My opinion: The YARIS needs a standard center armrest! - Toyota Yaris Forums

YellowJolt · 07-10-2009, 04:34 PM

I am absolutely puzzled why my 2009 Yaris (and, apparently, ANY Yaris) does not come with a factory equipped armrest, which is just about standard in every other new vehicle offered these days. Comfort-wise, it makes a huge difference to me since I steer with my right hand and rest my arm on the console lid or armrest, depending on what I'm driving.

I did install the Toyota accessory armrest ($79), and the whole set up is kinda hokey - it uses a huge wire retainer and a single screw to mount it to the existing console. Comfort and convenience are increased since I've put it in, but it doesn't look the best (you can see the wire retainer from the sides and the back seat.) and the fabric is kind of itchy-scratchy. Just venting - still love my new car and it's mileage, but sheesh, comon Toyota...

IMHO,
Scott

mryaris · 07-10-2009, 05:03 PM

My Yaris had the armrest installed when I bought it and I can honestly say I've never used it. I guess it would come in handy on long road trips, but around town it just gets in the way when I shift so I just don't use it.

gokartride · 07-10-2009, 05:11 PM

My son's Yaris has one and my Yaris does not. Since I am a passenger in his I came to love it, and was quite sure I'd need to install one in my Yaris when I got it. However, since I am actually the driver in mine, I find I really don't need it at all.....both hands are on the wheel. This surprised me a bit, but hey...it works!!

It obviously comes down to driving habits...if one is used to leaning on an arm rest then something is missing. My son will be doing a lot of highway miles, so I think he will use his alot. I, in my city driving, apparently won't.

toad · 07-10-2009, 05:23 PM

i've had my liftback for almost 2 years now and yesterday(no kidding!) i remember thinking for the first time 'man, i wish i had an armrest!'. so i guess what i'm trying to say is 'yeah....it could help in the comfort dept., but it took me over 20 months to notice it'. i guess it's just a personal thing and some people might not care one way or the other.

Altitude · 07-10-2009, 05:35 PM

I took mine out! Found it got in the way and it wasn't really that comfortable. That could be because I have long arms and a manual trans and I found it got in the way of shifting if I had it in the down position.

SailDesign · 07-10-2009, 05:39 PM

I am still amazed at how many people do not look at the car they are buying...

Yaris Hilton · 07-10-2009, 07:31 PM

Armrests are something I've never used much, either.

Tamago · 07-10-2009, 07:43 PM

ECHO didn't get one
xA didn't get one
xB didn't get one
tC didn't get one
Corolla didn't get one...

why should the bottom-of-the-toyota-food-chain get one "standard" ?

twowheels · 07-10-2009, 07:50 PM

Mine came w/ the armrest... I've been thinking about trying to remove the cloth cover and reassemble it w/ more padding as the stock padding is about 1/8" thick and quickly flattens to provide zero support. I'm not very good at sewing, so there's no obvious way that I could remove it w/o destroying it...

Tamago · 07-10-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Mine came w/ the armrest... I've been thinking about trying to remove the cloth cover and reassemble it w/ more padding as the stock padding is about 1/8" thick and quickly flattens to provide zero support. I'm not very good at sewing, so there's no obvious way that I could remove it w/o destroying it...

maybe time to alter your steering wheel grip style?

to be honest though, my MR2's center console put my right arm to sleep. i quit driving like that, and now on the highway steer with my left thumb/firstfinger with my elbow resting on the top of the door. right hand is free to um..... shift... n stuff....

twowheels · 07-10-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamago

maybe time to alter your steering wheel grip style?

Maybe, but I suspect it has more to do w/ the fact that the car is only 6 months old (today!) and already has more than 15k miles on it. I spend a lot of time w/ my arm on that rest.

Tamago · 07-10-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Maybe, but I suspect it has more to do w/ the fact that the car is only 6 months old (today!) and already has more than 15k miles on it. I spend a lot of time w/ my arm on that rest.

ah, very understandable. on long drives i find my hands at 6 o clock and elbows on thighs.. much more comfortable :D

twowheels · 07-10-2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamago

ah, very understandable. on long drives i find my hands at 6 o clock and elbows on thighs.. much more comfortable :D

You must have very different proportions than I do as I can't make my elbows touch my thighs w/o either lifting my leg up high or slouching low!

UTVitz · 07-10-2009, 08:07 PM

Mine had it already installed-it's up most of the time when in town as it gets in the way of manual shifting, but when I'm on a long trip I'd miss it dearly. Base Fit is the same way-does not have one. No armrest kept me from buying a 98 Honda CR-V back then.

Kal-El · 07-10-2009, 08:13 PM

It's standard in the sedan, of course.

There's some reason that automakers often leave them out of hatchbacks. I'm not totally sure why. Maybe it get's in the way of a load in the back?

It's not just the Yaris, many hatches don't have them. Even the Acura RSX didn't have one and it's a luxury marque.

roxy1 · 07-10-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamago

ECHO didn't get one
xA didn't get one
xB didn't get one
tC didn't get one
Corolla didn't get one...

why should the bottom-of-the-toyota-food-chain get one "standard" ?

all corolla's come with a permanent arm rest (meaning a properly positioned armrest as part of the center cosole with storage inside). at least the current gen and previous gen did.

toyota wanted to make sure the yaris had the cheapest looking interior possible, and they succeeded brilliantly. why mess that up with a funtional armrest. (the factory armrest for the yaris is a joke. absolutely useless and in the way for anyone w/ the 5 speed).

