I recently wrote a piece on how some cars are designed to be discounted. My premise had to do with how poorly designed and presented some new car cabins are, even for the 2013 model year.
My following continued beef with interiors pertains to soft-touch materials. Since day one, I’ve been a huge proponent of touchy-feely, padded plastics in cars, but something happened… Actually, it occurred many times.
Here’s the scenario: I was sitting in a car, admiring the fine products surrounding me, touching the padded dash, petting the cow hide, and poking at everything in between. Although not a luxury car, this automobile was well equipped, and I actually liked it quite a bit.
I adjusted my seating position, fixed reach and rake, and got comfortable. Moments after taking off I was immediately put off. My driving position is very NASCAR-like, meaning it's very upright and close to the car’s major controls, so my right knee tends to lean against the side of the centre console. In this particular vehicle, the sides were made of concrete.
All of this took place a while ago and has ever since got me to thinking that most of the so-called soft-touch materials are in areas that we seldomly touch; I don’t recall resting my elbow on the top-most portion of the dash -- ever. However, I do, on occasion, rest it on the door-card’s armrest which is often harder than learning Japanese.
On the topic of Japanese, back at TestFest a few weeks ago, I got behind the wheel of a 2013 Lexus GS F-Sport and within seconds, I was at ease. At this event, we are encouraged to take cars on the track and the mildly padded center console demonstrated its worth through the slalom.
I’ve come to the conclusion that unless limbs or hands come into regular contact with the squishy stuff, it is utterly useless. I have found some cars that have a properly conceived centre console and so do not require special attention. Others, such as numerous AWD or RWD cars, do.
The bottom line is that manufacturers should keep the look of the soft-touch plastics, and actually make them as such where it really counts.
Next, I will complain about V8 engine sounds.
My following continued beef with interiors pertains to soft-touch materials. Since day one, I’ve been a huge proponent of touchy-feely, padded plastics in cars, but something happened… Actually, it occurred many times.
Here’s the scenario: I was sitting in a car, admiring the fine products surrounding me, touching the padded dash, petting the cow hide, and poking at everything in between. Although not a luxury car, this automobile was well equipped, and I actually liked it quite a bit.
I adjusted my seating position, fixed reach and rake, and got comfortable. Moments after taking off I was immediately put off. My driving position is very NASCAR-like, meaning it's very upright and close to the car’s major controls, so my right knee tends to lean against the side of the centre console. In this particular vehicle, the sides were made of concrete.
All of this took place a while ago and has ever since got me to thinking that most of the so-called soft-touch materials are in areas that we seldomly touch; I don’t recall resting my elbow on the top-most portion of the dash -- ever. However, I do, on occasion, rest it on the door-card’s armrest which is often harder than learning Japanese.
On the topic of Japanese, back at TestFest a few weeks ago, I got behind the wheel of a 2013 Lexus GS F-Sport and within seconds, I was at ease. At this event, we are encouraged to take cars on the track and the mildly padded center console demonstrated its worth through the slalom.
I’ve come to the conclusion that unless limbs or hands come into regular contact with the squishy stuff, it is utterly useless. I have found some cars that have a properly conceived centre console and so do not require special attention. Others, such as numerous AWD or RWD cars, do.
The bottom line is that manufacturers should keep the look of the soft-touch plastics, and actually make them as such where it really counts.
Next, I will complain about V8 engine sounds.
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| Photo: Sébastien D'Amour |