it seems like the Euro-car makers have a real edge over, say the American car companies when it comes to steering wheel design.
With so many American cars it seems like they only expect the driver to assume the Guido Position: left hand at 1 o'clock with thumb extended and right arm on arm rest.
sharpend says:
02:39 PM, 02/ 7/12
Maybe it has to do with the feeling that 'driving is serious business' but it seems like the Euro-car makers have a real edge over, say the American car companies when it comes to steering wheel design.
With so many American cars it seems like they only expect the driver to assume the Guido Position: left hand at 1 o'clock with thumb extended and right arm on arm rest.
mercedesfan says:
03:51 PM, 02/ 7/12
I'm not particularly fond of the way the A8's wheel looks, but I certainly agree with how it feels.
As an aside, I learned a lesson with my S550: avoid wood-rimmed wheels at all costs. I liked it at first because it looked so old-school luxurious, but it is the bane of my existence whenever I try to drive spiritedly.
Does Audi still offer that ridiculous full wood wheel on the A8 W12?
tjpark01 says:
03:52 PM, 02/ 7/12
cjasis:
yes they are too small and have a cheap plastic feel to them. Also the three spoke design is the proper set up. The sport models and SLine have this. This audi has the wrong steering wheel design.
acbayard says:
03:54 PM, 02/ 7/12
That's a nice theme with all VW and Audi cars of recent years...they don't mess with the basic steering wheel.
Unlike certain car companies that try to make it a design element in a damn muscle car *cough cough*.
allthingshonda says:
05:56 PM, 02/ 7/12
It's nice but not outstanding. I prefer 3 spoke steering wheels like the one in my TSX.
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2011/07/2011-acura-tsx-sport-wagon-mixed-message.html#more
brian_k says:
06:27 AM, 02/ 8/12
I am always amazed that more manufacturers don't use nicer steering wheels and shift levers in their lower end offerings. I am always nicely surprised when I am in Europe to see that even econoboxes will have a nice leather wrapped wheel and shifter. Considering they are the parts that you always touch, why wouldnt you make them nicer? How much more does a leather wheel cost in the grand scheme of a $15k-20k car? A few hundred bucks?! I say this as I stare at my plastic wheel in my (yes, parked) company car- a 2007 Impala. It would go a long way. I'd rather have a nice wheel than a more expensive grade plastic dash- I don't touch the dash.
candlestickmn says:
08:06 AM, 02/ 8/12
i miss 4 spoke steering wheels. with the profusion of 3 spoke wheels cannot put my hand at the 6 o'clock position. of course i am not likely to shell out 80K+ for the privilege either.
mbm112 says:
08:06 AM, 02/ 8/12
I've always appreciated the thin-spokes of the VW/Audi steering wheels. The chunky fat steering wheels of the beginning of the Bangle era BMWs were horrendous.
bimmerjay says:
11:07 AM, 02/ 8/12
I too prefer a proper 3-spoke wheel but this 4-spoke one seems nice as well.
"i miss 4 spoke steering wheels. with the profusion of 3 spoke wheels cannot put my hand at the 6 o'clock position."
Your hand should never be resting at the 6 o'clock position, so steering wheels generally won't be designed to accommodate this.