MG ZS "armrest" - why do they have them?

[Truly]

We have just got back from viewing an MG ZS and MG5 at a dealer and were surprised and very disappointed to find that they both have a very high central console between the driver and passenger seats at the front. This makes it impossible to steer (for example when turning a corner) without banging your left elbow on the "armrest". We asked the salesman why the cars have them and he said 'for extra storage' and that no-one had ever mentioned that before and he had never noticed it! The inconvenience of banging your elbow is surely greater than having somewhere to rest your arm? Why would this be needed, unless you are stuck in long traffic jams frequently or drive with the right hand only? Do people with longer arms just avoid driving MG cars? Sadly, I think this means we will be striking MG off our list - yet another factor to take into account when car-hunting.

 

[JohnV6]

Mine are too low to bang into . The seat do go up and down

 

[Truly]

Mine are too low to bang into . The seat do go up and down

I guess my husband must have long arms then, as the seat was at its highest setting. He is 5ft 10 tall, so not a giant.

 

[Tim Green]

Bizarre! I never thought twice about the central armrest!

 

[Gadget Geek]

I've never banged my elbow and find it convenient to rest my left arm on (does what it says on the tin).

 

[Roldorf]

Strange. I am also 5`10 and never had a problem, also my seat is not at the highest position.

 

[Truly]

We're thinking of trying again and checking the seat height. Looking at other brochures it seems lots of cars have them. Does the height of the steering wheel also adjust?

 

[scoobeesnac]

The wheel is offset towards the centre console and it provides a nice elbow rest on motorway drives.

Maybe try the seat further back?

 

[Truly]

Thanks for all your replies. We test drove a ZS SE Long Range today. My elbows were nowhere near the armrest as my legs are short and my husband did knock it occasionally with his elbow but we decided that everything else about the car suits us, so we have bought one.

 

[BOB353]

Good on ya

 

[hmadsen]

Strange. I am also 5`10 and never had a problem, also my seat is not at the highest position.

Im 6`4 and i have the seat in its lowest position i still dong bang my arms on anything.

 

[Jto]

We have just got back from viewing an MG ZS and MG5 at a dealer and were surprised and very disappointed to find that they both have a very high central console between the driver and passenger seats at the front. This makes it impossible to steer (for example when turning a corner) without banging your left elbow on the "armrest". We asked the salesman why the cars have them and he said 'for extra storage' and that no-one had ever mentioned that before and he had never noticed it! The inconvenience of banging your elbow is surely greater than having somewhere to rest your arm? Why would this be needed, unless you are stuck in long traffic jams frequently or drive with the right hand only? Do people with longer arms just avoid driving MG cars? Sadly, I think this means we will be striking MG off our list - yet another factor to take into account when car-hunting.

Must be hold the streering wheel in the wrong place to do that not had that problem.

 

[fred12345]

solution is to rest his elbow on top of it