Question about cheap interior

DukeOfValencia · Feb 1, 2006

I've heard a lot of complaints about the "cheap plastic interior" on the new mustangs. Personally, my 05 doesn't seem cheap to me. Can someone enlighten me as to what would make the interior less "cheap"?
I mean, really, what else would they do? Make the dash out of steel like the 60's mustangs? maybe glue leather over the plastic. Then all you've have is a leather covered cheap plastic interior.
What makes an interior "expensive"?
Like I said, I like the way my interior looks, I'm just trying to understand the other side of it.

exindust · Feb 1, 2006

American interiors are just known for looking rubbery / cheap compared to german or other import cars of the same value... which is because most of the money invested in american cars are invested under the hood

crewwolfy · Feb 1, 2006

I love my car the way it is, no doubt. But it is cheap inside. Check out the interior of a Lexus (similarly priced). But people complaining about it should go buy a G35 or Lincoln LS instead.

DukeOfValencia · Feb 1, 2006

I went to a Lexus website to get an idea of what isn't a cheap interior. Still, I can't discern... plastic dash, leather seats, faux wood trim...
I want to know SPECIFICALLY what makes the mustang interior cheap. Sure the Lexus has a touch screen navigation system, and a dual zone climate thingy (which by the way, unless you are in an RV doesn't make much sense to me) but those can't be the only things that make it not-cheap.
Can anyone point out what makes the mustang interior cheaper? Mine has held up well. Had it for a year, 18K miles, put my dog in it twice a week (via the drivers side so he has to climb over the center console), and I have one tiny scratch near the cup holder...

I think people are falling into the whole "American cars all have cheap interior" thing way too easily. Pavlov's dogs...

03 SVT VERT · Feb 1, 2006

I've got an '06 Lexus RX330 and I've seen plenty of the new stangs and to tell you the truth it isn't that much worse. The Lexus still has the hard cheap plastic inside, maybe just a little bit less than the stang. The Subarus I drove arn't any better either. Now, my brother has an S500 4matic and the interior on that is amazing, but then again it is a $100,000 car. For the price of the Mustang I think the interior is right where it should be. It seems like the whole "American cars have very poor interiors" thing is really nothing more than a stereotype.

199 · Feb 1, 2006

i love my car the way it is, but it has cheap interior i have to say, the cheap leather and the faux leather in the back, etc... i really can't explain it maybe u should try getting into other cars and compare, anyways like i said i love my car the way it is,

crewwolfy · Feb 1, 2006

Toyota Camry

Toyota Avalon

multi- tone interior
contrasting colors (faux woodgrain console)
contrasting textures (leather on doors, acrylic over wood grain)
navigation system
proprietary stereo head unit

Honestly, the toyotas here just 'look' pretty, but the two are essentially the same thing. When a car reviewer complains about the interior, IMO they're likely stretching to find some negative areas. I prefer the overall shape of the mustang interior to these, but I might paint or texturize some elements, to escape the somewhat boring appearance.

shooterm1 · Feb 1, 2006

199 said:
i love my car the way it is, but it has cheap interior i have to say, the cheap leather and the faux leather in the back, etc... i really can't explain it maybe u should try getting into other cars and compare, anyways like i said i love my car the way it is,

The console is made out of some kind of crap that scratches too easily .....

that's the bottom line ____________ the wrong material for the application.

03 SVT VERT · Feb 1, 2006

If fake plastic wood and a navigation system is what makes a good interior they can keep them. I don't like the fake wood look at all and I don't think it would look good in a stang. Now real brushed aluminum I wouldn't mind.

boss377 · Feb 1, 2006

I think the interior is right on target for the price and type of car the Mustang is. The plasics are the latest compounds, they are lightweight, and snap together with good security. I'm in the business, and a see more interiors than most people. Several posts mention American and German cars "with the same value". The Germans dont build a large, roomy five-passenger sedan with most options for $25K. It's just a fact. Where the real quality comparison comes in to play, is a car that's 5-6 years old, w/ 80,000 miles on it. The Germans are the best hands down. But the Germans dont build $28K sports cars. And for sure not with V8s! It's apples to oranges.
Japanese interiors don't wear any better than new US cars. And again, the Japanese don't build V8 sports cars. If you want to see one of the finest build-quality cars out there, look at a new Audi, say an A6. No car has any better fit and finish. But also, it's $50-60K depending on engine. The NEW Mustang has the best assy and construction of any Mustang ever. Anyone that's actually disassembled one can't help but notice how logical and clever the pieces go together. Look under the dash; very open and clean. None of the rat's nest of the previous series. You can compare cars several ways, but it has to be fair. All 300hp cars don't cost the same.

DukeOfValencia · Feb 1, 2006

Now we're getting somewhere.
Contrasting material types and colors. OK. More fabric/leather less plastic. (even though it is just more fabric/leather over plastic adding more weight). Higher quality leather. Faux wood splattered around...

It's a start but I'm still not convinced. A high tech navigation system is questionable... the lack of one doesn't mean it's cheap.

I still don't get the complaint about the crappy console. Like I said, my dog is all over it and I've only got one small scratch... what are you people doing to it? Hauling lumber?

