2010 GMC Terrain: Jeeeez!

If pop cans can be made of genuine aluminum why are car interiors usually made with
shiny plastic?

My eyes hurt just looking at those pics!

And to answer northsparrow, "durability". Pop cans don't need it, aluminum doesn't have it. (In terms of dent and scratch resistance.)

When I scrolled up to see this post, I went just far enough to see that largest picture, but not enough to see the title for the post, and my first thought was 'Jeez!' as well!

Blinded by the reflection... no wait...
Blinded by the shiny plastic... nope, that's not it...
Blinded by the light... that's it, AND we'll make it the only 3 words that they can understand in the refrain... something about a motor in the night...

LOL - I was just in a rental Dodge Avenger, and the exact thing happened to me. I hate the fake chrome movement! It serves no purpose whatsoever and will be deemed tacky in a few years just like the gold package of the 90s.

@dlph1: In a few years? It's tacky now.

yep, at least it is a just a small section of the really reflective stuff. On our 1000 mile trip I only got hit with the reflection a couple of times but it still wasn't fun. I never noticed anything bad with the area around the radio or the gauges though.

The Malibu has a worse chunk of it that is wider and much higher on the dash. Figured the only way we'd buy a Malibu is if I took that part off and painted it a flat color. Not something you should have to do with a new car.

+1 dph1, the Dodges are terrible at that. The Magnum we rented didn't have as much of the high gloss stuff but enough shiny stuff to really distract. Especially on the steering wheel where it was always moving.

Funny though, after complaining about how all the new cars have that I cleaned up the ashtray lid on my old Z and now it reflects the light a bit too much.

"refrain... something about a motor in the night..."

The actual words are "revved up like a Deuce roaming in the night"

Hope that helps :)

Preach it, brother!

bodyblue says:
02:29 PM, 09/ 1/10

"The actual words are 'revved up like a Deuce roaming in the night'

Hope that helps :)"

Not true! The real lyrics are: "...wrapped up like a douche, another roller taking flight."

I keed, I keed. :)

Seriously though the lyrics to the Manfred Mann version are: "revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night."

Interestingly, the Boss' original lyrics are somewhat different (and cooler, I think): "And she was blinded by the light. Oh, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night"

"GM, and Hyundai to lesser degree, seem to be spreading the "hip" on much too thick right now."

And yet such touches are found in cars such as the current CLS, Bentleys and the new Jag XJ. The Il endorsed idea that only American cars have shiny Bits while superior European cars have "matte finishes" is a lie. Audi typically uses matte finishes that don't reflect. Look inside high end MB, Bentley, RR and Jaguar models and you will find shiny bits around vents, gear shifts, knobs, etc. It's a proven fact- just check out pictures of models from those brands.

Another reason I'm content with my '99 Z24... zero plastichrome inside or out! :)

1487 says:
06:32 AM, 09/ 2/10

"'GM, and Hyundai to lesser degree, seem to be spreading the "hip" on much too thick right now.'

And yet such touches are found in cars such as the current CLS, Bentleys and the new Jag XJ. The Il endorsed idea that only American cars have shiny Bits while superior European cars have "matte finishes" is a lie. Audi typically uses matte finishes that don't reflect. Look inside high end MB, Bentley, RR and Jaguar models and you will find shiny bits around vents, gear shifts, knobs, etc. It's a proven fact- just check out pictures of models from those brands."

Yeah, see, I never said nor intimated that this was an "America vs. da Woild" issue. Last time I checked, Hyundai isn't an American company. I also only said that, "I appreciate when designers keep function in mind and use matte finishes and the like in interiors." Not once did I mention Audi of any other specific Euro brand.

I sometimes think the readers of these blogs read only what they want to read and disregard everything else.

"I sometimes think the readers of these blogs read only what they want to read and disregard everything else."

You don't say... comment of the day!

Ergonomics and style are constantly at war within car companies. The older GM interiors were probably better ergonomically while being horrendously worse style- and quality-wise. They've now been addressing those unending criticisms, in some respects by overdoing it with the brightwork like you see above.