Rear Bucket Seats with or without console?

[Riley]

Thank you. I am still on the fence. The dealer told me it would be fairly easy to step over the console. Do you feel the lack of a console makes the second row seats uncomfortable for long rides?

I have the console in mine and it makes it much more useful for the kids to have drinks/snacks/toys in it. Plus the cup holders. It does give them something to rest their arms on and lean against if needed too. Like others have said, it's easy to remove for a couple years if you want and it's only a $100 option from the factory. I say go for it.

 

[dinah_kay]

Thank you for all your replies! I have my five year old still harnessed in a Britax Frontier, but I could always switch her to booster mode or a more streamlined booster for ease of access to the third row.

Sam, do you happen to have a photo of your floor mat setup?

 

[Sgt1411]

I have the console in mine and it makes it much more useful for the kids to have drinks/snacks/toys in it. Plus the cup holders. It does give them something to rest their arms on and lean against if needed too. Like others have said, it's easy to remove for a couple years if you want and it's only a $100 option from the factory. I say go for it.

I second that......will always order it.

 

[peterk9]

Hi. We have ordered a 2014 XLT with second row bucket seats. Originally we were not going to get a 2nd row console since we will have car seats installed in the second row seats. After reading posts here I see many suggest the 2nd row console is a must have item so I am having second thoughts. While I have read you can remove the console I am still not 100% sure what the final look is with the plastic cover and weather tech mats look like. I can't seem to find any photos. So it left me wondering to those who have kids and a console....can someone easily step over the console to reach the third row? I don't see us using the third row a lot (2 adults and two kids,) but the entire point of the 2nd row bucket seats was for easy access to the third row without uninstalling car seats. We are in a smaller town with only one dealership. I test drove a model with second row bucket seats, and it did not have a console. They didn't have any other models with that setup.

Here is what it looks like in the Lincoln. The cover looks identical to the one I saw in my Explorer, but it had the bench seat. I think these may be close to what the Explorer looks like. At least it will give you an idea. The Husky liners were just installed yesterday. The last picture is of the Explorer with the bench seats folded up. You can see the plastic cover for the console bracket.
If you want to see pics with the console check out; http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=377760&highlight=2nd+row+console

Peter

 

[PlatinumSport14]

I ordered mine with the console, don't have my Explorer yet but I can tell you my reasoning was similar to some of those posting here.

Pay the $100, if you don't like it unbolt it, which by all accounts is VERY DIY, so what you have a tiny patch of carpet missing. As suggested you can cut out a piece of carpet to cover it up and anyone north of Kentucky SHOULD have decent floor mats installed anyway.

I was on the fence too but decided it'd be easier to remove than purchase and install on my own...

 

[dinah_kay]

Thank you everyone. The dealer is double checking that they can still add the console to our order. He is pretty sure they can since the order was just placed last Thursday, but we will know for sure on Monday.

 

[Riley]

Thank you everyone. The dealer is double checking that they can still add the console to our order. He is pretty sure they can since the order was just placed last Thursday, but we will know for sure on Monday.

You can add/remove options (no chassis/drive train changes though) up to about 2-3 weeks before production so you will for sure be able to order it.

 

[dinah_kay]

You can add/remove options (no chassis/drive train changes though) up to about 2-3 weeks before production so you will for sure be able to order it.

Great, thank you!