RGoose18

So I just picked up an 06' w/ 40k on the clock. I love the way it looks, drives, etc although I seem to have run into a major flaw!

I generally rest my right knee against the left side of the center console when cruising. I've owned 4 cars before this one and it's super comfortable for me.

My problem is Honda put a ridge down the side of the center console where your leg rests against. It makes it unbearable for longer trips not to walk away w/ serious knee pain. I drove an hour from work and had a hard time walking up the stairs to my kitchen!

Has anyone else noticed this or run into this problem. Hopefully I'm not alone and someone can provide a remedy.

RGoose18

Jimmy The Saint

I have noticed that but it doesn't bother me. Not sure there is anything you can do man.

nj2pa2nc

sorry to hear that-Do not have that problem with my 06 tsx with almost 110,000 miles. I drive from NC to NJ and back every few weeks. It is about 635 miles one-way and takes 9-10 hours.

xradman

Why don't you get some padding and velcro tape that to the side of the console where your knee goes. Padding that some violist use to rest their chin might work.

GWEEDOspeedo

I'm 6'2" and I've picked up that I rest my leg against it but instead of hurting, it just gets sweaty.

RGoose18

I thought about doing this, it's just tough to velcro a pad to the inside of my pristine interior. I feel like an old man doing this!

gweedo, lol, turn up the AC for the sweaty knee problem

kanonen

The TSX is a small car (for me at least, I am 6'3) and that is expected. What I do, is pull the seat a bit farther than normal, so my legs are flatter and it is my lower leg that rests on the side of the center console not my knee. People have different driving postures, that's why the decision to buy a car also depends on how comfortable the seats are to your posture and style. So I don't think it is that major of a flaw for the size of the car.

RGoose18

I'm coming from an acura integra (much smaller car, which had much more legroom), it's definitely not the flaw of the car per se, but a flaw in the design of the center console. It looks real nice but isn't the most functional in terms of side to side legroom

I may try the violin pillow trick, thx xradman

mrgold35

I'm 6'3" also and it can be very uncomfortable on long trips on my right leg leaning against the console.

I had the original problem of my hip joint hurting on long trips until I realized it was from my fat wallet in my pocket messing up my hip alignment causing pain. The wallet is thinned out and it goes in the center console on long trips.

I've just got into the habit to wearing slip on shoes on long trips. With my size 14 shoes, going shoeless provides me with 2-3 inches of extra leg room. I take of the shoes and toss in the back seat and this give me just enough room to change the angle of my leg to prevent any pain on long trips (anything over +2hrs).

Miamicarfan

RGoose18:

Is that an actual picture of your car's interior or is it from another car?

RGoose18

I'm 6'1" and I dunno how you can stand it. I figure since I drive w/ my left hand at 12 (left handed) I'm shifting my weight to the right side and it makes it a bit worse. I'm going to give it a couple more weeks and figure out where to go from there. I'm very surprised in Honda's design on this, form over function for sure.

Just a googled photo

Simba91102

I think you'd find that part of the reason that's it's not an issue (or more of an issue) is that my guess is that few people rest their leg against the console (I certainly don't and I drive allot of miles. It never occurred to me I guess). I'd suggest either modify your driving position or get a different car. I really don't think it's a Honda thing. I've owned allot of cars and find the TSX to be one of the most comfortable. But..... everyone's built a little differently, so we can't all be comfortable, all the time. I'm ambidextrous, and drive for the most part with my hands at at 2 and 8 or 10 and 4. I don't quite see why hand position has a bearing on where you rest your legs, but... if you say it does, then maybe that's something to look at too.

RGoose18

I've switched my driving position to where my knee is not touching the console at all. It seems to be working although I'm not as comfortable as I was in the old clunker integra.

I'm surprised that honda made the lower portions in such a unforgiving plastic as they did. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out on my next vehicle purchase

Also just to answer your question, hand position plays a role in that it alters hip position, which in turn affects leg/knee position

campaiar

TSX has been the most comfortable car I've owned.

I'm only 5'9" so its a bit different.

RGoose18

lol, this is an instance where I wish I was short!

npolite

Keep the car you have for at least until the next generation are built to see how comfortable the seats will be. You couldn't imagine how painful long drives were in my sister's 08 Accord. Those seats were the hardest padding I have ever felt on any Accord and I have been driving Accords since the 4th gen.

Getting back to the OP's original question, Honda had to add that side if they want a door in there. Personally I would rather have the room and have something like what was in the 6th gen.



I can fit those small tissue boxes in there.

RGoose18

^ I agree, my old accord had the same setup and it was MUCH more comfortable. The room side to side in my car is pretty pathetic. Now I see why most TSX drivers are women!

Aside from this issue it's one of the best cars I've ever owned. Decent pickup, great mileage, great looking, etc, just stinks honda had this oversight

nj2pa2nc

I am also left-handed-tried driving with my left hand at 12-did not last long. I tend to drive with it at about 9 so I can rest my arm on the door handle so I can change the radio station and volume easier.

GWEEDOspeedo

"left-hand at 12" meaning you drive gangster-like?

RGoose18

Yeah, and I make sure to have my gold teeth in and my 22" spinners on at all times

rx280

Interesting how the differences in people's anatomy and driving positions can affect driving comfort so significantly. I've had my '04 for almost seven years -- just a couple of months until the anniversary -- and there are more than 93,000 miles on the odometer. My basic driving position has never changed, and it has my right knee resting against the console, pretty much even with the bottom of the CD compartment (and therefore the top of the Not An Ashtray compartment.) I suppose the car would be more comfortable to sit in if my knee didn't have to be up against a hard surface, but I've never been bothered by the knee-to-console contact. I really never give it a thought. By the way, I'm 5-10 and have relatively long legs for my height. (I believe the term is short-waisted.)

SoCaliTrojan

I tried to lean my right knee to the right, but my seat support won't let me. My leg rests on the seat way before my knee can reach the console.

Personally I prefer not to be lazy with my right leg. It's the one that interacts with the throttle and gas pedal...and I'd rather have the ability to slam on the brakes quickly rather than waste some time trying to bring it up into position. I guess that's why my seat support is still able to keep my leg away from the console.