Kolbjorn S

I once thought cupholders in a Porsche was like swaring in the church ... well times change and so do I. Since I enjoy to pick up a drive-through coffee almost every day time has come to install a cupholder. My cupholder criteria were (1) "permanent" installation without visibly modifying the interior, (2) invisible when not in use and (3) not interfering while driving. What seemed to fit this was the center console!

General idea: When opening the center console the cupholders will fold out, with the drink can/cup resting on the console itself.

Step 1: Prepare the center console. I removed the original cassette trays and replaced the inside lid (worn) material with some black leather-like material.

Step 2: Things needed:
- two cheap readymade cupholders which I modified slightly, all needed is the foldable ring and the piece it's attached to.
- block of isopor, size 21.6 x 10.5 x 1.4 cm
- strong double-sided tape
- some padding material (see pic 3 below)
- piece of black leather-like material for inside of lid and final cover.


Step 3: Attach the modified cupholders to the isopor piece using double-sided tape alternatively in conjunction with appropriate glue (take care so the type of glue used is not dissolving the isopor). The isopor piece (or something similar) serves the purpose to build up a foundation so that the cupholders do not interfere when closing the lid. Basic idea:


Step 4: Attach some sort of padding as to get an even surface:


Step 5: Make it look decent. Cover all with the black material and attach it with double-sided tape or alike.



OK it might look a bit homemade but it serves my purpose!

Practicality: You might use a workbench rather than wife's tablecloth!

Then - enjoy!

Nicole

Very interesting design, and nicely concealed.

My only concern would be to hit the drinks with my arm while driving, since the drinks would sit so high up. What's your experience with that?

Your interior is very nice! Greygreen pinstriped cloth... extremely rare in the US.

Kolbjorn S

Thanks Nicole. As long as you're aware of it and do not wave the arm around it's ok. And for my use it suits purpose since I don't drive long distances with it folded open.

Grey-green is very rare here as well. It's a color that grows on you - like moss No really, it's quite cool actually.

Pfunde

Cool, I only use my amrest for sunglasses after removing the casette-holders. Maybee I should do the same......... Nice work, and very "not disturbing the interior" -like

SharkSkin

So now you swear in church?

Seriously, nice job! Makes me sorta wish I had a center console, but then again that's where my elbow needs to be when shifting...

PorKen

Clever!

The only thing I would add is a tray to contain any spilt chai.

85fortheDrive

Kolbjorn -

What a clever idea! Those of us who drive 5-spds might be banging elbows with it, but you get an "A" for originality!

heinrich

NICE!! That's the first one I've seen I liked. Where can we get it?

Alan

Kolbjorn - nice job on fabrication - really looks good and yes that space is redundant these days for cassettes - I use mine mainly for documents.

For a manual I really think its too awkward a location for me but I could see it being acceptable in an Auto. Seems it would have good front to back stability but how is it latterally - especially on right turns where the hinge wants to close...? Of course in the USA we have rather bigger & taller cups (especially in Texas) so this becomes a bigger issue... having the rings bigger/higher would help with that - but it seems these probably would not work the other way up?

Very nice option, thanks for detailing the how - as well as the end result (great guidance) Very nice finishing too!

You need some color matched Cork under there for drips & spills

Alan

PorKen

I think Porsche had this in mind, when they made the foot long shifter on the early manuals.
...

Heinrich,

What it needs is to be a drop in unit, not attached to the cover (held down with the box screws), with pop-up arms. And, no, I don't have time to do it.

AO

But can it hold a Big Gulp?


I thought not.

PorKen

If you drink enough of those, the car won't hold you!

AO

Diet coke... only diet!

Kolbjorn S

My car is a 5-speed and shifting is fine when I drive with it in use/open, no issues with that. If I want to then I don't keep a cup there. However since the cup(s) rests on the console itself stability is no issue as long as it is a paper/foam/plastic cup - with those I can just squeeze them a bit into the holder and it sits firmly.

With bigger rings one could make it the opposite way round ie. the holder sits at the top but this current design & size fits my favourite large-size Second Cup cappuccino! (ok, might not be large after TX standards)

deliriousga

For the 5-Speed, I have the cupholder from the Paisley Group (scroll down a little to see it) http://paisley-group.com/store/flashcart.cfm?section=6 It mounts behind the parking brake for me, or you can mount it just about anywhere you want.