Quality manufactured materials needed!

[litespeedp]

Maybe this is the year that consumers press for BETTER MATERIALS Rather than being wooed by more features offered in our vehicles.From KIA to Benz:

(1)Real GLASS headlight covers rather than cheap scratchable,dulling plastic

(2)Real METAL material at the base of the windshield in the wiper area rather than cheap graying plastics.

(3)Real METAL chrome pieces for body trim rather than fake shiny plastic that is glued on

(4)METAL door thresholds to avoid the scratches from the inevitable shoe when entering/exiting the car

(5)VAT DYED leather rather than spray on, so that when the inevitable cracks occur on the seat bolster,at least the appearance remains color-true.

(6)Powder coated windshield wiper arms rather than finishes that become chalky.

KIA to Benz and on and on and on..................... Is anyone paying attention?

[coreseller]

Everybody no doubt wants the higher end materials, the problem is very few are willing to pay for them. That goes for the manufacturers and customers alike.

Then when you get to the manufacturers stance, their bean counters are fighting with production who's fighting with design then ultimately sales stick their collective noses into things, what a mess.

I use to deal directly with the Big 3 and Toyota and Honda beginning in the mid to late 1980's, not to mention tier 1, 2 etc. suppliers, to say that they are difficult to please is an understatement. One of the untold stories as to the automotive industries' difficulties is that so many suppliers were so royally screwed over by them for decades a large portion of them (like our company) swore them off and simply refuse to deal with them.

An old adage I have found to be spot on: You have Price, Quality and Service, which two do you want?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by litespeedp

Maybe this is the year that consumers press for BETTER MATERIALS Rather than being wooed by more features offered in our vehicles.From KIA to Benz:

(1)Real GLASS headlight covers rather than cheap scratchable,dulling plastic

(2)Real METAL material at the base of the windshield in the wiper area rather than cheap graying plastics.

(3)Real METAL chrome pieces for body trim rather than fake shiny plastic that is glued on

(4)METAL door thresholds to avoid the scratches from the inevitable shoe when entering/exiting the car

(5)VAT DYED leather rather than spray on, so that when the inevitable cracks occur on the seat bolster,at least the appearance remains color-true.

(6)Powder coated windshield wiper arms rather than finishes that become chalky.

KIA to Benz and on and on and on..................... Is anyone paying attention?

Most of the plastics are never going to happen for a very simple reason: CAFE. They took out the weight to get gas mileage up to meet Fed requirements.

[MikenOH]

This is how automotive manufacturers keep up profit margins in a very competitive market.

They make the body hardware and some interior parts to visually resemble high quality, durable parts with a much cheaper facsimile which will last for some period of time--probably less that your "high quality" stuff, but long enough to get through the 36 month/3 year warranty period. After that it's up to the buyer and his ability to distinguish real McCoy from facsimile and desire to pay the difference.

My guess the buying public doesn't care much and they certainly don't want to pay anymore than they absolutely have to.

[BYprodriver]

As JFP said it's all about meeting CAFE requirements. If it's lighter, that's the part that's used. The next Ford F150 truck will have an all aluminum body, not exactly a cost cutting move.

[BIGJake111]

yup safety and efficiency pushes from governments is where most the problems with modern car design comes from.

[lkchris]

I'd question whether glass headlight covers would be legal.

I'd also not be interested in iron engines, steel intake manifolds, etc.

Yes, it's the 986 forum and the newest ones are now 10 years old and some "aging" is visible. We're of course glad someone could afford to buy them new and none of these things were a problem at that point. If you want a 10-year-old car that's the same as new, expect to pay as much as the original owner did.