Why do people smoke in vehicles?

"Pickup_man" (zekeh) 06/26/2019 at 09:25 • Filed to: None

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First off, no judgement, I don’t care if you smoke, but I’ve been really frustrated lately by people who smoke in vehicles.

I’ve been truck shopping lately and within the last week I’ve had to walk away from three different trucks that were otherwise perfect except for the fact that they were smokers trucks. Right miles, right engine, right cab/bed, right packages, all the options I wanted, right at my ideal price point, smelled like smoke.

Last night I thought I had found the perfect truck, a 2015 F-150, crew cab, long bed, XLT with the (Canadian ) XTR package. As soon as I opened the door I could see the grunge on the seats and center council. The smoke smell was pretty subtle initially, but once I got the AC on and made it five minutes down the road it was pretty obvious. I brought it up to the salesman and he was completely understanding. After telling me that the truck had been through their cleaning process 2-3 times already, and it still had stains, I told him I’d have to pass but I’d keep it in mind. He didn’t even push, he just mentioned one leather replacement shop as an option, and told me to have a nice night. He’s clearly been through this before.

So I guess the search goes on. There’s a couple of previous gen FX4's in town I want to check out, but I’m really hoping to get into an aluminum truck. 

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:33

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I wonder how well ozone treatment would handle the smell? Seems to work for the strongest of organic odors, but not sure I’d bet used car money on it.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:34

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This was always one of my first questions that I asked when I was looking for trucks. So many good candidates ruled out due to it...it also seems to be a much more common issue with trucks than cars in general.

fintail > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:35

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Maybe they like depreciation? Gotta be like a 25% deduction for that these days, on a late model car anyway.

Reminds me of several years ago when a friend’s dad bought some new big F250 4x4.  Within the first 100 miles, he had thrown away the window sticker and smoked a cigar in it.   At least he kept it to drive into the ground rather than let go in 3 years.

Pickup_man > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/26/2019 at 09:36

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I’ve heard it works, but yeah, I’m not sure I’d want to gamble used truck money on it. Especially if the dealer has already shampooed and cleaned the interior 2-3 times and the grunge still hasn’t come out. I can’t imagine what it looked like before they cleaned it. 

Ash78, voting early and often > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:36

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I smoked constantly in my high school/college car. But that was because it was my only real escape and felt like a place where I could do my thing in private. When you’re 16-17, even possession of tobacco can get you attention from the police (even back in the 90s when smoking was allowed in shopping malls...yes, I know, it’s hard to imagine today). My college apartment had yellowed walls and ceilings.

Today, to be honest — with vaping, patches, gum, and as an adult with no legal penalties for tobacco ....smoking inside your car or home seems idiotic. I can’t believe I ever did it at all.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:37

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Because they’re addicted. 

Arrivederci > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:38

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When we were looking for my wife’s Sorento, found what looked like a nice one about an hour away in brown (!!!).  Made an appointment with the dealer to look at it and headed out the next day.  They had it pulled out front and I open a door and the odor hits me right in the face.  We refused to even drive it, dealer asked if they could get it out, would we be interested?  I said nope, you’ll never get that out all the way, what recourse would I have if my wife gets into it on a hot summer day and it starts to seep out again?  Shook their hand and headed out.  Two hours wasted.

412GTI > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:40

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Luckily you’re looking at F-150's, there’s likely to be more good, non-smoker options out there.

 I don’t get it either, though. My good friend smokes, but rarely does it in his cars to prevent the smell for his girlfriend. 

E90M3 > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:40

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A good college friend of mine used to smoke in his car, albeit a 2001 Grand Am GT with over 160k on the clock. Didn’t bother me because that meant we could smoke cigars in the car.

I went and test drove a DCT E92 M3 last year, and it was a smokers car. It wasn’t very obvious as they did a good job cleaning it, but I wouldn’t have bought it, had I been in the market, unless a very steep discount was applied.

Under_Score > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:41

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I wish they mentioned if a vehicle was a smoker’s car. I see a lot of people smoking in their cars around here, but if I can score a Lariat+ for a huge deal? Hmm. 

Pickup_man > Arrivederci 06/26/2019 at 09:43

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I contemplated it for a while because it’s a good deal on a good truck, but ultimately had to walk away, and the salesman understood completely. Luckily this one was only five minutes from home so I didn’t waste much time. The other two were at a big fair grounds sales event that I just drove through. I didn’t even talk to anyone on those, just opened the door and noped right out of there. 

