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New Car Smell?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by JPJ, Jun 11, 2009.

  1. JPJ

    JPJ New Member

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    For those who have had the car for a while:
    How would you compare the new car smell in Prius 2010 to the other new cars you had?
    Also, do you think it is disappearing or continuing to be strong?

    Please note if you have cloth or leather.

    Thank you.
     
  2. Zaxcom

    Zaxcom Member

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    Mine had hardly any new car smell. Very strange, I can only guess that Toyota is using low volatile plastics and that has reduced the smell. That smell by the way is not good for you, but it does smell so good.
     
  3. taftjr

    taftjr New Member

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    I think the car smell is pretty noticable. Everybody who gets in my car comments on it. I do have leather seats and maybe that makes a difference.
     
  4. msirach

    msirach Member

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    We have leather too. It does have a nice smell.

     
  5. Bruno_S

    Bruno_S New Member

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    almost no smell on mine. Leather. Maybe it needs to get hotter to evaporate resins in the plastic.
     
  6. Gord

    Gord New Member

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    Gotta love Toyota! They build the best damn eco-car and let us get high on glue at the same time!

    A hippy's dream :cool:
     
  7. Dolce

    Dolce Junior Member

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    I do not like the smell of my new Prius, or any other new car. Any suggestions on how to make the smell fade away faster? I tried leaving the windows open all day, that didn't help.
     
  8. NoMoShocks

    NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer

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    Mine with Leather smelled new for a few days. Then it went through it's strong smell of fiberglass reson smell for a few days, and finally, ardly any smell at all. Wonder if Solar ventillation and cruzing with the sun roof open hastens the process?
     
  9. dbacksfan

    dbacksfan Member

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    Three
    I've had mine for 9 days, and most of the new car smell is gone. In fact, I just went out to do a sniff test. The odor is definitely a lot less than a week ago. I've had cars in which the smell lingered for months.
     
  10. StangBanger

    StangBanger New Member

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    I just bought a 2008 with 10k on it.. and it still smells new.. and its def. not brand new.. I was surprised so much so that i even jumped into the showroom prius with 7 miles on it and they smelled the same. Whats the deal with that?..lol
     
  11. LaMesaGuy

    LaMesaGuy Member

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    I brought a 2010 Prius V that has leather seats. The new car smell is very strong and still this day, the 2010 Prius V has a new car smell but not as strong as when I brought it.
     
  12. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    Car and Driver did an article on this a few years ago. New Car Smell is actually slightly toxic, and all manufacturers are changing their materials to try to eliminate out-gassing. When I opened the box on the Bartlett leather interior kit I recently installed I was disappointed that it didn't have that traditional leather smell. In the car, and out in the sun it has a VERY slight leather aroma. Leather processing has been changing (for the better for our health, for the worse for that wonderful smell). By their very nature, glues are the worst.
     
  13. eglmainz

    eglmainz New Member

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    My 2010 V with leather stills smells like leather, and new cars in general.. but it is less and less noticible by the day (although I like the leather smell). It is only a week old so far.
     
  14. i3akachan

    i3akachan i love my new prius:)

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    I got my (cloth seats) Prius 4 days ago. I haven't aired it out or anything, so it still smells new. It's not overwhelming, so I don't mind right now.

    My last car was a Jetta w/ leather seats... it was a 2001, I bought it used in 2003 and it still smelled "new," but not a pleasant new. It smelled like crayons. I had the car until April this year, and it STILL smelled like crayons. And when I unloaded some of the stuff I left in the car (CD case, maps, tissue box, etc.), they all smelled like crayons! And I heard from other VW owners and people w/ friends of VW owners that all VW leather smell like crayons.

    I'm quite happy w/ my new Prius' light new car smell:)
     
  15. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    Now we know what the Germans are using on their leather in place of the old vat-dyed solutions! :rolleyes:

    Does that make touching up the color easier? Does Crayola Brand make a Prius Gray for my car?
     
  16. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Over the last 20+ years, I've noticed less new car smell with each new fabric interior car I've bought:

    -- 1987 Honda Civic Wagon

    -- 1995 Volvo 850 Wagon

    -- 2007 Toyota Prius
     
  17. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    New car smell in 2010 is mostly the leather components in my case. It was stronger in the 2002 and 2004 back when.
     
  18. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

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    Strong new car smell... everyone comments on it. (Cloth seats.)
     
  19. Bill Lumbergh

    Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer

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    My 2005 still smells new when I haven't driven it for a long time, but the smell was positively overpowering the first week I had it. I nearly had to pull over for some fresh air on my drive to CA from OK. Here's hoping a potential 2010 Prius V won't smell so much!