OT: Why are luxury GM interiors still so bad?
Sorry for the totally OT topic, but this was a topic at lunch today at the office and I've found the collectively hivemind of this board to be astonishingly knowledgable about cars.
I am no GM hater - I grew up riding in my grandmother's mid 70's Olds Ninety-Eight Regency, which had just about the coolest f'in interior of any car I've ever sat in. And for cheaper cars GM seems to have made huge strides in both materials and fit and finish; it's not a Volkswagen, but it's certainly no worse than most of the Japanese manufacturers at the same price point.
But for luxury cars . . . . woof. It's still REALLY bad. I had a chance to spend a few days in an current-model Escalade the other week, and it was brutal compared to my Mercedes. The plastics are all wrong, the switches don't have the right feel; the wood isn't as nice. Compared to the Germans, Lexus or even Genesis, GM isn't even in the ballpark on interior quality.
My question is: why? It's not really a substantive flaw, like it was 20 years ago - there aren't rattles, the materials don't fade in the sun. It feels like its an intentional decision to spend less and focus less on interior design and materials. Do Cadillac/Buick buyers not care as much about interiors? Is the supply chain different? (I find the latter hard to believe.)
It just seems weird to me - pre-malaise GM interiors were the finest in the world; GM cars are generally great products; and yet the luxury interiors are uniquely bad. There's got to be a rational explanation.
Don't forget about the Adobe.
I hear ya. I feel the same way about my Gulfstream.
A lot of cheap plastic. I have a Silverado ZR2 and have some loose trim on the door panels at around 10k miles. Not real excited about it.
I have a 2019 Buick Regal TourX wagon. It was designed and built by Opel in Germany. It includes the same 8 speed automatic that Opel made for BMW. It has a Saab Turbo engine. The interior, handling, pickup, etc. is indistinguishable from a 5 series or mid-range Mercedes. It was also the last car that Buick made and maybe the best.
I have a BMW and is is an older model but its features were way ahead of American made cars. The paint job on BMW have 12 year warranties last I knew or 10000 miles. I never noticed it until I got my car but how many BMWs do you see with rust in them. But yet my parents have a truck that is 4 years newer 65,000 less miles and rust already. Then we go to the Interior and the leather seats don't have any rips in them. Still looks like new if I cleaned them up but my Cadillac that is 8 years newer and 85,000 less miles had a few rip or wear spots on it. I haven't had a new car in awhile but I know BMW is way better quality then the Ford or Cadillac I have driven. I never thought I would buy a foreign car but now that many are made in the US I have bought some. I will buy a new BMW some time soon or slightly used depending what is the better deal.
I love my BMW but it might be my last. The whole subscription service thing they’re pushing for basic things like seat warmers doesn’t sit well with me. I want to own my car, not rent it.
Because GM is run by bean counters now, not style icons like John DeLorean.
Say what you will about GM, they’ve no doubt earned it, but the 8th generation Corvette is the best sports car in the world for the money and by a wide margin.
Because GM sources a lot of their trim materials from China, and by extension, it's cheap. The only parts that are really built here now are for powertrain/safety components.
Back in the 60s/70s, Cadillac had their own exclusive vehicle platform. Their own set of interior trim. Their own designs. Those days are long gone.
March 17th, 2023 at 11:12 AM ^
I work for a driveline supplier and the push for razor thin margins has effected materials long before I got here. Some of our competitors do both steel / processing in China, while even our local plant will buy half of it's steel from overseas. GM will push for using many of their low cost steel contacts in the East. It's not always gonna be bad quality just because it's not American but that mindset of cost over everything will ruin quality in the long run.
We all know it, but the concept of an American car gets more and more laughable the further down the supply chain you get
"Fine Corinthian leather"
March 16th, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
I thought it was RICH Corinthian leather. Ricardo Montalban, right?
They used both terms in ads. Corinthian leather was a marketing gimmick that meant absolutely nothing. They used the same leather in other Chrysler cars lol.
Jump to 2:45.... You reminded me of this from decades ago...
March 16th, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^
Your mercedes will be worth $5k in 10yr and that escalade will still hold its value pretty well. German cars are over engineered now days and only worth keeping until warranty runs out then they become money pit. GM suvs are very well designed and super comfy…dont forget their main target audience is families with kids and when you have kids going in an out kicking mud i am sure you dont want expensive leather everywhere. Not to mention the small block (cam in block design) has been around since the 70s and it just keeps getting refined but still bulletproof.
As long as you change the bushings. They all go after the warranty ends, usually 3 years.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:22 PM ^
Love the interior of my 2014 MKZ. I mean, not my living room, but hey — IT’S A CAR.
March 16th, 2023 at 11:36 PM ^
I daily drive a 2001 BMW 740i and 2005 330i. I love the interiors in these, very driver oriented. New cars feel like a video game inside. There are plenty of option also to modernize the tech also with Bluetooth aftermarket stuff while keeping it looking nice and stock inside.
My Maserati does 185
I lost my license now I don't drive
I have a limo, ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked
Life has been good to you so far, joe?
Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through...