I've had my '03 for around a month now and have only one major beef: Is anyone else disappointed by the position of the armrest on their 5th gen? On my '97 5-speed, the armrest was perfect. It was the right height and supported from my elbow halfway to my wrist - and the shifter fell right into my hand.

On my 5th gen, if I'm shifting gears, only the tip of my elbow touches the armrest! It's also a little too low for my taste. Not nearly as comfortable. And here's the real annoyance: I tend to bump the button so it pops up into the higher setting (which is way to high for us lucky guys with manuals!) The high setting is so high you've gotta hold your rist like this to shift! Uh, no thanks.

So the mod idea: Figure out a way to make the "higher" armrest setting not so extreme. About half as high as the higher setting is now sounds about right. I think the way it slides forward to place your hand closer to the shifter is great...it's just too high! If the snow subsides here soon I hope to give it a look and see how easy this is.

Anyone else annoyed by the armrest? Other ideas for a fix?

 

My STS fixed that.

 

Yeah, a short throw shifter would make the stick sit lower, but no closer to the armrest. Even so, definately not the route I'm looking for. I want the armrest to sit in about the same postion as it is on the high setting, only about half as high.

 

This calls for massive amounts of plywood...

 

I was considering stacks of Big Chief "bonded" with Elmers, but your suggestion does sound more sturdy...

 

STS would be great...but we don't have one yet

 

Well last time I called Southwest Autoworks, they said it would be out tommorrow. Give them a call and find out.

 

Actually, I meant that it would shift your elbow forward, so you don't bump the armrest. My STS will allow you to shift INSIDE the ashtray area if you wanted too.

I don't rest my elbow, but that's probably because I can't reach now.

 

So you're saying none of your arm even touches the armrest when you're switching gears? Ouch, that'd would get to me. Suddenly I'm thankful for long arms so at least my elbow can rest there. I wonder do alot of manual owners have this problem?

 

I have long arms too, no probs for me.

 

I'm fine with the height/placement of the armrest, but I too bump that release button a little too often. I'm thinking about just disabling it somehow as I never use it in the "up" position anyway.

 

i think its perfect right where it is. never bump the button (how could you?) and very rarely rest my elbow if im shifting.

 

I think it would be impossible to modify the height because of the way the hinge swings up. Also, it would not lock into place. Definitely more trouble than it's worth.

I do however know for a fact that it is possible to completely disable the "button" that swings the armrest up when you hit it. It is actually a piece of cake........but you won't be able to raise the armrest at all.