Worst interior memories

[mustang84]

As a kid, my parents had a 1993 Mercury Villager. We owned it for about four years until we bought our Windstar. It had a fairly stylish exterior with a jade green and gray two-tone paint job, but I have so many bad memories of long trips stuck inside that van. Hands down, it had some of the most unergonomic, crappy seats in a modern car. They were flat, hard, and your rear end would fall asleep after an hour on them. Most long trips I would spend sprawled out uncomfortably over the entire backseat (which didn't recline, btw) because I was tired of sitting but had no other way to stretch out. The "cloth" seats felt like a burlap sack, and there was no soft touch plastic anywhere in the entire vehicle. I think I actually got rug burn from the seats one time. And since the 2nd row wasn't split, people getting out of the rear got clotheslined by the seat belt every time.

Also, there was a rear vent control behind the driver's seat with a couple tiny vents that did nobody any favors except the person sitting next to it. If you were in the back seat you roasted for at least 20 minutes until the cool air from the front could get back there.

This pictures aren't of our van, but it was exactly the same

[Intrepidation]

The worst quality interior I've ever been in was a last gen Grand Prix. iI like teh styling but holy crap the interior was so cheap and nasty. Most uncomfortable seat awards got o our old `87 Shadow turbo and the PT Cruiser. Way too narrow and uncomfortably shaped. Oh and the back set of teh N-Body Malibu. No support at all. I was sore after 5 minutes being in it.

[capriceman]

the 4th gen camaro was the worst that i have owned the best being the 85 blazer. comfy supportive and breathable with the fake? metal accents it doesn't look good know but it was functional. was one of a kind too! iron duke 5speed with 4wd.

[trinacriabob]

The worst quality interior I've ever been in was a last gen Grand Prix. iI like teh styling but holy crap the interior was so cheap and nasty.

I agree. I love the "sculpted" dashboard and the wrap-around feel of the dash/console combo, without being that confining.

However, the materials, where you could "rat-tat-tat" many components, were cheap. Cheap. Too bad, because the dash was more interesting than that in the 97-03 vintage.

The seats were also uncomfortable and the protruding bolsters were useless, because it wasn't a Recaro seat anyway. The seats in 97-03 models were much nicer.

So, of the cars that I know, the last-gen Grand Prix had some disappointing ergonomics for its price point. (But, mechanically, it's probably rock solid.)

[balthazar]

Worst car interior I ever was in was a BMW 3-series. All these years- still the worst seats to endure, hands down, by far. Awful.

[Camino LS6]

'85 Benz - seats like concrete

Ditto the backseat of my family's '79 Scout Traveler (the fronts were comfy).

[Robert Hall]

Cars I've been in:

'81 Chevette Scooter. Cardboard (covered in vinyl) door panels.No glovebox door. Bare painted metal everywhere.

Other memorable ones..

'94 Hyundai Scoupe.

'02 Cavalier rental. Cheap. Gray. Despair.

[regfootball]

i had an 80 or a 79 chevette scooter.

the interior was indeed 'elemental'. i dont think it even had FM.

[capriceman]

i had an 80 or a 79 chevette scooter.

the interior was indeed 'elemental'. i dont think it even had FM.

The FM radio was like a $65 option for that price you could go pick up a awesome radio deck.

[Paolino]

1970something Valliant. Black vinyl interior. No a/c. 13 hour drive to the Carolinas when I was 4 and 5. That, combined with the short-shorts we wore in 1982 and uh, burned little legs.

[SAmadei]

Cars I've been in:

'81 Chevette Scooter. Cardboard (covered in vinyl) door panels.No glovebox door. Bare painted metal everywhere.

Other memorable ones..

'94 Hyundai Scoupe.

Its funny, as I would nominate the Chevette and the first gen Hyundai Excel as the worst interiors... but not due to cheapness, but space. Both cars were absolute nightmares to drive... knees crammed up against the dash and console... worse, the Hyundai was stick... so I had to keep moving my left knee all about in a convoluted motion... I tried not to shift much. After a 7 hour drive in the Excel, I stretched something in my right knee, and ~15 years later, it still occationally bothers me.

In the Chevettes, I found the cardboard covered in vinyl and bare painted metal acceptable... the same as some '50s and '60s cars... never drove one without a glovebox door... at least the hard plastic was pretty tough. The plastic in the Hyundai was very flexible and everything felt like it was about to break... but alot of modern cars feel like that, as well.

