I was extremely impressed with the new Mustang and Fusion's interior at the LA show. Both interiors are well designed, and quite comfortable. Everywhere you touch feels padded, durable, and solid.

But based on the pictures and the upgrade Ford is doing with interior materials across the board, the new Taurus interior is simply awesome. Easily beating Toyota IMHO.

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-s...aurus/1239893/

 

That is the ford? I would expect that from the Lincoln, but not in a ford. That's pretty sweet.

 

Ford interiors aren't really my style... I mean interior materials aside, the shapes and layouts, especially on the lincolns, just look stupid. In fact to me it's funny that Ford, the first company to ever go out on a limb with crazy ovals and circles and pointless curves all over the inside of their cars in the mid to late 90s is now going on this sort of square-overboard theme.

But this Taurus does look like an improvement. It's not as square-heavy and looks more modern.. almost looks like the designer of the pre-2010 Ford Taurus and the current Acura RL got together.

I still could never buy a Taurus new since they seem to depreciate like there's an eternal fire sale going on.

 

I just noticed it looks like there's a Sony logo on the center channel speaker? WTH? What's the point of a Japanese stereo company in a domestic car... especially a company like Sony who most audiophiles cringe at the thought of?

 

I like it. They're bringing the Mustang dual-winged dash across the line. Looks very nice for a family car.

 

With everyone listening to their iPod through a set of earbuds, I don't see this as being an issue.

 

99.9% of the public don't give a hoot where their stereo comes from, as long as it sounds good and lives a long troublefree life.... not an easy task in an enviroment that ranges from many degrees blow zero to many degrees above 100... many times in the same year... over many many years.

That's why factory stereos tend to outlast those that "audiophiles" buy in the aftermarket.

 

Most consumers consider Sony to be a premium electronics brand.

 

I agree, I would think Sony is a premium brand, but I am far from an audiophile.

Besides, I probably couldn't tell you what companies are American that make stereo's. I honestly don't know if BOSE is American, I guess I could look it up. What do audiophile's think about BOSE?

Also, I guess the stereo is Sony, but we only know for sure that this mule has a speaker that is Sony.

 

TVs? Definitely. Game systems and digital cameras? Kinda. Computers, stereos? Not at all. Then again I understand a divide exists between the average consumer and the educated consumer and perception and reality.

Huh? Where did I suggest that anyone should replace this stereo with an aftermarket system?

Pretty much everything that comes standard on a car will outlast the equivalent item bought in the aftermarket. That doesn't just happen with car stereos.

I haven't notice many people doing that... and I didn't think many people would since it's really dangerous and illegal. Have you noticed that many people with ear buds in driving? Why wouldn't they just plug up to their car stereo's auxiliary input or USB connection?



All I'm saying here is that it's strange to see a japanese brand stereo in a Taurus... especially one that you almost never see (at least with a logo on it) in any brand of vehicle. Panasonic and Pioneer are japanese audio companies that do a lot of work with all sorts of car companies, but usually no logo is involved. Haven't really ever heard of Sony getting in with a car company though... especially an American one. Guess I've either been living under a rock or there's a first for everything.

 

Bose is American and most audiophiles loath Bose and consider their success to only be attributed to their incredible job of marketing and audio trickery.

But I wouldn't flinch if I saw Bose in the Taurus because, well, they seem to be in bed with just about every manufacturer, seem to have way more clout to their name with the average consumer, and are American.

 

I didn't necessarily mean while driving. I just meant there are scores of people who have iPods, who listen to them through lower quality earbuds, which they find acceptable. I wouldn't expect those same people to complain as much about the quality of their stereo in their car. There was a thread in the lounge, regarding aftermarket head units (I think Robvas started the thread), and how sales were down ~30%, because portability was valued over sound quality.

 

95% of the people are average and the Sony name impresses them.

 

Buy
Other
Sound
Equipment


Or JBL

Junk
But
Loud

 

60% of the time, 95% of people are average every time.