What's more important to you, Interior, or Exterior?

Owen

Just noticed a trend on a lot of car ads to only show the exterior of a car. The new Skoda ad with the Kid drumming's one example, the Joke Juke's another, there's loads!

Personally, it's the Interior of a car which'll sell it to me. If I'm spending 90% of my time inside the car, I want to be in a nice place, with good quality plastics, a bit of leather, a nice steering wheel, heated seats, aircon, and if possible loads of buttons. Is anyone else like that?

I can't count the number of cars I've looked at from the outside and said "Well, it's not gorgeous, but it's not ugly either", and then sat inside to a sea of dreary plastics, cheap nasty switches and dull instrument guages and it's really just put me to sleep.

Grudle

Has to be interior cause that's where all the toys are!

Not gonna buy something I think looks rotten on the outside but in the end the interior is the most important because like you said, that's where i'll be spending my time.

-Corkie-

Its both for me. Interior more so I like plenty of gadgets!!

Big Nelly

Interior, dont care what it looks like once I am comfy and have all and little comforts like cruise control/good seats/arm rest/cd player/bluetooth etc

I Was VB

Not really too pushed on car interiors, as long as things are not messy, but one car's interior i hate with a passion is the Opel Vecra.

Tragedy

Literally 50/50 for me. If I don't get a thrill everytime I walk up to my car, see it's reflection in a window etc - it's not for me.

But equally, the interior has to be sumptious. Bit spoiled with the current car

-Corkie-

I Was VB wrote: »

Not really too pushed on car interiors, as long as things are not messy, but one car's interior i hate with a passion is the Opel Vecra.

Thats very true for a fairly good looking car on the exterior. I think the man that designed the Nissan Tida Kidnapped the designer of the Vectras interior that day...

Tea 1000

Depends on the car. Something like a Legacy, which offers nicities in other areas, like chassis and engine, then I don't really care. If it's supposed to have a nice interior because of the type of car it's trying to be, then I'll be looking at it with a critical eye.
I know what I don't like in an interior, but chassis and engine are the top two factors for me, so they'll over-ride interior and exterior looks. I'd probably put up with a below par interior for a lovely exterior. I love looking at a nice looking car after I've washed and polished it. I never spend time looking around the inside when I'm driving, as I'm concentrating on the road.
Cars like the Auris I'll notice the shyte interior, as there's nothing else to distract from it, and it's dearer than a Golf, so it has no excuse whatsoever.

Predator_

Exterior, but I cant stand an ugly interior.

Tough question really, I agree with IwasVB 100%, had one of them Vectras for a couple of days while my Mondeo was in for DMF replacement, awful place to sit. Seats were crap too and the dash etc was appalling. The Mondeo' interior was fairly rotten too, cheapy plasticy look to it but the outside of the Mondeo wasn't bad. My Prelude and Celica were much better lookers externally than dash wise although the Prelude had the funky LED display for the fuel and engine temp gauges. I bought a car once for the interior, a Rover 214SEi that had half leather recaro style seats and nice woody bits here and there. I suppose the interior would edge it, I love the ZT's interior, I love the ZT's exterior too though :pac:

For me it's not a huge issue as I spend very small money buying cars. I'd be disgusted shelling out 20 or 30K for a modern 3 series and sitting looking at that dash layout though.

Final vote - interior (just about)

Stinicker

Both, I can't stand the looks of some cars and wouldn't be caught dead in one, I'm the sort who will skip that clapped out Toyota at the top of the Taxi Queue and go several cars back to the Merc.

Interior is important and I wouldn't own a car that wasn't all leather interior, it is cold in the cold weather but I love em.

vectra

Has to be outside first for me.
Then the inside must be equal if not nicer.

if the outside doesnt appeal to me then I would not even think about looking into it.

ShadowHearth

Well if I buy seriuos car, and not decided on model etc. Then interior is very important. If I am looking specific car like I did with skyline, then it can be made of cardboard I wount give a crap, as i am having it for performamce and legendary name...

partyatmygaff

A good interior comes first. That's where you'll spend all your time in the car anyway.

