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January 28, 2008
Do You Care About Interiors?
By Rob
Editor-in-Chief
One area where Detroit seems to get bashed a lot is on the quality of their interiors. I constantly hear about their "cheap materials" and "poor finish." People complain about the interior quality of the 2005+ Mustang, and I’m already hearing whining about the 2009 Camaro (hey, people, the car isn’t even out yet!). Yeah, in theory, I agree that Detroit should be able to build a $25k pony car with an interior on par with a $17k Jetta or Civic. But personally, I really don’t care too much about interior aesthetics or finish. In fact, I kind of like cheap, junky interiors. I figure if Detroit spent less on the interior, it’s reflected to some degree in the MSRP. Hey, I like vinyl seats and roll up windows–I wish they were still on the option list. Perhaps my favorite interior ever is the stark taxi cab-like interior in 1968-69 Road Runners like the one below. At the end of the day I just want the wheel, shifter, pedals and gauges to be in the right place. But I don’t get all worked up if the turn signal stalk feels cheesy or the radio and climate controls aren’t Feng Shui. What do you guys think? Am I alone on this one?
Comments
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Stewart
Jan 28, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I wish we had the option to order a spartan interior, if we want one.
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If I was to order a Camaro or Mustang, I’d want as much horsepower as possible, and go without AC and other stuff to save weight, and go for the all out muscle car theme.
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I do also like a nice interior.
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I own three Buicks, A GMC, and a Mazda.
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The Denali, Roadmaster, and Riviera have leather seats, and the Denali & Rivi have heated leather. My family LOVES that option, so having the option to order a nice interior, with extras is nice too.
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My 1999 Miata is all plastic in the interior, save the seats, which were cloth, which I swapped to leather. The fit and finish is not as nice or good as any of my Buicks or my GMC.
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I don’t understand why people think all the imports have perfect interiors, and the domestics suck.
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Don’t get me wrong, I love my Miata, but as far as interior finish, it kinda sucks.
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So, I guess what I’m saying is that I have different preferences for the different cars I have. Sometimes comfort is most important, and sometimes you want a little convertible sports car, just for fun.
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Bottom line: let the customer decide what they want, and let them order anything from zero options, to full out luxury.
redneck
Jan 28, 2008 at 10:43 pm
what hapen to getting a car with a V8, stick shift, roll up windows, manual locks, no A/C, no Radio, bucket seats, one out side mirror, manual brakes and steering but all the gauges that you need…you can’t buy a car like that if you get a V8 you get everything…which sucks!!! i want power with out luxary
Murph
Jan 28, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I like how they did it on the older cars. The interior may have been more on the bland side…
but it’s what’s under the hood that counted.
The simple feel can be nice. Straight bench, floor shift, manual locks and windows… it’s classic. I just love the nostalgic feel of it.
But then again… it is nice to have some luxury at times.
kap0w
Jan 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I like the whole package. I don’t care if the interior is spartan, but it should do it’s job and that takes some sort of design. Clean and simple is good. I care about cheap switchgear and stuff just because I assume it won’t last. There’s nothing worse than babying a car and having broken parts on it.
Ted
Jan 28, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Yeah, some of the complaints I’ve heard about car interiors are kinda ridiculous. People complain about “plastic interiors” and instead buy cars with plastic woodgrain or simulated brushed aluminum or stainless steel… that’s plastic.
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Some complain about road noise and end up with a car that’s quiet… partly because it’s broken down on the side of the road.
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Some complain that the interior is cramped… in their sports car.
retroman
Jan 28, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Detroit’s never had comfortable interiors although it least it looked better back when they used chrome and not plastic. Yeah you can complain bout the engine noise, the seats that make you feel you’d rather be sitting on dry wall buckets, the shifter that’s just out of reach, the hard to read guages or the radio that doesn’t come in clear enough, but isn’t that part of the nostalgia of a true muscle machine. Give me a barbarian interior any day so long as there’s neck breaking torque under the hood.
Ray
Jan 28, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Well I think you should like your interior, you see it more than your exterior. You basically live in it. But you can change the interior yourself. No common manufacturer can make all their cars to suit a certain persons need or want of an interior.
Nate
Jan 28, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I dont like it when people get so upset when the Detroit automakers have plastic interiors. What do they think Toyota make their dash from, gold? Some people will just bitch about anything when it comes to an american car.
Paul
Jan 28, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I have modified the interior of my car very tastefully, and it gets complements all the time, but if I were to do it again, I would put more money into other things first. I feel that in the same way that wheels make the outside of a car (and break it… chrome…) the steering wheel and surrounding console area do the same for the interior. A bulky, obtrusive wheel, decade old styling (see F-body Camaro…) or cheap materials ruin what may be an otherwise decent interior. In my opinion, an interior done well, either from the factory or aftermarket, should make the car feel “better”…
Shane
Jan 28, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Interiors don’t mean much. I got the budget buster with my car. Manual everything the only luxury i have is powered steering.
Jake
Jan 28, 2008 at 3:54 pm
To hell with interiors. I could care less what they’re made of or how the buttons and switches feel, as long as the damn thing works…
I can’t stand people who whine about stuff like that.
Highspeedhijinks
Jan 28, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Im typically only concerned with two things. 1)How well the seat feels, and how the interior look overall as a whole. I dont care about how each individual switch looks or feels, but does it go along with everything else.
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So In short yes, I care about interiors
Christopher Campbell
Jan 28, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Interiors are not important! Only when you are getting a luxo barge it is then the upmost of importance. I like to drive it, not ride it.
Ted
Jan 28, 2008 at 1:58 pm
You’re more alone than not.
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Personally, when I buy a car, I’m concerned with what it’s like inside, outside, underside and under the hood… the whole package.
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Comfort and sensible arrangement of things is foremost. Asthetics are an important but lower priority. Complication and having all options isn’t needed or perhaps even desired, but the interior should not come across as having been neglected by the manufacturer.