Still looking for something quantitative... I think the best answer is still the fact that auto reviewer need something to complain about... can't complain about the power, price, style, handling... let's bash the interior because it's difficult to quantify what makes an interior "cheap."

crod75 · Feb 1, 2006

I really like the interior of my car and I have gotten lots of compliments about it. The materials may not be the fanciest, but the overall layout is really impressive for a car in this price class. I sat in some of the BMWs in the recent Detroit auto show and I was pretty disappointed in their interiors (hard, cheap looking plastics and very average leather seats)-especially considering that they usually cost MUCH more than a mustang. The cars that truly stand out interior-wise are Lexus, Acura, and Mercedes, but they are in a completely different price class-obviously.

351CJ · Feb 1, 2006

The interior of the Mustang is NOT cheap.

Even if you buy the lowest priced stripper V6 Mustang you still have to pay $18,000 to get a Mustang interior.

Berserker · Feb 1, 2006

I love my 06 and my only complaint about the interior is that the seat belts require gumby like abilities to reach back and grab the belt and I was bummed that there wasn't the slightest hint of leather smell to my red leather trim interior. But the car is so dang awesome its all outweighed. I'll put some extra leather in there down the road and it'll all be good. Oh and take dang yoga classes for the seat belt problem

Unbrdld07 · Feb 2, 2006

Stang interior

I love my 05 GT, redfire, premium interior upgrade package. I too have the reach for the seatbelt problem, but I dont have long legs and have to move the seat forward. I look at it this way...it's worth the stretch. My car still smells like leather and I have 10,800 miles on it. The ONLY thing I would change is to have the passenger seat to be adjustable up & down like the drivers side, after being a passenger 1 time in it, I can't see over the hood on that side. I guess no one else will be driving mine after that...not as long as I'm living anyhow. It trulely is apples and oranges and people REALLY complain when they are jealous of what someone else has. If YOUR happy thats all that matters. JMO, for what it's worth.

Berserker · Feb 2, 2006

Alice Colby said:
I love my 05 GT, redfire, premium interior upgrade package. I too have the reach for the seatbelt problem, but I dont have long legs and have to move the seat forward. I look at it this way...it's worth the stretch. My car still smells like leather and I have 10,800 miles on it. The ONLY thing I would change is to have the passenger seat to be adjustable up & down like the drivers side, after being a passenger 1 time in it, I can't see over the hood on that side. I guess no one else will be driving mine after that...not as long as I'm living anyhow. It trulely is apples and oranges and people REALLY complain when they are jealous of what someone else has. If YOUR happy thats all that matters. JMO, for what it's worth.

That's very weird. Does everybody else smell the leather in their car w/IUP? I've never smelled leather in my car? It smelled like vinyl from day one. It's not an unpleasant smell, but it's not leather. I have a great sense of smell so nothing wrong there.

Berserker · Feb 2, 2006

RetiredGeneral said:
Now we're getting somewhere.
Contrasting material types and colors. OK. More fabric/leather less plastic. (even though it is just more fabric/leather over plastic adding more weight). Higher quality leather. Faux wood splattered around...

It's a start but I'm still not convinced. A high tech navigation system is questionable... the lack of one doesn't mean it's cheap.

I still don't get the complaint about the crappy console. Like I said, my dog is all over it and I've only got one small scratch... what are you people doing to it? Hauling lumber?

Still looking for something quantitative... I think the best answer is still the fact that auto reviewer need something to complain about... can't complain about the power, price, style, handling... let's bash the interior because it's difficult to quantify what makes an interior "cheap."

kind of funny, but I do haul lumber in my car! 8 foot lengths without scratching a thing. I just fold down the seats and lay a towel in the back and on the seat, the boards never touch anything in the car. But there is no way I would turn my dog loose in my car. She would end any interior in a flash. I think it's the best car I've ever owned. It's my third and best mustang for sure. I even love dinking with the mycolor.

Sanctus · Feb 2, 2006

i would have to say my interior (dark charcoal) shows the "cheepness" of the interior. i mean if i look at it wrong it will scratch. haha im not complaining because the car is what i payed for it and what i wanted so theres nothing i didnt expect. but that damned center console.. i hate the ignition switch too with the scratches.. maby thats just my carelessness but that and the drivers side door corner plastic.. yeah scratched that up cause im 5'9'' and have to sit like on the steering wheel. haha well ill have to admit give the interior a one over with some armor-all and the majority of the scratches go right away

Pro Mod · Feb 2, 2006

are you guys using the seat belt retainer loop on the lower side of the seat? It places the seat belt right at your hip to grab it. I still PREFER the shoulder loop like the past, but if you just use the lower belt loop it is still a piece of cake.

btw, I also have a scratch or two on my center console, and I have several scratches around my ignition switch (sad thing is, I never hear my keys hitting it!).

DukeOfValencia · Feb 2, 2006

It took me a while to figure out what it was, but that little strap with a magnetic button on the side of your seat is there to hold your seatbelt closer to you. It makes it much easier to grab.

As far as cheap hard plastic goes, my ex-girlfriend drove a BMW 325 (or 32-something), and the center console was plastic. It had a cheap broken cup holder and a cheap broken change holder...

My final thought on the whole cheap interior thing is this: You could install an italian leather sofa as the front seat... that would be classy! Soft, comfortable, expensive high-grade leather, but you'd lose the sporty seats and side support... You could re-do the dashboard to look more like a Japanese sedan, but you'd lose the classic American look.

Seriously, I think if I read one more post about the "cheap interior" with no supporting facts to back the statement up, I'm gonna jerk the wheel into on-coming traffic!

Question about cheap interior

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