The best smelling cars are BMWs and Porsches, especially those with Alcantara headliners. I’ll have to give second place to a cheapo Ford with dealer installed leather seats.

I picked up an issue of Motor Trend in an airport the other day and if I could have opened up the plane window, I would have chucked it into the breeze. Nothing but a huge advertising rag.

Good for you Robert!

PS – Eric, you forgot to mention Ford power steering pump whine.

Cadillac is rumored to have been the first to add leather aroma artificially, when its heavily treated leather no longer smelled like leather.

I believe all leather suppliers now add aroma at extra cost to all OEMs.

I think that Honda has the most disagreeable smell; especially when summer sun has baked the interior. It seems to get worse with age.

But I agree with you Johnster. Sounds and smells are very distinctive, but changing quickly as well. I’m not sure we’ll be able to distinguish between brands as easily in the future.

I’ve heard that antipollution legislation has an impact on the chemical composition of the plastics and vinyls used in auto interiors. European manufacturers supposedly pollute less than American and Asians and this effects the quality of the plastic and vinyl they produce.

There are also differences in the chemical treatments of things used in diverse components, such as tanning leather, dying fibers used in seating fabrics and in carpets, and even in formaldehyde levels used in fiberboard that might be found in a trunk.

I’m sure the differences would probably be noticeable on an olfactory level, if only subtly.

BMW makes note of how almost all of the parts in their cars are either recyclable or else degradeable. These parts they would probably smell different from those from other cars.

I notice some differences between car interiors, but not enough to pick out who made it.

OTOH, I’m quite good at picking out certain sounds and immediately knowing what brand the car is. Some examples:

—GM fuel pumps (esp. Silverado/Tahoe/Suburban)

—Mercedes-Benz inline 6 exhaust note

—Air-cooled Porsche 911 valvetrain whine

—BMW lock/alarm confirmation chirps

—Honda starter motors (old Chryslers are also very distinctive)

—For some reason, minivans of all makes are more prone to have squealing brakes than other models.

In contradistinction, I find that ‘fart can’ exhausts make all cars so afflicted sound essentially the same.

I understand that difference between different brands or even models within a range I was referring to the same model built on 2 different shores.

No experience there. But I bet I/you/one can.

I understand that difference between different brands or even models within a range I was refering to the same model built on 2 different shores. The interior components for the large should be coming from the same supplier(seats, dash, door panels, etc.) but the glue does make sense and glues can have very distinct odors.

And I also wanted to know what the smell difference you refered to in your example was, like citrus vs Axe effect, or if it’s just something you learn with experience that cant be described.

EDIT: I didn’t guess quick enough – Robert already posted his answer – and yes, it seems much simpler then what I was proposing…

Just ’cause I feel like guessing – I’d think one of two things causes a different smell. The surrounding environs of the source of the build (ie I’m guessing greater humidity in South Carolina gives off a different smell perhaps? I’m from Canada, but notice a distinctive difference in smell in the coastal southern States…). The other possibility might have something to do with preservatives to help sustain interiors during the shipping across a salty ocean. Just my $.02 guess – the reality is probably something much more mundane!

Brendon

How do they smell different? I can understand the door slam but how different could they possibly smell.

The glues and carpets and leather and stuff all create a distinctive perfume. Audis with leather interiors are heaven. Fords, blech.

I’ve always wondered why carmakers don’t create a signature scent. Beats me.

How do they smell different? I can understand the door slam but how different could they possibly smell.

@ CarShark

would say to prove the point though, make a test. Set up some of the same models that are built in different places and see if you can single out which was build where. I bet Mr Farago couldn’t, unless there are some tell tale details to look for. Good start, a Z4 made in the US and one made in Germany. Or a 300C or X3 made in Austria and the US. And I’m sure there are many more possibilities.

Well, with some study, no problem. Without… I’m sure I could make some distinctions, and perhaps not others. For example, I can tell the difference between a German-made Bimmer and an American one. You may not believe this, but I can distinguish brands by interior smell and door slam sound. Dashboard feel is also a pretty good tell.

If only we had the resources…

Well, you’re mixing up two things a little. In the first example it’s about a German manufacturer building cars in other places but passing them on as German. In the second example of Jaguar it’s about the cars being built in the same place (like england) but the factory being owned by different “countries”.

Still I can see where you are coming from though. It’s just the perception of Indian car manufacturers like Tata or the Hindustan Ambassador that affects the name Jaguar a little, no matter how right or wrong that might be.

I would say to prove the point though, make a test. Set up some of the same models that are built in different places and see if you can single out which was build where. I bet Mr Farago couldn’t, unless there are some tell tale details to look for. Good start, a Z4 made in the US and one made in Germany. Or a 300C or X3 made in Austria and the US. And I’m sure there are many more possibilities.

CarShark :

Soooooo, a South African Mercedes is less than a German Mercedes, but an Indian-owned Jaguar can’t be less than a American- or British-owned Jaguar? Where I come from, we call that talking out of both sides of your mouth.

I think I addressed the nuances of an Indian-made Jaguar in the podcast. I said I believe an Indian manufacturer could create a uniquely Indian take on a British luxury car. Create as in design and engineer. [The RSA - German - America thing is purely a manufacturing proposition.] As several other commentators (and Justin and I) pointed out, there’s a logical cultural connection between India and Britain.

Anyway, foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Truth to tell, I haven’t really thought this all the way through. Perhaps an editorial tomorrow?

I personally think that India could do a bang up job with Jaguar, some damn good engineers in that country mostly educated right here in the US. I really would like to see this since I haven’t been impressed with them over the last 10-15 years, even pre-Ford.

These days, everyone builds cars everywhere. Although globalisation has forced Americans to build better cars, I reckon it’s removed something important from the car branding equation. Can Alabama or South Africa build a world-class automobile? Of course. Is the result something less than a “real” Mercedes? At the risk of pissing off the entire planet, I’d say yes. I can tell the difference.

Soooooo, a South African Mercedes is less than a German Mercedes, but an Indian-owned Jaguar can’t be less than a American- or British-owned Jaguar? Where I come from, we call that talking out of both sides of your mouth.