The Psychological Impact of New Car Smell
8/14/2007
Distinct Aroma Offers Temporary High
I have realized during my stint here at Mother Proof that a definite altered state occurs when one encounters New Car Smell. For me, any initial positive, lovey feelings I get from a car must be held at arm’s length, knowing the unbelievable sway New Car Smell has on me. I can’t produce a negative comment when high on NCS. I can drive a real lemon, but as long as it smells new, it doesn’t seem so bad. Any car can make me pretty happy as long as it has that smell; it’s like vehicular pheromones.
Many studies have been done analyzing New Car Smell. Turns out it’s a nasty combination of Volatile Organic Compounds from all the glue, dye, plastic, leather and other things that go into a new car (thus explaining why the perfume at the carwash doesn’t quite do the job). Great; yet another thing I like that’s bad for me.
Some foreign manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Volvo are adhering to new standards that reduce the number of VOCs. Still some others aren’t, and there are no standards in the United States to which manufacturers have to adhere. Environmental groups are working to change that, but apparently 90 percent of these VOCs are emitted during the first three weeks of ownership of a new car. So maybe we just need to keep the windows open more often after we initially purchase a car.
Or you can breathe deeply and blissfully ignore those weird noises coming from the backseat. Oh, wait. Those are the kids. It’s up to you.
Comments
Here is a summary of the most often referred-to study regarding New Car Smell online:
http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=JOEEDU000126000010000974000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
The reason most conclude you should wait three weeks after purchase is that's how the tests were conducted; from date of purchase, not date of manufacture.
Posted by: Sara Lacey | Aug 21, 2007 8:11:42 AM
I postulate that using the three weeks after purchase is because the car is presumably being used and some air is circulating through it. After it is manufactured what is off-gassed just accumulates inside. So maybe ask the dealer to air out the car before you get in for a test drive!
Posted by: Charlie Stark | Sep 14, 2007 10:28:09 PM
Sir Me Name Is Ghaffar Khanani I Want This One Car Please Give Me Some Instruction About It
Thanks
Posted by: haifz kamran | Feb 15, 2008 7:55:26 AM
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How does the car know when your ownership point starts? Assuming a domestically assembled car, that three week span likely passes while the car goes through processing at the factory, transit to the dealer and time sitting on the dealer lot. Seems a somewhat questionable factoid to me.
Posted by: | Aug 15, 2007 11:16:11 AM