Car Interior vs. Exterior: Which Matters More?

Ares501 - Mr Green · 2017-10-23T03:52:58Z

Explore the debate: Is a car's interior or exterior more important? WatchProSite members discuss the balance between aesthetics and driving experience.

Ares501 - Mr Green

WPS member · Automotive forum

22 replies3548 views8 photos

Ares501 - Mr Green initiates a thought-provoking discussion on the relative importance of a car's interior versus its exterior. He prompts the community to consider which aspect holds more weight from a driver's perspective, sharing images of his own car's interior and exterior to illustrate his point. This thread explores the subjective balance between aesthetics and the driving experience.

Is inside look of a car more important than outside look?
Is both equally important?
From drivers perspective it's very important what you are sitting behind cos
most of time you see inside and only while approaching or leaving the car outside...ok you also
stare at it cos you love your car

So this is my inside

but I'm also more than happy with outside

and most important part of a car....the viso

So friends
How are your inside and outside daily looks?
Cheers
D

Key Points from the Discussion

For some classic cars like the Porsche 550A Spyder or VW Beetle Convertible, the interior is intentionally spartan, making the exterior the primary focus. Conversely, some cars with less striking exteriors, like certain SAAB models, offer exceptional interior experiences.
The driving experience, including engine performance and handling, can outweigh aesthetic considerations for some, as exemplified by the Alfa 156's peppy engine or the sure-footedness of Subaru Imprezas, despite their sometimes 'cheap interiors'.
The ideal car offers a balance of joy between interior and exterior. Some cars, like the E-type, are primarily admired for their exterior aesthetics despite potentially challenging interiors, while others, like the Golf GTE, excel with a well-designed interior.
Performance (speed, handling, consumption, comfort) is often more important than aesthetics for some drivers. However, both interior and exterior matter, as drivers spend significant time inside the car but also appreciate its appearance when approaching or leaving it.
The majority of time with a car is spent behind the wheel, making the interior akin to a 'second home' for commuters. The exterior, while appealing, is often more enjoyed by others unless one actively observes it from outside.
The latest Alfa Romeo models are perceived by some as having strayed from the brand's heritage, reflecting an evolution driven by survival and marketability rather than traditional 'Alfa' characteristics.

The Discussion

Baron - Mr Red

Oct 23, 2017

......i think i need a balance of joy! For some cars, it really is all about the exterior. The heart and soul is all about the asethetics. Take the E-type......its a car that rarely ever works. When it does, it tries to kill you. The interior is actually more akin to weaponry that will skewer you when it eventually decides to drive into a tree. For an E-type, its definitely the exterior that wins me over! But then, for other cars, its the interior. I have a Golf GTE.....i just love how the inter

willski

Oct 23, 2017

Sometimes you have a great dial and a lesser movement, other times the reverse. But when you’re happy with the dial AND the movement it makes for a killer combo.

Alkiro1

Oct 23, 2017

And sometimes we talk about that with my wife about buildings. Do you prefer to live in the nice building with a view on an ugly one or the opposite? Best wishes Alkiro

maxmanzo

Oct 23, 2017

A car, a watch, lot of things in life and also people themselves are a mix of charcteristics. What's most valuable is of course in the eye of the beholder. Speaking of cars for instance, in my opinion and for my taste, performance (speed, handling, comsumption and overall comfort) are more important than aesthetics. If I had to decide only between inside and outside I would say... both! I spend at least 2 hours a day in the car so interiors matter, but I couldn't imagine to have an ugly car: I'd

nomadgiles

Oct 23, 2017

I had an Alfa 156 2L twin spark sport wagon that was a joy to drive with such a willing & peppy engine. Unfortunately the twisting & rough roads in rural Scotland where not kind to its suspension. I then got back into all wheel drive cars - Subuaru Imprezas (strange shapes and cheap interiors but a great sure footed driving car), and now this AWD TT - perfect family motoring (for me! - my wife's estate takes kids & dog etc) and it also came with a free midlife crisis ;-). Enjoy your

MTF

Oct 23, 2017

For some cars, the inside is nothing special to talk about... Like these two German "cousins" below. Porsche 550A Spyder bare metal interior VW Beetle Convertible painted dashboard So, we look at the exteriors. On the other hand, some cars like this SAAB is not a looker on the outside.... SAAB 9-3 But the interior view is pretty good. Inside the SAAB Seriously, all SAAB dashboards from the 900 Old Model, through the 9000 and until the 9-3 had the best dashboards. Finally, sometimes it doesn't lo

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Car Interior vs. Exterior: Which Matters More?

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