Seriously, I'd like to know. These dash bins were all the rage last decade, especially amongst American cars. Within our fleet, the Fusion and Traverse have them. In all the times I've driven cars with these bins, however, I've never felt inclined to put anything in them.
Am I missing something? What do people put in these? A fuzz buster, maybe? Is it just an excuse to use up some empty under-dash space and keep up with the Joneses in the mid-2000s dash bin race? At least its chromed plastic latch catches the sun and blinds you.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
7driver says:
10:26 AM, 10/21/10
"What do people put in these?"
Portable GPS unit.
breif says:
10:41 AM, 10/21/10
A friend in college kept his compact Glock there.
jeepsrt says:
10:42 AM, 10/21/10
In my FJ I use it for my sunglasses and that's about it.
vtirocz says:
10:44 AM, 10/21/10
I also use it for the portable GPS unit and think it's a nice feature.
Usually editors are complaining that there isn't enough storage space. This guy is complaining that there's too much storage! They can't please everyone.
bc1960 says:
10:53 AM, 10/21/10
This was extensively discussed in a post on the Fusion, so I guess this must be another of the obtuse posts intended to incite minor controversy. Why bother to have any storage spaces in the cabin at all, if you're neat? OTOH, this could be very handy for some of the women I've known who had an emergency supply of tampons stashed all around the cabin. And I long ago lost count of the number of posts by male Edmunds employees who complain about this or that car lacking a handy place to put one's wallet--pants no longer have pockets? To recap, in my Mazda6 I have my mileage log, a pen, takeout menus for Chinese and Thai restaurants, coupons for Macy's, Lowe's, and Red Lobster, free drink at Starbucks card, free car wash card from the last routine maintenance, and some receipts I haven't collected yet. If you're single or have teenagers, it might be a handy place to keep condoms. The possibilities are endless--just open your mind. :)
adamb1 says:
10:54 AM, 10/21/10
I always think those are there because they have to do something with the space that a missing option would have otherwise used. Some vehicles put the GPS system there. The Fusion has the bin. The Mazda 6 puts speakers there. I just assumed the Fusion was missing some speakers.
jriz says:
10:56 AM, 10/21/10
@ vitrocz -- Nope, not complaining. Just asking what one would put in there and people have been responding with GPS units. Good call.
zcalvert says:
10:56 AM, 10/21/10
um, to put stuff in?
other than the stupid chrome-reflection thing, why would you ever complain about covered storage?
thegraduate says:
11:06 AM, 10/21/10
Bins like that in the car I use for storing things like pens, pencils, insurance card/registration, floss (ever been out to eat a steak dinner and needed it? yeah...), and the holy grail of car necessities: fast-food napkins!
fushigi says:
11:07 AM, 10/21/10
Like under the arm rest, that'd be a good place for a USB jack so you could stow your phone while charging or keep a thumb drive/MP3 player loaded.
With the odd shape of this one the utility might be minimal but there are lots of small things that are handy to keep on hand.
audisport says:
11:14 AM, 10/21/10
Only problem is that when your car heats up in the sun, that's the hottest place you could ever put any electronics. I would stick to napkins.
And my gun goes in my under seat drawer! Too bad they got rid of them in the B8 A4's sold here...
benson2175 says:
11:15 AM, 10/21/10
Sunglasses.
lostandfound08 says:
11:38 AM, 10/21/10
Film canisters filled with change for parking meters.
chris80233 says:
11:39 AM, 10/21/10
I use it way more than my glove box because it's easier to access from the driver's seat. What do I keep in my dash top bin? Sun glasses, the audio cord for my iPod (but never my actual iPod), some Tic-Tacs or gum and of course, fast-food napkins. The glove box is just for my owner's manual and registration/insurance, and believe it or not, a pair of gloves. I'm actually a big fan of these dash top storage bins, they're very convenient.
fadetoblackii says:
11:42 AM, 10/21/10
I know other Mazda 6 owners who keep their guns up there, but to me reaching up and pulling a pistol out of a high visibility area like that (to put back in a IWB holster) in a parking lot is too much of an excuse for sheeple to freak out. That's what door pockets are for.
In my 6 I generally keep items I know I'll need but not frequently, i.e. an owners manual, reference guides, napkins, etc. It's a good place for stuff that might clutter up a glove box, but doesn't otherwise have a home.
arumage says:
12:01 PM, 10/21/10
Our dash bin is not very deep so I keep tissues and napkins in mine. With a two year old, it's almost a necessity to have some around.
throwback says:
12:09 PM, 10/21/10
As has been mentioned, I know of 2 people who keep GPS and EZ passes in there. A friend keeps her Beretta in there at night. It gets a little too hot in the Summer.
blueguydotcom says:
12:09 PM, 10/21/10
Not sure what people put in any of the storage bins. It's incredible how car reviews always whine about a lack of storage yet I haven't opened my glove box on a car in years. Ditto the side door bins.
tmanz says:
12:23 PM, 10/21/10
I thought it was so you could pretend to be Michael Winslow at traffic lights and make up new sound effects for it opening and closing.
