Why the hatred for "hard plastics"

[KevinH]

I've been in a Neon bro and no. Just no.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: zoiks
I don't mind hard plastic if it was of quality material. That sickly grey plastic that Dodge uses in all of its vehicles is really ugly. BTW, it's not just certain American vehicles; Toyota has one of the shittiest interiors of all the Japanese brands though they get away with it since fanbois have pledged their never dying allegiance for the brand .

i have one of those grey plastic covered dodges. i also have the rubber flooring instead of carpet. its much easier to clean, i just wish the dash wasnt so prone to cracking in high heat.

 

[Arkaign]

I have an '08 Focus Coupe that I'm overall very very pleased with. Light, awesome fuel economy, handles well, pretty quiet for an economy car, etc. But the interior is hit and miss. The layout is great, the console is great, the steering wheel and shifter are great, but the door plastic, plastic on the glove box .. it's just horrible. It scratches if you BREATHE on it. Overall I don't mind, I can much easier deal with some interior design/materials that I don't care for, rather than poor fuel economy, poor handling, or something of that nature.

 

[theeedude]

Don't care unless my hands, arms or butt are touching them and they look decent.
I wish they would make dashboard solid smooth hard plastic so I can stick my suction mount GPS on it instead of the windshield.

 

[sandorski]

Two words:

1) Hard
2) Plastic

Any questions?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Two words:

1) Hard
2) Plastic

Any questions?

Dildo quality? :shocked:

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Two words:

1) Hard
2) Plastic

Any questions?

Yeah I have two. Why is it hard and why is it made out of plastic?

 

[NaOH]

Interior of my GTI seems perfect for me. I don't expect bmw or audi style, but it doesn't feel like a cheap econo box.

 

[PricklyPete]

I don't feel that it needs to be everywhere....but when applied smartly, it does bring the "quality" feel of the vehicle up. Also, lower gloss plastics (in my mind at least) look much nicer. Drive (not just sit in...but drive it) a manual Audi and the quality of the steering wheel, shift knob, and everything else you touch has a VERY high quality feel.

That being said, I'm not a dash stroker. Materials that matter to me are in order of importance:

1) Steering Wheel
2) Shift knob
3) Seats
5) Stereo/HVAC/SatNav controls
6) Console pieces (e-brake, center console/arm rest)
7) Door panels where I rest my elbow/knee
7) pedals (need to feel "stout" and not like they are made of weak plastic)

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: sandorski
Two words:

1) Hard
2) Plastic

Any questions?

Yeah I have two. Why is it hard and why is it made out of plastic?

1) Pontiac excitement!
2) inexpensive

:laugh:

Seriously though, the term usually applies to when it just seems "cheap". The Interior of the Rental Dodge Caliber(IIRC) I rode in is a good example. Freaking fugly Hard Plastic everywhere. OTOH, the Mazda 3 I rode in also had lots of Hard Plastic, but it was used in a much nicer way.

This discussion brings back a childhood memory and how Plastic used to be used in a more elegant manner. When I was 10/11 my Dad bought a Chrysler Newport Custom which had a very nicely done Interior. Most of it was Plastic, but the majority(approx) was Soft Plastic(faux Leather on Doors, Dash was some kind of spongy soft plastic--which was prone to scorching, but whateva). Hard Plastic was used for control panels, gauge cluster, and various small Trim. It probably was criticized for having all that Plastic back then, but at least you could rest your arms against the doors without discomfort.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: KevinH
I've been in a Neon bro and no. Just no.

I'm a simple guy that's why but the difference in cars like 350z/camrys/accords feel just as cheap. People say they are so much better but I don't notice a difference. My mom owns a new Mazda 6 fully loaded and it doesn't feel that much better. Most of you seriously exaggerate it.

 

[Squisher]

1968 Pontiac Bonneville, all painted metal, chrome, wood, with just a hint of vinyl. Those were the days.

And, all the safety of hitting your head on a concrete porch step.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Some of the issue is not so much the hard plastic itself, but the more visible mold marks and seams. The interior of my 1988 Accord was much better than many interiors today. Rather than molded plastic panels, the doors had mostly cloth covering and the door pockets had smooth edges without visible mold marks. The panels were screwed together rather than using plastic clips. Overall there was just more care given to fit and finish.

I don't need a Rolls-Royce, but I'm not a fan of flimsy molded plastic parts. Give me an interior like this over an interior like this any day.

ZV

I have to agree, yet I still like soft materials better. That said, my daughters 2007 Colbalt even has mold marks on the steering wheel (that I can see and feel).

It's just like everything else...pay more and get less (look at the grocery store, gasoline, car cleaning materials, etc.).

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: daw123

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
All cars have a certain amount of plastic on the interior, to me it's all about mixing that with other materials so that it isn't ALL hard plastic. My Maxima and my wife's Lexus have plastic dashboards but the materials don't look like cheap hard plastic, and the rest of the interior is broken up with leather door inserts or fabric and wood.

