Anyone who has stopped on a road trip for a 20 oz. Coke knows the annoyance of trying to wedge the bottle between the seat and the console because it won’t fit in the cup holder. Taco Bell fans know better than to order a crunchy taco for a mid-commute snack. And that random french fry disappearance? Unless you have a resourceful dog, that thing may not turn up for months.
Car manufacturers feel your pain. The new Ford Fusion, for example, did its best to close up gaps in the back seat to save french fries from harm and provide big cupholders sized to hold the big 20 ouncers. Instrument panels are tested for resilience against sticky soda spills. The Lincoln Zephyr has pop-up compartments strategically located near the instrument panels, convenient for the stashes of dashboard diners. The interesting thing about it is that studies show that eating and driving is less likely to be destructive than changing the radio station.
So what’s next? Microwave glove boxes? Console coolers? Like it or not, dashboard dining is here to stay.
Thanks to Joel A for the tip.
[JN - Some VW’s now come with air-conditioned glove boxes and center armrests to keep your cold stuff cold.]
my car has two Big Gulp sized cupholders, and a sturdy fold-out adapter that converts one of them to the perfect size for a soda can. My center console holds three upright soda cans, two packs of Lance crackers, and it’s felt-lined inside so nothing rattles. My leather center armrest is just the right size (and has the right coefficient of friction) for any fast-food burger, and I never get fries, so the lack of a fry-holder is fine by me.
(can you tell i spend a fair amount of time in my car? 14000 miles on the clock in four and a half months.)
I don’t eat in my car unless it is hard candy, or gum… and I do not drink anything unless it has a screw on top (soda bottle or snapple tea), or water.
ill second this… i hate it when my g/f drives my truck though cause she’s got garbage everywhere and always wants to eat food in the truck. i hate that shit!!