[Robert Hall]

Its funny, as I would nominate the Chevette and the first gen Hyundai Excel as the worst interiors... but not due to cheapness, but space. Both cars were absolute nightmares to drive... knees crammed up against the dash and console... worse, the Hyundai was stick... so I had to keep moving my left knee all about in a convoluted motion... I tried not to shift much. After a 7 hour drive in the Excel, I stretched something in my right knee, and ~15 years later, it still occationally bothers me.

In the Chevettes, I found the cardboard covered in vinyl and bare painted metal acceptable... the same as some '50s and '60s cars... never drove one without a glovebox door... at least the hard plastic was pretty tough. The plastic in the Hyundai was very flexible and everything felt like it was about to break... but alot of modern cars feel like that, as well.

Yeah, the Chevettes were dreadful. My Dad made the mistake of buying one over the then new Escort in '81 as a tow car for the motorhome (like a dinghy to tow behind to use when we were on vacation) . After a couple years, he traded it on an Escort 5dr diesel, much nicer little car.

[trinacriabob]

Ok, since you are all reaching back in time, let's say early 70s base Maverick with plaid seats, no carpeting and no lighter.

One of my Mom's friends when we lived in LA, a chain-smoking Brooklyn-transplanted Italian lady with sequined cat glasses bought one and carted around several other Italian ladies to their social functions. I'll bet that within 1 week of her buying it, it reeked of cigarettes.

If I ever see a Maverick, I remember this lady.

[regfootball]

The FM radio was like a $65 option for that price you could go pick up a awesome radio deck.

oh that car was an original clunker. i think it met its maker looooooong ago.

tell ya what though. what i want now. the exact same kind of car. a hatchback, simple. the chevette scooter of today with a diesel or 40+ mpg gas engine, but i want zip too. the rear seat deleted but a couple of easy detach jump seats like in the aztek would be perfect. the aztek seats come in and out real easy and are light and comfortable. a two seat hatch with pull out seats like the aztek has would be perfect.

basically a diesel astra with fit like cargo area and a low price.

or a golf diesel i guess....LOL.

the guys in my high school class use to move the vette and life part of it up into the sidewalk and leave the other half on the street. it was easy to pick up...LOL

hey how bout a GM version of the CRX or Escort EXP?

I always liked the Vegas we had too.

Edited September 23, 2009 by regfootball

[capriceman]

I loved my chevette and Metro alike. but they try to incorporate to much luxury in econo cars now.

[Intrepidation]

Something from British Leyland.

[pow]

Worst interior I've been in = 2003 Grand Prix

Really begs the question - WTF were they thinking?

[Robert Hall]

Worst interior I've been in = 2003 Grand Prix

Really begs the question - WTF were they thinking?

The '05 was worse, IMHO. I had one for a 3 day weekend once..the design wasn't bad, but the materials...ugh.

Some of the worst recent interiors I've seen in the last couple of years are the Chrysler Sebring convertible and Caliber...not so much for the design, but the materials...so painfully cheap.

[trinacriabob]

The '05 was worse, IMHO. I had one for a 3 day weekend once..the design wasn't bad, but the materials...ugh.

Exactly.

Last generation 04-08: better dash design, worse materials

Generation prior 97-03: acceptable (but not too interesting) dash design, better materials

Edited September 23, 2009 by trinacriabob

[Intrepidation]

Exactly.

Last generation 04-08: better dash design, worse materials

Generation prior 97-03: acceptable (but not too interesting) dash design, better materials

I was referring to the 97-03. Those materials aren't better. They are scary cheap.

[caddycruiser]

I was referring to the 97-03. Those materials aren't better. They are scary cheap.

Agreed on the '97-03 Grand Prix. And, no way around it, those materials and the way they were assembled (I have nightmares of the airbag->dash part line on these cars and the Intrigue of similar vintage...) was horrific. The design, overall, of that earlier gen not that bad, but the materials were nothing but hard, shiny, mold-lined plastic with glassy sheen and wavy, big gaps. The '04+ cars weren't great, but they certainly looked and felt a few rungs up from the predecessor in a lot of ways, at least from dash to door, etc. solidity and how things were put together.

Mine...at least that I can remember...

'97-03 Pontiac Grand Prix, as stated

'98-02 Olds Intrigue, not all of it, as I like the seats and parts of the doors but just bizarre things at how "did a 3 year old use scissors?" things like the airbag cover were shoved into a rough hole on the dash that were "worsts" to me

'07 Dodge Caliber...co-worker's...actually more solid and fitted than I expected, and not much in the way of excess shine, but rock hard and scratchy plastics, mixed with never been cleaned grime on that terrible no texture shiny cloth (why so common?) and all the plastic...

