There have always been something the car designers do that just doesn’t make sense. Suicide doors, massive tail fins, landau roofs, hood scoops on cars that don’t need them, and on and on.
So my Durango is getting on and costing too much in repairs and gas. I want something downsized that gets good mileage. I need it to fit me since I’m quite a bit above average and it needs to fit the dog who is way above average. No pickup, not a car, don’t want some huge thing. The wife recently got a CRV which is OK but a bit small for me. So off to the Ford dealer and look at the new Escape because it has the longest rating for legroom and what do I see but this:
What's with these giant center consoles?
They take up all the space and make it uncomfortable to drive; and every car I look at has them!
One company comes up with something dumb and they all follow.
The best console EVER was the Chevy Tahoe/Avalanche/Yukon/Silvarado design of the late 1990's. Classy, elegant, functional and compact. The newer Chevys just look simplistic and cheap, like they couldn't be bothered to come up with anything as good as before.
Leg Room 1999. What Happen?
That's too comfortable!
Now we all need a console that is like a malignant plastic tumor.
After all, the other car companies are building them, so we have to!
Do Y'all sleep on the front seat floor? I love the consoles It makes it harder for SWMBO to smack me when I start cussing while driving. 😉
Have a great week! B-)
I'm right in the middle somewhere (story of my life). I like the open feel of the older models without the center console, but then again, I like the convenience of a center console. Like my old 1999 Dodge Ram, no center console, but sometimes I wish it had one because reaching over to the glove box is just out of the question.
You want a huge ugly console
Take a look at the current Landrover Defender
The photo does not do it justice - its twenty times worse in real life
[flash width=420 height=315] http://www.youtube.com/v/J3i7EFYk-_c?version=3&hl=en_US [/flash]
I hate to see the volume some of those center consoles take up that must be 80% wasted space. Put the PRNDL (which doesn't need to be huge) on the dashboard and if there is a center console, make its volume available for carrying your "stuff."
Probably some of the reason for the size is to make sure a third person doesn't sit in the front where there is no official seat, get hurt, and sue them.
Car design-Jim Cox
You got me wondering so I looked up a Land Rover on Cars.com and this is a picture of the driver's seat:
It's hard to imagine wanting all that mess. Couple it with the shortest leg room rating I've seen and I'm not sure I could even sit in it. And they want 130,000 for it.
