If you're talking about new-car smell, for one I don't think that's identical from manufacturer to manufacturer. I have a friend who got a new 2013 Elantra and it smelled... very weird from what I'm used to. But the smell is caused by off-gassing of VOCs in plastics and fibers. - ThreadSky

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techconnectify.bsky.social • 103 days ago

If you're talking about new-car smell, for one I don't think that's identical from manufacturer to manufacturer. I have a friend who got a new 2013 Elantra and it smelled... very weird from what I'm used to.

But the smell is caused by off-gassing of VOCs in plastics and fibers.

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gingersnaps321.bsky.social•103 days ago

I more meant in old cars, 80s or older. Toyotas all have a distinct smell I've noticed, I think it's the glue. But older 60s and 70s cars have a distinct, not quite musty smell. Not new car smell

kingofcatastrophy.bsky.social•102 days ago

To me, all GMs from the late 90s and to the mid 80s smell the same and I believe you're correct that it's the glue. I've been in and out of thousands of cars over the last 10 years as an auto tech, so I know what you mean.

techconnectify.bsky.social•102 days ago

Gotcha - I think it's the same thing, just what links them is the common materials in use at the time like those adhesives and, probably, plastics.

aricake.eu•102 days ago

It’s weird, because now people are used to this smell meaning “new car”, and I’ve heard several people say they like the “new car smell”, and even saw a spray bottle cleaner mimic it, to make your car feel new

clintonomor.bsky.social•103 days ago

Nah I feel we were taking about older cars, which, the smell is most definitely made through the exact/similar process(es)

fluffygryphon.bsky.social•102 days ago

Or how every old 1930s -1960s tube electronics smell the same? Like burned dust, degrading wax, and ancient solder flux?

clintonomor.bsky.social•102 days ago

Oh man I LOVE sparking up tape reel just for the smell! My IBM 5150 has roughly the same smell, so it’s getting there!

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