Ok, so I'm prepping my car for it's first bath today and I got to thinking.
Man, I'm going to miss that new car smell.
...but then the grey matter really started churning
What is new car smell?
My first guess would be the leather & maybe some solvents used in the build process, but my other cars have had a similar 'new car smell' and they weren't blessed with leather.
So experts....what the heck is it or causes it?
Thus concludes the weird question du jour....Happy Holidays

Alan

 

new car smell comes from the adhesives and plasticizers used to manufacture cars these days. even the vinyl dash and parts "outgass" for awhile when new. I guess on a convertible it becomes less noticable quickly since we have less areas with these adhesives AND the top-down driving tends to air the car out alot.

 

These outgassings (VOCs I believe) are what also coats the insides of the windows... Kinda makes you glad you can put the top down - and not coat your lungs too!