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Is it just me, or do American cars just feel cheap inside?
- Thread starter jdoggg12
- Start date
it's been that way for years. GM seems particularly bad about it. My old 97 Pontiac Grand Prix GT had some nasty plastic parts and it hasn't improved. Even on my parents brand new 2007 GMC Yukon they paid $38K for still has cheap plastic parts in it. My 99 Ford Contour was better, but Toyota and Honda just use "better" interior parts. It's hard to describe but it's true.
jdoggg12
Platinum Member
You do realize the point of a generalizations is to gauge the overal picture, right?
I think its safe to say that:
American vehicles are bigger
German vehicles are geared towards sport luxury
Kia makes cheap cars
They're generalizations that are not universally true, but are pretty accurate for the most part.
GoatMonkey
Golden Member
It's just you. Nobody else has ever said that before.
fbrdphreak
Lifer
Pre-2000 domestics, yeah it was pretty much guaranteed. Of late, it is an unfair generalization.
You may now return to stroking your dash.
You may now return to stroking your dash.
themisfit610
Golden Member
I was pretty impressed with a rental I had recently - a 2007 Pontiac G6. Not only did it have a nice peppy V6 and a slick auto-stick transmission, the interior was comfortable and reasonably attractive. Lots of plastic, but it looked and felt high quality - certainly more so than the craptastic 2003 Pontiac Vibe I rented a few years ago... 🙁 Also a light year or so ahead of my buddy's 2003 Ranger.
I still prefer my 97 Camry, as its interior is very comfortable and extremely relaxing - but that's partially my own bias. She's my baby 🙂
~MiSfit
I still prefer my 97 Camry, as its interior is very comfortable and extremely relaxing - but that's partially my own bias. She's my baby 🙂
~MiSfit
GoatMonkey
Golden Member
New Mustangs are earning highest marks in their class in initial quality. My nearly 10 year old Mustang doesn't rattle. If you're ok with the interior, just keep it coated in armorall and it will be fine. I have a nice glossy dash.
No idea about Dodge long term. I wouldn't buy one.
LordMorpheus
Diamond Member
My Town Car feels very well made inside, I like the interior, the dash is made of a softer plastic that doesn't vibrate or feel cheap, the buttons all feel well made and work 11 years after the car was made. There is one problem, the rear seat ashtray covers won't stay closed - apparently nearly every town car has this problem - but it doesn't bother me because I sit in the front.
zerocool84
Lifer
My car rattles and such but people have said my interior on my car is nice but hell, they drive ghetto cars. It doesn't matter to me. I used to drive an old bug so this interior looks like a damn benz to me
Well, I don't feel "cheap" when I sit in American cars, even if I don't like it. It's all about preference. For instance, many review sites say that Audi is a class-leader and setting a standard on interior. But for me, Audi's interior is just plain, boring and outdated. Some say new Camry's interior looks crap, but I think it's really nice. Some people complain on this, others not.
Guess Honda/Acura is only manufacture that no one complains about interior? 😛
Guess Honda/Acura is only manufacture that no one complains about interior? 😛
redgtxdi
Diamond Member
Beyond your own bias...........I agree 110%. My '98 Camry still feels new! I have yet to still feel a car as much ahead of the curve in relaxation, comfort, road isolation as my '98 Camry.
I will admit that some plastics are nicer than others, but this is about the overall *feel* of the car (including interior).
To me, the American cars still just suck donkey. (blue whale?)
I love the latest commercial about the Ford Fusion. They put an AWD Fusion up against the best Toyota & Honda could come up with. (PSA TO FORD ----------> THE OTHER TWO DON'T MAKE AN AWD VERSION OF THE CAR 'CUZ IF THEY DID IT WOULD KICK YOUR FUCKSION'S ASS ALL TO HELL & BACK!!)
Even with the '07 Camry's V-6 tranny prob & supposed "cheap interior" (and believe me I test drove two different '07 Camry's the day they hit the lot & didn't find this to be true) fit & finish.............I'd take a Camry every day of the week & twice on Sunday over any comparably priced American car.
Ford Fusion will = Ford Taurus soon. Just check out their resale value in a few years. :thumbsdown:
thomsbrain
Lifer
Yeah, I'm neither a fan of the aesthetics nor materials in the Ridgeline interior. My only guess is they wanted it to seem "trucky," so they went for "tougher" materials. But "trucky" basically means "cheap POS" to me.
I wholeheartedly disagree about the Camry. While most American cars have horrible interiors, Toyota vehicles and especially the Camry has horrendous interiors. Cheap plasticky panels and dashboards are Toyota's forte in building interiors.
And yes, Toyota has been sucking donkies, elephants, blue whales and 500lb tubs of lard lately.
Go testdrive a new Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, Buick Enclave, Chevy Silverado, Chevy Impala, or any of the GM fullsize SUVs or crossovers. Ford and Chrysler still have a ton of work to do, but any conclusion about "cheapness" or build quality of American vehicles better be based on current models, because the stuff coming out of GM for the past 2-3 years is so much better than the past that it's totally unfair to assume it's the same as a 1990's GM vehicle.
And if you'll note, when it comes to long term reliability, Toyota isn't bulletproof anymore. They've grown way too fast for their own good, and quality is what it once was. That's not to say they're junk, just that the difference between a GM and Toyota (when it comes to initial quality and long-term reliability) is heading the opposite way of what it was a decade ago, and has been for a couple of years; just perception hasn't yet caught up to reality. Toyota's entire sales effort seems to be based on fuel economy (to which they do not hold much of an advantage, if any, for most classes) and quality (which is, per the latest numbers, not as good as it was). Their vehicles are getting uglier (subjective) every year and interior design is seemingly uninspired. Not one of their models is remotely sporty (Scion and Lexus excluded), so in the end, if more folks realize that Toyota isn't the only place for quality vehicles or good fuel economy, their sales will plummet.
To generalize a national industry based upon older specific models that make up a small percentage of total industry sales is a bit foolish. Like saying that since the GameCube didn't sell well, Japanese consoles will never do well again.
And if you'll note, when it comes to long term reliability, Toyota isn't bulletproof anymore. They've grown way too fast for their own good, and quality is what it once was. That's not to say they're junk, just that the difference between a GM and Toyota (when it comes to initial quality and long-term reliability) is heading the opposite way of what it was a decade ago, and has been for a couple of years; just perception hasn't yet caught up to reality. Toyota's entire sales effort seems to be based on fuel economy (to which they do not hold much of an advantage, if any, for most classes) and quality (which is, per the latest numbers, not as good as it was). Their vehicles are getting uglier (subjective) every year and interior design is seemingly uninspired. Not one of their models is remotely sporty (Scion and Lexus excluded), so in the end, if more folks realize that Toyota isn't the only place for quality vehicles or good fuel economy, their sales will plummet.
To generalize a national industry based upon older specific models that make up a small percentage of total industry sales is a bit foolish. Like saying that since the GameCube didn't sell well, Japanese consoles will never do well again.
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