Lexus is not a brand normally known for odd features. It doesn’t put its ignition switch in the center console like a Saab, or heat its door locks like an old BMW, or offer in-car vases like a Volkswagen New Beetle. However, even this brand can occasionally dabble in oddities, and like when the quiet member of your group says something out-of-pocket, it’s a bit more shocking when it does. You want crazy? Let’s jump back to the 2015 model year, when the Lexus NX debuted with a questionable detachable piece.
When Lexus launched the first-generation NX for the 2015 model year, it came with the corporate infotainment trackpad that was widely loathed. Because using a trackpad while in motion without anywhere to rest your palm is about as accurate as brain surgery performed whilst skydiving, Lexus saw fit to include a little padded bump for hand stability. However, this also gave the NX a little bit of real estate between the palm rest and the lid to the center console, and Lexus decided to capitalize on that.
Instead of merely just a cubby, Lexus installed something that likely had good intentions behind it. However, because people are people, this little feature could enable some seriously bad behavior [Ed Note: Seriously bad seems a little judgmental, it’s just hooverin’ schneef -MH] or just be an amusing talking point for those of us with a questionable sense of humor.
The automaker decided to give its NX crossover a perfectly flat, reasonably hidden detachable mirror with a tiny amount of storage space beneath it. Presumably, it was a way to fix your face while you’re on the go, whether that means plucking a stray eyebrow hair, putting some salicylic acid on a pimple, or for those who wear makeup, touching up cosmetics. However, I’m not entirely sure that story checks out, simply because just about every car has mirrors for this purpose that aren’t easily detachable. After all, this is exactly what the vanity mirrors in sun visors are for. They let you go hands-free, and on most newer cars, those vanity mirrors are even illuminated.
So, other than offering close-up reflections of say, your teeth, what would a perfectly flat detachable mirror be used for? Given that the NX crossover was aimed at young professionals with active, busy lives, there’s a potential use for the mirror involving a credit card and a bank note, although it’s illegal in most places. Think “Miami Vice” or “Scarface” and you’re on the right track. It might not have been conceived as a portable booger sugar surface, but it certainly has the dimensions and flatness to function like that.
Unsurprisingly, there aren’t many recent cars with detachable mirrors in their center consoles, and even Lexus has moved away from it with the second-generation NX, launched for model year 2022. It ditched the mirror, and indeed the trackpad altogether, likely as an overall benefit to owners tired of the old, fiddly user interface in the old car.
So, if you’re looking at picking up a used Lexus NX, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to clean the detachable console mirror extremely well before you say, cross a border. While it’s likely that most owners simply aren’t aware that they have a detachable mirror in the center console, it’s also possible that a handful of owners both know of the mirror and make frequent use of it for nose beers.
Unless you’re the sort of person who has a kink for cavity searches, and we aren’t judging if you are, a little bit of elbow grease on a Lexus NX with dubious history could save you a whole lot of trouble with the law.
(Photo credits: eBay, Lexus)
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I can’t believe you’ve gone straight for the drugs use when the intended use is so obvious.
In a Lexus you’re most likely to use that little mirror to check if the driver is just sleeping or has died.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they built in a little chiller so condensation forms on it quicker.
I love the little things like this in cars. The more odd and hidden the feature, the better. Bonus points if I own the vehicle for months/years before discovering said feature.
I now have a new respect for the secret coke-mirror NX.
I’m cross-shopping this with the countach
Probably Adderall these days.
I mean who here hasn’t had someone snort something illicit in their car?
…I can’t tell that story on a family website actually.
I was going to say… Those of a certain age may have issues here that are not vehicle-specific.
I’m surprised (in a good way) that this article passed the tracy clean filter.
[stifles a story about driving a rented Dodge ES to Florida from Boston in one sitting on our honeymoon in the company of a mirror off our wall, a razor blade and some powdery stuff in a duffel bag, circa 1984]
Did it in about 20 hours.
Did you chart the fuel efficiency in lines per hour?
“I’ve hoovered schneef off the vanity mirror built-in to the center console of a 2015 Lexus NX.”
allegedlys
Thats what I appreciates abouts you.
That explains all the origami….
I don’t buy it. Coke would help some of the Lexus crossover drivers merge before 2077 here.
It’s a multipurpose emergency tool for signaling rescue aircraft when you break down in the desert and for checking under your car for bombs. I’ve often felt like blowing up somebody in a Lexus.
Now I know why our realtor always seemed hyper ????
Well it was a perfect mirror for snorting rails until some narc had to go blabbing about it…
My Focus has the fairly-standard center console storage compartment, but very few people look at the underside of the lid.
It has areas and accoutrements for storage of an eclectic collection of stuff. And I know because they’re all individually labeled – “lip balm”, “cards”, and “pen”.
But their proportions are each ever so weird. The gripper is too big for many pens and the space provided isn’t long enough, the card section seems designed for an actual deck maybe, and the lip balm one does not fit the normal size of these.
I own a 2013 Escape which has a book sized secret compartment under the rear passenger side footwell with a latching lid to cover it. You’d never know its there until you removed the floormat. The compartment was only in 2013-2015 Escapes.
An idea of what that compartment might be for: in its platform mate the C-Max, that compartment is used for the air pump/goop dispenser that poorly substituted for the spare tire that went out the door in favor of the battery.
There is a compartment on the driver’s side rear foot well matching your description, that is used for the 110v battery charge cable. Unfortunately the recall replacement for the cable no longer fits in that space.
No, no, you’ve got it all wrong. Using the mirror for coke would be a gross violation of US Federal law, and of course no Lexus owner would ever think of that.
Nope, it’s for snuff, or as the Swedes call it, snus. Break out the Tre Ankare!
Death by snu snu!
“The Amazonians will be divided into three groups. The one called Zapp will be snu-snued by the large women. He that is designated Fry will be snu-snued by the petite women. And Kif, as the most attractive male, will be snu-snued by the most beautiful women of Amazonia… then the large women, then the petite women, then the large women again.“
When you move from the country to your fancy city slicker corporate job, you trade the Road Beers for road NoseBeers
That’s “road sodas”, pal.
NoseSodas isn’t common nomenclature though. Sacrifices were made at game time.
This. Also acceptable are “roadie’s” and “barley pop” in certain regions of the US
Hmm, “barley pop” makes a lot of sense.
In the Big Lebowski The Dude orders two “oat sodas” from the bar at the bowling alley!
Yesssssss!!
You’re driving a Lexus NX. You have to stay awake somehow.
Shut it down folks, comment of the day right here.