Yes I know - this thread stinks...

I am not talking about 100,000 mile ashtrays, but rather the "new car odor" associated with each marque. Visiting car shows I find many brands have a recurring smell "signature" that seems very consistent regardless of the model generation. At the San Francisco Auto Show on Monday I had a chance to smell pretty much every new car on the market.

Personally, I love the "aroma" of new BMW's which is really distinctive. The latest models still smell exactly the same as my 1990's 320i did when it was new. MB is highly agreeable as well, and Lexus only less so, as one would expect from these prestige olfactory marques.

Acura's odor also works for me even if its design ethos does not, (I quite like eau de RL) and for some reason have maintained a distinction between your reeking average new Honda which makes me feel nauseous. Worse still, sitting in a new Toyota Camry or Nissan of any type turns my stomach - these cars stink of something ungodly when new. It can't be just leather as all these cars had it.

How important is the smell of a new car to your purchase decision?

Chris

I agree with you. Love the new BMW smell..but havent gone to seen any new cars lately, forgot how they smell.

I personally love the new Nissan smell, and the new Lexus smell... but I absolutely despise the smell of Hondas, especially the Civic. I find they smell like a chinese buffet inside.

Cheaper cars are going to have less pleasant smells. They are not as selective in the choice of plastics and other organic materials. In luxury cars, the smell is part of the feel. An expensive car had better smell good. An automaker will likely examine the smell very thoroughly before releasing a luxury car, and make the necessary fixes to create a pleasing aroma.

So how are you getting into all these new cars to smell? I'd be lucky to be in one new car per year. I can't even recall the last time I was in a new Nissan, save for maybe at an auto show.
My last Audi had a nice smell to it. The IS's smell was good, but I think I end up liking any new car smell just for the fact that it means "new car."
Worst though come to think of it was my dad's new Veracruz. Had a cat urine smell, but was likely one of the plastic panels or carpetting. Went away after a month.

That 'new car scent' in a BMW isn't very healthy to breathe.

http://www.healthystuff.org/departme...?getrecno=2326


Lexus vehicles
http://www.healthystuff.org/departme...?getmake=Lexus


Best and Worse vehicle list
http://www.healthystuff.org/departme...tworstcars.php


Me,after the new car scent leaves,I use Zaino leather conditioner and after awhile a couple of mists of Griots Garage leather spray car scent on the carpet occasionally.

I prefer the aroma of new Porsche leather.

lol funny...

i liked the new smell of my Evo even though it didn't have as much leather as my Lexus. then i got my Lexus and loved every smell of it! i think it really affects everybody's buying decision.

Most Honda/Toyota cars give me the nasty sick feeling. I can't help but to think of the toxic fume I'm sniffing.

There's good reason to keep your car smelling clean and fresh. It can affect the value. A friend who had to unload her big Caddy Sedan d'Elegance when the real estate market took a plunge, negotiated a trade with her local Cadillac dealer for a nice 6-month old Oldsmobile.

It was a great deal and got her out from under car payments when she needed the money. The Olds was a beauty, and appeared to be showroom new with only about 8,000 miles on it. Then she parked it in the sun for a day or two . . .

Yikes! the smell was worse than the filthiest locker room you've ever been in. The powerful BO smell just made your eyes water. The car went back to the dealer several times, and it simply couldn't be cleaned - and they tried everything, scrubbing every surface they could reach, removing the door panels, the trunk mat, even replacing the carpet, and pulling the AC coil and steam cleaning it. The smell simply wouldn't go away.

I rode in it once for about 20 minutes with the windows open, and the smell was in my clothes for the rest of the day. The dealer ended up giving her another car, and never could get it clean enough to re-sell. Even the employees wouldn't drive it. Eventually, after a few months on the lot, that Olds went to the crusher.

The leather, more specifically, the way that it is processed (vat dyed, spray dyed) has a bearing on how a car smells. There is tons of info online about this. Would the smell influence my buying decison? No. Hang up a christmas tree freshner if the smell is overbearing.

in a new car...no it wouldn't effect my purchase -- because they all will have the "new car smell"

in a used car, yes...if it stinks inside I wouldn't buy it.

Mud butt will get em every time

Just breathing the air outside isn't exactly healthy. What's your point?

Sad story indeed.