So... a little talk about retrofitting cup holders. I don't like the cup holders in my 02 Impreza- the one in the console is too small for anything larger than a Red Bull can and the one on the dash is awkwardly placed and frankly just kind of weird. Every day when I go to work I bring my coffee cup and water bottle, both of them are about the diameter of a 20oz soda bottle and I only have a slot for one of them, so that means my water bottle is usually left to roll around on the seat.

 

And that begins my search for a better one. Has anyone else found a good solution? Here's what I'm looking at...

 

1. The cup holder out of a mid-90s Ford Taurus. I already have one of these lying around the garage and tried it out yesterday. Not only will it not fit in the dash without trimming (it's slightly larger than a standard DIN slot) but the cup holders won't hold anything larger than a can of Coke. Won't work for me.

 

 

2. One of these things from eBay. They're inexpensive and readily available, and fit a standard DIN slot. So I know it'd work, but I have no idea if it'll hold my coffee and/or water. I can't find any dimensions of the cup holes or any testimonials from anyone who's actually used one, other than "a big gulp won't fit." But my stuff is smaller than a big gulp. Has anyone ever used one of these?

 

 

3. Cup holder from a Mk4 VW Jetta. It definitely would hold my mug and water bottle, but I'm not sure how I'd install it. It's a half-DIN so I'd have to buy a plastic tray to fill the gap. Then there's also the problem of physically mounting it, since it's held in with clips in the VW there are no screw holes. Anyone ever tried this?

 

 

I know it's also possible to replace my console with that of an 04+ Impreza but it's a hell of a lot of work and honestly not worth the trouble IMO.

 

Anyone have any other input on cup holders? I know we've got some tinkering gurus in here!

I would pass on trying to use the MK4 cup holders. They don't hold anything very well and are getting very hard to find as they break easily. This info coming from a former MK4 kid. I think #2 would be your best bet.

You know, I never thought about replacing the cup holder.  I have the same problem in my '00 wagon.  My coffee cup fits in the console cup holder, but it means I'm wresting my arm on the top of it when I'm shifting (5mt) so i get lint and other crap in the lid.  Cup didn't fit the one on the dash so I widened it out with an 80 grit flap wheel on my die grinder.  Not the most elegant solution, but it was effective and didn't take long.  Had the nozzle of my shop vac right below it so the dust cleanup was pretty minimal.

Those DIN size cup holders only hold a vessel the size of a normal soda can.

The only decent solution I've come up with in the past is to sacrifice the center console storage box by installing a couple of large drop-in cup holders. I haven't had the desire to give up my arm rest though...

I would pass on trying to use the MK4 cup holders. They don't hold anything very well and are getting very hard to find as they break easily. This info coming from a former MK4 kid. I think #2 would be your best bet.

This is true.  It's really awesome when your soda falls out and spills all over the place.  I have a deep personal dislike for these.

 

I've resorted (in the past) to an old shoe stuffed along side the seat to rest cups/bottles in....but I know this solution isn't for everyone.  Number 2 does look significantly sturdier that that Mk4 version.

This is true.  It's really awesome when your soda falls out and spills all over the place.  I have a deep personal dislike for these.

 

I've resorted (in the past) to an old shoe stuffed along side the seat to rest cups/bottles in....but I know this solution isn't for everyone.  Number 2 does look significantly sturdier that that Mk4 version.

 

Hey, now old shoes are something I just so happen to have!

Hey, now old shoes are something I just so happen to have!

LMAO, I rocked the old shoe in my Samurai, since it didn't actually have cupholders or a place to put them.  I also used it in my Geo Storm for the same reason.  Definitely not the nicest looking "cupholder" out there, but nothing spilled....and if it did, it just spilled into the shoe, so it was easy to clean. 

shoe huh?


did it work like a seat wedge cup holder?