Interior plastics! Fabrics! Any insight Scott

I've been noticing over the years how the plastics in GM vehicles have been failing in the looks department and now with the 07 trucks, the feel department. My 03 Monte Carlo SS has a black interior and I notice that many of the blacks are not the same shade. It makes the interior look cheap. My 06 Silverado has better looking shades to the charcoal interior, but seems there is too much plastic. The Monte also wears too much plastic. My 87 IROC-Z has fabric door panels with carpet accents, carpet on the center console, carpet on the rear wheel wells and fabric on the speaker covers. The newer vehicles seem to have plastic everywhere and when the shades don't match, it looks cheap! GM also removed the fabric and carpet accents from the door panels on the trucks to be just 1 big piece of plastic!

The new 07 trucks have a very rough texture on the doors, dash, etc and a nasty looking headliner. I would think that a smoother texture will be easier to maintain and clean. Can we get any insight into the fabrics and plastic options on the new Camaro? Again, the blacks all match on my 87 Camaro and it's already 20 years old! Give us something to be proud of!

I agree.
What happened to cloth door inserts and the carpeting on the bottom of the door panels? What happened to the soft, padded, vinyl-like door panel tops?
And what happened to padded dash boards.
I swear, the dash in my '73 GP was better than this new hard plastic stuff in cars today.

C'mon GM. If you want to be world class, you need to step up to the plate. Stop pinching pennies and do the right thing.

Interior quality has been a problem for some GM models recently. I owned one of the first 1000 Pontiac Solstice (number 111). One of the major reasons I sold it was because the interior just felt really cheap. The leather was nice on the seats but the plastics were horrible. Hopefully the Camaro takes another route.

Very true - consider how much time the average non-enthusiast spends staring at the inside and critiquing it as opposed to those of us who will give some leeway to a cheap-ish looking & feeling interior to ogle the engine and mechanical bits and experience neck snapping acceleration and braking.

^ and those are the people (average, non-enthusiast) that this car needs to be a hit with. After all, they spend a whole lot more time in their car at low speeds than stepping on the go pedal and forgetting what the interior is like :D.

And, quite frankly, an overly cheap interior might be the only thing that would stop me from buying this car (assuming everything else lives up to expectation/speculation). Even more than a slightly higher price tag.

Just got back from NAIAS. This was one of the first years I really paid attention to the overall look and feel of interior materials. Let me tell you, in my opinion, this isn't "just" a GM problem. For all the praise the F-series trucks get for their interiors, I sat in the new '08 F-350. Good looking truck. The plastics on the inside were some of the hardest, cheesiest, rough feeling around. Particularly on the doors. Hell, even the Camrys they had there were quite overrated as far as look and feel. :shrug:

Just got back from NAIAS. This was one of the first years I really paid attention to the overall look and feel of interior materials. Let me tell you, in my opinion, this isn't "just" a GM problem. For all the praise the F-series trucks get for their interiors, I sat in the new '08 F-350. Good looking truck. The plastics on the inside were some of the hardest, cheesiest, rough feeling around. Particularly on the doors. Hell, even the Camrys they had there were quite overrated as far as look and feel. :shrug:

Agreed. Big new car displays at Barrett Jackson, and from the Mustang through the Edge, the materials in the Fords absolutely BLEW! The Caddy's were very nice, and although there was a Ford GT there, it was locked.
The Z06 was open, and the car is solid as a rock by comparison.

My disappointment was the hooplah going on at the Ford display with the ability to race one of two Shelby GTs on twin dynos! They had a huge video screen with an announcer and they were showing the GT500 Germany video non-stop. Ford had 3 GT500s and the FR500 all open on the floor. They also had all of the new Ford Performance POWER PACKS up on the wall. Nice promotion........ Should sell a SHZTload of Mudstangs!
You can really tell that the Mustang is the only working class muscle in town.....:mad:
On the GM side, no reps, just nice looking cars ALL ALONE! :confused:

Man, when Scott is on sabatical, nothing happens at GM! :eek:

This was a heck of a missed opportunity for GM. I watched a group of Germans watch the Ford video, and then point and laugh at the GM display.

GTO didnt fail in this department IMO. so maybe they will realize that the camaro interior needs to be done well since the interior in the GTO is a selling point for a lot of us.

I liked the Yellow Cobalt SS interior, with the yellow seat centers.
I would like to see the use of micro-fibre cloth in interior, it looks like swede and doesn't readily soak up spills as well, and it's cooler on the back.

I would like to see the use of micro-fibre cloth in interior, it looks like swede and doesn't readily soak up spills as well, and it's cooler on the back.that would be sweet!

