Have you noticed the lack of cigarette lighters in new cars lately? Even ashtrays have taken a bow. Well it seems that car designers are facing pressure from anti-smoking groups, and the current “no I don’t smoke” trend has caught up with a lot of people, which is a good thing. That and the need for extra space to accommodate the list of things you don’t need, like four cup holders in the dashboard. Why the f**k would you need so many cupholders in the first place? How often do you use them in the first place? Car makers have found a much better use for all that space.
Soon to be a thing of the past?
According to the United Health Foundation, about 20.8% of the US population smokes, which means about 60 million people. On the contrary, Apple has reported that 100 million people have bought iPods, plus the 4 million iPhones sold and the untold millions of Blackberry’s, Palms, Razrs, it is really no wonder that designers have to sacrifice cigarette lighters and ash trays. Quite a good trade off I believe, I’d would rather have gadgets in my car to accommodate my own everyday gadgets, screw the extra cup holders.
Smoking can be expensive, very very expensive.
The dudes at AutoBlog had this to say, “Not that we're advocating the rarity of ashtrays. While a company like Chrysler hasn't put ashtrays and the like in its cars since 1996, automakers more likely to have humidor-owning customers, like Rolls-Royce, still include places to properly dispose of cigar ash -- and they're beautiful to behold as well. If anything, we do think it a bit unfair that some carmakers make you pay for your smoking gear, from $15 to $100 for a "smokers group" option. That just ain't right, since, like Vegas, what happens in your car, stays in your car”.
Gadgets are a much better alternative to cigarettes, the girls love it too.
Agreed or not, I still prefer modern technology to make my life easier while I drive, I don’t want my car to help me kill myself by lighting my cancer stick.
Go... V35....
