I was sent a new product, the Stinky Car Ashtray compliments of Stinky Cigars, to try it out and review it. I took it on the road with me last week and enjoyed it on 3 afternoons as I drove in South Georgia and the panhandle of Florida on business. For comparison, I either do not use an ashtray and just flick the ashes out of the cracked window, or use an Xikar Portable Ash Tray Can.


Initial Impressions: It has a good quality, upscale feel to it, with firm, sturdy walls and a nice heaviness to it. The top opens up and closes with a built-in clip.

Image
[Reply]

I have one and love it. Vary solid build.
[Reply]

The cap opens up and there is a built-in two prong "pinchers", for lack of a better description, which holds the cigar, and also the familiar Stinky cigar plate, or holder. Again, the quality is obvious and it really looks nice.

Image
[Reply]

Are these for sale yet?
[Reply]

The "pinchers" that hold the cigar took a little experimenting to get them right. At first, they pinched too much, and actually tore the Connecticut wrapper a bit. I was able to squeeze them to make them less tight, and it would be easy to separate them to make them tighter on a smaller ring cigar.

Image
[Reply]

Yes, they're on the website.
[Reply]

Pinched the cigar too tight at first and dug into the Connecticut wrapper a bit:

Image
[Reply]

Piece of wrapper on the pinchers:

Image
[Reply]

You're from Columbus and we've yet to meet?!
[Reply]

However, once I played around with the tension of the pinchers, and then positioned the cigar in place so that the pinchers held the band of the cigar to protect the wrapper, it worked just great !

Image
[Reply]

Overall, this is a great product. It looks great, is functional, and does what it is supposed to do. After the initial learning curve of adjusting the pinchers and using the cigar band to protect the wrapper, the next two cigars I smoked in my car had no problems. The cigar was held firmly by the Stinky, but no wrapper tearing. I also liked that it held the cigar horizontally, rather than vertically like the other brand I own does, which seems more natural. It was much easier to de-ash into the cup as opposed to flicking it out the window, and I had virtually no ash on my floor or myself. Thanks again to the generous folks at Stinky Cigar for sending it to me !

Image
[Reply]

Hey Area 51...and we have the same name and are both from NJ....weird. Where do you usually go to smoke ? My wife and I will go to the outside patio of Smokey Bones. Sometimes we enjoy going to Belloo's downtown...were there for New Year's Eve.
[Reply]

Thanks for the review. I was never happy with my xikar ashcan. Gotta get one of these
[Reply]

What don't you like about the Xikar ? Is it the vertical placement of the cigar ?
[Reply]

It is for me.
[Reply]

Very classy looking and looks very functional. Would definitely like to check one out.
[Reply]

thanks, Ken! This little Cigar-Car Ashtray went through numerous changes and a lot of tweaking to get everything right. I've added some suggestions on my web site (order page) to help with some of the different applications we're finding out about.

We tested and tested, then re-tested the "Spring-Clip" with the most delicate wrappers such as Cameroon, Connecticut Shade, Sumatra, etc. . . . no problems . . . until someone reached across the table and pulled it out without lifting up. (impatient, grabby guy who also speaks without thinking!) So, we might have to put "directions" in the package. But, I'm apposed to that because all my products (so far) don't need directions!

Product development? You wouldn't believe the details we changed on the cup, the lid, the hinge, the spring-clip, the stirrup location, etc. The original design was MUCH bigger with a knob on the lid! The rim was too big. (see photo below) The design continued to evolve and we still have a couple minor modifications we'll implement that you would never think are worth the effort. But, I think they will make it a little better.

Here's a new suggestion I just added to my web site is:
"The wrapper leaf on fine cigars is very delicate! Place your cigar into the "spring-clip" with a single downward movement. Do not "DRAG" the cigar front to back! It may tear the wrapper! Same upward motion to remove . . . lift straight up!"

Here's the other text from my order page:
"The Stinky Cigar-Car Ashtray is designed to fit in the cup holder in your vehicle (car, truck, boat, golf cart, motorcycle or private jet). However, if you want to take your portable Stinky Cigar-Car Ashtray out of the car and sit on a park bench, you will need to add some weight to the cup, because when in the open position, the lid will cause it to tip over. Just add a rock or some nuts & bolts to counter balance the open lid. Retailers are told to put 25 copper pennies in the cup to display on their sales counter.

Some cup holders are too big or don't have an adjustable holder. We suggest using a beer can cooler (aka Coozie or can huggie) to fit your Stinky Cigar-Car Ashtray snuggly into a larger cup holder. Be creative and send me a picture!"

Thank you for the comments & input! And hey, thanks for letting me "plug" my own product! Be sure to get in touch with EricF if you want info on the Group-Buy.

Image
Trying to find all the changes would be like the "Finding Waldo" game!
Image
[Reply]

Wow seems like a lot of thought went into it. Can't wait to get one. The vertical spring holders on the xikar just seem halfway thought out to me.Kind of cheap
[Reply]

That looks great, I currently use this:
Image
But I don't have a good way to rest the cigar.

I don't drive and smoke often, mostly on long road trips.
[Reply]

I gotta get one of these! I currently use a Bobken, but in my cup holder it's a bit clumsy.
[Reply]