The Competition Discuss the competition to the BMW 5 Series here. Mercedes, Audi, etc...

Cupholders - Why?

Old 11-19-2005, 07:20 AM
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Apart from the obvious - to have sips of your favourite drinkie while driving around but surely there can't be that many parched motorists out there? I have always been intrigued by why people care so much about cupholders on cars... Call me simple but I have never used one and doubt I ever will. I drive 30 minutes each way to work but never feel the need to drink anything in that time. Taking longer trips in the past I have just bought bottles of drink with lids which you can put anywhere you like, not sticking up beside your dash. If you "need" coffee from a drive-through you are probaby too tired to be driving so should take a break. I snicker to myself and think of people in ten years time driving around with bain marie's in their cars taking servings from the wet dishes - this is how I consider cupholders! Does anybody else out there consider them pointless?
Old 11-19-2005, 08:22 AM
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Nope. I enjoy and use mine on occasions for more enjoyable motoring. Mebbe I drink more coffee than you do.
Old 11-19-2005, 09:43 AM
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No I like cup holders, not just coffee, sometimes soft drinks or hot chocolate.
Old 11-19-2005, 09:44 AM
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I actually don't like the BMW cup holders. If you have a bottle in the cup holders it will actually fall out if you accelerate pretty much and that sucks!
Old 11-19-2005, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Ross1972' post='200593' date='Nov 19 2005, 11:20 AM
Apart from the obvious - to have sips of your favourite drinkie while driving around but surely there can't be that many parched motorists out there? I have always been intrigued by why people care so much about cupholders on cars... Call me simple but I have never used one and doubt I ever will. I drive 30 minutes each way to work but never feel the need to drink anything in that time. Taking longer trips in the past I have just bought bottles of drink with lids which you can put anywhere you like, not sticking up beside your dash. If you "need" coffee from a drive-through you are probaby too tired to be driving so should take a break. I snicker to myself and think of people in ten years time driving around with bain marie's in their cars taking servings from the wet dishes - this is how I consider cupholders! Does anybody else out there consider them pointless?
Welcome to the fora. I am drinking something pretty much constantly--water, coffee, or soda. Thus, I use my drink holder a great deal of the time I am in my car. My holder contributes to my excellent state of hydration; thus, our holders provide a medical benefit. ~{;^) While not documented, the holders also reduce our insurance costs by minimizing the number of lawsuits because of hot coffee being spilled in our passengers laps. ~{;^) I'm sure that our imaginative group can think of other benefits.
Old 11-19-2005, 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Ross1972' post='200593' date='Nov 19 2005, 08:20 AM
Apart from the obvious - to have sips of your favourite drinkie while driving around but surely there can't be that many parched motorists out there? I have always been intrigued by why people care so much about cupholders on cars... Call me simple but I have never used one and doubt I ever will. I drive 30 minutes each way to work but never feel the need to drink anything in that time. Taking longer trips in the past I have just bought bottles of drink with lids which you can put anywhere you like, not sticking up beside your dash. If you "need" coffee from a drive-through you are probaby too tired to be driving so should take a break. I snicker to myself and think of people in ten years time driving around with bain marie's in their cars taking servings from the wet dishes - this is how I consider cupholders! Does anybody else out there consider them pointless?
Cupholders are obviously not pointless -- nearly every single car even remotely marketed to the general public (i.e. not a Lotus Elise for example) come standard with cupholders (yes, plural, as in more than one cupholder).

So obviously the research/marketing depts. of all major car manufacturers think and believe (and in my opinion rightfully so) that cupholders are relevant -- and therefore not pointless.

I think what frustrates most people about cupholders is not their presence (or existence) in the car's interior cabin, but their placement and construction.

Cupholders are so easy to make vis-a-vis everything else that goes into making a car comfortable, safe and easy to use. Cupholders are probably easier and cheaper to design than airbags, or remote access, or memory seats, lumbar support, bluetooth, voice command, etc.

Take this as an example. If car designers like BMW approached cupholders in the same way they approached, for example, the rear view mirror then the E60 would probably have a rear view mirror that was not rectangular in shape but maybe something awkward like triangular. Can you imagine looking into a rear view mirror that was not in the same shape as your rear glass panel??
Old 11-19-2005, 09:13 PM
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while reading reviews on cars from all makes - i noticed that numerous magazines mention that our American friends are the ones who insist on having cupholders
Old 11-20-2005, 01:43 AM
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I have two in my car and use them all the time we drive normally 2000-4000kms one trip, so you GET thirsty, mine are still ok, never had a problem with them...
Old 11-20-2005, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by ats77' post='200931' date='Nov 20 2005, 05:43 AM
I have two in my car and use them all the time we drive normally 2000-4000kms one trip, so you GET thirsty, mine are still ok, never had a problem with them...
My only problem on trips is drinking too much and having to stop too often. And, its not because I am one of the old dudes. So, no comments along these lines allowed. Well, OK, go ahead if you want.
Old 11-20-2005, 01:28 PM
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Hi,

The only free time to do some sport is in luch time so i have to eat and drink something on the way. As you can imagine cup holders would be nice to have.

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