OK here's the deal. I had to make a 4 hour each way drive yesterday. I usually get 20-25 mpg but I was driving over the mountain pass. So I ended up with 18 mpg. The cost to fill my tank total was $100.00. Holy smokes!

What does that got to do with "New is not always better"? Well I'm old enough to remember bench seats in the front. Some years ago someone decided that buckets seats only in the front. So the average vehicle that used to seat 6 now seats 5. You'd think that they'd give you the option especially if you have lots of family or friends to have that extra space to save fuel.

The added benefit is you can put your arm around your significant other on a bench seat. Also you don't have to climb into the back for a ....

I remember my sister having a bench seat car. I was six and she was 18. That is the last bench car I remember sitting in.

The bench seats would be helpful for family trips and outing with friends. I remeber when all my friends wanted to go somewhere it took 3 cars to take us all and that is because some friends didn't go. We were going to an outlet to shop.

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I just can't help myself. Risk it all with me.

When I was a kid, my dad had an older car and it had the bench seat in the front. I used to sit right next to him while he was driving. In fact, he helped to teach me how to drive in that car. I was only 10 at the time but he started me a little that young. I didn't drive it alone of course, but he would let me steer etc lol

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I'm no car expert or historian but I think the reason has to do with mass production and the need for profit. See, in the old days the typical automatic had the gear lever by the steering wheel and the floor gears were only needed for manual transmission. But that meant 2 production lines and therefore increased cost. One of auto transmission and other for manual transmission. Thats expensive and reduces profitability. Everything needed to be doubled. Now with the ease of a single gear box location it does 2 things - makes it easier for auto/manual transmission drivers to reach for the gears on the right and reduces cost as the manufacturing lines is just one. Plus, for safety reasons as bucket strapped in seats is much safer than the wide open bench seats in crash tests. Much of this from the racing industry incorporated into commercial vehicles. Also airbag deployment. With a bench seat you might need an extra airbag in the middle, that adds cost and additional space which could be used for something else, like that handy dvd/radio combo!

Of course I'm just guessing here. I'm sure someone will post an article as why the car manufacturers changed...

True, they don't make things like they used to. Microwaves is a perfect example. My mother's 18yr old Panasonic runs like new, never needed servicing. It's metal cased and weighs like 30 f-ing pounds. BUT the thing is solid, efficient, and durable. Now today's microwaves are a PITA. You lucky to use it the same length as the warranty. Most break down after 2 yrs, and weigh like a piece of crap. All made with cheap heat resistant plastic molding that breaks if a 2 yr old hits it. Everything these days is to support a throwaway society. Cause manufacturing costs are so low it's not worth to fix anything; just throw it away and get a new one. What does that do?? Just causes more environmental problems with larger garbage dumps for sake of mass production and higher profit margin.

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There are a few road going vehicles which the automatic gear lever is on the steering column. Dodge Caravan comes to mind. Dodge probably stuck with this layout because the majority of buyers are not buying manuals. Also there is a lot more space that is used on the central instrument panel to be utilized for the various creature comforts. As for front bench seats, I think it is partially due to NHTSA's changes in regulations as the culprit of why we no longer see new cars equipped with them. The only vehicles that come to mind that have bench-like seating are trucks. I know there are some European-only cars from Honda to Citroen that have front bench seats as their legislation is much different.

A quick search of google also suggests the increased bhp of modern cars moved the shift from bench to bucket seating. At higher acceleration and cornering, the bucket seats keep you more firmly intact. Pretty much useless in city driving where a 280 bhp vehicle will get you as fast as the next cop car. LOL.

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