This is another excerpt from the paper, talking about the experiential aspects of cars discussed previously. In particular, it covers the aspects of cars relating to the sense of touch.
Touch is another highly important sense that provides a pronounced differentiation between old and new cars. At the core of this difference is the fact that new cars are extremely plastic-intensive, whereas most classic cars predate the widespread use of plastic in industrial applications. Therefore, there is a certain “honesty” of materials present in old cars—the feel of a wood-rimmed steering wheel, a cold metal switch (which also appeals on the aural level since its “click” is so committing, so “real”). In contrast, new cars are not so honest about their construction. Fasteners and inner workings are hidden, and often synthetic materials are engineered to mimic something else—wood or leather for example.