'92-93 Buick Roadmaster...loved the seats and overall size, but even compared to our Fleetwood of similar vintage the plastics of the dash and doors and their designs were just CHEAP...rock hard, poorly fitted, shiny, plastic door armrests that shrink & warm, screw heads exposed without care, etc. The '94+ models got a lot better, however

'86 Buick Regal LTD...sorry...I just can't stand mushy bench seats and that 70's/80's click clack, big gap, it's clearly head on with a few screws you can see and Armor-all shiny plastics and really bad fake wood trim & chrome; my brother would kill me if he heard this...

90's/early 00's Fords...the damn flat black square of a radio & HVAC controls with the same scratchy little rectangle buttons & green numbers...just those parts alone

Wow, a lot of GM's, but that's just a smidge of everything overall out there...I just have only really experienced mostly these, for more than a few minutes at a time.

There's more...but too much else to do instead... :AH-HA_wink:

[PurdueGuy]

My worst interior memory has less to do with design than condition. I bought a '94 Saturn SL2 for $300. The interior was filthy. There was a 12pk of Squirt on the back seat. As I was cleaning out the car, I got to the case of squirt to pull it out. It was missing a couple of cans, but was an almost full case. Except... all the cans were empty. They had been left in the car during winter. When I eventually removed the rear seat base, I found "lake squirt".

I pulled the engine & trans, and sold the rest of the car for $300. lol I actually know the guy that bought it (kinda, though STC), and his plans are to gut the car & either turbo it or do a nasty all-out n/a build that'll probably just blow up, then ditch the car.

[fightingbee]

I think the FWD Pontiac Phoenix was my personal worst favorite. Having about 12 round A/C vents scattered about a poo brown slab of a dash did not make it look upscale from a Citation, although it did at least have the radio mounted in the proper place.

[tmp]

Some of the worst recent interiors I've seen in the last couple of years are the Chrysler Sebring convertible and Caliber...not so much for the design, but the materials...so painfully cheap.

My friend visits often for business and she's gotten both of these. Just awful interiors. Nice design but cheap plastics. The last rental was a Toyota Corolla, awash in a sea of hard gray plastic. The fit was marginally better than the Chryslers but plastic is still plastic.

[frogger]

I remember friends riding in the 86 Gutless Ciera hand me down I had for a few years, trying to apply pressure to various parts of the dash to stop it from rattling while we were on road trips.

My father's 95 intrepid had a really bad airbag cover on the passenger side that started curling up badly by the time it was 5 year old.

Edited September 25, 2009 by frogger

[Intrepidation]

I remember friends riding in the 86 Gutless Ciera hand me down I had for a few years, trying to apply pressure to various parts of the dash to stop it from rattling while we were on road trips.

My father's 95 intrepid had a really bad airbag cover on the passenger side that started curling up badly by the time it was 5 year old.

I love LH cars but I agree, the first gens were pretty chintzy inside.I think most domestic cars of the late 70's to mid 90's were. I will say this: the Accord of the mid 90's has a damn nice interior, even today. It's better than several cars sold today.

[frogger]

I love LH cars but I agree, the first gens were pretty chintzy inside.I think most domestic cars of the late 70's to mid 90's were. I will say this: the Accord of the mid 90's has a damn nice interior, even today. It's better than several cars sold today.

I thought the early-mid 90's Accord and Integra sedans were really good cars. Loved how relatively low to the ground they were and had good feedback for the driver considering their pricing. They were distinct, it was before they got too concerned with conforming to American preferences.

[Intrepidation]

I thought the early-mid 90's Accord and Integra sedans were really good cars. Loved how relatively low to the ground they were and had good feedback for the driver considering their pricing. They were distinct, it was before they got too concerned with conforming to American preferences.

I've never driven one, but a friend of mine has one which I've ridden in several times. Handsome cars and a pleasant place to be inside.

[Robert Hall]

I thought the early-mid 90's Accord and Integra sedans were really good cars. Loved how relatively low to the ground they were and had good feedback for the driver considering their pricing. They were distinct, it was before they got too concerned with conforming to American preferences.

They were good cars..low cowl, great forward visibility. I esp. like the original Acura Legend coupe..my sister used to have a '91, I enjoyed driving it....the 2nd gen models were quite nice also. The few Hondas and Acuras I've driven (incl. a friend's '95 Prelude and another's '91 NSX) all had great steering feel, smooth engines, smooth gearboxes. Very nice cars to drive..not appliance-like the way I think of most Toyotas...

[fightingbee]

I thought the early-mid 90's Accord and Integra sedans were really good cars. Loved how relatively low to the ground they were and had good feedback for the driver considering their pricing. They were distinct, it was before they got too concerned with conforming to American preferences.