TinyGiant · 07-10-2009, 10:12 PM

mine came with .. i use it 100% of the time

CTScott · 07-10-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Mine came w/ the armrest... I've been thinking about trying to remove the cloth cover and reassemble it w/ more padding as the stock padding is about 1/8" thick and quickly flattens to provide zero support. I'm not very good at sewing, so there's no obvious way that I could remove it w/o destroying it...

The cover pulls right off. just lift up a little on the upper rear and it slides right off. When I reupholstered my doors, I was pulled mine off to replace the cover with leather, but the scrap I had left was about 2" shy of being enough.

I actually never use mine, as being a short dude, my seat is so far up that my elbow can't reach it. I just figured I'd change the fabric to leather to match the rest of my interior.

07-10-2009, 04:34 PM	#1
YellowJolt Drives: 2009 Yaris 3dr LB Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 35	My opinion: The YARIS needs a standard center armrest! I am absolutely puzzled why my 2009 Yaris (and, apparently, ANY Yaris) does not come with a factory equipped armrest, which is just about standard in every other new vehicle offered these days. Comfort-wise, it makes a huge difference to me since I steer with my right hand and rest my arm on the console lid or armrest, depending on what I'm driving. I did install the Toyota accessory armrest ($79), and the whole set up is kinda hokey - it uses a huge wire retainer and a single screw to mount it to the existing console. Comfort and convenience are increased since I've put it in, but it doesn't look the best (you can see the wire retainer from the sides and the back seat.) and the fabric is kind of itchy-scratchy. Just venting - still love my new car and it's mileage, but sheesh, comon Toyota... IMHO, Scott

07-10-2009, 10:12 PM	#17
TinyGiant Tiny Giant Clothing View User's Garage Drives: 2008 Blazing Blue Yaris 3D LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rochester, NH Posts: 3,394	mine came with .. i use it 100% of the time __________________ Sold the yaris... rocking an 89 vw cabriolet now :)

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07-10-2009, 05:03 PM	#2
mryaris Drives: 2010 Carmine Red hatchback Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorful Colorado Posts: 208	My Yaris had the armrest installed when I bought it and I can honestly say I've never used it. I guess it would come in handy on long road trips, but around town it just gets in the way when I shift so I just don't use it.

07-10-2009, 05:11 PM	#3
gokartride Drives: 2009 Yaris 3-Door Liftback Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 213	My son's Yaris has one and my Yaris does not. Since I am a passenger in his I came to love it, and was quite sure I'd need to install one in my Yaris when I got it. However, since I am actually the driver in mine, I find I really don't need it at all.....both hands are on the wheel. This surprised me a bit, but hey...it works!! It obviously comes down to driving habits...if one is used to leaning on an arm rest then something is missing. My son will be doing a lot of highway miles, so I think he will use his alot. I, in my city driving, apparently won't.

07-10-2009, 05:23 PM	#4
toad Drives: street-legal go-kart Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: bowser's castle Posts: 627	i've had my liftback for almost 2 years now and yesterday(no kidding!) i remember thinking for the first time 'man, i wish i had an armrest!'. so i guess what i'm trying to say is 'yeah....it could help in the comfort dept., but it took me over 20 months to notice it'. i guess it's just a personal thing and some people might not care one way or the other.

07-10-2009, 05:35 PM	#5
Altitude Drives: '08 LB MT Bayou Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,671	I took mine out! Found it got in the way and it wasn't really that comfortable. That could be because I have long arms and a manual trans and I found it got in the way of shifting if I had it in the down position.

07-10-2009, 05:39 PM	#6
SailDesign Drives: . Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: . Posts: 1,931	I am still amazed at how many people do not look at the car they are buying...

07-10-2009, 07:31 PM	#7
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	Armrests are something I've never used much, either.

07-10-2009, 07:50 PM	#9
twowheels Drives: '09 Meteorite Metallic 3 dr MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 127	Mine came w/ the armrest... I've been thinking about trying to remove the cloth cover and reassemble it w/ more padding as the stock padding is about 1/8" thick and quickly flattens to provide zero support. I'm not very good at sewing, so there's no obvious way that I could remove it w/o destroying it...

07-10-2009, 08:07 PM	#14
UTVitz Drives: Black Vitz Liftback Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 238	Mine had it already installed-it's up most of the time when in town as it gets in the way of manual shifting, but when I'm on a long trip I'd miss it dearly. Base Fit is the same way-does not have one. No armrest kept me from buying a 98 Honda CR-V back then.

07-10-2009, 08:13 PM	#15
Kal-El Drives: 07 Yaris S Sedan 5-Speed Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,179	It's standard in the sedan, of course. There's some reason that automakers often leave them out of hatchbacks. I'm not totally sure why. Maybe it get's in the way of a load in the back? It's not just the Yaris, many hatches don't have them. Even the Acura RSX didn't have one and it's a luxury marque.