Replacement center armrests have been a recurring topic for the 2008-2010 xB since 2007, but as far as I'm aware, there's still nothing available to purchase. I'm just wondering whether there would be much interest in having one the same as or similar to this armrest I just installed in my own xB. Seems to me the best way to find out is to ask, so that's what I'm doing.

The goals for the armrest are as follows (in no particular order):

Comfortable
Armrest for both front occupants
Maximum allowable forward projection (increases comfort)
Good ease of access to cup holders and patch panel area
Even height with the door armrests (increases comfort)
Minimal wasted vertical space (lends to adding storage)
Reasonably sturdy (avoid adding weakness)
Good ease of access to original storage compartment
Complementary appearance

Here are some photos:








I've included a public poll, but I'm hoping for specific inputs to the thread, not just poll responses. I'm also interested in people's price considerations for such an item.

Thanks -- Trevor

 

yea that looks cool i'd spend maybe 30 or so. but then again i dont care about my passangers lol ahhhh speellling arrors. sorry

 

Thanks for the compliment ! In case you're interested, Zeta products has elbow pad pairs for sale on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-...mZ140273855258

Price for just one is a little cheaper:

http://www.zetaproducts.net/08scionx...rmrestpad.aspx

 

So i'm really interested in the center console armrest.!! Hook It UP!!!!! What's it's gonna cost to make me one??? LOL. Depending on cost of parts, and what you charge for labor I'd be willing to pay at least $100 for it. I drive a lot, and carpool so I would pay for it...

 

Just an aside, if you have no interest at all, it would be helpful to know if that was due to the armrest being pretty much a non-issue for you, or if another style (please mention it) is more interesting to you.

Thanks -- Trevor !

 

Thanks very much for your interest, I really do appreciate it ! To be honest, the materials cost is minimal relative to the labor involved in making it -- it's somewhat involved and definitely custom. May I ask a question? The purpose of the door armrest pads is to provide the same feel and the same height as the center armrest. You definitely would prefer to pass on them?

Thanks again !

EDIT: PS. I forgot to include the cost of the needed stock storage lid inner frame and latch when I wrote this reply. They provide for latching and hinging the armrest. I've still to price that.

 

The first thing I was thinking about was the labor, because those parts look pretty cheap to assemble. But because I don't know the first thing about fabricating this kind of endeavor, I'd be willing to pay maximum $100 shipped for all of it (armrest + door pads).

I suspect you'd be looking at about maybe $20-25 in parts at most, so I believe an 80% profit margin is very generous.

EDIT:
Quick question: with this new armrest, are there now two storage areas? The first would be the stock armrest with the stock lid, the second is the one you built above it? Can you show pictures of the entire armrest open? Or am I visualizing it wrong?

 

looks way better than the first pic you put up ..looks really nice id rock that for sure wit the elbow pads

 

I roll with my arm out the window.. lol. I have no use to the door arm rest, just interested in the center console...

 

So i just noticed that last part. if this gets me a second compartment to store stuff then oh man thats even better.

 

those seat covers look rough

 

Yeah, it's all about photo quality, I finally got some good ones. I'm glad you're liking it !

They're a fitted inexpensive set from Ebay. My purpose was just to protect the stock upholstery. I'm satisfied !

Just so we're on the same page, labor is not profit margin it's labor, and outside of the two factory components (the stock storage lid frame and latch), the primary expense for an item like this is the construction time (it's not just a case of snapping prefabricated components together, the materials are raw and have to be worked). If something costs $10 in parts and ten hours to build, the build time is not free. I could be doing something else instead -- for example, minimum wage is over $7 an hour these days !

Since the armrest is built on the original storage lid inner frame, it opens identically to the stock lid -- there's no difference. So, the armrest provides two storage areas. The upper one pictured above and the original the car came with .

 

Well, it turns out in order to get the inner storage lid frame and latch, I have to buy the entire lid assembly -- which doesn't include the two rear plastic hinge eyelets. However, the hinge eyelets can be moved from the original lid. So, the cost of the stock lid assembly is about $50 shipped, add $8 to include new hinge eyelets.

The alternative solution to adding the lid cost to the armrest purchase would be to send me your original lid at the time the armrest is ordered. If the lid can't be shipped in advance, then I could refund $40 upon my receipt of your original lid with perfect condition inner frame and latch.

Thoughts?

 

I'd say do a $40 core charge for the stock lid and when they send it you can refund it.

As for the actual armrest I like the idea but don't like the look. Personally I would prefer to see the door pads covered in matching material to the insterts on the doors and the arm rest covered in matching material to the seats with the top matching the seating surface and the sides matching the sides of the seat. Either that or do the sides in a texture that is color matched to the interior grey plastics.

With parts and labor you should probably be looking in the $100-150 range depending on how long it takes you to build copies.

It's not for me as I am not particularly fond of the look but I think it is a viable selling piece.

 

Only problem with this is if they don't send me the original, I'm going to be out the roughly $10 difference between replacement price and the $40. Since I'd have to maintain an inventory of stock lids (several hundred dollars tied up indefinitely), and the lids I receive back are used, I'm thinking it's not unreasonable for me to refund less than my purchase price of a replacement lid assembly.

When you say "I like the idea but don't like the look", is this specifically the fabric issue, or are there other factors as well?

I suspect fabric choice is always subject to personal preference. In order to get an OEM match, no question it would have to be OEM fabric. However, I'm thinking black is a reasonable complementary compromise. Still, I'll ponder the issue -- thanks !

EDIT: PS. I've ordered some dark grey that should be reasonably similar in color to the stock lid. I'll post a photo of both it and the black adjacent the lid after it arrives.

 

So charge $50. Since it's a core charge it's not a big problem since they'll get the money back. Also you might look in to getting a jobber rate at the dealership, usually 10% off. Just file a dba to turn yourself in to a business.


Nothing to do with the fabric, I just don't like a taller armrest there.



Try www.yourautotrim.com They have a pretty good selection. Another choice would be to check with a local upholstery shop or car stereo shop and see where they get their materials from. You'll probably find one or two upholstery wholesale warehouses around your area. Then you can go in and find exactly the material you want. I used to do it often when making custom panels and sub boxes for car audio systems.

 

Taller than what? The only actual armrest I'm aware of in the center is the one attached to the driver's seat and mine is definitely lower.

 

TrevorS, what would be the best way to expedite this process for you? I suspect that mailing our lid to you would be the fastest and most effective method. Unless you can fabricate your own lid or something of that sort.

What I'd be willing to do (since I don't want to drive around without my console lid) is forward you the money that you would use to buy the lid assembly. And then basically build it for me from there. Since you'd do a custom jobbie on all of these guys, I'd prefer if you use custom materials for me. Like yellow or something, since I'm going for the yellow theme.

Lol. This is more complicated than I thought!

 

Sorry, should be more clear when I type. I happen to like the look of the low center console and never use the armrest. I'd remove the stock armrest if I could do it without leaving a hole in the side fo the seat. Maybe when I change the seat material.

 

Got it! The stock armrest doesn't work at all for me -- after checking the feel exactly once, I left it up .