Voodoomelon

I don't know, interior is massively important to me but I won't buy a car based on interior alone.

What wrecks my head are great looking exteriors and then manufacturer makes a hash of the interior. I also can't understand why the Asians can't make decent looking interiors, whatever about the fit and finish, the appearance is typically rubbish looking.

the culture of deference

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

ottostreet

I used to not care, but I really do care about the interior now. My current car is an e46 coupe with SE spec, so its a very nice place to be. and the outside is lovely too.

Just doesn't compare to driving something Jap that is just solid plastic.

Owen

Dashboard on that, reminds me of this guy :

El Guapo!

Its a bit of both for me. If a car has a perfect exterior but a shítty interior then I wont buy it. And vice versa.
Having said that the interior would be a bit more important since I'd be spending all my time in there.

Drove one of these for a few days and loved the interior. Loads of buttons to play with!:D

Captain Slow IRL

50/50 for me too.

-Corkie-

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Dashboard on that, reminds me of this guy :

Its a nice interior allthough the interior of your Rover is gorgeous. I love the stitching on the leather..

EPM

Has to be interior. I need climate control, Bluetooth, cruise and an armrest at a minimum. I also need one designed properly with useful cubbies and especially cup holders. You'd be surprised how wrong so many manufacturers get those.

Exterior doesn't bother me too much obviously based on what I drive...

madman21

Cool car man

-Chris-

I'd be 50/50 on the interior vs exterior debate. The interior is where I spend 90% of my car-related time, but if it makes me cringe as I walk towards it then it doesn't matter how nice the interior is, I'll just be wishing I was driving something else.

As for why the ads mainly concentrate on the exterior, it's probably because the ads are made for the international market and the exterior is by-and-large the same (barring alloys) whereas the's probably a huge difference between international ad-spec and paddy-spec :D.

cozzie55

I think both interior and exterior are important and go hand in hand. For example I like the look of a 3 series but I hate the interior and would never buy one as a result. I like the interior the new Jag Xj of a but I'm still not too convinced I like the exterior - some thing to do with the rear end styling.

I think Lexus and volvo are two dependable marques which do good interior and exterior styling on all of their newer models.

I don't agree with all asian cars having awful interiors.

I love the lexus interiors like this one:
http://www.globalmotors.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/lexus-is-250-sr-4.jpg
Much better interior than the equivalent BMW, Merc or Audi.

Others like the Mazda Rx-8, Honda Accord, Nissan Skyline etc are nice too. Generally bog standard asian car interiors can be awful places to be in, but once you start going up the spec levels they aren't too bad.

-Chris-

@everyone - stop posting huge pics please!!

Eric Cartman

interior is massivley important , but that said I wouldnt buy a car I found ugly on the outside. Id be much more worried about all the electronic toys working and the condition of the leather rather than a few external scratches when buying 2nd hand

alanmc

My car is not blessed with a particularly chic interior. It has the gadgets and the leather, but it's a bland interior. But you know what .... it really doesn't matter. When I settle in for a drive, it's the physical experience of driving that puts a smile on my face. And when I stop, get out and lock the car, I have to have one final look back before I go off about my business.

On balance, I'd have to go shallow and say exterior matters most to me.

unkel

Neither!!!

The way the car drives is most important to me, the way the interior and exterior look and feel and give function are second.

tossy

Ideally its an acceptable blend of the interior of the engine bay,cabin,exterior looks and drivetrain.

Eric Cartman

unkel wrote: »

Neither!!!

The way the car drives is most important to me, the way the interior and exterior look and feel and give function are second.

true , but thats always a considering fact, its the only thing thats stopped me buying a range rover

Wetbench4

I have an 05 S40 about a month now and the inside is a really nice place to be. Its really changed my mind about important the interior is. Lovin it:D

-Chris-

I love the idea of the "floating" centre console, but it looks a bit weird in wood tbh...

Mr Benevolent

-Chris- wrote: »

I love the idea of the "floating" centre console, but it looks a bit weird in wood tbh...

