RealityDriven

Leather Interiors versus Cloth Interiors

- by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

There was a time when only the most luxurious vehicles were offered with leather interiors.  It wasn't that long ago.  I was old enough to remember.  But today, even compact vehicles have leather available as an option and leather is standard on some entry luxury vehicles.  Really nice synthetic leathers make the situation more complex.  But is leather all it's (not) cracked up to be?  I would argue that leather is severely overrated.  Sure it smells great, looks luxurious, but it's  not worth the extra $800 to $2,500.  First of all, you slide around a lot on the leather.  As a result, in spirited driving, you aren't held in your seat as well unless you have mega side bolstering.  Your belongings can also slide around like crazy when you drive in a spirited fashion around turns.  This doesn't happen nearly as much on cloth, regardless of the type of cloth.  And then, with leather, there are temperature issues.  In the winter, it feels cold.  This makes heated seats almost necessary.  In the summer it feels hot, and then you sweat and stick to it.  That's no good and fan ventilated seats make noise.  Cloth on the other hand, grips better, absorbs moisture and stays more temperate.   

Leather is thought to wear better than cloth, but this is not always true if the leather is of a cheaper variety.  I've seen reliability test results that proved this out.  Even if it does wear better, it gets wrinkles and eventually cracks without proper maintenance.  Cloth is more difficult to wrinkle and it doesn't require care and feeding.

Regardless of where your ethics lie, leather is dead animal skin.  I don't like that fact so when I have a choice, I choose cloth.  It's interesting that in Europe, even luxury vehicles are offered with cloth.  I wish that model was followed here in the U.S. as I was forced to get leather on my latest Saab vehicle.  I indirectly paid for it as well.  The synthetic leathers are not cheap, but at least they don't have all of the same issues as real leather.  Nor do they have all of the same advantages.

I doubt that you all agree.  What are your thoughts?  Feel free to comment.

Auto Show Misfits

- by Chris Olliff, Senior Editor

As most of you know, we have just come off of the 2007 Detroit Auto Show  and most of us have “show hangover” which consists of hurting feet, empty wallets, and the desire never to step foot into Cobo Hall again. We have walked the hall 10 times over, and taken more photos than a Japanese tourist at Niagara Falls. Among my many travels at the show, I stumbled across what I like to call “The Hall of Misfits”….

Cobo Hall has a lower level that has some aftermarket companies, and there even used to be ½ of the VW stand down there…but not anymore……

Like those toys on the misfit island in the old Rudolf Christmas show we used to watch, having a stand down in the lower level is like being a part of a different culture. In the universal order of things, this is where you “pay your dues” until you can graduate up to the “big floor”. Yes, Hyundai and Kia got their start here, and it also is space for suppliers to be seen at the show. Not much foot traffic here, so it is a great place to take your time and have a quiet look around.  

This year’s group consisted of Saleen, XM Radio, Michelin, DUB Magazine, Chainfang Auto of China, ect. For the first time since I can recall, VW did not have any space down there this year. Without them, it seemed that this floor was an afterthought or that you had taken a wrong turn….

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to trick out your ride or get away from the hustle of the main floor, then you should have a go on the lower level. It will be interesting to see how this area may change in the future, but for now it seems like a great place for the “Auto Show Misfits”.

 

Luxury Vehicles and Exclusivity

- by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

As I walked the Detroit Auto Show, (NAIAS), and noticed the proliferation of luxury makes represented, I couldn't help but wonder who actually has the money to buy these vehicles.  The average new vehicle purchased costs over $28,000, but there are a host of brands that charge $80,000 plus.  Those divisional brands usually have entry models.  After all, car companies exist to make a profit, just like any other corporation.  Volume typically drives profits, so even Jaguar decided to offer the X-Type, BMW the 318ti a while ago, and Mercedes even offers an A-Class and a B-Class in Europe.  These put the divisions significantly down-market.  But when does a luxury brand stop being a luxury brand?  If you buy an XJ for cache and exclusivity, isn't it being compromised with every X-Type that is sold?  I say yes, and it's the reason that division such as Maybach and MINI are formed.  Maybach steps up the exclusivity, luxury and price to separate it from a "mere" Mercedes, while MINI allows for a cheaper (FWD) BMW ultimate driving machine type vehicle without diluting BMW's brand image.  Speaking of BMW, if they sell 53,000 5-Series in the U.S. per year and a KIA Rio sells 30,300 units per year, which is more exclusive?  This is especially noteworthy in markets like California where you see more BMW's than you see Chevy's. 