Very true - consider how much time the average non-enthusiast spends staring at the inside and critiquing it as opposed to those of us who will give some leeway to a cheap-ish looking & feeling interior to ogle the engine and mechanical bits and experience neck snapping acceleration and braking.

:yes:

I liked the Yellow Cobalt SS interior, with the yellow seat centers.
I would like to see the use of micro-fibre cloth in interior, it looks like swede and doesn't readily soak up spills as well, and it's cooler on the back.

Too bad the Cobalt leather (excluding the Recaro's) looks like its 10 years old after 2 months from new . I would love to see more use of Alcantara ( the micro fiber suede your referring too ....but its MAJOR expensive . More so that real leather or real suede . The stuff IS cool though , you can wash it with soap and water and dries like new .

Too bad the Cobalt leather (excluding the Recaro's) looks like its 10 years old after 2 months from new . I would love to see more use of Alcantara ( the micro fiber suede your referring too ....but its MAJOR expensive . More so that real leather or real suede . The stuff IS cool though , you can wash it with soap and water and dries like new .

Who make the seats that looks old. Does the leather in the regular cobalt SS made by recaro because i was thinking about getting one with leather.

well, sad but true, the interior leather on GMs is not good, I worked at a Chevy dealership and the trade in cars or cars that were a year old and came for service looked bad.

I don't like the interior of my 4th gen due to the plastic finish...
I don't know why but if you see and feel the interior on most entry level euro cars, like Peugeot, VW, Audi, BMW, even the cheaper VWs made in Brazil or Mexico look and feel a lot better than GMs. I wish that now that Opel is part of GM the german engineers over there showed their american counterparts a bit about interior materials.

I don't know if GM outsources the plastic pieces to different companies and that is why the parts don't match that well.

I think that basic transportation cars really don't matter much because people trade them in after 1-2 years and are basically disposable appliances. But an icon, a performance car, and a car that is loved, cherished and cared for meticulously by its owners because of what it is should have a better and long lasting materials and construction, because you know that people will appreciate it for years to come; even though corporation just think in a matter of dollars and revenue, sometimes they don't care much about the product once its out the door. Maybe they can have a simple design for the popular 6 cylinder and a more elaborate finish and better materials for the high end models, not just sprucing up the seat centers with color.

GM needs to buy a couple audi's, bmws and even hondas and seriously take notes. GM in my opinion from the 70's through now has had the WORST interiors of any company period. GM has talent in the design dept, so my question is why are the interiors they come up with so watered down and awful looking compared to the competition. As for materials this is where GM really struggles. How much more really is it to have soft touch plastics where they are needed like an arm rest or door rests, REAL trim like aluminum for the dash instead of that nasty painted silver plastic look-a-aluminum stuff? Seats are also an issue in my opinion with the exception of the vette and CTS-v GM's seats lack alot of things like...Nice leather, good bolsters, and SHAPE.

Anyway that was quite a rant but an all honesty its true. Look at the new 2008 Malibu, yes its a good looking car, with a good looking interior. Then look at an 08 accord, I think the styling of the accord is so so, but then take a look at the interior. The new malibu is good and thats it with the exception of the two tone dash other wise the all gray dash looks horrible. My point is GM's "new" interiors look great until you place them next to the competition. GM needs to step up in design,quality and better materials NOW, not in a few years.

i'd love for a fabric covered arm rest like the civics:


http://carsmedia.ign.com/cars/image/article/672/672600/honda-civic-2006-20051129061338393.jpg

i'd love for a fabric covered arm rest like the civics

You may want to rethink that. I know I wouldn't want fabric on my armrest.

Where I used to rest my arm a lot on my 2002 Camaro (the fabric at the top of the door when I hung my arm out the window) started to show wear in just a year or so.

You may want to rethink that. I know I wouldn't want fabric on my armrest.

Where I used to rest my arm a lot on my 2002 Camaro (the fabric at the top of the door when I hung my arm out the window) started to show wear in just a year or so.

That mouse fur cloth they used in in the 97 to 2002 F_bodies in various style was in all honesties about as cheap as u can get as far durability is concerned . Better cloth or microsuede would hold up just fine . GM is currently using WORLDS better cloth materials than they used back then .

That mouse fur cloth they used in in the 97 to 2002 F_bodies in various style was in all honesties about as cheap as u can get as far durability is concerned . Better cloth or microsuede would hold up just fine . GM is currently using WORLDS better cloth materials than they used back then .microsuede would be killer.:cool:

That mouse fur cloth they used in in the 97 to 2002 F_bodies in various style was in all honesties about as cheap as u can get as far durability is concerned . Better cloth or microsuede would hold up just fine . GM is currently using WORLDS better cloth materials than they used back then .

