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Is it a side-impact safety thing? Putting as much distance as possible between the driver's seat and the door?
I just drove a bunch of cars. All the armrests in the doors were useless. Either too far away or too low. Some cars were so crappy they simply scalloped out a recess in the door instead of adding a shelf. Guess what? If you're tall and have the seat back, your elbow gets jammed in the door jamb..
Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'm starting to think new cars suck...
Is it a side-impact safety thing? Putting as much distance as possible between the driver's seat and the door?
I just drove a bunch of cars. All the armrests in the doors were useless. Either too far away or too low. Some cars were so crappy they simply scalloped out a recess in the door instead of adding a shelf. Guess what? If you're tall and have the seat back, your elbow gets jammed in the door jamb..
Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'm starting to think new cars suck...
I assume you're driving sedans. I have that same issue, being a big, tall guy. The B pillar crowds me in any 4 door car smaller than a true fullsize. That's one big reason why I like big coupes.
Most of the time the armrest on a door panel is too low for me to use it comfortably in cars.
I've never found it to be isolated to new cars. Most armrests are too low to be any use to me, because I would like to use them with my hands on the wheel. They do sometimes serve a use when I am not driving.
I usually rest my left arm up at the top of the solid part of the door where the window starts, with hand on the wheel. My right arm gets squat, always has, always will, even in most vans although a few of those have a useable right armrest.
Name a not-new car that actually has a high enough armrest, even on just the door side. I've never seen one.
Well my 17 year old Suzuki (don't laugh it runs!) has NO armrests! I had to actually rig up my own, that's quite comfortable.
Now my dream car, the new Challenger, sits perfects inside. Armrest on door and center could not have been any better. I think for what you want you gotta look at bigger cars.
The best ones in new vehicles I have been in have been the Challenger for me. The new mustang, ugly Camaros, all the Toyotas, Hondas, ford trucks, they just seem to be in the wrong place if at all. I did ride (didn't drive it) in a new 300 Chrysler, and it was ok, but still not where I'd want it either. Still far better than the new SS Impala my Sister just bought! Government Motors is screwing up big time!
The best ones in new vehicles I have been in have been the Challenger for me. The new mustang, ugly Camaros, all the Toyotas, Hondas, ford trucks, they just seem to be in the wrong place if at all. I did ride (didn't drive it) in a new 300 Chrysler, and it was ok, but still not where I'd want it either. Still far better than the new SS Impala my Sister just bought! Government Motors is screwing up big time!
The most comfortable vehicle I have owned was an Eddie Bauer limited edition Ford Explorer. I agree many vehicles today are just uncomfortable on the interior. My current ride is pretty nice though for a 2 seat sports car. I just did a 12 hr road trip and it was relaxing.
^^^Explorer. Yeah I had a 97 Taurus and the armrest was awesome! You could flip it open and it would turn into a 2 cup holder, a flip open lid for storage and then it would creat a big storage hole under the armrest. It was a brilliant design actually and I wish more cars would do this. That was the only domestic I still miss. Loved that car for so many reasons.
I find that some manufacturers are just far better with ergonomics than others, and I classify this into the ergonomics category. Also, armrests tend to be "one size fits all" too, and if you are not in their target "size" for a person, that one size may not fit you too well.
I've noticed skimping on center armrests as well; as though they are designed for dwarves. I advocate for min-van type armrests that fold down on BOTH sides of the seat
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