So, it's time to reevaluate our definition of luxury when it comes to mass market items.  When the ante gets upped with what luxury is and what brands define luxury, then it gets confusing for the manufacturers as well as for the consumers.  In "the old days", it was much simpler.  A Mercedes was expensive and unattainable for most.  But now,  A C-Class can be had for the same price as a partially loaded up Accord.  A fully loaded Accord could cost even more.  Which is more luxurious?  This is debatable.  And when a Lexus ES is so similar to a Toyota Camry, what are you really paying for?  Better service is one thing, but then you have to deal with the luxury brand dealer snootiness.  You'll notice a lot of parts sharing between Nissans and Infinitis.  This just dilutes the distinction.  Eventually people may begin to notice to the detriment of luxury brand profits.  As luxuries become mainstream, efforts are needed to retain the distinction.  Exclusivity counters the basic tenet of business that selling more is better.  But car companies have to show restraint with the prospect of short-term greed.

2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit - What It's Like to Be in "The Press"

- by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

As a first time press day attendee to the Detroit North American International Auto Show, I must say that it was an interesting experience, particularly in how we were treated.  First of all, the respect you get from the people representing the manufacturers is apparent.  We have the power of the pen, (or is it the power of the keyboard?), so they have to be nice to us.  Then there are the wonderful cafes with made-to-order cappuccinos and gourmet accompaniments including waiters who walk around feeding you appetizers.  I felt like I was at a wedding... only with lots of cars.  One other thing that struck me is that I was walking amongst some very powerful, highly paid executives.  I could have said anything I wanted to them although mentioning that I was from RealtityDriven.com would have given me no extra credibility.  That will take time.

I did have a somewhat press looking digital camera with which I took almost 300 pictures.  But I'm of Indian descent, look young and I don't look like a journalist so some people looked at me like I didn't belong there.  Little do they know that I used to work for one of the car companies and I have 12 years in the business.  I think I know my stuff, (or at least I can write like I do).  When it came to picking up press kits, some companies/divisions were very friendly about it, like Dodge, GM, and Toyota while others asked for business cards to mail the kits later.  Since we're a new website, I didn't have my RealityDriven.com business cards on-hand, but I still convinced the Maserati guy to give me a kit.  My regular job business card helped here.  In a way, the more press kits you get, the more of a pain it is.  You have carry all that stuff around in a bag with handle straps that aren't very comfortable.  Then when lunch rolled around, I had to put the stuff and my camera below a seat while I grabbed food, (which was very good by the way).

One other obstacle we had to continually deal with were the shifting sectioned off areas for various interviews and photo shoots.  Usually after the press introduction of a new vehicle, we would leave and come back later after the rush died down, but then you couldn't necessarily get back to it the way you got there the first time.  Often the vehicles were moved too.  It was great seeing some TV show reporters getting interviewed including John Davis from the PBS show "Motorweek".  I've been watching that show since I was 12 and have always respected their seemingly rare objectivity when it comes to the auto industry.

When it was all over, I felt like we had a great day.  We accumulated knowledge, photos, and ideas for upcoming posts on RealityDriven.com to make the whole show more real for those of you who cannot attend in person.

Here are a few photos that one can only get on Press Day since they don't let the public close to the really expensive, pre-production, or experimental vehicles.  That's just reality.

 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

- by Chris Olliff, Senior Editor

January in Detroit….such a sentence brings thoughts of frigid temps, big pot holes, dirty snow, the sound of my vehicles rusting out due to salt corrosion, and the daily absence of sunshine which leads to depression…

But, in the midst of all of this….there is hope, and its called the North American Auto Show which is held in the baffles of the great city of Detroit every second week in January. For the 10^th year in a row, like a solider going off to war, I have traveled into the war zone and dodged mine fields of pot holes to this great event. And what an event it is….

New cars, beautiful women, good food, and great entertainment…..I would say this is every man’s dream! You see, we travel to the show as media, and they feed us and introduce the new cars with a staged fanfare that would make Steven Speilberg proud. Who could forget last year’s comment from David Spade saying that “at least it's (the Dodge Caliber) NOT a Neon”? It takes great skill to stay in the same shape at the end of the week, as there are many areas of gourmet food ‘round each corner that you MUST try…after all….we don’t want to upset the German chefs at the VW stand….