I'll agree the fabric on the doors was horrible, but the seats I was very happy with.

I've actually never been had a vehicle that had bad seat fabric imo. My '95 Cavalier, '00 S10 and '02 Camaro and even my '05 Aveo has nicer/heavier seat fabric than the foreign cars I've been in. I have yet to understand how so many people claim the interior fabrics on foreign cars is SO much better. Every one I've been in has had cheap seating fabric.

microsuede would be killer.:cool:

The new mid-level 08 Malibu has microsuede inserted seats , as well as the new HHR SS . I dont see why it would be unrealistic for the Camaro . Alcantara(microsuede) is cheaper than leather and more durable .

We can only hope for change....my new CTS with the luxury interior is cheap too (although it looks good at first glance). It definately is NOT comfortable on your left arm to hang out the window with the stupid angular form to it. What I would'nt give for some good old fashioned padding under some cheap crummy easy to clean vinyl on door panels these days......

I know I am in the minority here, but the interior might just be the one thing that stops me from buying the Camaro. I know everything else will be great, but if the interior feels/is built like the current Mustang, it will be a huge turnoff for me. I don't need an Audi-level interior, but the current Accord level will be just fine (and should be plausible). It is very well built, stands up well over time and, most importantly, has NO squeaks.

I would gladly take 400hp and a well built interior over 500hp and a sub-par interior. Average buyers are far more interested in the interior than they are about hp bragging rights. Sure, us enthusiasts talk loudly, but we are in the vast minority when it comes to the bottom line.

Besides, power is incredibly easy to add in the aftermarket. But, there is virtually nothing you can do about the quality of the interior (outside the seats).

REAL trim like aluminum for the dash instead of that nasty painted silver plastic look-a-aluminum stuff? .

Actually most cars outside of higher end lux cars use plastic with a brushed aluminum coating that looks damn close to the real thing . GM has been more widely using this process in the newer interiors . Real stamped aluminum is ALOT more costly than coated plastic .

Hopefully the Camaro does benefit from the latest in coating technology on the metallic parts ...its come a long way . It really escapes me why GM still uses the spray bomb looking silver .

I don't know how the actual look of the 2010 Camaro interior will be but for those who doubt GM's new line of interior fit, feel, and finish I think you should give the new CTS and Malibu a look. They are both very nice and well done in looks, fit, and feel. Just better design and use of better materials.

A few others of note is the G8 but we know that's a Holden but still nice. (The GTO was nice too) And the optional 2008 C6 interior upgrade. Yea it's in a $8k option group but the hides and hues used are very nice.

So maybe Chevy offers the Camaro with a nice interior like the Malibu but gives the option for a nicer upgrade like the C6 has. Just a thought.

I really do hope that GM does the new Camaro interior some justice.

I'm not here to start a fight, but if VW can make the door of my GTI feel like a million bucks and sell the entire car at $24k, why can't we have the same in the Camaro? I don't want a car that goes fast but "sucks" everywhere else. I want the whole car to be a quality experience.

if VW can make the door of my GTI feel like a million bucks and sell the entire car at $24k, why can't we have the same in the Camaro? I don't want a car that goes fast but "sucks" everywhere else. I want the whole car to be a quality experience.

Exactly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll agree the fabric on the doors was horrible, but the seats I was very happy with.

I've actually never been had a vehicle that had bad seat fabric imo. My '95 Cavalier, '00 S10 and '02 Camaro and even my '05 Aveo has nicer/heavier seat fabric than the foreign cars I've been in. I have yet to understand how so many people claim the interior fabrics on foreign cars is SO much better. Every one I've been in has had cheap seating fabric.the new civic has real nice fabric in it. alot better than the camaros and the cobalts.

The new mid-level 08 Malibu has microsuede inserted seats , as well as the new HHR SS . I dont see why it would be unrealistic for the Camaro . Alcantara(microsuede) is cheaper than leather and more durable .nice.:cool:

might mean we'll get some good stuff in the camaro.

A lot of people spend just as much time in their car as their home, a NICE and comfortable interior would sell a lot more cars. Especially in a car that'll have the rest of the package, like performance and a killer exterior!:cool:
Like Camaro...:bow:

I think they have it covered, look a what their doing with the lowly Malibu:
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/2870/aura018ew.jpg

thats the aura.:p

thats the aura.:p

Aura you saying he's wrong? :think::lol:

:p