I introduced some friends to my HCH this weekend, and they claimed that it still had a new car smell. I bought it in August!! I can't smell it, myself, but I guess it's plausible that it lingers for months to a small extent. I usually keep the windows shut (to cut down on drag) but that still seems extreme to me. A good airing may be in order, despite the 100 degree heat index. Yuck.