Thanks for the (surprisingly binary) responses. It seems the reason why many do not like individual arm rests is for ergonomic reasons due to body size or other reasons. Yet, everyone is a different size and those who do want an individual arm rest do not now even have a choice in most vehicles.

What "consensus" is there that arm rests are uncomfortable, outdated, or limited? Sports oriented car magazines for whom it gets in the way of shifting quickly around the track? For those who don't like an individual front arm rest, you can just hinge it up out of the way or detach it. It would be good to have one as an option at least.

I don't buy the view that they are only for minivans or SUV's and that even if they are, that should be seen as somehow a negative thing. Both BMW and Mercedes used to offer comfortable arm rests in their sedans for example. It made them more luxurious and did not impact the driving experience at all.

Chris

 

Such arm rests are made for captains chairs in the rear of mini vans. This is not an ideal set up front to rest the right arm. Very narrow & one must have a stick arm to be comfortable.

 

I can go with either. I like how having the center console armrest raises the whole console though.

 

good point, i agree. for captain seat, cool. for up front especially driver side, nah

 

I know some 2RX drivers who don't like those armrests and fold them up and out of the way...so some like them, others don't.

One thing that was appreciated about the 4LS design, the door armrest and the center console cover/armrest are the same height, intentionally for a 'balanced' effect.

 

yes, believe me that makes a difference. when i had the car and got in the gs, i could feel the slight difference

 

ive always liked the seat mounted arm rest, but ive noticed that now there isnt one in cars today, people are leaning sideways and at an angle, utilizing the center console as part of the arm resting area. and its seemingly always lower than need be, resulting in some uncomfortable bending and leaning. i remember me and a few of my buddies were on our way back from a vegas trip, and i was leaning on the center console for much of the ride. it'd be nice to have a center console that was as high as an armrest, just so that more people can comfortably rest their arms without having to shift their bodies so much

 

The armrest in my Lexus is softer and plusher than the BMWs, Jags, Porsches, Mercedes that I've driven/owned in the past, but again that's just my opinion.