Chef Ray

I recently had a 16 TLX loaner and the interior smell had a very vinyl smell if anyone knows what I mean. Just yesterday, planning on buying a RDX with what I know it to be leather interior not the leatherette interior. (I checked the Acura does offer leatherette on base models). Anyway, to my surprise, the smell was the same.....like a vinyl scent. Is it me or is Acura making their interiors cheaper to save on money?

I personally love the leather smell in a car and now considering checking out other vehicles in this segment. BTW, the salesman at the dealership dismissed what I smelled as a new car scent. I've been driving for over 30 years and had more cars that I can count. (yeah love to change cars very frequently). I would hate to leave Acura but maybe it's time for a change. On a side note, the 16 MDX definitely had the leather scent but it's not the car I'm shopping for....too bad

EricInMaryland

I have never smelled leather scent in either of my new Acura's. Only new car smell. If you want to smell leather, perhaps a leather cleaner. There are also english leather freshners.

JJones91

What you are smelling is not the upholstery you're smelling exactly as you said "vinyl" the new plastics is the smell you're getting and is actually toxic. There are more than 275 different chemicals in the interiors of cars. Some chemicals of concern include bromine from brominated flame retardants (BFRs) which are added to plastics to make them less flammable, chlorine used for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used for plastics and windshields, lead, and heavy metals.

The researchers said BFR exposure has been tied to thyroid problems, learning and memory impairment, decreased fertility, and behavioral changes while PVCs which contain chemicals called phthalates are linked to decreased fertility, and problems with the liver, testes, thyroid, ovaries, kidneys, and blood.

atl7

The TLX Tech I test drove had that vinyl smell. My V6 Tech does not, it smells like new car. That vinyl smell almost gives me a headache haha. But as my Acuras are getting older they seem to be getting that leather smell on the inside.

Chef Ray

Your remark is facetious to put it mildly. Assuming you like onions, you may consider sitting next to someone who has forgotten to bath for several days to get that nice armpit scent.

Chef Ray

I agree with you about getting a headache. My old RDX and my current TL never had that vinyl scent and mind you the RDX 2012 I purchased new had the new car smell (not vinyl) and had a leather scent. Not sure why the 2016 smells all vinyl. Just my 2 cents.

mapleloaf

The base level TLX is not leather - it's leatherette, the same as entry level BMWs and numerous other cars. I would suspect that your loaner is a base model. The Tech and Elite/Advance have milano leather.

NoTrace

Mine is a 2015 v6 advance. I hadn't really noticed it before but my girlfriend's sense of smell is out of this world and every time she gets in the car she tells me she doesn't like how the car smells. She used "vinyl" to describe it. And yes, the "new car" smell seems to be more vinyl-ly than leathery... I'm guessing it is the plastics.
Any ideas on how to improve that would be much appreciated...

mapleloaf

Interesting. Notwithstanding JJones91 comment being correct about new car smell having a toxic component, I only notice that my car smells clean and therefore "new"….as as any other person riding in the vehicle. I keep it clean without using any product other than water, except for the high quality leather cleaner/moisturizer I use every couple of months.

The side bolsters of the seats are leatherette, but in no way do I or others smell what is described here as a vinyl smell. I also have family members with bionic senses of smell. I would recommend a high quality air freshener that isn't toxic, open windows, and regular interior dusting/wiping without chemicals…or some combo of the above. Otherwise the only other choice is to swap cars or…….

Chef Ray

It's just back in the 80's (yeah showing my age) cars back then smelled vinyl and the cars with leather smelled like leather (or as one person puts it, old leather shoe) fast forward to today 2016, I've noticed todays cars claiming leather don't really have that genuine leather scent from back in the day. I have though noticed that the MDX smells more leather. Just my 2 cents.

EricInMaryland

So if this is you comment today, whats up with you comment to me above?

Chef Ray

you're spelling is what's up lol

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

^ let's slow down with the personal attacks mmmk?

Chef Ray

it's a forum and ranting is part of posting

youngTL

As mentioned, "new car smell" is actually from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassing. You smell it more in the heat. It's probably stronger in the TLX due to the dash being made of injection molded plastic rather than the hard stuff (most manufacturers either use the hard stuff plain, or in this class of car, wrap the hard stuff in vinyl or leatherette).

EricInMaryland

I spelz just fine ... perhaps a different forum would suit you.

EricInMaryland

It is particularly strong in the TLX but not unpleasant. I am going to swap my cabin filter for one with carbon to see if I can filter some of it out while driving.

I wish the smell was more like new leather. Makes you wonder if we actually have leather.

Chef Ray

Let me think about that for a bit.....

may I suggest you do since you're attacking me

Go Trump!!!

pnoi521

#EricClapsBack

Rae Rad

Just purchased a 16 2.4 tech 3 days ago. The steering wheel have a unpleasant weird smell that sticks to my hands. Did anybody else notice this?

BeezleTL85

The loaner I've had for the last 5 days has made my garage smell pretty bad.

Rocket_man

My 2015 didn't smell any different than any other new car I've had.