Hi, new meber and WRX owner here.

I am picking up my 2004 5-speed WRB Sedan w/ PP on Tuesday, and I'm considering if I should get an armrest extension put in.

It's true: there's really no where for my arm to go while not shifting, but I've seen a few posts about it getting in the way of one's elbow while shifting.

Opinions?

I just hate to spend $100 and then want to switch back. I'm certain they won't refund my money if I don't like it.

Ok - when I purchased my car it didn't have one, then I added it in - I love it - it absolutely doesn't get in my way when shifting, and I like it alot as an armrest - in general, I have noticed that vertically challenged people seem to have an issue with it... my advice would be to head down to the dealer and sit in a car which has one to see how it feels.

price-wise, they show up in the for sale section every now and then for much less than $100.

Originally posted by DrD
my advice would be to head down to the dealer and sit in a car which has one to see how it feels.



I tried that. They don't have them in ANY of their cars. They'll add it if you want it, but how are you supposed to know if you do if they don't have one to try?

Thanks for the opinion.

go to another dealer and check, i love mine.get the short shifter also very good.

Hmm, the shifts seem just fine to me, but my last 5-speed was a Mitsu 3000GT VR-4 . That thing had shift throws like a Mac truck. :)

Besides, I think I'll go aftermarket if I want a short throw.

I'll try another dealer, and then they'll get the business if they have a demo. (Woo hoo. I'm sure they'll throw a party after a $100 accessory sale ;) )

I got one in my car and it does get in the way when I really need the room to shift (i.e. at the track). With that said it is nice to have when crusing around town, then I just rest my arm on the corner... In my opinion you just should get one and just take it off when you need to do spirited driving, autox|track|etc...

Oh and I have the short shifter as well, and I couldn't live without it.

I sat in a car that had one and didn't like it--it got in my way. I'm 6' and like my seat all the way up so i can't imagine how anyone could not find it a pain.

Yep... I got monkey arms too... :disco: But I have gotten used to mine and like the extra storage... It is nice to have...

I have the extention in both my RS and Forester and am very comfortable with them, especially on long trips. I got mine from Lisa at Subaru of Gwinnett and it was a lot less than $100.

I like the armrest extension. I don't even understand why it's an option, it SHOULD just be there imo.

plain and simple if your short you don't need it if your tall go out and get one!

I have it and love it. I would lose my mind on long drives if I didnt have somewhere to rest my arm.

I don't have one because I put a kartboy short shifter in the first week I had the car and didn't want any crowding while shifting. I'm probably tall enough to get away with it anyway.
A cheap solution I came up with was going to the computer store and buying some gel wrist rest pads for a mouse, I put doble sided tape on the bottom and put them on my door arm wrest. They are super comfy and dark blue so the match the interior. I havn't stuck one on the center console yet but for six bux it would work really well...

I use mine so much that it's starting to wear out.....lol!!!

I personally hated mine. Always seemed to get in the way of my 3-4 shift. Luckily my girlfriend and I have matching Sube's. :) I swapped my extension for her normal lid and now we both live happily ever after.....

The extra storage space is great... I don't ever actualy use it as an armrest, but I couldn't imagine having to dig through the original center console for stuff..

Both my wife and I find long trips in the drivers seat perfectly comfortable without the extension. We're both short and rest our arms against the seat side bolsters.

The only quibble I have with the original center console design is the lack of cupholders, which would not be fixed with the armrest extension.

I have the extension just because it came with the car, but I do like it. I haven't driven one without the extesion, so I have no basis for comparison. I have a KB short shifter. I am of average height (~6') and proportion (no snickering) with no problems shifting at all.

On a related note, does anyone know what THIS (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=468863) is?

-Bryce

Originally posted by JewPac42
I have it and love it. I would lose my mind on long drives if I didnt have somewhere to rest my arm.


Yea, it does not get in the way either.

Gotta have it.

It's the best $50 I've spent... some people have complained about it interfering with the shifts. I guess they have short arms!

Well, I had the whole center console out today to do a sub install under the passenger seat. I did a little driving around without the armrest and it was really irritating. I could see how I could get along without it if I had never had one to begin with, but I am definately more comfortable with the extension.

-Bryce

It's nice for cruising around and on long trips. My girlfriend says it really gets in her way when she is umm....entertaining me when I am driving:devil:

i'm 6'1" with long arms. the armrest def. gets in my way during the 3-4 shift if i have my driver's seat all the way down. so i just pop it open while i'm driving. however, i will take it off during AutoX runs.

if i could sell mine to somebody for like $75 i probably would.