Question:
As we all know by reading the helpful hints in the Turning Wheels, The Studebaker Drivers Clubs recommends we carry a fire extinguisher in every Studebaker. I have taken this advice to heart, and keep one under the front seat of our two Studes. Today the wife and I spent most of the day with my folks. We decided to rent a video this afternoon. The wife had driven the 62 convertible over to my parents, so as usual I had to push the seat back where it belongs before I got in to drive to the video store. I usually do this from outside, as my stature is significantly more ample than the Better Half's, and if I get in then try to adjust the seat I find myself spatially impaired. So I reach in and pull up the seat track lever while pushing back on the seat. It didn't want to move all the way back, so I gave it a couple of successively more aggressive pushes. Suddenly, I hear a "pop" followed by what looked like white smoke billowing out from under the seat. I quickly realized there were no combustibles there, so I reached under the seat and pulled out the now rapidly emptying fire extinguisher. I first thought it had become jammed in the seat mechanism which triggered its release. Closer examination revealed a hole about 3/8 of an inch in diameter where some unknown part of the seat assembly had neatly punctured the side of the cylinder. The red interior had taken on a frosted appearance that was, in retrospect, reminiscent of a winter tableau. The wife of course gave me crap about it all the way home.

Answer: It's more than a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in any car. It's even a great idea to mount it where it is accessible, yet where nothing, uh... out of the ordinary... will happen to it. The bad news is, like you, I have not found such a position in my car. The good news is, my wife avoids my car like the plague. For all she knows, my carpet is snow covered. Never mind that it's not winter. She has no clue.

Solution 1: Relocate the fire extinguisher.

Solution 2: Keep your wife away from the car. Prevents "crap," and having to move the seat.

Solution 3: Adjust your spatiauallity.