Why are car companies using the same interior vents?

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Old 03-10-2006, 09:37 AM
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Why are car companies using the same interior vents?

Ive noticed that some cars have the same interior vents, such as the Ford F-150, Ford GT, LAMBORGHINI Murcialago, and Im sure there are others aswell...

Heres what Im talking about:

The Lamborghini:




Ford GT:




Ford F-150:




Mazda 6:





I can somewhat understand Ford/Mazda using them as the parts came from Fords "parts bin" but why is Lamborghini using the same style vents?

I know its nothing big, but its just something Ive noticed and wanted to see if there was a reason why...
Old 03-10-2006, 09:40 AM
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Lamborghini's are from the Audi parts bin.
Old 03-10-2006, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by CGTSX2004
Lamborghini's are from the Audi parts bin.

Cant recall any Audi cars having those same ones though
Old 03-10-2006, 09:44 AM
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But is there a single supplier that is supplying these vents to companies?
Old 03-10-2006, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by S A CHO
But is there a single supplier that is supplying these vents to companies?
Yeah... Did you ever notice that some companies other then acura have michelin tires as their OEM tires too

The reason for the similiar parts is probably the bottom line cost...

There are 2nd tier vendor and 3rd tier vendors...

3rd teir vendor are the guys that supply chips used in the instrument panels, and the 2nd tier vendors are the guys that use the chips to make the instrument panels and sell the panels to the car makers...

Ford or Audi, or whoever doesn't make everything for the car, so they have buyers that look for the cheapest merchandise to use on the autos and work w/ engineers to incorporate those parts into the final product...
Old 03-10-2006, 10:02 AM
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Ah, so they are taking the cheap way out...But this shouldnt be done on a Lambo, or even the Ford GT...
Old 03-10-2006, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by S A CHO
But is there a single supplier that is supplying these vents to companies?
Maybe. They may all be made by Johnson Controls or Lear.
Old 03-10-2006, 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Crazy Sellout
Cant recall any Audi cars having those same ones though
Hmm...I thought they were the ones used on the A4 Cabriolet, but I guess not...
Old 03-10-2006, 10:52 AM
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The CD player in my PT cruiser is the same as in the Viper SRT-10.

I think I threw up a little when I saw that.
Old 03-10-2006, 11:30 AM
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If you have a new revolutionary vent design idea maybe you should share it. You could make this blanket statement on all cars vents... yes, they are all vents and look similar. As someone else mentioned so do the tires , window switch designs, seatbelt designs, floor mat designs, reaview mirrors, antennas, winshield wipers...

And between all of the cars you mentioned they are not all identical. Similar in design? yes. Identical, no.

ps. Ford and Mazda are one of the same... and pontiac usually puts whacky vent controls in.
Old 03-10-2006, 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by SakiGT
The CD player in my PT cruiser is the same as in the Viper SRT-10.

I think I threw up a little when I saw that.
the one in the vette is the same as the cavalier
Old 03-10-2006, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by CLpower
the one in the vette is the same as the cavalier
The idiocy.

But I suppose its part of GM's grand scheme. When the consumer "buys up" from one model to the next they dont get confused with the radio controls
Old 03-10-2006, 12:30 PM
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Yeah, they all probably share the same suppliers.

For example, the same people who make the plastic bed lining on the Honda Ridgeline also supply the bed lining for the Chevy Avalanche.

And as already noted, there is just so much you can do for vent designs. Same with door release handles, door handles, shift levers, etc.
Old 03-10-2006, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by SiGGy
If you have a new revolutionary vent design idea maybe you should share it. You could make this blanket statement on all cars vents... yes, they are all vents and look similar. As someone else mentioned so do the tires , window switch designs, seatbelt designs, floor mat designs, reaview mirrors, antennas, winshield wipers...

And between all of the cars you mentioned they are not all identical. Similar in design? yes. Identical, no.

ps. Ford and Mazda are one of the same... and pontiac usually puts whacky vent controls in.
I know that Mazda is owned bv Ford, and I mentioned that I can understand that Ford used the same vent design in the Mazda 6, but I like to think if Im going to be buying a car, especially a Lambo, Id like it to be original, with its own designs, not something that shares its interior features with a 20k Mazda...
Old 03-10-2006, 01:17 PM
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Acura is guilty too

RSX
Old 03-10-2006, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by SakiGT
The idiocy.

But I suppose its part of GM's grand scheme. When the consumer "buys up" from one model to the next they dont get confused with the radio controls
I personally don't see a problem w/ it
Old 03-10-2006, 02:24 PM
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my 01 eclipse gt has the exact same vents.
Old 03-10-2006, 02:32 PM
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Ok, so we got 2 more cars with these vents...

Acura RSX:



Eclipse GT:

Old 03-10-2006, 03:35 PM
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Pontiac G6 also uses them.
Old 03-10-2006, 05:57 PM
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Our 2004 Toyota RAV4 has 'em. So does the new one.

Scion xB.
Old 03-10-2006, 05:57 PM
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It's a CONSPIRACY I tell ya !!
Old 03-10-2006, 06:11 PM
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Old 03-10-2006, 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by GreenMonster
Yeah... Did you ever notice that some companies other then acura have michelin tires as their OEM tires too

The reason for the similiar parts is probably the bottom line cost...

There are 2nd tier vendor and 3rd tier vendors...

3rd teir vendor are the guys that supply chips used in the instrument panels, and the 2nd tier vendors are the guys that use the chips to make the instrument panels and sell the panels to the car makers...

Ford or Audi, or whoever doesn't make everything for the car, so they have buyers that look for the cheapest merchandise to use on the autos and work w/ engineers to incorporate those parts into the final product...
TS16949 anybody much?
Old 03-10-2006, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by 1killercls
TS16949 anybody much?
Damn QA geeks

No, but my brother works for a chip maker... in a prior job he worked on stuff that was used by a supplier for ford...

I just like to stupid stuff about cars
Old 03-10-2006, 07:53 PM
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Does anyone know if there are any other cars with ones like these?



They kind of roll up and down, it's neat (and also a little annoying).

Last edited by JackieO; 03-10-2006 at 07:55 PM.
Old 03-11-2006, 12:17 AM
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I hate those circular vents. And they look stupid on a Lambo.


If I remember correctly, with Porsche Tequipment or Porsche Exclusive you can have hand stitched leather vents made to order.
Old 03-11-2006, 09:47 AM
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so does the 350Z's on the side doors.. but not the middle column.

Old 03-11-2006, 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by JackieO
Does anyone know if there are any other cars with ones like these?



They kind of roll up and down, it's neat (and also a little annoying).
my 94 Accord has this type so doesn't my 00 Odyssey.
I think my mom's 05 Odyssey has very close to the 00 vents.
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