I find that the cupholders are quite usable even with the manual transmission. The center stack storage compartment holds two small sized Chinese take-out boxes just perfectly.

I try not to keep any solid objects in the glove box or "map pockets" to avoid rattling or having projectiles flying about.
I leave the owner manuals for all vehicles at home. If a car thief steals the car, I am not letting them get a free manual to learn how to operate a feature in the car.

 

glove box: i keep the owners manual, napkins, tire gauge, and a pen, and the key for the lug nuts

Center console: I keep the sct tuner, miscellaneous reciepts sometimes

cup holders: rarely ever a drink, house keys, reciepts, bluetooth headset

Map pockets: NOTHING, EVER, i cant stand stuff rolling around when im power sliding, it feels like stuff is breaking and falling off around me

WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEWHERE TO PUT A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i set mine in front of the shifter under the ac controls

 

My fix for useless map pockets and nowhere else to place the garage door opener?

$2000 NAV system
$350 Homelink mirror

Wow... no wonder I can't afford a supercharger... if only my car had come with better map pockets I would be F/I now!!

 

 

take the clip off of it and use two sided tape. Tape it between the two buttons for the map lights

 

when I first drove the car, I knew I would never use that darn thing. 2 years later I'm still right

 

Actually you had to pay much more than $350 for the homelink mirror, at least to make it look like an OEM install. IIRC you had to pay for the electronic mirror / compass first and then have the dealer install the electronic homelink mirror, resulting in at least $400-$500 for 2 mirrors.

Meanwhile, Japanese cars offer the same brand of Gemtex homelink mirrors as factory options. I don't understand why Ford couldn't do the same thing.

 

Naaaahhh.. I paid the $350 and did the install myself.

Electrochromatic mirrors weren't an option in 2005 so I had to make do!

It was a piece of cake and you can't tell that the mirror isn't OEM.

 

I jam some napkins/tissues in there for accidental splashes from my coffee or obviously if I have to blow my nose. I don't use my mapbook often so it's folded up in the passenger side pocket. Makes it a PITA to read though being moulded into a U.

 

We have door pockets?! I didn't know we had door pockets!

Just kidding, I never use them.

 

Call me old fashioned. But if I had my choice I would rather have the car devoid of cupholders. I think they detract from the looks of the car a tiny bit and I don't like how ford does them.

Just my 0.02. I don't drink in the car and practically anything I put there interferes with shifting with the exception of a cell phone.

The map pockets are indeed small for map pockets. But I just never use them in any of my cars. To me they are just another crevice I have to vacuum out when detailing. I say nix them but to each his own.

 

I didn't either until I read this thread. Not kidding. I had to go out and look to see wtf you guys were talking about.

 

wow, your looking too far into things.

 

Interesting! How did you make the wiring look factory-installed?

 

Looks factory doesn't it?

 

As with mrkabc (my twin ), I too added a homelink/dimming mirror. It cost me all of about $170, because I didn't get the compass or temp gauge. The dimming mirror was pretty much a necessity due to having a convertible, the homelink because it's nice and it doesn't cost all that more to have it.

To make it look factory, it's called craftsmanship and workmanship. That's what separates a nicely modified car from a not-so-nicely modified car in my opinion.

So, in the case of the mirror, you spend the extra $5 and get the black plastic wiring cover that extends from the mirror plate to the headliner. Then, you wire things up PROPERLY using things like add-a-fuses and GOOD wire connectors, and use zip ties. And if it's visible wire, use wire loom.

THAT'S how you make something look factory. And, BTW, the Gentex mirrors are factory in many autos

 

God I love my car

 

Dammit, now I want a Homelink mirror. It never ends!

 

The wiring cover is what I was asking about. I didn't realize the factory did that. I thought it was some type of wiring harness adhered to the glass.
$170 for a garage door opener is kind of expensive. That's why I just stuck to using the clip on door opener. Had it been a factory option, I would have elected to buy it.

 

Too true! Too true!!

I paid $350 for my garage door opener!

But I also paid $2000 for a Thomas Guide (factory NAV), $1200 for brighter headlights (Saleen HIDs), $800 for factory wheels (18" Fanblades weren't an option in 2005), and $40 for some SHR grille inserts that no one will ever know exist, and I really didn't need! (but *I* think they are cool!)

And the list goes on... and on... and on...

And NO, I can't afford it. But it's FUNNNNN!! Besides, I like having all sorts of cool gadgets and trinkets to make the car my own. Will I ever see that $$$ again? No. But the time I spend in my car is that much more enjoyable.

Right now I am visiting Tampa, FL - my rental car does NOT have the compass in the mirror (or a NAV for that matter) and I am constantly getting lost around here... WHICH WAY IS NORTH?!?!? I am SOOOO missing my Gentex mirror right now!

Shout out to my twin!!