# car cigarette lighter **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543 "2011-05-11T17:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/21 "2011-05-11T20:58:52Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > This is for a just off the lot 2011 Hyundai Elantra. I was about to post that my 2010 Elantra has one, so you should go and buy a Hyundai, but apparently not. :D:mad: ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/22 "2011-05-11T23:14:12Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > That’s exactly what I’m talking about. The outlet that’s in there will NOT take a standard car cig lighter. I need to find another thing to plug into it that will make it back into a lighter. It’s a PITA to need to have matches and/or lighters in the car, plus the electric type is safer. This is for a just off the lot 2011 Hyundai Elantra. Just wondering what’s so PITA about keeping a Bic lighter within reach in the vehicle? When I smoked I kept my cigarettes and lighter in the door storage compartment. Always there when needed. Granted, I wasn’t sharing the vehicle with anyone that was going to snatch my lighter and no kids to worry about. When I was a kid I got into plenty of mischief with the plug in “regular” lighter in the family car. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/23 "2011-05-11T23:51:17Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Just wondering what’s so PITA about keeping a Bic lighter within reach in the vehicle? I’m not a smoker, but I’d guess that a heating element is somewhat safer than an actual **fire**. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/24 "2011-05-12T00:50:36Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Hmm. Makes you wonder why they don’t just put a standard socket there instead? I have an accessory that provides two standard US A/C sockets. The accessory plugs into the lighter socket. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/25 "2011-05-12T01:14:07Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > A secondary issue would be an ashtray, which I haven’t seen in a new car in at least a decade (though, when I bought my PT Cruiser in 2001, there was an option for an ashtray), though I’ve seen ashtrays sized to fit car cupholders in various auto-parts stores. My 2003 330i came with both an ashtray and an actual cigarette lighter. I certainly didn’t get a smoker’s package, though I did have the premium package. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/26 "2011-05-12T01:22:52Z")
My Pontiac has a lighter and ashtray. Buy Detroit iron! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/27 "2011-05-12T01:23:29Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > I’m not a smoker, but I’d guess that a heating element is somewhat safer than an actual **fire**. I don’t know…car lighters always made me nervous. A bic lighter goes out when you drop it in your lap. Drop a glowing-red-hot car lighter in your lap at 70 MPH and see what happens. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > My Pontiac has a lighter and ashtray. > Buy Detroit iron! 🙂 But they don’t make Pontiacs anymore. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/28 "2011-05-12T01:33:15Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > But they don’t make Pontiacs anymore. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/29 "2011-05-12T01:42:24Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Dammit. GM did away with Oldsmobile and Pontiac, but kept Buick. I would think that Buicks would have a smoker’s package, but I guess most of the old folks that are still around to drive Buicks are non-smokers. The last Ford I had that came with a lighter and ashtray was a '98 Mustang, but the ashtray was a stupid cupholder ashtray, so it was useless if there were two people in the front seat with drinks. My '05 PT Cruiser Convertible had a lighter…then again, not really an American car…Chrysler was held by the Germans at the time. Hmm…now Fiat has a large chunk of Chrysler. Do the Italians still smoke a lot? Maybe there’s hope for ashtrays and lighters in the new Chryslers. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/30 "2011-05-12T05:16:26Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Just wondering what’s so PITA about keeping a Bic lighter within reach in the vehicle? When I smoked I kept my cigarettes and lighter in the door storage compartment. Always there when needed. Except when the lighter runs out at that inconvienent moment, and the plan B car lighter saves the day till your new bic is in your possesion. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/31 "2011-05-12T11:09:11Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > The last Ford I had that came with a lighter and ashtray was a '98 Mustang, but the ashtray was a stupid cupholder ashtray, so it was useless if there were two people in the front seat with drinks. My 2009 Expedition had a cigarette lighter and a cup ashtray, but that was in a country where smoking is still acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/32 "2011-05-12T17:05:04Z")
As for the why part of it, safety is the main thing, followed by convenience. It’s easy to push in and pull out the button with one hand while keeping the other on the wheel. A Bic-type lighter is clumsier and matches are worse. Also if the windows are open, the breeze won’t blow it out. And what Declan said. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543/33 "2011-05-12T23:38:24Z")
My 2005 Hyundai Elantra has a cigar (so called) lighter and an ashtray. But the lighter is too small in diameter to actually work on a cigar. Or at least not the traditional man sized cigars I smoke; it probably would fit one of the baby sized designer cigars. I guess I just learned another reason to keep the 2005. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-cigarette-lighter/581543.md?page=1)