Seconds into my first morning drive in the Vanagon, I discovered what I consider a major flaw in the interior design: There are no cup holders for the driver or front passenger! I stepped into the van, dreading a tedious day of vehicle registration hassles, my disposition tempered only by the pleasures my delicious brew. Shockingly, there was no place to rest my cup. With no other option, I placed it precariously on the carpeted floor between the front seats and not surprisingly, it spilled before I reached the end of the driveway. The plush Vanagon shag readily soaked up my 16 ounces of caffeinated goodness. I spilled a second coffee a few days later before researching a solution.I ended up buying a cheap center console from Amazon (TSI Products 54215 Clutter Catcher). I paid $39.99 with free shipping for what looks to be the exact same product that GoWesty.com sells for $89.99 plus shipping. The only complaint I initially had was its light weight. It ships with metal screws that one can use to secure the unit to the floor of the vehicle, but I wanted to maintain the option of quick, easy removal. I didn't want to permanently install it, but I needed to increase the stability. The solution was easy:
- cut out a section of heavy plywood to snuggly fit within the base of the console.
- hammer a dozen or so small nails into the wood until the points just barely break through the surface.
- secure the wood into the base of the console with three screws along each side.
The result is a solid, steady console that doesn't slide around or rock. The nails provide extra traction on the carpet. And, most importantly, I haven't spilled any more coffee! With this simple modification, I definitely recommend the product. Without it, it's just too light and screwing it into the floor isn't a reasonable option in my opinion.