Yep, looks like they bent a plank of pinewood and said "Ah fuckit, that'll do!"

Maybe they got a job lot of bent school desks and decided to install them in the cars.

Seweryn

-Chris- wrote: »

I love the idea of the "floating" centre console, but it looks a bit weird in wood tbh...

Yeah, a bit strange, but that free space behind it makes sense...

I drive an oldish car, but I believe that in terms of functionality, robustness, build quality and comfort of use (all the switches and knobs can be operated while wearing gloves) this console is hard to beat:

Mr.David

Tough question, depends on the car ultimately.

There are many cars I want to own! I'd love a Lotus Exige, Caterham or stripped out Porsche all of which are ****e on the inside!

However, I also want a proper executive saloon for which the interior is crucial.

I'll go 50/50 I think - an ugly car on the outside with a lovely interior wouldnt do it for me either.

Bit like a minger with a smoking body......:)

listermint

Seweryn wrote: »

Yeah, a bit strange, but that free space behind it makes sense...

I drive an oldish car, but I believe that in terms of functionality, robustness, build quality and comfort of use (all the switches and knobs can be operated while wearing gloves) this console is hard to beat:

Who wears driving gloves

opinion guy

unkel wrote: »

Neither!!!

The way the car drives is most important to me, the way the interior and exterior look and feel and give function are second.

This. And to be honest I'd sooner spend money on engineering than interior or exterior. e.g. bigger engine takes preference over alloys or leathers for me:D

-Chris- wrote: »

I love the idea of the "floating" centre console, but it looks a bit weird in wood tbh...

Lol......it looks like Dashboards by Ikea(tm):)

Wetbench4

-Chris- wrote: »

I love the idea of the "floating" centre console, but it looks a bit weird in wood tbh...

Ya it depends on the colour of the leather.The dark wood is really horrible. Mine is the brushed aluminium but my fav has to be the carbon fibre looking one

_Kaiser_

Well I'm 50/50 too. I like a car that looks nice on the outside, but equally is a nice place to be inside too (especially as I do a lot of driving)

I think my current B6 Passat fits the bill nicely.. looks nicer than the new one and the interior has a quality feel - buttons to play with, comfy seats, cruise control etc.

Cars like Mercs might have comfy seats, but the centre console (especially the stereo) is just too busy with all the buttons.

I'd still prefer an A6/Passat CC tho

madman21

unkel wrote: »

Neither!!!

The way the car drives is most important to me, the way the interior and exterior look and feel and give function are second.

tat is rite as long as it works :P

Zubeneschamali

The interior. I really don't care what the exterior looks like at all: I drove a Multipla for 7 years, a Kangoo for 4.

But I'd rate how the car drives above either interior or exterior looks.

opinion guy

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I really don't care what the exterior looks like at all: I drove a Multipla for 7 years, a Kangoo for 4.

Christ! You really don't care do you ? Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.
I've never been in one of either of these ? I take it the interiors must be amazing then ???

Zubeneschamali

opinion guy wrote: »

I've never been in one of either of these ? I take it the interiors must be amazing then ???

Both are massive space for the money.

So they're ugly: if I'm driving, that's your problem, not mine

opinion guy

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Both are massive space for the money.

So they're ugly: if I'm driving, that's your problem, not mine

It'll be your problem if I crash into you cause my eyes are burning :P

keithclancy

Wetbench4 wrote: »

I have an 05 S40 about a month now and the inside is a really nice place to be. Its really changed my mind about important the interior is. Lovin it:D

I have an 05 V50 and I must say it has the smallest glovebox and door pockets i' ve ever seen in a car

Wetbench4

keithclancy wrote: »

I have an 05 V50 and I must say it has the smallest glovebox and door pockets i' ve ever seen in a car

Ya the glovebox is very long and narrow. Apparently i read somwhere that the lack of space is due to volvo concentrating on safety features at the expense of storage. Don't know how true that is. Hasn't really bothered me, id only ever have tissues in the door pockets anyway