The wood in my wife's Lexus is made of real hardwood laminates and is used sparingly and tastefully whereas the rental Impala I'm driving has huge expanses of plastic wood stretching from one end of the dash to the other. Everything in that interior that isn't fabric seating surfaces or carpet flooring is hard plastic. The door cards are all hard plastic, the dash is all hard plastic or plastic wood, the steering wheel is hard plastic, the shift knob is hard plastic. It just screams cheap.

I agree. I think something like this (Audi A5; my next car) looks good. Okay, its not a particularly cheap car, but you could achieve the same affect using cloth.

And this in a cheaper car (VW Golf) looks ok.

i think it was the RSX that had a nicely textured dash. not outlandish, but a nice improvement over the cheapest slab possible. i've recently driven a toyota yaris (very impressed w/ that car) and even though it's high-volume and low-cost, the interior was still respectable. inexpensive without being cheap. besides LHD, what's the difference between an american focus and a european focus? the american focus gets a significantly worse interior.

for the people that can't tell the difference between a shitty interior and a quality interior, please post pics of your suits. i'm sure the polyester has a very nice hand to it.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: daw123

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
All cars have a certain amount of plastic on the interior, to me it's all about mixing that with other materials so that it isn't ALL hard plastic. My Maxima and my wife's Lexus have plastic dashboards but the materials don't look like cheap hard plastic, and the rest of the interior is broken up with leather door inserts or fabric and wood.

The wood in my wife's Lexus is made of real hardwood laminates and is used sparingly and tastefully whereas the rental Impala I'm driving has huge expanses of plastic wood stretching from one end of the dash to the other. Everything in that interior that isn't fabric seating surfaces or carpet flooring is hard plastic. The door cards are all hard plastic, the dash is all hard plastic or plastic wood, the steering wheel is hard plastic, the shift knob is hard plastic. It just screams cheap.

I agree. I think something like this (Audi A5; my next car) looks good. Okay, its not a particularly cheap car, but you could achieve the same affect using cloth.

And this in a cheaper car (VW Golf) looks ok.

i think it was the RSX that had a nicely textured dash. not outlandish, but a nice improvement over the cheapest slab possible. i've recently driven a toyota yaris (very impressed w/ that car) and even though it's high-volume and low-cost, the interior was still respectable. inexpensive without being cheap. besides LHD, what's the difference between an american focus and a european focus? the american focus gets a significantly worse interior.

for the people that can't tell the difference between a shitty interior and a quality interior, please post pics of your suits. i'm sure the polyester has a very nice hand to it.

T-Shirt/Jeans, Suits are for when you're:

a) losing a bit of your Life--Marriage
b) part of the Walking Dead--Office Zombie
c) Dead--Kaput

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I don't need a Rolls-Royce, but I'm not a fan of flimsy molded plastic parts. Give me an interior like this over an interior like this any day.

ZV

I am so clueless.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: daw123

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
All cars have a certain amount of plastic on the interior, to me it's all about mixing that with other materials so that it isn't ALL hard plastic. My Maxima and my wife's Lexus have plastic dashboards but the materials don't look like cheap hard plastic, and the rest of the interior is broken up with leather door inserts or fabric and wood.

The wood in my wife's Lexus is made of real hardwood laminates and is used sparingly and tastefully whereas the rental Impala I'm driving has huge expanses of plastic wood stretching from one end of the dash to the other. Everything in that interior that isn't fabric seating surfaces or carpet flooring is hard plastic. The door cards are all hard plastic, the dash is all hard plastic or plastic wood, the steering wheel is hard plastic, the shift knob is hard plastic. It just screams cheap.

I agree. I think something like this (Audi A5; my next car) looks good. Okay, its not a particularly cheap car, but you could achieve the same affect using cloth.

And this in a cheaper car (VW Golf) looks ok.

i think it was the RSX that had a nicely textured dash. not outlandish, but a nice improvement over the cheapest slab possible. i've recently driven a toyota yaris (very impressed w/ that car) and even though it's high-volume and low-cost, the interior was still respectable. inexpensive without being cheap. besides LHD, what's the difference between an american focus and a european focus? the american focus gets a significantly worse interior.

for the people that can't tell the difference between a shitty interior and a quality interior, please post pics of your suits. i'm sure the polyester has a very nice hand to it.

They are a completely different car.

European focus; interior and exterior.

American focus; interior and exterior. I believe this is the american version (not sure though, since I've never seen one before; I'm relying on Google).

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Interior requirements:

Three pedals: check.
Tach and speedo: check.
Steering wheel: check.
Gear selector: check.

