We always say that when we meet someone for the first time, the first few minutes are the most crucial. It's during these three or four minutes that we make ourselves a general idea of that person; we either like him (or her), or he gets on our nerves. And, in very few cases will we revise our opinion.
Do we react the same way with cars? I think we do.
So, if a manufacturer has only a few minutes to impress a potential customer that walks into one of their showrooms, which part of the car must they absolutely not mess up? The sheetmetal? Nope. The engine's horsepower? Certainly not.
In my opinion, to make a good impression, the most important part of a car is the interior. Think about it: if a customer takes the time to walk into a dealership, it's because the car's visual appearance pleases him already. He (or she) now wants to sit in the car and see how it feels. And that's exactly the moment when a number of manufacturers goof.
Hard plastic that sounds hollow when you tap on it looks cheap. Misaligned panels disappoint. Fake wood that's too shiny is ugly. Buttons and controls that crackle when we use them are scary. And the odor that emanates from certain plastics, in certain brands of vehicles, provokes nosebleeds.
The result is that the all-important first impression of the potential buyer is negative. He or she walks away without even taking the car for a spin, without discovering its qualities and driving pleasure. Let's not forget that the dashboard is in our view every time we sit behind the wheel. And since we have to impress our neighbors and friends, we'll tend to avoid cheap-looking cockpits.
If higher-quality plastic for the dashboard costs $300 more per car, but gives a much better impression to the potential buyer, why not increase the price of the car accordingly? A few hundred dollars more in a car that costs $20,000 is not a big deal.
I'm pretty sure that if certain manufacturers would do a better job in improving the interior appearance of the cars and trucks, people would stay longer in their showrooms. They would be better interested in the desired vehicle. And don't forget that word to mouth can be devastating if it's done on a negative tone. When budgets get cut, you have to be very careful what you sacrifice in a vehicle's quality, or else the first impression won't be a good one.
Do we react the same way with cars? I think we do.
So, if a manufacturer has only a few minutes to impress a potential customer that walks into one of their showrooms, which part of the car must they absolutely not mess up? The sheetmetal? Nope. The engine's horsepower? Certainly not.
In my opinion, to make a good impression, the most important part of a car is the interior. Think about it: if a customer takes the time to walk into a dealership, it's because the car's visual appearance pleases him already. He (or she) now wants to sit in the car and see how it feels. And that's exactly the moment when a number of manufacturers goof.
Hard plastic that sounds hollow when you tap on it looks cheap. Misaligned panels disappoint. Fake wood that's too shiny is ugly. Buttons and controls that crackle when we use them are scary. And the odor that emanates from certain plastics, in certain brands of vehicles, provokes nosebleeds.
The result is that the all-important first impression of the potential buyer is negative. He or she walks away without even taking the car for a spin, without discovering its qualities and driving pleasure. Let's not forget that the dashboard is in our view every time we sit behind the wheel. And since we have to impress our neighbors and friends, we'll tend to avoid cheap-looking cockpits.
If higher-quality plastic for the dashboard costs $300 more per car, but gives a much better impression to the potential buyer, why not increase the price of the car accordingly? A few hundred dollars more in a car that costs $20,000 is not a big deal.
I'm pretty sure that if certain manufacturers would do a better job in improving the interior appearance of the cars and trucks, people would stay longer in their showrooms. They would be better interested in the desired vehicle. And don't forget that word to mouth can be devastating if it's done on a negative tone. When budgets get cut, you have to be very careful what you sacrifice in a vehicle's quality, or else the first impression won't be a good one.