I've driven '90 and '92 Accords before. That bodystyle is still my favorite Honda and I think would actually still have appeal to me if still available.

[trinacriabob]

Does anyone think the "low cowl" and "no-need-to-be-an-astronaut" look will ever make a comeback for car interiors? (I am referring to the new Taurus which, while beautiful, is a little confining once inside).

[caddycruiser]

Does anyone think the "low cowl" and "no-need-to-be-an-astronaut" look will ever make a comeback for car interiors? (I am referring to the new Taurus which, while beautiful, is a little confining once inside).

Good question...since SO much of everything now has a higher and higher and higher beltline...it's almost off putting to climb in an older, "thinner" car with more glass and less door panel/dash and see out of it.

[mustang84]

Good question...since SO much of everything now has a higher and higher and higher beltline...it's almost off putting to climb in an older, "thinner" car with more glass and less door panel/dash and see out of it.

Part of the reason I bought the LS is because of the lower beltline and lower seating position. Also, I miss cars like the third gen Camaros and Trans Ams where you practically sat on the ground.

Sometimes I wonder if the trend toward higher seating positions is due to the increasing age of the baby boomer population. Arthritic knees don't do well in low bucket seats.

[Intrepidation]

Well I know the Civic still has a low cowl, I'm sure there are some other cars that do.

[trinacriabob]

I think there's a "happy medium" on cowls and beltlines. Just tonight, I went to a nearby Ford dealership after going to Border's. It was still open and the salesman was very cool, after I told him I bought a GM car a little over a year ago.

We were talking about the Fusion and he said they sold well. There were two new Tauruses nearby. He said that while the Taurus is the flagship luxury car, the Fusion is one heck of a value for the dollar. The beltines and greenhouses are neither too 80s, nor ridiculously small. The interior ergonomics would appear to work for most people.

If I was in the market right now, I would probably pop for a Fusion SE with the 4-cylinder. Ok, sorry for the digression...

[Intrepidation]

The Fusion is a great car, however I'm smitten by both the exterior and especially the interior of the Taurus.

[regfootball]

Part of the reason I bought the LS is because of the lower beltline and lower seating position. Also, I miss cars like the third gen Camaros and Trans Ams where you practically sat on the ground.

Sometimes I wonder if the trend toward higher seating positions is due to the increasing age of the baby boomer population. Arthritic knees don't do well in low bucket seats.

short women like to sit higher so they can see traffic. that is why SUV's because so popular.

[regfootball]

I think there's a "happy medium" on cowls and beltlines. Just tonight, I went to a nearby Ford dealership after going to Border's. It was still open and the salesman was very cool, after I told him I bought a GM car a little over a year ago.

We were talking about the Fusion and he said they sold well. There were two new Tauruses nearby. He said that while the Taurus is the flagship luxury car, the Fusion is one heck of a value for the dollar. The beltines and greenhouses are neither too 80s, nor ridiculously small. The interior ergonomics would appear to work for most people.

If I was in the market right now, I would probably pop for a Fusion SE with the 4-cylinder. Ok, sorry for the digression...

yeah, perfect analysis.

[Blake Noble]

My dad's old '88 S-15 and my mom's old '93 Cavalier were exceptionally dreadful. Cheap bits were everywhere and the glovebox hinges in both of them eventually broke, meaning that we had to permanently lock them shut to keep the glovebox door on. I think we might have actually lost five dollars and a Tim McGraw cassette in the Cavalier when we traded it off.

Our '04 Impala had a big bag of suck for an interior too. The dash did have a nice contour that ran from left to right, but the fugly plood, the poor HVAC vent cutlines, and the general nastyness of the cloth textures in the car were awful. I remember that, after we bought it, I would occasionally find myself thinking that I was sitting in an old pickup truck.

Edited September 26, 2009 by whiteknight

[caddycruiser]

Our '04 Impala had a big bag of suck for an interior too. The dash did have a nice contour that ran from left to right, but the fugly plood, the poor HVAC vent cutlines, and the general nastyness of the cloth textures in the car were awful. I remember that, after we bought it, I would occasionally find myself thinking that I was sitting in an old pickup truck.

Another one I didn't remember until you brought it up. Initially, I thought the exterior, black rub strips and all, was awful, then I saw & sat on the inside of a few. Wow, not only poor materials & fits, but actually the reverse of style, with the flat but bumpy slab across the dash, and then the occasional "whoa...is this an old truck?" cloth upholstery.

That car was a poster child for advertising bad design, materials, and all else. Good thing the mechanicals and drive were solid enough, as otherwise, yeck.