Yes, we do work at the show as well. We do so much walking over the week that your most comfortable shoes begin to feel like you are wearing concrete bricks! Show coverage is always exciting, and I love to see the new concept vehicles and experience the new models on the floor.

So….the North American Auto Show…..located in a freezer, has enough food to feed the entire state of Texas for one week, rivals Las Vegas for its shows and entertainment, and can make you walk so much that you could easily wear your feet down to the stubs of your ankles………

Oh…and there are cars there as well

Like my friend Steve and I say, this truly is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”!

** Stay tuned as the Realitydriven staff brings you updates and coverage from the 2007 North American Auto Show**

Manual Transmissions Versus Automatics. My Divided Thoughts.

- by Atul H. Patel, Editor-in-Chief

I've had my manual transmission car about a year now.  I had grown up in an automatic transmission family, but as a car fanatic and an employee in various powertrain engineering and product marketing positions, my exposure to manual transmissions encouraged me to finally buy a manual Saab 9-3 SportCombi 2.0 T.  It didn't hurt that my two car enthusiast friends (who also happen to write for RealityDriven.com), almost ridiculed me for giving in to the easy availability of automatic transmission versions of the car I wanted.

I actually flew from Detroit to Manchester, New Hampshire to buy this car at a Boston dealership, (long story), and drove it back to the Midwest.  One year later, I must say that I have a love/hate relationship with the fact that I shift gears manually.  Perhaps part of it is my car itself and the big gap between the first and second gear ratios in conjunction with little torque until 2000 rpm.  The shifting action isn't the smoothest.  But I do like the clutch.  Design aside, living with any manual transmission vehicle is not like driving on a test track.  Driving is full of distractions, unexpected events, potholes and unsympathetic drivers of automatic transmissions.

Starting off from a light, even when done properly can make a manual transmission car seem like a slowpoke.  Shifting takes longer, and it takes mental attention.  Some people say you get to control the vehicle better, and that's true on the powertrain side, but I find that since my mind is occupied by shifting, I don't get to enjoy the rest of the vehicle, (like the handling), as much like when I'm driving around turns.  Perhaps it's me, but the human mind can only comprehend so many things at once.  I can guarantee that unexpected moves can be done more quickly on an automatic, but ones that are planned, such as accelerating out of a turn can be done quicker on a manual because the transmission doesn't know what you will want to do.  Once you are fully proficient, you can pass on the highway quickly with a manual whereas it is basically thought-free, (and subsequently faster) with an automatic.

On the fuel economy front, the gap between automatics and manuals has lessened to the point that it is negligible and sometimes favors automatics.  The manual version of my car revs faster on the highway because it doesn't have the benefit of torque multiplication from a torque converter.  Manuals tend to be cheaper, lighter and less complex, but they require eventual clutch replacement.  As for resale values, automatics are favored heavily except in some sporty vehicle markets.  With some models, you can't sell a manual easily unless you find somebody who's specifically looking for a manual.

Many automatics allow you to shift gears, but they sometimes prevent you from revving as high as you like.  You also don't get that direct connection with what is happening.  But that has even been watered down with manuals due to the advent of electronic throttle control.  I do see manual transmission vehicles as deterrents for theft, and drunk driving, but on the safety front, I have to believe an automatic is safer in a panic situation.  You have enough to worry about when your life flashes before your eyes.

No matter where you stand, the debate continues and it has become further muddled with the advent of DSG and other sequential transmissions that use multiple clutches.  But if you're on the fence, I say this… Automatics are for those that appreciate smoothness which usually coincides with efficiency.  Manuals are for those that want performance and continual attention and excitement.  I guess I like a little bit of both so I'm still torn.  I did keep my old automatic transmission car which is a nice relief when I get sick of shifting, but there are many times I find myself wanting to get into my manual Saab and drive.  I like the challenge of shifting smoothly and well.  When it goes right, I love the transmission.  When I shift poorly, I get de-motivated and I don't like the transmission as much.

You might agree or disagree with this quote which references my comments on your mind only being able to comprehend so much at one time.

"If you want to enjoy the drive, drive an automatic transmission.  If you want to enjoy driving, drive a manual transmission vehicle."

+ Atul