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I had 2 Chev Blazers that column shift, no consul and much preferred it to later cars. The drink holders were side by side on the front of the seat in the center and could be removed without tools.
Center shift is a plus for the manufacturers if they make the car in a right hand drive version. It is one less thing to move to the other side.
"but the huge center console makes you feel like you are in a coffin"
The last new car without a center console was the 2012 Chevrolet Impala with column shift.
I don't want a center console. Especially a HUGE wide one.
There is not new car/SUV today (2016) without a huge console. If my right leg rubs against the center console, I don't want that car.
So basically, there are no new cars today without a huge wide center console.
And I am in a situation where I can buy virtually any new car/SUV (within reason).
Why are front drivers seats so cramped today in every car/SUV?
And why do buyers of new cars put up with this?
Look at some Dodge/Chrysler products. Myself and another family member each have one, and we really like the interior design. The consoles are reasonable, not enormous. (I could not stand the interior console of Fords especially, and some other brands.)
I am under six feet tall and I drive with the seat to the full rear position (not reclined though). So, I agree with you that something seems wrong with the general sizing of the driver compartment. It's fine for me since I am not tall. But it seems like older cars (for instance other cars I've owned like my 1970s full-size Chevy and my 1990s Ford Explorer) definitely had more space for the driver to be comfortable and be more safely positioned.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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You are really in a coffin if you are in a Ford Flex! I so want to get one and have an art wrap as a coffin with a big spray of flowers on top, and a face of grandpa Munster on the hood. The 'lines' / body trim is Perfect for a Coffin! Add a few deco 'Handles', and you have the perfect hearse!
You can also look for the PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) or SSV (Special Service Vehicle) units available as leftovers or on the used market. Most are equipped with column shifters. All three of the Big 3 offer them in sedans or SUV models.
A lot of the design on new cars has to do with safety. That's why the windows are so small that you can't see out of them and rear cameras are required now. As inconvenient as it may be, the good news is that if your Civic is rear ended or t-boned by an SUV, you probably won't die. So you are going to have a hard time finding a car with a different design that eliminates the console. Some cars will be more comfortable for you than others. You may just have to try a few out and see how they feel.
I drive a new Taurus with the huge center console. When I first sat in the car, I loved it. Everything right there next to me. One of the things I love about the car
I drive a new Taurus with the huge center console. When I first sat in the car, I loved it. Everything right there next to me. One of the things I love about the car
My favorite car ever was my 1989 Ford Taurus (I acquired it when it was 5 years old). Split folding 60/40 bench seat with fold-able armrests in the middle. No issues with leg cramps ever in that car.
You can also look for the PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) or SSV (Special Service Vehicle) units available as leftovers or on the used market. Most are equipped with column shifters. All three of the Big 3 offer them in sedans or SUV models.
Most mini-vans don't have center consoles that impinge on seating position. The bump coming from the front can be a problem for your right knee. In my wife's Odyssey, if I tilt and recline the seat just the right way, my knee misses the center bump - however, it puts me in a position where I want to take a nap after driving for a couple of hours.
Ford F150 4x4. Mine has a bench seat, fold down "console" and column shift. I see they also make a console version.
Thats what I want, but wife wont let me get a truck because she doesnt want us to constantly be called to borrow the truck.
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