Car Shopping Question

holly71 · 09-26-2008, 08:17 PM

Alright, here's the situation:

I've been driving the same car for the past 12+ years. I am FINALLY going to get a new (used, but new to me) car. I have had my heart set on a BMW for the past 4 years. We've been looking at them & I don't want anything else. However, one of the biggest knocks they get from consumers is about their cupholders (the biggest knock is against the i-drive, which I'm not too keen on either). Bigger cupholders was one of the biggest things I was looking forward to, believe it or not! I hate the cupholder in my current car. You can't put big drinks in it. You really can't fit anything beyond a very small drink in it.

OK, this is going to sound like a ridiculous question, but I'm going to go out on a limb and ask anyway:

would you not buy your dream car over a cupholder? I'm seriously reconsidering, as I consider it a comfort/convenience issue.

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PGM35 · 09-26-2008, 11:00 PM

I wouldn't drink a big drink in my dream car. So the answer for me would be no, I wouldn't let it stop me.

Missyboxers · 09-27-2008, 12:12 AM

For what it's worth, Cadillac did a whole ad on how one important factor in a woman's decision to buy a car is the cupholder. (Thank you CNBC, for burning this ad into my brain) So it's certainly an issue that some people consider, and if you'll be spending a lot of time in the car, it might be important. If you're going to have the car for awhile, you want it to be a car that you really like. Superficial though this may sound, I spent an entire lease cursing the fact that we decided not to get the option for the back of steering wheel radio controls.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to change your mind about a dream car-- perhaps you'll find an equally well-made car that's a better fit for you and decide to go that route. Or you can get the BMW and work around the cupholder situation.

Broadway · 09-27-2008, 12:14 AM

It would depend on how often I was in my car and for how long. If having a big drink was something that I had on a regular, or daily basis and I all of a sudden wouldn't have the ability to do so.. then it would bother me.

But two things: 1) you haven't ever had bigger cupholders, so it wouldn't be different than now so it wouldn't be a takeaway option... just a dream that you thought you might be getting, and 2) is there something else to accomodate your desire for a bigger cupholder? For example, is there a center console that can be opened up that would accomodate a bigger drink with a small modification? A few of our cars (I work for GM) have a big cupholder inside the console and you can choose to use it as such, or use it as a normal console. Perhaps your dream car can work that way for you?

If it is a big deal and you can't accomodate it... then I'd say that it wouldn't be irrational at all to not buy the car. It will always bug you.

eta: yay, Missy, our ads work!!!!

PhoneGrrrl · 09-27-2008, 12:23 AM

I recently bought a BMW and the dealership where I bought mine is very accommodating. Try asking the sales person for help; they've probably encountered this issue before. My cup holder accommodates regular sized cups/cans, which really doesn't bother me. I don't want that much liquid that close to my nav system controller, given how klutzy I am.

queenb · 09-27-2008, 08:15 AM

Cup holders are not a big deal to me anyway--I never could understand why there is so much fuss over them. But if it's such a big deal to you, by all means find another brand of car that has cup holders you like.

Newfherder · 09-27-2008, 08:47 AM

Time for a guy's perspective:

I can't emphasize that enough.

I once had a car that would accomodate a large (44 oz, I think) insulated cup between the driver's and passenger's seat. When I traded up, I found that the new car wouldn't accomodate a Dixie cup, let alone my Vat of Liquid Inspiration. It was only annoying while I was fighting it. After a few days, I said, "no big deal" and started using the factory cup holders.

The moral: You'll adapt.

