Poll: Do You Use the Driver's Door Armrest?

Faux black suede, upholster foam pad shaped with 1" belt sander.

 

Pretty! Matches your interior!
Is that a close-cell foam or an open-cell foam?
Height? Is that about 4 inches thick? (Guessing from your picture.)
Did you mount it with that double stick tape? Carpet tape? Or what?

Surprised at a 1-inch belt sander as my belt sanders are 4 or 5 inches across. Where did you find that?

 

I don't use any arm rests in any vehicle. I keep both hands on the wheel 3 & 9 and have my wheel and seat adjusted so my arms couldn't rest if I wanted them to.

Mike

 

Don't use my armrest either. I'm a 10 and 2 o'clock steerer, or have my arm on the door sill.

SCH-I535

 

My seat is as low as it gets

Mike

 

And no sign of wear

 

i love all the "i keep both hands on the steering wheel" blah blah blah.. if your that bad of a driver that you HAVE/think you need to keep both hands on the steering wheel, please do all us who aren't that bad of drivers a favor and stay off the road!

 

Someone let the children stay home from school today?

Mike

 

lol no... i dont have kids old enough to be in school.... just get tired of people acting like doing things by the book is the correct way. Get over yourself

 

You get over yourself. I never said one thing about you have to do this by the book. Newbies come on here every once in a while and cause issues. You are the one that started stuff.

Mike

 

thats my bad.. i wasnt referring to you or for you to get over your self! sorry about that!

 

Apology accepted. Thank you

Mike

 

t's a dense, closed cell foam used in auto seats. It's attached with heat activated Velco . More or less, permanent.
The sander is a vertical bench type sander. It's not something you would use to sand your floors.

 

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Why do you care?

And it's a totally unfair assumption to say those that keep both hands on the steering wheel are "bad drivers" while those that evidently need to protect their manicure on cushions while driving are better drivers.

I think most people would tell you both hands on the wheel is considered better/safer than one hand on the wheel.

This whole thread is asking "Do you use the arm rest?" .....some people don't. Some people drive with both hands on the wheel as much as possible. No need to call THEM out as bad drivers.

I've never used the arm rest in any vehicle I've owned. When I'm driving, I do usually have both hands on the wheel. At a stop light, or maybe a drive thru...I might rest my arm on the door ledge...

But whatever habit you are comfortable with? I'm not calling the "other side" out as being "bad drivers". However, it seems pretty basic, when driving the priority should be keeping control of the vehicle and safety. Which IS why "The Book" recommends steering with both hands. If your priority when driving is resting your arm? Perhaps you should go home and rest it.

 

I think Toyota's design intention WAS to keep the arm rest location very low to promote the use of both hands on the steering wheel. Air bag effectiveness and safety is crucial to the placement of both hands placed on the wheel. Even the design of the steering wheel is a consideration.

 

Possible, but if the goal was to force hands-on-wheel driving it would seem simpler to have no armrest or center console. I believe my SAAB 93B, which was about the same size and shape as our current Prius, lacked arm rests and center console (as well as power steering, a synchromesh first gear, an oil pump, suicide doors,and many other odd things). I find arms straight out on wheel leads to fatigue after 2 to 3 hours of driving and the arm rests and console are useful to relieve muscle fatigue at that point. Similar trade-offs in using cruise control rather than constant accelerator pressure for long-distance drives. Obviously some folks will disdain to use either convenience, but I find them useful as I would rather focus energy on cognitive awareness of the driving situation rather than constant muscular effort.

 

I have been using the arm rest only as a place to put weight from my left hand as i try to adjust myself back into the seat. BIG MISTAKE. The materials quality in the door is abysmal. The upper portion of the door broke away from the lower portion and caved in to the interior of the door. Only by forcing the lower part in and allowing its upper edge to catch the lower edge of the upper part was I able to get the door looking sort of like its former self. This is a 2013. I have since resolved to only use the small handle to put weight on. I must say that while I am quite pleased with the mechanical quality and mileage, the interior materials and sheet metal flimsiness leave something to be desired. I am going to ask for a interior door panel warranty repair/replacement at my next service.

 

I would.