A3 armrest - design flaw?

[curiousgeorge]

Is it my long arms or is the armrest positioned awkwardly?

When it's down I can't use the handbrake and my elbow hits it when I change gear.

When it's up it's still in the way when I use the handbrake.

Does this not bother anyone else?

[chiefwiggumpi]

I find that whens it down it is awkward to change gear and use the handbrake but as for when its up i have no problems, im 6ft1 and have reasonably long arms.

I only tend to use it on long motorway journeys when im not changing gear and not using the handbrake. When it is down i find it very comfortable. I paid for it in my current A3 but just ordered a new one for sept which is now included in the sport model.

[tlionhart]

yes i have finally come to the conclusion it's a design flaw.

I mean if you have it on mid-high it's not a prob. However i like it low, but the handbrake hits it. I really hope audi scrap the traditional handbrake system and make it a button, like the A4/A5 has. It's different, smart and allows room for more cup holders, wider armrest for both passenger and driver. It slides back or forward. The other design floor with the arm rest is as mentioned, my friends or family rest their arms on it...it's not wide enough and makes gear changes annoying!

[curiousgeorge]

I'm pretty sure that even when it's up, if I have my finger on the handbrake button my elbow touches the underside of the armrest.

I have an A6 avant on loan at the moment and that has the switch as well. It's OK once you get used to it but it takes a second or so to engage/disengage, so if you want to do a hill start or at the lights it's not ideal.

It is the future though, levers are old fashioned.

[chiefwiggumpi]

Id agree ive had 3 A6 avants from the dealer and they have all had the small handbrake button. As you point out though when you have a large estate or for that matter any car holding by a button and want to take the handbrake off im always dubious with the slight delay whats happening...but then again its like anything once you get used it to it a lever will seem odd i guess!

[keniken]

I have an A3 with DSG and I find the armrest unobstractive while driving, infact I'd miss it if it was not there. The only thing I can say is that its a bit in the way when I let the handbreak up and down but I'm used to that now....

[davelincs]

the a3 i am buying is not fitted with an armrest, do audi sell an after market armrest?

[keniken]

the a3 i am buying is not fitted with an armrest, do audi sell an after market armrest?

You can retrofit an armrest, quite a few on eBay or buy from main dealers...

[slimbaldy]

Mine hasn't got one thank goodness, driven a few with them and they do get in the way. But if they go for the push button handbrake the DIY ers amongst us will not like the fact that you have to plug the car in to a diagnostic system to retract the rear brake calipers to change brake pads! Not ideal if your'e like me and like to save a few quid by doing the easy bits yourself.

[Nicklicks1]

One word of caution!

Be careful when the armrest is all the way down (i.e. raised and then lowered with the handbrake off) when you come to put the handbrake back on again. The wife was pulling the brake on and stopping when it hit the centre armrest, thus not putting the brake on properly (or if you are leaning on the rest and pulling the brake with the same arm). I only discovered this when someone knocked on our door and asked us to remove the vehicle from the middle of the road.

A very near miss indeed!