I have just acquired my fathers 1990 Silver Blue Chevy Lumina. Ironic that I also have my ex-wife’s 1990 Midnight Blue Chevy Astro Van as I am a professional astronomer. I would never buy cars like these, but this is all I have right now. Both are clean and run fairly well. I admit that I have owned a brand new Mazda 626 in 1984 and new Isuzu Trooper in 1992. American cars are not fit and finished inside like the Japanese. My 626 has 365,000 miles and still looked like new until I was hit by a semi-truck on a freeway. I have kept the car after the insurance totaled it. Everything still works after 20 years, AirCon, power everything, original catalytic converters and factory exhaust still in tact. Original front disc brake discs have never been resurfaced. Stops straight on a dime! However with only original 109,000 miles, conversely the Chevy finish work inside looks as if you asked a kid with a tube of Elmers glue to re-attach all the peeling Faupaux finishing inside. Headliners look as if coming loose, cheap velour door covers wilting and wrinkled, artificial burlwood trim looks like a Tonka toy. Look in a Japanese car from this era and they are finished like a Mercedes Benz and remain looking like new after several hundred thousand miles. My Mazda with 365,000 miles has paint that still lokks like new. The Chevy with only 1/3 the mileage has faded, blistered and peeling paint.

Now for the Lumina. As my father moved across the country, I acquired this car. I must say the seats and finish inside are in good condition, but it is not appointed like my Mazda. Good power in the 3.1 liter V-6 as my father maintained it to perfection as I was taught to do with my cars, good taught cornering and handling, but the bench seat is as if it came from a park bench. The ergonomics and controls on the dash are as if they do not exist. Many are literally invisible And impossible to find in the dark. After driving new Japanese cars for years including a 1970 Datsun 1600 Roadster, my first car I bought in 1973 with 29,000 original miles on it, I am not a fan of American auto interiors. What is wrong with our nations auto engineers and designers? I finally drove a new 2006 Chevy HHR that a friend and I rented some months ago. Chevy has finally got the Japanese ergonomic interior inherited. And the HHR performs well. Good power for what it is and good handling. I am glad to see that America has finally learned some design ideas from our counterparts in Asia.