I'm so easily entertained.
felonious says:
12:29 PM, 10/21/10
"the holy grail of car necessities: fast-food napkins!" So true! I have napkins stashed all around my Flex. :)
allenychung says:
12:34 PM, 10/21/10
I'd put my sunglasses in there, I wish I had one in my car, bin envy.
roadburner says:
12:46 PM, 10/21/10
My wife's X3 has a dash top bin. She stores sunglasses in it. It will hold my Colt Agent .38 Special but not my Ruger P85.
liquoredonlife says:
12:53 PM, 10/21/10
That dash bin might be big enough to fit Kelly's sunglasses.
1487 says:
01:01 PM, 10/21/10
"other than the stupid chrome-reflection thing, why would you ever complain about covered storage?"
exactly. What is wrong with more storage? I wish I had one of these.
Then again, its in a lot of American cars is HAS to be stupid! Of course it it wasnt there he would be finding one in some import (like Roadburner's X3) and then praising it as useful storage and clever engineering.
Sunglasses, GPS, smartphone, pens- just a few things that could go in there off the top of my head.
"Not sure what people put in any of the storage bins. It's incredible how car reviews always whine about a lack of storage yet I haven't opened my glove box on a car in years. Ditto the side door bins."
Yeah we know, you aslso question why any American would need a car larger than a Mini since thats what you drive. YOu dont need space, you dont store anything, you dont need legroom, etc. We got it. Any innovations that cater to "lazy Americans" is bad in your eyes. Didnt you say before that you could pack luggage for 4 adults for a week long trip in a subcompact with room to spare?
dougtheeng says:
01:07 PM, 10/21/10
I have a similar dash bin on my Kia Soul. I store my sunglasses and cleaning cloth in there.
I love these hidden bins because I can put my valuables (ie wallet, GPS, phone, iPod, etc) in them. The MINI actually has one of the best ones in the market (assuming you don't have the DVD nav option). Its completely hidden.
stangmatt66 says:
01:47 PM, 10/21/10
Toll Road Transponder
ptcdawg says:
02:09 PM, 10/21/10
I thought it was for the Pineapple Express...
chirsch3 says:
02:22 PM, 10/21/10
you have probably never felt inclined to use them because you trade cars so often
i have a saint christopher medal in mine and my house key (because i hate cluttering my key ring) and few other various things that i can't think of
93aero says:
02:44 PM, 10/21/10
Its closer for the driver to put more immediate things in. Ive seen insurance card/Portable GPS/readily used items mentioned on here, it would be alot more convenient to have to reach forward, then to lean over and into the glove box...esp for bigger cars with lots of distance between the driver seat and glove box. There is that whole storage area in-between the driver and passanger, but i mostly see people throw change, trash, cd's, ipods, ect in there. The upper compartment would be for things you dont want to dig or reach for....sunglasses and such. BTW, it seems really picky to complain about having too much storage, the chrome piece issue; ok. But storage...in a 7 passenger CUV.....i think its implied that you need all the space you can get.
misterfusion says:
04:24 PM, 10/21/10
This is turning into an episode of "What's My Gun?" (...which is a new game show that I've just created.)
pezzy669 says:
09:17 PM, 10/21/10
Where in the hell do some of you live that you need a gun easily accessible in your car??? WTF?
Driving for 10 years with 5 of those in one of the highest murder rate cities in Florida and have never felt the need for a weapon in my car. Someone comes and carjacks me....my shaky words would be 'its all yours if you let me and my passengers out'.
blueguydotcom says:
09:30 PM, 10/21/10
@pezzy, amen. Want the car? Here. Just a car and certainly not worth an exchange of gunfire.
billt9 says:
10:15 PM, 10/21/10
Looks just right for pens.
onkeludo says:
06:53 AM, 10/22/10
pezzy669:
For most people who want an easily accessible location for their gun it has little to do with protecting themselves in their cars. If you have a concealed carry permit and a legitimate reason to carry, what do you do with your gun when you are in your car? Most carry holsters are uncomfortable when sitting in a car plus you have to remove the gun (in most states) to enter resturants that serve alcohol, banks, liquor stores, schools, governement buildings, etc.
The trunk (if you have one) is the most secure place to store your weapon but it is not all that convenient. I personally clip my weapon under the seat.
Onkel Udo
tmathes says:
01:47 PM, 10/22/10
Notepad and pen (and post-it notes). It's a handy storage bin in my wife's Equinox and I wish I had one like it in my Mazda3.
thomasbarker01 says:
08:30 PM, 10/23/10
It's so simple - sunglasses. I thought people in California would recognize this need immediately.