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:44

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The lulz. The only reason anybody does anything.

Pickup_man > 412GTI 06/26/2019 at 09:45

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There’s quite a few out there, but I might have to travel a little bit to find a good one. Living in the salt belt I’ve got to be really thorough checking for rust on the steel trucks, and the aluminum trucks with the features I want are just starting to drop into my price range  so there aren’t a ton around yet.

Funktheduck > Ash78, voting early and often 06/26/2019 at 09:46

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I grew up with parents that smoke (mom quit when I was 18ish for the final time). I remember sitting in the smoking section of restaurants and I vaguely remember them smoking at the mall.

Pickup_man > Under_Score 06/26/2019 at 09:48

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I really debated it, but after ten miles of driving my wife was already complaining a ton and it was really noticeable to me too. And even though it was a good deal, it wasn’t substantially cheaper than similar trucks. So by the time I get fully cleaned, and possibly replace the seats I’m right at the same price point as a non-smoker truck, and I still don’t have a guarantee that it wouldn’t smell. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/26/2019 at 09:49

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Question I have is 1) the affect of ozone on plastics, wiring.

2) is it just temporary as tar oozes. In a house you can paint over and seal in the smell

Funktheduck > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:51

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People who smoke don’t notice the smell/care.

Back in college/post college my parents and I swapped around cars a lot based on need. My step dad needed my truck for a while so I said have at it as long as he didn’t smoke in it. That didn’t last long. I’ve already decided I’m redoing the interior once I get a house and get settled but it’s still frustrating.

It’s been years so the smell isn’t noticeable to me but the smoke stains and murk holes are still there. 

Under_Score > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:51

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Yankee Candle fresheners?  It’s a dream, but a sub-$25,000 2015+ Lariat+ would be appealing in a couple years, especially in red or bright blue. At the same time, people who smoke come across as the type to keep their vehicles for a very long time. The lady who rear ended me was a smoker, and she’s still driving her new-ish Corolla around with the front end smashed in.

Ash78, voting early and often > Funktheduck 06/26/2019 at 09:56

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I still have to stop myself from saying “Nonsmoking” to every hostess I see at a restaurant. Smoking has been banned (voluntarily or by law) almost everywhere in my area for at least 10 years. Now it’s extended to the outside — 10' from any entrances.

As a kid, I remember the smoking section on planes. Now that was nuts. At least restaurants separated the two sections with a wall of fake plants!

CB > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 09:57

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My car was a smoker's car. They never said, but you could smell it, plus there was a burn mark on the seat. It was so subtle, though, so I took the chance.

shop-teacher > Under_Score 06/26/2019 at 10:01

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No amount of air fresheners can conquer that.

shop-teacher > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/26/2019 at 10:03

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It works temporarily, but on a sunny hot humid day, it will be back.

My parents are/were heavy smokers, so I've dealt with this.

shop-teacher > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:04

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It only works temporarily. My parents are/were heavy smokers, so been there done that. You made the right decision.

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 06/26/2019 at 10:05

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There is a correlation between the types of people who smoke at higher rates, and the type of people who drive trucks.

Pickup_man > Under_Score 06/26/2019 at 10:07

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Not gonna cut it, I’m fairly sensitive to smell as it is and too strong of air fresheners give me headaches.

20-25k is right around where I’m looking, under 100k miles. The 15+ Lariats haven’t dropped into that price range quite yet, but there’s more and more XLT’s showing up every day. I’m still debating whether I go with a 15+ XLT, which has everything I would need, or try and find a clean 11-14 which has more things that I want... 

shop-teacher > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:07

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My dad smokes in his house and vehicles. Drives me nuts. His engine bay is always clean enough to eat off, but his interior is covered in ash.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:07

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And then on top of that, why smoke the headlights?

Funktheduck > Ash78, voting early and often 06/26/2019 at 10:07

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Yeah, here, the only place you can smoke is at age restricted places (21+ bars). Everywhere else you have to be outside but no distance from entrance laws except hospitals. Some places make smokers go a certain distance from the entrance but that’s policy not law. 

Tripper > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:08

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You should see behind the dash of smokers cars...absolutely disgusting. The ash gets everywhere. When I used to install car stereos, sometimes I would pull the deck out and a cloud of ash would come with it.

