Buzz
The other evening, I found myself deep in a passionate conversation with an acquaintance who happens to be a smoker. I told him that while I didn’t mind if he smoked in his car, I really didn’t like it when he hung the cigarette out the window and let the ashes fly in the wind. We argued for about 5 minutes when, out of nowhere, he said: "So what should I do with the ash and butt? Cars don’t come with ashtrays anymore!" Wow, he got me there – I hadn’t even noticed.
Sure, you can purchase a smoker's package, which includes an ashtray that fits into the cup holder. However, car manufacturers have not included them as standard for a long time now, depending on the make and model. I recall when there used to be ashtrays in the back seats (for the kids?! ;-). But by the 80s and 90s, they vanished. The front ashtray remained, though, where many of us stored spare change or gum.
So, why did car companies eliminate them altogether? The answer seems to vary depending on who you ask. Critics argue that automakers simply want to save money on extra parts. But someone I spoke to at a car manufacturer, who asked to remain anonymous, suggested it’s more about subtle behavior modification. Without ashtrays in the car, maybe you'll quit that dirty habit? Smoking isn't fashionable anymore, so why would any car maker want to be associated with something that's no longer popular, especially when they’re already struggling to sell cars?
What are your thoughts on this? Does anyone happen to have a more recent model that actually still includes an ashtray? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
