Why all the "bridge" hate?

Here are a few things that I don't like about it:

Poor ergonomics
Poor use of space
Noise (creaks) in cold weather
Makes car seem less spacious

It also makes it hard to get out of the other side door if parking the car tight to a wall​

 

All of those, though I don't find it impedes space for even my big body too much. It's a massive source of squeaks because it ties the front and back of the car together and transmits noise. Mine is awful in the winter for squeaks.

 

I'm with you - for me it looks great and the interior thanks to it gives me more impression of spaceship.. which was always my dream And mine is not rattling as much. Besides - I am a tall guy and usually I'm bumping with my left knee on the driver's door handle - not on the central console. In addition the lower tray "under the bridge" is a very convenient place to keep there my wallet, keys and other little things.

 

i think it looks okay, i just think it's a very poor use of the space, storage wise. could be much better done with the shifter somewhere else and that space for phone, cupholder, etc.

 

My main complaints are creaks and rattles when it's cold. It seems to me, that they could have designed it a little better. There are so many seams in the construction that it just begs to move about.

 

I like the bridge and find it useful and attractive. I really hope it is kept in the next version. I am 6 ft 3 and it does not limit my driving space. I also like being able to place things in the open space below.

 

I'm a line backer build and I have PLENTY of room. I like the looks of it. Kind of makes me think of Star Trek when I'm driving.

 

My mom doesn't like it because my mom can't put her purse in front of the center console anymore. (Compared to the 2nd Gen.) What I don't like is the lack of a key slot, and the fact there is nothing I can put under the "bridge."

 

That's where I put my box of Kleenex.

 

I like the design, but not the creaks when cold. I had the car in for 25K service yesterday and, of course, they couldn't hear anything despite letting the car sit outside for a couple hours. True enough, it was quiet when I picked up the car - for about 15 miles.

 

I am a big fan of small packages in the center console. Great idea though!

 

Ah, you have never owned a gen II, so you don't miss the two rear cup holders that you can reach from the front seats, or miss the two usable front cup holders - the second of which doesn't keep you from using the armrest while making the contents of the second cup an easy target for a moving elbow, or miss the 'hidden' storage compartment drawer under the console, or miss the additional open floorspace between the console and the radio skirt where you can fit a reasonable-size messenger bag, or miss the fact that you could actually open the armrest storage compartment even when the rear seat-backs are down.

Naw, I can't imagine why all the hate -- other than the fact that the design is the apparent winner of the 'how many ways can we make the III worse than the II' contest.

Oh wait -- there are a few ways we can make it worse -- let's make the door storage pockets much smaller than the II -- and make the shape of the glove boxes even more unusable than the II.

[and don't forget to make it unadvisable to run the car for a short time in cold/damp weather, lest it sound like the engine is going to jump through the hood next time you start it.]

Ergonomics -- we don't need no stinkin' ergonomics...

 

After owning the Gen I and the Gen II, I didn't like the Gen III flying bridge but got used to it... but then yesterday, parking in a certain large Federal parking lot notorious for its too-narrow car slots, I found the only available space was between a GMC large-body van and a Chevy SUV. Making sure to park so that the van driver had enough inches to get into his driver's door, I then found the gap on my driver's side and the Chevy just too small to open my door.

"No problem - I'll just slide over and get out of my passenger side" I thought.

Well, try a test climb over that #$%^&* flying bridge in a suit and winter coat and dress shoes, and you'll know why I now want to take a chain saw to the useless gimmicky plastic thing... grrrr.... stooooopid design. Made me late as well.

 

That's who suggested I help those trying to compensate for their buyer's remorse.

 

poor use of space, makes it cramped and it's cheaply made - like old GM cars in the 1980's. Poor plastic quality.

 

All the hate for the flying buttress/bridge. I test drove the Gen 2 several years ago and much prefer the 3 over the 2. One of the BIGGEST improvements is placement of the speedometer. The Gen 2 had this speedometer all the way forward with some sort of magnifying glass in front of it. It seemed distorted. I felt like I was looking way too far away to see it. I also felt claustrophobic in the Gen 2 for some reason. Gen 3, I don't feel claustrophobic. I was worried about the center piece making me feel claustrophobic but it didn't. I think the way the Gen 2's windshield sat and less visibility out the sides is what made me feel that way. I also feel more comfortable in the Gen 3 than the 2.

Oh, and the shifter is a big improvement also. That other one looked cheap and dorky. I also prefer the looks of the dash over the Gen 2. It's more refined and has much better lines. The Gen 2 looked chunky to me.

So yeah, there will always be those who like something about an older version than the newer version. There are also going to be others who like something about the newer version over the older version. To each their own.

One qualm I have about the Gen 3 level 3 is no auto headlights. I miss my auto headlights from the Camry. It was so nice, they just automatically changed from DRLs to nighttime lights. I have to "remember" to switch now. So I did go back in time a little to the old days. At least the shut off when I turn off the car. Unlike the Fords I've owned.