Pickup_man > shop-teacher 06/26/2019 at 10:09

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It’s tough walking away, it was a good deal on a truck that had everything I’d need, and really the only one in my area. I know more will show up, but I might have to travel a bit to find one. 

facw > Ash78, voting early and often 06/26/2019 at 10:10

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I remember ashtrays on planes (hell I was on a plane with refurbished seats a few years ago that had them), but even in the ‘80s I don’t remember people actually smoking (my parents are strongly anti-smoking, so I wouldn’t have been in the smoking section ). I do remember playing Bioshock, and thinking that if the smoky plane from the intro is anything like reality, I’m glad I missed that:

Pickup_man > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 06/26/2019 at 10:11

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I think smoked headlights look cool, but it’s not worth the reduced visibility. The above truck actually has factory headlights, with a projector bulb, clear lens  and just a black housing. Most of the FX4 trucks had the black headlights/taillights. 

Pickup_man > Tripper 06/26/2019 at 10:12

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No thanks, that sounds terrible. 

Sovande > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:13

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People smoke in cars/trucks because in this country we have certain freedoms. One such freedom is the right to smoke if you are of age. If you want to buy a truck and then smoke in it, that’s your choice.

I won’t buy a car that has had a Vanilla air freshener in it.  I don’t like the smell.  Fortunately, I am free to buy any car or truck I want.

facw > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:13

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I had an apartment that had previously been occupied by a smoker. I’ve learned my lesson and will never again get a place without the opportunity to at least briefly set foot in the actual apartment, as opposed to just a similar unit.

shop-teacher > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:14

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It probably was a good deal because it smelled. You may be the 12th person to walk away from that truck.

ranwhenparked > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:15

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I used to work for a tobacco company, that was pretty much every car in the fleet. 

Tripper > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:15

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Honestly not my worst experience. I hopped in the back of a super dirty E30 to run an antenna for satellite radio (right when XM first got big). Sort of laid across the back seat...well that back seat was saturated...saturated with months and months of daily dog PISS.

The only guy I ever said, “seeya, your shit is too gross”. 

nermal > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:22

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Massive judgement here: People who smoke aren’t smokers, they’re nicotine addicts . There’s a massive difference between a habit and an addiction. People who are addicted to strongly addictive substances will do dumb shit to get their next fix. This includes ruining their house / vehicles by smoking in them.

As far as the truck goes, it won’t hurt to look at a new one. F150s are everywhere. There’s a lot of old-new inventory around as well , you may be able to find a new one that’s been sitting on the lot for a while with a bazillion $$$ in rebates. Plus, if you’re financing, interest rates are lower on new ones. 

SiennaMan > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:24

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The problem is that they’re addicted, although it might be a touch worse these days in that in most areas their vehicles are one of the few places out of the weather they can smoke away from home. Personally, I’m quite sensitive too so I wouldn’t consider a smokers car unless I was planning on replacing the dash, seats, carpets, headliner and scrub out the vents. Basically, if I was converting it for racing , but otherwise..

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:31

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Banned

Pickup_man > Sovande 06/26/2019 at 10:31

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I never said they couldn’t, by all means, smoke it up. It’s frustrating though to have to walk away from multiple trucks because of it though, just like I’m sure it would be frustrating to have to walk away from a great deal if a car smelled like vanilla. I guess I’m just surprised at the number of trucks I’ve found that smelled of smoke. I’d have though that more people would be a bit more conscious about the effect smoking would have on the value of what were pretty expensive trucks. 

Pickup_man > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/26/2019 at 10:32

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What, no! I never said they were good, simply that I like how they look. 

Pickup_man > nermal 06/26/2019 at 10:40

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I’ve looked into it but i t’s crazy hard to find a crew cab 6.5' bed* on dealer lots, and when you do they’re usually fairly optioned up making them expensive. Longer loans and lower interest rates do make for payments that I can probably manage, but it’s still a ton of money and I’ve got other things I want to buy (acreage, camper, boat , all of the motorcycles etc.).

*I could save a lot  of money if I could convince my wife that an extended cab would be enough, but with a kiddo now a crew cab will be so much more convenient .

Pickup_man > Tripper 06/26/2019 at 10:40

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Eeeeeewwwwwwwwww. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:40

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lol.  I know, I mean, I kinda like them on some cars...just not the nissan altima that they are always on.

Pickup_man > shop-teacher 06/26/2019 at 10:40

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I wouldn’t be surprised if I was. 

