Discussion
Always loads of threads about sounds but what about nice motoring smells, evocative ones and please try to keep the Castrol R references to a minimum as everyone knows it is the holy grail of motoring whiffs. I think it is very important that a car smells right.
Feu Orange traffic light air freshener (can you still get those ?)
Freshly thrashed Pinto on a winters day.
Golf GTI MK1 interior.
Un-catalysed exhaust.
Classic car odour, polish, oil, leather.
New Car !
That burnt matches or Red Arrows smoke smell when something big and fast hoons past.
And the nasty smells
Diesel smoke*
Vanilla Air Freshener.
Burning clutch, Brakes or tyres usually is the result of fun but none are "nice" smells
Mini Cab interior, like an extension of the drivers person.
Feu Orange traffic light air freshener (can you still get those ?)
Freshly thrashed Pinto on a winters day.
Golf GTI MK1 interior.
Un-catalysed exhaust.
Classic car odour, polish, oil, leather.
New Car !
That burnt matches or Red Arrows smoke smell when something big and fast hoons past.
And the nasty smells
Diesel smoke*
Vanilla Air Freshener.
Burning clutch, Brakes or tyres usually is the result of fun but none are "nice" smells
Mini Cab interior, like an extension of the drivers person.
- Unless its 2.30 outside some manky nightclub, then its welcome.
For some reason I like the smell of a freshly started car fitted with a cat. Not sure why, perhaps it reminds me of getting in the car for an early morning hoon (or commute as they were known at the time) on the quiet Devon roads.
As far as bad smells I go I think of most smells that my 944 produces at the moment fall into that category although the mouldy smell from the interior has finally died off.
As far as bad smells I go I think of most smells that my 944 produces at the moment fall into that category although the mouldy smell from the interior has finally died off.
I have found that all Saab c900s have the same smell, I call it "Saab". My dad's 3 c900s all had it, as does mine. 20 years old and it still smells the same! Especially good when it's not been used for a few days, get in and "Ahhhhh!" 
Not driven it for a couple of days now, looking forward to driving it for work tomorrow
Conversely, all 9-5s seem to smell of wax crayons

Not driven it for a couple of days now, looking forward to driving it for work tomorrow
Conversely, all 9-5s seem to smell of wax crayons

I don't mind the diesel smell from older cars as much as that horrible chemical stink that comes out the back of new ones, and as already said, gearbox oil is the stinkiest s
t on god's green earth.
Good smells...hmm, Cant think of anything outside the obvious oil, petrol and hot metal smells
t on god's green earth. Good smells...hmm, Cant think of anything outside the obvious oil, petrol and hot metal smells
Papa Hotel said:
German taxi - shiny, hard fake leather, unable to either adequately soak up or release the smell of a million sweaty arses, a thousand mouthfuls of vomit or 100 shots of semen. A heady mixture indeed.
Bloody hell, that was some journey !And since when did semem start getting served in shots, I shall stick to Tequila if its all the same.
PS, I know what you mean, just couldnt resist.
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 1st February 21:31
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 1st February 21:34
Papa Hotel said:
German taxi - shiny, hard fake leather, unable to either adequately soak up or release the smell of a million sweaty arses, a thousand mouthfuls of vomit or 100 shots of semen. A heady mixture indeed.
Bloody hell, that was some journey !And since when did semem start getting served in shots, I shall stick to Tequila if its all the same.
PS, I know what you mean, just couldnt resist.
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 1st February 21:31
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 1st February 23:40
I dunno about the nice smells (vanilla essence goes nice in any car but not according to thread starter!) but how about the absolute worst smell.
Been there!
There is only one smell that means 'it gotta go!' - the car I mean! This smell is drastic.
Not so likely to happen these days but when milk was in pints (bottles, that is, glass bottles) I'd picked up a couple from the dairy (don't think we had supermarkets then... yeah, it was a fair while back) as the milkman (used to be delivered to your doorstep - for the uninitiated) and led both bottles on the back seat of my car.
Trouble was, being a PH even in those days, meant I took corners a tad too fast (never learn - even had a copper chase me in his Panda once and he told me in no uncertain terms that the only time I kept to the speed limit was 'round the corners'
). Anyway, back to the tale, the two glass bottles left the back seat, collided and my poor car looked like an accident in a cattle shed!
You'd never think 2 pints could soak everything in sight. But that was only half the problem.
Oh god, the smell, a week later, even after cleaning it up.
Unbelievable! I reached every time I got in it.
It had to go, after loads of air freshner was sprayed in it.
The poor b*gger who bought the car crashed it. Always felt guilty that he'd been overcome by the smell
Been there!
There is only one smell that means 'it gotta go!' - the car I mean! This smell is drastic.
Not so likely to happen these days but when milk was in pints (bottles, that is, glass bottles) I'd picked up a couple from the dairy (don't think we had supermarkets then... yeah, it was a fair while back) as the milkman (used to be delivered to your doorstep - for the uninitiated) and led both bottles on the back seat of my car.
Trouble was, being a PH even in those days, meant I took corners a tad too fast (never learn - even had a copper chase me in his Panda once and he told me in no uncertain terms that the only time I kept to the speed limit was 'round the corners'
). Anyway, back to the tale, the two glass bottles left the back seat, collided and my poor car looked like an accident in a cattle shed!You'd never think 2 pints could soak everything in sight. But that was only half the problem.
Oh god, the smell, a week later, even after cleaning it up.
Unbelievable! I reached every time I got in it.

It had to go, after loads of air freshner was sprayed in it.
The poor b*gger who bought the car crashed it. Always felt guilty that he'd been overcome by the smell

Edited by dandarez on Monday 1st February 21:37
NiceCupOfTea said:
I have found that all Saab c900s have the same smell, I call it "Saab". My dad's 3 c900s all had it, as does mine. 20 years old and it still smells the same! Especially good when it's not been used for a few days, get in and "Ahhhhh!" 
Not driven it for a couple of days now, looking forward to driving it for work tomorrow
Conversely, all 9-5s seem to smell of wax crayons
It's not just you - my 9000 also has that smell as does my mate's one. I haven't come across another brand of car that has such a distinctive smell. As you say, it's best when it's been left for a few days. 
Not driven it for a couple of days now, looking forward to driving it for work tomorrow
Conversely, all 9-5s seem to smell of wax crayons

Just been thinking about this. have just stripped out an ek9 96 civic and it still has itd distinctive smell, do it musnt be the upholstery unless its the only bit i left, drivers seat.
Incidentally smells exactly like the mark II mr2 I had. just sitting in the e39 540 now which smells just like the e60 I had. the cerbera was unmistakeable, and some luton taxis are unbearable. have actually had to get out and say i cant go on in it.
Incidentally smells exactly like the mark II mr2 I had. just sitting in the e39 540 now which smells just like the e60 I had. the cerbera was unmistakeable, and some luton taxis are unbearable. have actually had to get out and say i cant go on in it.
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