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which interior trim?

1084 Views 25 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  greyvariant
Trying to decide whether to go with the walnut woodtrim or the aluminum net optic. The car is a 2003 B5.5 GLS variant with grey leather and is a Tiptronic. Saw pics of grey leather interior with wood. Looks ok, but never saw one with the net optic. I have only seen black cars with it. Which will look good, the wood or net optic. Cannot make up my mind. They are 2 group buys on these OEM kits. Anyone with a grey interior with net optic?
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
go net optic. I hate wood.


Paul :thumbup:
on gray, definitely the Net Optic...

the wood does not look good in light colored interiors... :thumbdow:
on gray, definitely the Net Optic...

the wood does not look good in light colored interiors...
Couldn't have said it better myself :thumbup:
net optic :thumbup:
wood :thumbdow:
Another :thumbup: for net optic. I replaced my wood with it because the wood trim was cracking.
I want to replace my wood with net optic. I'd trade you my wood for net optic... But our consoles likely don't match. :(
Thanks all. The votes seem to point to Net Optic, so Net Optic it shall be. Which in a way is good as I won't have to change out the Tip shift knob. I discovered that wood version costs $289.00 at the dealers. Whereas with the Net Optic, I can keep the original one that came with the car. Now is that ashtray a real pain to put in? It seems very involved, would it look odd if I don't put the net optic one in?
greyvariant said:
Thanks all. The votes seem to point to Net Optic, so Net Optic it shall be. Which in a way is good as I won't have to change out the Tip shift knob. I discovered that wood version costs $289.00 at the dealers. Whereas with the Net Optic, I can keep the original one that came with the car. Now is that ashtray a real pain to put in? It seems very involved, would it look odd if I don't put the net optic one in?
The stick-on wood it $289. The real wood kit (like what's stock in the GLS and GLX with wood) is over $1000.

For the front asht tray you have to take the console out. It's really easy. There's a write up but I don't have the link. :oops:


Paul :thumbup:
quality_sound said:
The stick-on wood it $289. The real wood kit (like what's stock in the GLS and GLX with wood) is over $1000.
Damn! So I could resell this and make back what it would cost to "upgrade" to net optic. :shock:

Any takers? :lol:
Not likele. I only got $200 for my OEM wood. With the GB going on it's hard to get what it's worth. You will be able to recoup some of it though.


Paul :thumbup:
I saw the stick on wood and did not care for it. The wood kiw was a used one for $250 no Tip knob included. There aslo another group buy for a wood kit that was $55 but it was fake wood. It was just like the OEM units found in the GLX and W8s and were either snapped in or screwed in, no stick on. However due to overall reccomendation I've decided to go with the Net Optic. It as previoulsy suggested, it will go well with the grey interior. I also never knew that the OEM wood cracks. The Net Optic will cost about the same and will be new. Now is the Net Optic delicate like the soft touch parts? The soft touch seems to react with hand and sun tan lotion. Thanks to everyone! :thumbup:
The Net Optic is an aluminum base with a painted surface. It's very durable and you can even strip it if you'd like OEM aluminum.


Paul :thumbup:
I like the OEM ALuminum in the Black Interiors and especially in the R32 and 20th Anniversary GTI. But I like how the black net design is able to tone down the aluminum to an almost dark grey, so it should contrast quiet well with the grey. Do you think putting the chrome W8 interior belt line will be too much? Thanks
If I can get $200 out of my OEM wood kit, I am all over the Net Optic... Time for a feeler in the classifieds... :thumbup:
I am pretty sure you can, some people love it. But they never seem to sell or include the Tip knob. Its very expensive at the dealers. I like it too but after seeing the net opic (dealer ordered a net optic HAVC panel by mistake) I was hooked. I think the wood looks good in the black and beige cars, more so in the black. There is a big group buy for the Net Optic here from Liberty VW, that's where I'll be getting mine.
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