Or you can buy a Homer, designed by Homer Simpson for his brother Herb's car company. "Strong and powerful like a gorilla, yet soft and yielding like a nerf bat." As I recall, BIG drinkholders were one of the design criteria

canuckinchile · 09-27-2008, 09:00 AM

My husband had a Peugeot 607 in Chile that had NO CUP HOLDERS

It was really annoying. I have a car now that has a little insert that kind of adjusts to fit the size of the drink. I agree though, you'll adapt. Also, you can also find really tall skinny cups that will still fit and hold more volume. If you've had your heart set on a certain type of car I wouldn't let the cup holders put you off.

burntbrat · 09-27-2008, 11:04 AM

holly, I would certainly ask the dealership about this. My co-worker bought a BMW 3 series about a year ago and it has adjustable cupholders in the console. When we go pick up food those big 32 oz. cups fit just fine. I'm not sure how an enormous 44 ouncer would do, though. Since you're buying it used they might have some options for you, or they can keep an eye out for a model with those adjustable console things.

Lil Bit · 09-27-2008, 12:32 PM

I once had a car that didn't have a trunk button in the glove box and it just irritated the heck out of me. I think that is one of the reasons that I ended up trading it off. What's trivial to one person may be a big deal to another. My husband has a Ford F250 truck and it has 4 cup holders in the front. Two of them are expandable to hold bigger cups. I love them but don't like driving the truck that much. Too big for me. I drive a Pontiac Bonneville and the cup holders are alright, but since I'm only 5'2", I have to put my seat way up to drive which makes it a bit awkward to reach the cup holder in the center counsel. But, I love my car and plan to keep it for several more years if it holds out mechanically.

I don't know if this is the slightest bit helpful to you or not.

09-26-2008, 08:17 PM	#1
holly71 everyone's a critic... Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Lone Star State Age: 39 Posts: 3,633	Car Shopping Question Alright, here's the situation: I've been driving the same car for the past 12+ years. I am FINALLY going to get a new (used, but new to me) car. I have had my heart set on a BMW for the past 4 years. We've been looking at them & I don't want anything else. However, one of the biggest knocks they get from consumers is about their cupholders (the biggest knock is against the i-drive, which I'm not too keen on either). Bigger cupholders was one of the biggest things I was looking forward to, believe it or not! I hate the cupholder in my current car. You can't put big drinks in it. You really can't fit anything beyond a very small drink in it. OK, this is going to sound like a ridiculous question, but I'm going to go out on a limb and ask anyway: would you not buy your dream car over a cupholder? I'm seriously reconsidering, as I consider it a comfort/convenience issue. __________________ Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

09-26-2008, 11:00 PM	#2
PGM35 FORT Fogey Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Age: 39 Posts: 1,640	Re: Car Shopping Question I wouldn't drink a big drink in my dream car. So the answer for me would be no, I wouldn't let it stop me.

09-27-2008, 12:12 AM	#3
Missyboxers FORT Fogey Join Date: May 2004 Location: NYC Age: 26 Posts: 3,544	Re: Car Shopping Question For what it's worth, Cadillac did a whole ad on how one important factor in a woman's decision to buy a car is the cupholder. (Thank you CNBC, for burning this ad into my brain) So it's certainly an issue that some people consider, and if you'll be spending a lot of time in the car, it might be important. If you're going to have the car for awhile, you want it to be a car that you really like. Superficial though this may sound, I spent an entire lease cursing the fact that we decided not to get the option for the back of steering wheel radio controls. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's okay to change your mind about a dream car-- perhaps you'll find an equally well-made car that's a better fit for you and decide to go that route. Or you can get the BMW and work around the cupholder situation.

09-27-2008, 12:14 AM	#4
Broadway One in every crowd.. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 18,763	Re: Car Shopping Question It would depend on how often I was in my car and for how long. If having a big drink was something that I had on a regular, or daily basis and I all of a sudden wouldn't have the ability to do so.. then it would bother me. But two things: 1) you haven't ever had bigger cupholders, so it wouldn't be different than now so it wouldn't be a takeaway option... just a dream that you thought you might be getting, and 2) is there something else to accomodate your desire for a bigger cupholder? For example, is there a center console that can be opened up that would accomodate a bigger drink with a small modification? A few of our cars (I work for GM) have a big cupholder inside the console and you can choose to use it as such, or use it as a normal console. Perhaps your dream car can work that way for you? If it is a big deal and you can't accomodate it... then I'd say that it wouldn't be irrational at all to not buy the car. It will always bug you. eta: yay, Missy, our ads work!!!! __________________ Never let the things you want make you forget about the things you have.