Pickup_man > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/26/2019 at 10:42

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Not every car can pull them off. 

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:46

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They’re smokers, it’s an addiction, t hey don’t think of consequences...

You’re also dealing with a limited subset of the market where the ones that are well-price, in good shape, and smoke-free have likely already been purchased. Therefore the ones remaining for you to find are the ones everyone rejects because they were smoked in.

DipodomysDeserti > nermal 06/26/2019 at 10:47

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[takes sip of coffee as he stares into the screen of his smart phone]

Old-Busted-Hotness > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:54

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Because it’s the last place we have left.

You can’t even smoke outdoors without some SJW haranguing you about how you’re killing her children or some shit.

I know I should quit. Shut up about it. 

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 10:56

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Ohh it’s the housings, that’s better, haha.

Tripper > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 11:01

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Me: “oh bro, this is piss”

Shop Manager: *giggling “no way! ew man, that’s gross”

Me: “ I can go home with pay for this right?”

Shop Manager: * Hysterically laughing now, nods as he is unable to speak

Pickup_man > Old-Busted-Hotness 06/26/2019 at 11:09

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I feel ya, I really do.

No judgement here. It’s just frustrating and almost funny that every truck I’ve looked at in the last week I’ve had to walk away from because it smelled like smoke. And it’s not like I’m looking at trucks that are insanely good deals, they might be decent deals, but they’ve all been priced right in line with everything else I’m finding out there, it just happens that apparently every local truck is a smoker truck.

nermal > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 11:11

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The sweet spot for the dozen or so available trim levels seems to be one or two about the work / rental spec. Extra options are nice, but can drive costs up very high. Definitely get the bigger cab though, it makes things so much easier for accessing the back, especially for people.

McMike > Old-Busted-Hotness 06/26/2019 at 11:21

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True story.

I was outside eating at a ski resort, and there was one smoker. That smoker was being hassled by someone clear at the other end of their picnic table which I was sitting next to. She was going on and on as you would expect (cancer/children/how DARE you, etc) There were other places to sit, but she decided to go ball istic instead of moving . Hell, I didn’t even know there was someone smoking at our table until she started in on him. The tables were probably 20' long.

I asked him to borrow one so I could smoke right next to her.

I don’t even smoke. I was miserable.

It was worth it.

Pickup_man > nermal 06/26/2019 at 11:47

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Honestly the XL trim with the STX package plus a couple of options is everything I need. Finding one with the 6.5' bed though is impossible. I still need to shop around to see what kind of interest rates I can get on a used truck so a new one isn’t off the table quite yet, but it’s not likely. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/26/2019 at 12:27

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Norwex works wonders.

My Acclaim was not only a smoker’ s car, but a gross one at that, soda/food/ect spilled all over up front.

I went at it with my Wife’s Norwex supplies and not only got almost all the stains out, but the smell is gone too. The only sign it was a smoker’s car now are a couple burn holes.

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 12:38

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Under_Score > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 13:12

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The ability to lock a car with my elbow is fantastic and I would not give that up. No push button start/keyless entry buttons, no consideration. It’s only on 2015+ Lariats , but I really wish it was a package option for XLT.

With the key thing being there regardless, a 2013 or 2014 might be a better bet. 

CaptDale - is secretly British > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 13:33

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Just get an ozone machine. I own one for many reasons, but cleaning car smell is the most. Even used it on a couch I go t from some friends that smoke. Even though they didn’t smoke inside it transferred from their person. After a few hours in a closed room with the machine running they had no smell at all. 

Pickup_man > CaptDale - is secretly British 06/26/2019 at 14:08

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I’ve heard they work, but I’m not sure I want to take a $25,000 chance that it doesn’t. Plus all of the grunge that didn’t come out after 2 or 3 professional cleanings means I’m likely replacing seats. That’s a lot to spend/gamble when there are other trucks for similar deals. I don’t expect them all to be perfect, but I draw the line at smoked in/unclean-able .

CaptDale - is secretly British > Pickup_man 06/26/2019 at 14:26

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That is fair. honestly I am suprised they didn’t have an ozone machine when cleaning it out. 

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 06/26/2019 at 15:19

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I don’t think it would be an issue as it would be  used in a limited timeframe, but perhaps if you overdid it... I’m not entirely sure though, just aware that it’s a thing that’s done to deodorize stuff.