Offgasing/VOCs
Hopefully this is the right topic for this, since I'm not sure which car might be the best to avoid offgasing/VOCs.
Wondered if anyone has done any research on emissions from car components. In 2004, we bought a 2004 Toyota Prius and we chose that model because of the reduced emissions and gas mileage. In a stroke of irony, the toxic emissions inside the car ended up being a real problem for me. (Disclaimer: this was not a reflection of any digestive issues my husband or I may have.) Because of the strong, chemical "new car" smell, I would get a headache within about five minutes of being in the car. We actually had to drive around with the windows open for the first six months. The odor was much worse if the car had been sitting in the sun for some time. We bought a small ionizer meant for use in a car (didn't make any difference) and even tried some odor-absorbing rocks that helped somewhat. The off-gassing did eventually fade to tolerable limits.
But my question is, how do I get around this "new car" problem when I replace my car next year? I would prefer a new car so that I can get a hybrid SUV like a Highlander Hybrid, but is buying a used car the only way to avoid this problem? Of course, with a used car I may end up inheriting someone else's odors: tobacco, gym clothes, takeout curry, stains from carsick kids. Plus, some of the chemicals the dealerships use to make the used cars presentable smell almost as bad as the "new car" smell. Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks
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