Eliminating Ashtray With a Custom Cell Phone Holder...any interest?

[Patrick C]

Hi gang. As many of you know, the ashtrays used in the early DeLoreans were from Porsche and the ashtrays used in the later DeLoreans were from TVR. In any case, the shape and cutout stayed the same in the console.

Some of the Porsche owners have developed an "ashtray delete" kit that is machined from aluminum and is anodized black. I think it looks very nice and it would be nice to get rid of the ashtray.

I contacted the manufacturer and they said that the interest in this product was very low, and they are on the fence if they will do another run or not. I told him I would gauge interest from the DeLorean crowd to see if anyone would be interested in one. The price last time they were available was $39.00.

Here are pictures, let me know if this is something you would be interested in purchasing!

Prototype plastic version compared to ashtray:
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/attachments/924-931-944-951-968-forum/609448d1329750633-ash-tray-replacement-imag0395.jpg

Aluminum version before being anodized:
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/attachments/924-931-944-951-968-forum/616099d1331756055-ash-tray-replacement-early-2-3-.jpg

Finished product (anodized aluminum):
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/attachments/924-931-944-951-968-forum/618482d1332445725-ash-tray-replacement-imag0419.jpg

[LordFly]

I see 2 problems with this:
1) All of our cell phones are different sizes.
2) Even if it fit my phone, I plan to keep the car a hell of a lot longer than my phone, so I'd need a new one every couple of years or so.

But I do like the idea. Far more useful than an ashtray :)

[Patrick C]

I see 2 problems with this:
1) All of our cell phones are different sizes.
2) Even if it fit my phone, I plan to keep the car a hell of a lot longer than my phone, so I'd need a new one every couple of years or so.

But I do like the idea. Far more useful than an ashtray :)

The idea is that it is a generic fit. If you go from Android to iPhone, odds are it will still fit. It isn't custom sized for one particular phone. Here is another picture from a similar tray:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/attachments/924-931-944-951-968-forum/594911d1325281544-ash-tray-replacement-dsc04002.jpg

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/attachments/924-931-944-951-968-forum/596273d1325718079-ash-tray-replacement-imag0316.jpg

[DMCMW Dave]

As far as functionality as a cellphone, the plastic one would be better. Wrapping a bunch of metal around a cellphone does some pretty bad things to its internal antenna performance.

[LordFly]

Ahh ok. I have a feeling my S4 is a touch on the large size for it. But I still like the idea. Although I'm with Dave, plastic might be better. If it's a generic fit, I don't think I'd want my phone sliding around in a metal tray. I'd be worried it would get kinda banged up.

[Jonathan]

I think it looks very nice and it would be nice to get rid of the ashtray.

Agreed. My ashtray is just decoration at best. Or something annoying to keep catching your sleeve on.


I see 2 problems with this:
1) All of our cell phones are different sizes.
2) Even if it fit my phone, I plan to keep the car a hell of a lot longer than my phone, so I'd need a new one every couple of years or so.

But I do like the idea. Far more useful than an ashtray :)

Also agreed... hehe :)

21190

(And none of these phones are as old as our car is...)

[Lenny]

Agreed. My ashtray is just decoration at best. Or something annoying to keep catching your sleeve on.


I keep change and some extra cash in mine.

[kajcienski]

I'm still waiting for DMCH to adopt my idea for the ashtray space... Oh well!

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?4500-Illuminated-Ashtray-Audio-iPhone-Panel-**Split-from-Matt-s-Graphic-Overlay-Projects**&highlight=Ashtray+parrot

[SS Spoiler]

I put a fake car alarm in the tray. Two AA batteries and a blinking LED make a pretty convincing deterrent.

[David T]

I put a fake car alarm in the tray. Two AA batteries and a blinking LED make a pretty convincing deterrent.

I saw one owner had his garage door opener in there. As for a 'special" place to put the phone, if you go bluetooth you can put it anywhere or you can buy a holder so you can see it as you use it, the console is not a great place for it. You rarely need change anymore for tolls so unless you park at meters there is not much need for coins in the car. No one uses pay phones anymore either. Many owners just put all of their loose screws, fuses, and other little bits in it to keep them from rolling around. Maybe a tiny flux capacitor in case of a temporal emergency? One neat use would be a rechargable flashlight plugged into it maybe. What the car really needs is some good cupholders that don't get in the way!
David Teitelbaum

[vwdmc16]

I fit my garage remote in there as well, It fit perfectly

[Ryan S.]

I saw one owner had his garage door opener in there. As for a 'special" place to put the phone, if you go bluetooth you can put it anywhere or you can buy a holder so you can see it as you use it, the console is not a great place for it. You rarely need change anymore for tolls so unless you park at meters there is not much need for coins in the car. No one uses pay phones anymore either. Many owners just put all of their loose screws, fuses, and other little bits in it to keep them from rolling around. Maybe a tiny flux capacitor in case of a temporal emergency? One neat use would be a rechargable flashlight plugged into it maybe. What the car really needs is some good cupholders that don't get in the way!
David Teitelbaum

+1 cup holder

[Cory W]

I keep USB keys and a plug for my stereo Aux. jack to plug into my phone in there. I like that it can at least be slid shut so nobody can see what (admittedly small) items are there.

[Conundrum]

This reminds me. Didn't someone make a flip cover for the coin tray?

[WelmoedJ]

Patrick,

Designing a tray that would fit most of the cell phones nowadays is almost impossible.
The speed in which smartphone grow in size makes a design obsolete very quickly.

I use the space between shifter and center console to hold my smartphone while driving.
Since Bluetooth is becoming a common part of new car radios there's no need to have the smartphone near you.
Another issue is the law: it cost you severely if you use your cell Phone other than handsfree, that is if caught in the act.

I for one, would not change the ashtray and I am not a smoker.

[john 05141]

Even if I were a smoker, I'd never smoke in the D.
I must say I do like the idea. I have converted my ashtray years ago (picture) and it fitted my phone then perfectly. My I-phone does not.
The concept looks good. I have a bluetooth radio, so if you can tell that the phone's bluetooth works in this tray, you can put me on the list.

Jan

[bandit]

Just start smoking, problem solved. There's a use right there.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Even if I were a smoker, I'd never smoke in the D.
I must say I do like the idea. I have converted my ashtray years ago (picture) and it fitted my phone then perfectly. My I-phone does not.
The concept looks good. I have a bluetooth radio, so if you can tell that the phone's bluetooth works in this tray, you can put me on the list.

Jan

What's that writing on your knee pad?

[john 05141]

Signature from James Tolkan and Bob Gale.

Jan