http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosins.../a01-71605.htm

 

ROTFLMAO!
Uhh...yeah.
S.

 

Personally I think the Mustang's new interior has a cheesy look, even if it does encompass the "quality materials/fit/finish" buzz-phrases. No retro-disco guages on the next Camaro please.

Seriously GM is finally getting with it on interiors. I think the Cobalt looks great on the inside, especially for a bread-and-butter compact. Heck, you wouldn't find an interior that nice on a Cadillac 5 years ago....

 

The more I see the new Mustangs interior, the less I like it. I'm sure the quality fit and finish will be great, but as far as sytle goes, it looks dated. If I wanted 80's style interiors I'd buy an 80's car. THe GTO and C6 look way better IMO.

 

Well now we have something else to look forward too. "American Lexus"... I like that. So Cadillac will be "American Mercedes" then?

 

Yes, and Pontiac will be "American BMW"

 

I spent about 20 minutes sitting in 2 GTO's at the local dealer on Saturday (a yellow 6m and a blue automatic).
IMO, there is no elevated quality regarding anything about that car.
The interior uses switches and controls that are different from what domestic buyers have seen,but I don't think they are any better quality. The console storage bin uses the same cheesy rocker latch that's found in Cavaliers and Sunbirds. Interior panel gaps are nothing extraordinary and I personally found that the seats, while comfortable in support, had a rough textured leather that would be uncomfortable to me after an hour or two. I also don't like the canvas-type material used for the headliner, but that's just me and probably because I'm used to the felt-type material we've all become accustomed to over the years. The switchgear for the climate controls is nothing more than a surface mount variant of the same rotary controls that Mustang has been using for years and getting used to the radio controls on the OEM Blaupunkt will take owners time. Gloved hands beware! The cheap sunvisors have no control for visor/vanity brightness and feel like they came out of a Yugo. C'mon GM!
All other aspects of the car showed displayed no "higher level quality" than a new F-body, Mustang or similar. For example, the kicker was the LS1 sticker on the throttle body. In the pictures I've seen, it must have been positioned perfectly and looked to be an ingraving in the TB. On the 2 cars I looked at, one had a sticker that was 1/2" crooked and the other had a wrinkle in it. Granted, a small detail, but likely representative of larger over dramatizations of this car's quality pretentions.
Just because it's different, and from Australia doesn't mean it's better.
If this car is going to compete with the likes of the G35, it had better bring a better interior to market next year. An LS1 under the hood is going to do little to sway many buyers who aren't gearheads.
S.

 

I sat in a new GTO and loved it. and ive liked my buddys grand prix interior and anohter's trans am interior. i think they are doing fine at improving, PERCIEVED quality will be the toughest thing to overcome

 

Its just all a matter of opinion . After my time in the GTO my thoughts are 100 % different than yours . GM is coming along good with interiors . Cobalt is a total homerun and believe it or not ...the G6 interior in person I think is very tasteful and looks rich and attractive . Which I dont get , because I can still see a pic and it appears to be same ol pontiac , seeing is believing I guess .

 

Strangely enough, I got to sit in both a 2002 WS6 and a 2004 GTO over the weekend. IMO the GTO was way ahead in terms of quality, comfort, and ergonomics. Actually, I'd go as far as to say it was the nicest interior I've ever sat in. And while I didn't feel the T/A was as bad as many people make them out to be, it still didn't compare to the GTO, at least not to me. I thought the cheapest feeling parts of the GTO's interior were the cruise control buttons and the steering wheel mounting stereo controls. And the climate control ***** felt like they could stand to be beefed up a bit, either by a different design or 'heavier' plastic. I love F-bodies but I have to admit, I think I'd take the GTO over one if given the chance.

 

It's about time. For the longest time, it seemed that GM measured interior quality only in terms of parts breaking or falling off - and even by that metric, they didn't do so hot...

I'd like a quality interior encased in a low buck V8 RWD coupe body, please... and since it is going to be quality, might as well dress it for the occasion with a nice bow tie...

 

Agreed, the Cobalt is going to be a steal compared to the Cavalier.

BTW, Nice to see a fellow South Bendian in the 5th Gen Forum

 

The faux aluminum on the steering wheel, shifter (A4's particularly) and other areas leave a bit to be desired. I agree, the HVAC controls are about 70% of the size they should be. At speed, during inclement weather, I imagine they'll be a bit less intuitive to use. Also where the popout coin holders in the dash and console. IMO, something like that should not come out, only to allow a view of the wiring in the console.
I did like the aluminum sill plates with the Pontiac logo.
My comment about "elevated quality" was in relation to other cars in the GM/Ford/DCM lineup.
S.

 

That's true, that did feel kind of cheap. They should have just used real metal there like on the door handles. The one I sat in was a 6 speed so I haven't gotten to see the auto shifter. I'll keep an eye out, though.

BTW, the dealer wanted $37.000 for it.

 

The dealer here was adding a $2500 market adjustment.
I heard something today about them only selling 500 cars in 3 months. Don't know if it's true or not, but if so, GTO is going to be a major flop.

S.