I got hung up on the fancy interior thing for a while too. But at the end of the day, only performance matters.

try again when you have a 70 mile commute each day

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: exdeath
Interior requirements:

Three pedals: check.
Tach and speedo: check.
Steering wheel: check.
Gear selector: check.

I got hung up on the fancy interior thing for a while too. But at the end of the day, only performance matters.

try again when you have a 70 mile commute each day

Give me an interior you can clean out with a hose and it still wouldn't matter. Dash materials/design don't matter so much. With a long commute, you'd just want a softer suspension, decent pickup, and a cushy seat with decent lumbar support, which this thread does not address. Dash strokers FTL.

 

[CupCak3]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I don't need a Rolls-Royce, but I'm not a fan of flimsy molded plastic parts. Give me an interior like this over an interior like this any day.

ZV

I am so clueless.

You and me both...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: CupCak3

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I don't need a Rolls-Royce, but I'm not a fan of flimsy molded plastic parts. Give me an interior like this over an interior like this any day.

ZV

I am so clueless.

You and me both...

Look at the door panels specifically.

The first photo has nice cloth, with lightly-contrasting plastic parts to accent panel. Notice how you cannot see any mold marks around the door pocket.

The second photo shows a door panel that is a sea of charcoal grey with nothing to break it up and you can clearly see the rough mold mark around the tiny door pocket.

ZV

 

[TheKub]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
All cars have a certain amount of plastic on the interior, to me it's all about mixing that with other materials so that it isn't ALL hard plastic. My Maxima and my wife's Lexus have plastic dashboards but the materials don't look like cheap hard plastic, and the rest of the interior is broken up with leather door inserts or fabric and wood.

The wood in my wife's Lexus is made of real hardwood laminates and is used sparingly and tastefully whereas the rental Impala I'm driving has huge expanses of plastic wood stretching from one end of the dash to the other. Everything in that interior that isn't fabric seating surfaces or carpet flooring is hard plastic. The door cards are all hard plastic, the dash is all hard plastic or plastic wood, the steering wheel is hard plastic, the shift knob is hard plastic. It just screams cheap.

You are comparing a car whos starting MSRP is 30k with one whos is 23k that extra 25% can buy you some nicer interior bits.

*This is not an argument for MSRP and no one pays it anyway but it just shows that the cars you are comparing are really in 2 different price brackets.

Edit.
Comparing the Maxima and not the Lexus as you did not state which model but the cheapest one I found was the IS which MSRP is 31K so the argument still stands.

 

[radioouman]

Personally, I have no desire to pay for an "upscale" interior. I don't want a manufacturer to use special multi-layer (fiber backed with some kind of leather, vinyl, or soft plastic over the top) if it is going to add cost to my car. I agree that it gives a little "wow" factor when I first get in it, but after a couple weeks of driving I won't care what that interior looks like.

I do appreciate a steering wheel made from a material that won't stick to your hands (rubber, leather), and I do care about other surfaces lasting the life of the car. (Buttons, knobs, switchs, pedals, handles, all need to be made from a durable and relatively touch-friendly material.) But I don't care about the large surfaces being made from anything other than plastic. I don't need finished wood, leather, or even plastic covered with "carbon fiber look" decals or wood grain decals. If I need to fold down my seats to carry a couple 2x4s in my car, I don't want to permanently scar the interior of my car. If a bird craps through my sun roof or if someone splashes Pepsi on my dashboard, I don't want it to leave a permanent discolored spot. Give me a durable and functional interior, but I'm not going to go by some econo-box to get it. I want this functional interior in a reliable midsized car or midsized SUV. And trust me, I don't care if I have a 2 mm or 1/2 inch gap between the panels as long as they are durable.

 

[sjwaste]

I don't particularly care that much about the materials, I just want to see less seams, and I don't want it to creak all the time. Let's face it, I drive an early 90's Supra and have done so for about 10 years, so it doesn't take much to impress me. I have a friend who used to have cars of that same era of GM origin, and the difference there was that it looked like a collection of disparate knobs and panels fastened down in some way. The edges of each would curl up, and there were a LOT of seams. Squeaked all the way down the road, too. Now, I drive cars into the ground, and maybe even try to resurrect them once or twice after that. My Supra currently has some creaks and the base of one of the A-pillar covers looks like it's been in the sun for 20 years, but the bulk of that interior is screwed down on at least one edge and it still looks very put together. The parts don't break when I take something apart to fix what's behind it, that's good too.

That's what I want in an interior, but most interiors are clipped down plastic now, even some of the nicer ones. Where's the thought for the guy who will drive the car into old age?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I fucking hate those plastic interior clips. Trying to remove any trim piece results in you breaking at least half of the clips in the process.

First priority for me in any interior is the quality of bits and pieces that I touch regularly. Beyond that it's a crapshoot. I won't say that I don't care about soft touch materials, but a hard dashboard won't make or break a purchase for me.