Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

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bk7794
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Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by bk7794 »

I remember sitting in the previous gen Mazda3 absolutely blown away you can shift without leaving your arm from the armrest. Anybody else have anything similar??

Seems so comfortable.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by theholycow »

That was the way in my 2008 VW.

In my Buick the shifter is too far away and the throws are too long...the shifter does manage to hang over the seat in 2/4/R but not as far rearward as the VW's was.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by Teamwork »

2015 VW GTI - no tricks even though it is height adjustable.

The only pattern'ed movement I have trouble keeping my elbow down is 4th to 5th. I could shift 1 through 4 though without even lifting off the rest though.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by potownrob »

only cars i've had where i could do that... were slushbox :x :evil: :oops: :lol:
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by AHTOXA »

Yes, in my Subaru, even though the throw is quite long.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by Stelcom66 »

After I extended the armrest in my Forester I do. Looks kind of crude, but it significantly makes for more comfortable shifting. I made it exactly the height I needed to, so I can effectively just shift with my wrist. The factory armrest was way too low and small (2002).

Was going to post a picture but got 'ERROR - Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached.'
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by tankinbeans »

Do you have photobucket or something similar? You can post the jpeg link.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by watkins »

Until I broke it (oops) the armrest in my Viggen was more in the way than comfortable for resting on while shifting. It was doable, but the shifts aren't exactly short, so 2,4,R were all difficult.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by Stelcom66 »

Stelcom66 wrote:After I extended the armrest in my Forester I do. Looks kind of crude, but it significantly makes for more comfortable shifting. I made it exactly the height I needed to, so I can effectively just shift with my wrist. The factory armrest was way too low and small (2002).
Was going to post a picture but got 'ERROR - Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached.'
tankinbeans wrote:Do you have photobucket or something similar? You can post the jpeg link.
Thanks for the tip/reminder, been so long but that reminded me I have imgur, I think suggested by someone here.

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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by theholycow »

Is there a build thread for that somewhere? That looks like something I would very likely do in some vehicles. Alternatively I might transplant one from a junkyard donor.

So I drove my car this morning for the first time since this thread came up and noticed that I can shift while resting on armrest, but my armrest is a little low to do anything with my arm on it. In fact in 4th the shift knob is just 3 or 4 inches away from the armrest, I can rest the heel of my hand on it and have my fingers well over the knob.

Maybe I should improve the Buick's armrest since it is a little low for me. If I transplant one maybe I can get one with storage inside it too.
Last edited by theholycow on Wed Apr 06, 2016 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by Stelcom66 »

No build thread - but I think I used leftover 5/4" decking, with foam on the top so it would be more comfortable. The material around it was bought from a fabric store, I wish I tried to match the color of the interior better. Subaru sold plastic (maybe with vinyl on top) armrest extenders, but they were around $75 if I recall, but the top would open for additional storage, unlike mine.

I can shift without lifting my arm. The improvement was more than I thought it would be overall, having an armrest at the proper height and especially shifting. The advantage of making your own is having the dimensions ideal for you. Although it would certainly look better, I doubt I'd be as satisfied with the factory option. If you find one to transplant from another GM car it may be comfortable enough.
Last edited by Stelcom66 on Mon May 02, 2016 12:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by bk7794 »

Ah, good to know so many vehicles have at least some sort of ability to shift while resting your arm. I must admit, that would be one feature I would attempt to look at in another car. It definitely makes a difference when you're on long drives and when you're feeling lazy.

Funny enough, I believe my car sort of does that...but I think I need to really awkwardly extend my arm to the point where its not even on the armrest anymore.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by Shadow »

Yes, can do that in my Audi. But the car that really stands out on my mind is my old Eagle Talon. The whole center console was on the same level as the armrest.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by Bill B »

My Element has one of those funky dash mounted shifters, so cannot rest arm on anything. Used to rest my hand on the shifter of my old 5 speed Escort wagon when changing the radio stations.
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Re: Do you have a car that you can shift while resting your arm on your armrest?

Post by theholycow »

Bill B wrote:My Element has one of those funky dash mounted shifters, so cannot rest arm on anything.
I've always thought that those look terribly awkward.

The worst is automatics with their shifter in that position. Most of the intrusion of a console/floor shifter plus all of the awkwardness of the dash shifter...and zero functional, ergonomic, or even aesthetic advantage over the classic column shifter. Are column shifters really THAT verboten?
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