NMK01

Hi All, new to the forum. I am looking forward to picking up my new 2019 Q7 this Friday. I've toyed with the idea of waiting for the face-life model at end of 2019 but opted for the current '19 model because somehow... just not into the new MMI after testing the Q8.

Thoughts?

BigKutta

Its personal preference, and if you dont like the new set up, then you made a great choice

Brimstone

I agree with you in principle, but I haven't actually used the new MMI, although I did check out a Q8 in the showroom.

NMK01

I guess I am just old school on this... preferring buttons and ****.

Brimstone

I do too, I'm just stating I can't definitively make any claims without having used it, the current system you can look at the screen and keep your eyes up, and with the **** you can drive the menu without looking down. Touch screens require looking at and those screens are also low, I would be very surprised if I preferred the new system.

NMK01

I tried the MMI in the Q8 and it was quite nice, really modern looking and the haptic is also very nice but the buttons & ***** just felt easier and more direct. For example, you can tap the + or - on the temperature or slide your finger up and down the scroll and it is quite easy but to just turn the **** seems more direct, faster and more accurate, especially while going fast on the autobahn... Also, I am not sure about the long term effects on the big sheet of black high gloss plastic on the dash with the dust, finger prints and scuff marks.

Astropup

Agreed, over on a similar thread someone was pushing the 2020 over the 2019 partly due to the Q8 style dash that they liked better. OK, fine, their choice but not mine. I have a a 2017 Ridgeline with a touch screen in a location similar to the Q8 and you do indeed have to divert your attention more when you use that screen than I did with the 2019 Q7 on the test drive. The Q8 style is cleaner and more modern and (maybe - really a matter of opinion) more "stylish" but also just a bit more "eyes off the road". To be honest, when I first looked at the Q7 "popup" screen it looked to me like it was "tacked on" and reminded me of popup headlights from the 80's. After using it, I now think that the better position, safety-wise, is worth the theoretical minor esthetic hit.

But then I tend to be a "function over style" sort of guy who gives not a single poo what others think looks good. Of course, for Audi, it may be that selling to the vast majority who do not think that way is more important to their bottom line.

There is another point that only applies to a small percentage of people (unfortunately including me) - those with weak rotator cuffs. Raising your hand to a touch screen a lot is much harder on us folks than resting your hand on the console to operate the controls.

Wisconsin Q7

I'm with you - got to drive a Q8 for 2 days and like the Q7 buttons and not looking at the fingerprints on a screen.

Astropup

Yes, fingerprints can be an issue, especially if the screen material and position (for reflections) is not ideal. My 2017 Honda Ridgeline is awful in that regard. Great truck and I will be keeping it (trading my wife's van) but the screen material and position show every tiny fingerprint. It helped a lot to put a NuSheild screen protector on - w/o that it would drive me bonkers.