~~ "ARMREST KING" - Gen1 Armrest - Review ~~

[Mister]

Good day,

I'm sure most of you have seen the group discount thread in the buy/sell section.
Got this unit delivered and installed today, below is my detailed review which is more relevant in general discussion.

Disclaimer: To say I am a particular person would be a real understatement. If it's there, I can, and will find flaws in what most folks would consider "perfect" LOL...

The Score:
~ Price - $86 (with IC group discount) shipping included - Very good!
~ Seller communication - Excellent! - email reply within 24h
~ Shipping & handling - It took this forum's encouragement and about 3 months waiting, but once the seller had the units - mine shipped within 24h and arrived (Canada Post) within a week
~ Design, materials and function - Overall good - 7.5/10 (details below)
~ Installation - about 8 minute, tools - Phillips screwdriver, thin marker
~ Functionality - Good (after short test drive) - TBA...

My personal bottom line at the top - Bang for the buck, is it worth buying? - Yes!

Alright, let's go... More pics less clicks...

Unboxing (yeah, that's a word)
1 armrest unit
1 generic instructions page (good for making an airplane)
4 screws with matching plastic caps



The unit looks good. That said - the top two parallel stitches are not exactly centered or even from the armrest's sides. You'll only notice it when looking at the unit from above. Once it's in the car it's barely noticeable.



Plastic base is overall well constructed. Could have been slightly thicker for a more rugged feel - however the handbrake console the unit installs on is most likely the same thickness and will be side "shifty" anyway.



As seen here, the front and back face of the plastic base is cut but not painted nor rounded. It makes for a bit of a rough edge and "aftermarket look" to the seam with the grey console.

[Mister]

Top compartment interior has a nice thin "velvet" finish

[Mister]

The 4 screws included do the job just fine and can self-tap into the console's plastic (don't tighten them too hard). The plastic caps provide a nice finish.



Installed!



Top compartment



Magnet holder - this magnet is strong enough to cause a minor issue. At this price range, the unit doesn't have a lever to control which compartment opens when the armrest is pulled up. Due to this magnet, the natural hinge default is the bottom compartment. In order to open the top (magnet) compartment, slight separating effort is required.

[Mister]

Bottom compartment (no lock) - might be a good idea to add a couple of thin rubber buttons to the connecting surface of the armrest and the base.



(My) Arm's length distance. The unit can be installed with about 1 1/2" adjustment fwd/aft. I've installed it full fwd and can use the shifter while resting my elbow. I do sit a bit far back - my hand can rest on the shifter in neutral, 2nd & 4th, it's not close enough for 1st, 3rd & 5th.
It also causes a bit of an awkward angle to depress the previously installed Brake-Regen switch (below). Should be manageable though.



Stitching - As you can see in this closeup, it looks good but the material is not very thick. I can see these stitches might wear quicker than expected.



The look and feel... Does it look like it belongs in the car's interior? IMO - With all the black trim pieces around - yeah!
The unit's material and finish is similar to the shifter surround material so it does feel like it's a part of the car.
It's a bit ironic, the light weight and cheaper materials used in the construction of this armrest match the concept of the Gen1 Insight, aside from a couple of minor things - I can't see Honda 12 years ago doing much better than that LOL...



Took the car for a short drive around the block. I'd say it's a definite improvement over 'nothing', but I'll be able to say more after the first long road-trip.

[Mister]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[gilbertguy]

Wow that looks great, now I'm kicking myself for not getting in on this deal.

[nickspuma]

One of these armrests came installed in my used 2004 Insight. Unfortunately, the whole top has peeled and has made quite a mess in my car. I'm guessing it was from the sun (I live in FL, and the car was on a used car lot for a month). Also, I've noticed this armrest has a distinct smell on the inside where the velvet is. I'm thinking of purchasing a new one since this one is destroyed, but can anyone shed some light on the smell in the compartment and how long the top leather lasts?

[Mister]

Originally Posted by nickspuma

...can anyone shed some light on the smell in the compartment and how long the top leather lasts?

Hi Nick,

I must admit I haven't stuck my nose too close to the armrest but I haven't noticed anything odd about it during the install or usage.
Regarding long term usage - I can't help much at this time. I've left an open post after my initial review and will add further details after several months of usage. That should cover any longer term usage issues or excessive wear.
I'm a bit worried about the top section of the armrest where its got the most amount of pressure on, but only time will tell.
You might be able to re-cover the top of the unit yourself with some extra padding etc.

[freezin4]

Mister,

You are absolutely spot on with your review: the design and functionality of this armrest is good, but the materials are sub-par.

Mine disintegrated after a year or so. My elbow wore a hole in the thin padding, and the hinged lid cracked from normal usage.

But I like it enough to rebuild it: better, stronger, nicer. I already sourced some light grey leather and working on beefing up the structure itself.

[theaveng]

My "normal" nonhybrid car has an armrest similar to this one. It's made of semisoft but mostly-hard plastic so it doesn't wear out. 15 years without degradation. That's what this thing should be.