Eating, Driving Is The American Way
You probably won’t buy a car solely based on how easy it is to eat in, but no way is that going to stop me from writing a column about that topic.
Of course you know you’re not supposed to be eating while you’re driving. But face it, you are an American; you are far too busy to do just one thing at a time.
So given that reality, someone has to ask, what makes a car a good one for noshing behind the wheel?
“It should have a smooth ride, so you’re not just bumping down the street,” says car critic Teresa Herriman. “That pretty much eliminates sports cars. The Viper, Acura NSX, Corvette, probably wouldn’t be good choices.”
Another strike against sports cars: The stiff steering and manual transmissions demand two-handed driving, Herriman says. You’d need a third hand to raise that latte to your lips.
So scratch those coupes off your list and look for an automatic transmission and a light touch on the wheel for the utmost dining pleasure.
The land yachts - Lincoln Continentals, Pontiac Bonnevilles, Cadillacs - are inherently well-suited for eating with their cloud-nine rides, power steering and spacious interiors. But surprisingly, some pickups, like the Chevy Tahoe, also have good foodability ratings, Herriman says.
Except for a stiff suspension, many pickups are food friendly because they’re designed for people who work out of their vehicle.
Now, on to cupholders. That’s the acid test for a car trying to be eating-enabled, and Herriman is the perfect person to discuss the topic because she applies a Cupholder Test to every car she tests for The Spokesman-Review (along with her rigorous Grocery Bag Test.)
“The most important thing is to make sure it’s an actual cupholder, not just an indent. It has to withstand quick braking and acceleration.
“And make sure the cupholder is not located near any electronics. You are going to get spillage and you don’t want it to ruin your stereo.
“The cupholder should pop out for easier cleaning,” she says. And it shouldn’t be a flimsy, complicated gadget that is prone to breaking or getting stuck. (Are you listening, Ford?!)
“Placement of the cupholder is important. You don’t want it in the armrest. It’s too hard to get to.”
Some high-scoring cars on the cupholder rating: the Chrysler and Dodge mini-vans, which have adjustable cupholders that can fit nearly any size beverage.
And forget about those snooty Euro cars - the BMWs, the Saabs they don’t even have cupholders as standard equipment. It seems their drivers are too busy ripping down the autobahn to pay attention to drinks and snacks.
Thankfully, most American cars come equipped with some sort of cupholder, but be discriminating: There’s some bad ones out there.
What else, Teresa?
“A flat space on the center console is nice, because otherwise you’re setting things on the seat next to you, or on the floor. The floor is kind of a reach.”
Check. And dashboards?
“There’s some nice dashes out there. You can wedge things in. But some vans have really long noses and you want to be really careful. The Olds Silhouette dash slopes down and if you drop something, it’s gone.”
And another thing. Remember those vinyl litter bags you could hang on your radio dial knob? Well, a lot of cars don’t have a place to hang those anymore and so that’s a problem. It’s nice to have a place to stash wrappers and whatnot. Look for good knobs.
Upholstery should be leather or vinyl for ease of cleaning up messes.
“Cloth can be real nasty if you spill a latte that has milk in it. After a few days … ” Herriman knowingly relates.
Which raises a whole new subject: The suitability of various foods for enjoying during those wasted minutes driving to and fro. What works and what’s worst. That discussion will have to be taken up in another column. Until then, safe driving and good eating!
, DataTimes MEMO: On Your Way is a Valley Voice column focusing on commuter lifestyles and issues. Your views on any of the topics discussed are invited. Please write: On Your Way, The Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Or fax us at 459-5482.