09-27-2008, 12:23 AM	#5
PhoneGrrrl Mixing Old Fashioneds Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,637	Re: Car Shopping Question I recently bought a BMW and the dealership where I bought mine is very accommodating. Try asking the sales person for help; they've probably encountered this issue before. My cup holder accommodates regular sized cups/cans, which really doesn't bother me. I don't want that much liquid that close to my nav system controller, given how klutzy I am. __________________ I want to be housecat....be very important, and have little to do.

09-27-2008, 08:15 AM	#6
queenb Miz Smarty Britches Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: drinkin' muddy water, sleepin' in a hollow log Age: 49 Posts: 6,049	Re: Car Shopping Question Cup holders are not a big deal to me anyway--I never could understand why there is so much fuss over them. But if it's such a big deal to you, by all means find another brand of car that has cup holders you like. __________________ Tell your mind to stay cool brother man, seek the truth and don't be no fool

09-27-2008, 08:47 AM	#7
Newfherder Resident curmudgeon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Enchanted by a beautiful Soprano Posts: 3,065	Re: Car Shopping Question Time for a guy's perspective: I can't emphasize that enough. I once had a car that would accomodate a large (44 oz, I think) insulated cup between the driver's and passenger's seat. When I traded up, I found that the new car wouldn't accomodate a Dixie cup, let alone my Vat of Liquid Inspiration. It was only annoying while I was fighting it. After a few days, I said, "no big deal" and started using the factory cup holders. The moral: You'll adapt. Or you can buy a Homer, designed by Homer Simpson for his brother Herb's car company. "Strong and powerful like a gorilla, yet soft and yielding like a nerf bat." As I recall, BIG drinkholders were one of the design criteria __________________ "The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination." --Marion Zimmer Bradley

09-27-2008, 09:00 AM	#8
canuckinchile Forum Assistant Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: back in "The Big Smoke" Posts: 5,620	Re: Car Shopping Question My husband had a Peugeot 607 in Chile that had NO CUP HOLDERS It was really annoying. I have a car now that has a little insert that kind of adjusts to fit the size of the drink. I agree though, you'll adapt. Also, you can also find really tall skinny cups that will still fit and hold more volume. If you've had your heart set on a certain type of car I wouldn't let the cup holders put you off.

09-27-2008, 11:04 AM	#9
burntbrat Forum Assistant Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, TX Age: 34 Posts: 2,256	Re: Car Shopping Question holly, I would certainly ask the dealership about this. My co-worker bought a BMW 3 series about a year ago and it has adjustable cupholders in the console. When we go pick up food those big 32 oz. cups fit just fine. I'm not sure how an enormous 44 ouncer would do, though. Since you're buying it used they might have some options for you, or they can keep an eye out for a model with those adjustable console things. __________________ One of these days I'll stop being sensitive. Until then, I'll continue to be devastated on a daily basis. Life breaks my heart.

09-27-2008, 12:32 PM	#10
Lil Bit FORT Fogey Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Iowa Age: 50 Posts: 2,404	Re: Car Shopping Question I once had a car that didn't have a trunk button in the glove box and it just irritated the heck out of me. I think that is one of the reasons that I ended up trading it off. What's trivial to one person may be a big deal to another. My husband has a Ford F250 truck and it has 4 cup holders in the front. Two of them are expandable to hold bigger cups. I love them but don't like driving the truck that much. Too big for me. I drive a Pontiac Bonneville and the cup holders are alright, but since I'm only 5'2", I have to put my seat way up to drive which makes it a bit awkward to reach the cup holder in the center counsel. But, I love my car and plan to keep it for several more years if it holds out mechanically. I don't know if this is the slightest bit helpful to you or not.