This past weekend I had read an article on the internet, on MSNBC to be exact, that defined cup holders as the focus of modern automotive interior design. If you would like to read this article just click on the following link.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31613390/ns/business-autos/.
As far as I’m concerned, I really have come to despise the modern automotive cup holder. There are several reasons with the first being; they are never clean. If the cup holder is of the molded ‘hole’ design, there is always some sort of ‘sticky goo’ at the bottom of the thing that you can’t reach to thoroughly clean. And we thought small children were germ factories. If your automotive taste is of the Teutonic nature, e.g. BMW, Porsche, Audi, then you’re probably familiar with ‘Transformer’ style cup holders that fold out from the dash or up from the console. In my lowly opinion, these units are the worst; if the ‘rattles’ don’t drive you nuts or the ill fitting nature of any cup that you attempt to insert, then the same ‘sticky goo’ that is ever present in the ‘hole’ style holder will eventually ‘weld’ the thing permanently into its folded position.
One of my favorite misadventures with a ‘Transformer’ style cup holder was in my 2002 Porsche 996. The cup holder on this car is located high on the dash, over the radio and heater controls. It is a fairly intricate two pocket design with a slider deck and fold down hoops. The pockets are fairly small diameter so you’re generally limited to 8 to 12oz cup sizes.
Because of the limited diameter of the cup pockets, most of the covered travel mugs that fit are fairly tall and have a tendency to tip a bit when inserted into the pocket.
So the story goes; Early one morning I was heading to work with a nice freshly brewed cup of Java. Pop out the trusty cup holder and insert, of course with the cup tipped and the ‘sipping hole’ pointed directly toward me. I leave the driveway and make it through the first of several residential intersections without incident. At the first intersection where I have to merge with heavier morning traffic, I put my foot to it and for a few moments enjoy the thrill of instantaneous acceleration (as expected from a car that advertises 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds). Just as I grab the shifter to stab second gear, I feel burning sensation up my right arm and across my lap. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of a coffee fountain, originating from the travel mug ‘sip hole’ and reaching apogee somewhere near the rear view mirror. Yes folks, the laws of inertia are just as true for liquids as they are for solids. You must also believe me when I tell you that hitting the brakes WILL NOT induce a reverse flow of coffee back into the travel mug and it’s probably a good thing that the Toyota driver I pulled out in front of was paying attention. A coffee shower, a physics lesson and a near miss is NOT the way to start your day.
After more than one of these similar occurrences, if I had coffee suspended from that intricately designed yet poorly positioned perch of a cup holder, I found myself driving the car as if it were a 1965 VW, utilizing a full 18 seconds in my 0 to 60 runs.
Then quite by accident I discovered a fix. Duct Tape. No, not taping the cup to the ‘Transformer’ or covering the ‘sip hole’ of the travel mug but simply setting a roll of duct tape on the floor in the passengers foot well. The hole in the center of the tape is the perfect size to accommodate most travel mugs and it has enough weight to keep it put. Besides, after a few days in the sun, the bit of adhesive that is on the sides of the roll will pretty much glue it to the carpet. The best part, full on 0 to 60 acceleration and 60 to 0 on the brakes, the travel mug stays put. Nary is a drop spilled and if it were, it wouldn’t be in my lap. The best part, I can replace the roll if it gets a bit foul.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31613390/ns/business-autos/.
As far as I’m concerned, I really have come to despise the modern automotive cup holder. There are several reasons with the first being; they are never clean. If the cup holder is of the molded ‘hole’ design, there is always some sort of ‘sticky goo’ at the bottom of the thing that you can’t reach to thoroughly clean. And we thought small children were germ factories. If your automotive taste is of the Teutonic nature, e.g. BMW, Porsche, Audi, then you’re probably familiar with ‘Transformer’ style cup holders that fold out from the dash or up from the console. In my lowly opinion, these units are the worst; if the ‘rattles’ don’t drive you nuts or the ill fitting nature of any cup that you attempt to insert, then the same ‘sticky goo’ that is ever present in the ‘hole’ style holder will eventually ‘weld’ the thing permanently into its folded position.
One of my favorite misadventures with a ‘Transformer’ style cup holder was in my 2002 Porsche 996. The cup holder on this car is located high on the dash, over the radio and heater controls. It is a fairly intricate two pocket design with a slider deck and fold down hoops. The pockets are fairly small diameter so you’re generally limited to 8 to 12oz cup sizes.
Because of the limited diameter of the cup pockets, most of the covered travel mugs that fit are fairly tall and have a tendency to tip a bit when inserted into the pocket.
So the story goes; Early one morning I was heading to work with a nice freshly brewed cup of Java. Pop out the trusty cup holder and insert, of course with the cup tipped and the ‘sipping hole’ pointed directly toward me. I leave the driveway and make it through the first of several residential intersections without incident. At the first intersection where I have to merge with heavier morning traffic, I put my foot to it and for a few moments enjoy the thrill of instantaneous acceleration (as expected from a car that advertises 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds). Just as I grab the shifter to stab second gear, I feel burning sensation up my right arm and across my lap. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of a coffee fountain, originating from the travel mug ‘sip hole’ and reaching apogee somewhere near the rear view mirror. Yes folks, the laws of inertia are just as true for liquids as they are for solids. You must also believe me when I tell you that hitting the brakes WILL NOT induce a reverse flow of coffee back into the travel mug and it’s probably a good thing that the Toyota driver I pulled out in front of was paying attention. A coffee shower, a physics lesson and a near miss is NOT the way to start your day.
After more than one of these similar occurrences, if I had coffee suspended from that intricately designed yet poorly positioned perch of a cup holder, I found myself driving the car as if it were a 1965 VW, utilizing a full 18 seconds in my 0 to 60 runs.
Then quite by accident I discovered a fix. Duct Tape. No, not taping the cup to the ‘Transformer’ or covering the ‘sip hole’ of the travel mug but simply setting a roll of duct tape on the floor in the passengers foot well. The hole in the center of the tape is the perfect size to accommodate most travel mugs and it has enough weight to keep it put. Besides, after a few days in the sun, the bit of adhesive that is on the sides of the roll will pretty much glue it to the carpet. The best part, full on 0 to 60 acceleration and 60 to 0 on the brakes, the travel mug stays put. Nary is a drop spilled and if it were, it wouldn’t be in my lap. The best part, I can replace the roll if it gets a bit foul.
