# Auto interior talk. **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Automotive\ **Created:** [May 30, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/auto-interior-talk/244479 "2009-05-30T07:41:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 46
**Author:** ![JVG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jvg/32/6348_2.png) [@JVG](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JVG)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/auto-interior-talk/244479/46 "2009-05-31T19:38:28Z")
> [@oh FYI](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/oh-fyi/18721/24): > > Ron, are you serious? It’s painted, they sand it down and re-clear it. There’s no ‘staining’ process on any Lexus ‘wood’ interior. Take a wood panel out of the car and look at the back…it’s either plastic or metal depending on year/make/model that’s sanded down super smooth, painted, and clear coated. You think Lexus finds wood from shiney trees and Audi uses wood from dull trees? Painted/Cleared vs Real/Lacquered makes a huge difference:) Take your fingernail and scratch at your leather. You can physically peel the paint away. That’s what makes it so ‘soft’. They beat the hides and then spray paint them. Very soft and supple, but wears fast and is vulnerable to damage. Audi uses a natural dying process on the hides, which while making them stiffer, adheres better to the surface and wears better over time. It’s kind of like painting wheels (soft, will chip/wear) vs powdercoating. > > Benny, I’ve worked for Audi for 5 years, it’s my job to know:) > > At school Audi buys all their competitors cars and literally cuts them and rips them apart so you can see how they construct them. BMW uses the 2nd best materials to Audi that I’ve seen. I’ve been able to be there vs Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Acura, and Jaguar. Mercedes is the only other company that uses real wood in their cars fwiw. The leathers in my 91 Audi 200 is still mint with like 140k on it --- _[View the full topic](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/auto-interior-talk/244479)._