Topic: Hard plastic , get over it

[carcrazy]

As RRocket stated, there are different grades of hard plastic, which can make a big difference on the interior feel. Both my cars have 100% hard plastic interiors but one is better than the other.
04-06 Mazda3 is the prime example on how to make a 100% hard plastic interior look and feel good (I make the distinction because I think for 07-09 MY, Mazda used the same look, but cheaper plastic). The upper dash and upper door panels have a nice rubbery feel. After 5 years, I don't have any squeaks and rattles, winter or summer, and only minor scuffs on the bottom of the door panels. It was also cheaper in 2005 than the Civic or Corolla, while better equipped.
The Outlander, while the plastics are noticeably cheaper feeling it's still well put together.
Ford Fiesta, a $20K car in its higher, very well equipped trim will have soft touch materials. If the Euro-spec model I looked at is relevant, the interior quality will be well above anything else in the class. I don't know where Ford cut cost with Fiesta because the equipment level is high and the build quality is high as well. Most likely the labor cost and maybe product development (?). So again, it is doable.

[No H2O]

What is it that we want?

1. 8-10 airbags
2. ABS
3. ESP/Traction control
4. AC
5. 15 speed automatics
6. Nav and BT
7. Cruise control, keyless, power everything
8. Sunroof
9. Heated seats
10. Leather
11. Trip computer
12. Eight speaker audiophile quality sound-system

I never asked for any of the stuff I crossed out. But it sure is nice to have the industry tell me what I should have.

[tpl]

Working in an industry where everything we do is plastic injection molding, it's not just "hard" plastics.  It's the quality of the interior.  My issue has never been with "hard" plastic per se, it's been with the quality of the plastic used.  For example, I expect hard plastics in an econocar...or nowadays many cars in the sub-$25K category.  But I don't expect that plastic to be brittle, poor fitting, have flash marks all over it (I actually cut my finger from flash on the interior of a Solstice!), and to skuff easily.  Even the quality of graining matters (done by acid etching the steel mold in case anyone cares). Maybe I care (or notice) a bit more since I work in the industry.  I suppose it would be someone like Bob/Brigitte complaining about the quality of a camera or the minute difference in photo quality from each camera that many of us may not notice or care about.  Or someone who's an audiophile complaining about audio sound quality in a car (I'm half deaf, so I can't really time all the time!) 

When I complain about a bad interior, I'm not talking about "hard" plastics.  I'm talking about the whole picture, and often hard plastic are just the tip of the iceberg.

What is the cost difference between "cheap plastic"   and "good plastic" for a given piece of trim ?   1% 10% more?
I guess that the good piece will be thicker for strength or the mould will have more time and effort spent on it for surface finish and lack of flash but if you are setting up to make '00,000s of parts are we talking cents per part or 1/10 cents per part?

[Vmango]

For the way most people drive (and where they drive) - rear drums are more than adequate on cars. Especially when price sensitive.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

What is it that we want?

1. 8-10 airbags
2. ABS
3. ESP/Traction control
4. AC
5. 15 speed automatics
6. Nav and BT
7. Cruise control, keyless, power everything
8. Sunroof
9. Heated seats
10. Leather
11. Trip computer
12. Eight speaker audiophile quality sound-system

+HIDs and in a hatch/utility format, please and thank-you! 
Which can be had under $30,000 these days amazingly enough.

[Sival]

The obsession about hard plastics is one thing that annoys me too. Most affordable cars have hard plastic interiors, so why whine about it? Who gives a massage to the dash when they drive? Though if the armrests are in a hard, uncomfortable plastic, then I can understand the critic. The worst example of misplaced priorities on interior materials I've seen is a car where they made the dash in a relatively soft, yielding plastic then put hard plastic armrests (a 2007 Hyundai Sonata if you want to know).

I can also understand if you want to criticize the look of the interior. A hard plastic dash that is nonetheless well thought out and has a good texture can look good where a dash of the same material but badly designed can be pretty awful. For example, Chrysler always used hard plastics for their interiors, but they made them look relatively well in the 90s and early 2000s, it's only recently that it had taken a turn for the worse. The Caliber's dash's problem was mainly the texture, instead of the normally expected simili-leather texture, they basically had a very artificial linear texture that looked plain awful. In 2010, the Caliber's interior has been changed, but the dash is still in hard plastic, it's just that they treated it better to give it a better texture and feel to it. It is now pretty decent.

[rrocket]

The worst example of misplaced priorities on interior materials I've seen is a car where they made the dash in a relatively soft, yielding plastic then put hard plastic armrests (a 2007 Hyundai Sonata if you want to know).

Many car companies consider putting soft touch material on the dash as a safety feature.  So it's not a misplaced priority IMO.

[Careener]

First it was cup holders, now hard plastics..what's next?

[Turbo Bob]

Personally I don't care what it's made of, any car close to or over $30K should not look cheap/crap inside.

[ktm525]

The LR3 got knocked because of its "utilitarian" interior. Lots of plastic. The plastice cleans easily, exactly what I need in a truck. Only improvement would be a rubber floor.

The Volvo has carpet and leather everywhere, it's ok on a car but I wouldn't want my SUV/truck decked out this way.

Whats next? SUVs that get knocked for their "truckish" handling.

[dr_spock]

Same hard ABS plastic but different efforts spent on the tooling.



Which one is more pleasing? 

[Turbo Bob]

Let me guess, you prefer pink? 

[vdk]

First it was cup holders, now hard plastics..what's next?

I think we are running out of things to discuss now that Toyo doesn't make the news anymore, and the Big 2 are slowly getting back on their feet.

[1TSX]

First it was cup holders, now hard plastics..what's next?

I think we are running out of things to discuss now that Toyo doesn't make the news anymore, and the Big 2 are slowly getting back on their feet.

...damn, those gas prices are slowly creeping up again.  

[dr_spock]

Let me guess, you prefer pink? 

Young man, you'll learn to like pink too as you have a daughter.   

[Turbo Bob]

Let me guess, you prefer pink? 

Young man, you'll learn to like pink too as you have a daughter.   

I'll learn to put up with pink. It's a compromise for when she fetches me my pipe and slippers.

[dr_spock]

Did you get the "Daddy, I want my room painted pink." yet from Arianwen? 

Speaking of pink, I suppose the soft Barbie plastic can be used in automobiles if people don't like the hard stuff? 

[ktm525]

Did you get the "Daddy, I want my room painted pink." yet from Arianwen? 

Speaking of pink, I suppose the soft Barbie plastic can be used in automobiles if people don't like the hard stuff? 

If you are lucky the pink phase doesn't last too long. The new colour is turquoise

[safristi]

..I grew up with the "hard stuff" and IT never touched me....................knock on my MARBLES....