GPS location on a 2012

[Nurburgringer]

Since Mazda couldn't figure out how to include GPS for a reasonable price on the 2012 even though awesome units could be bought in bulk for WAY under $100, we're forced to go with aftermarket.

Yesterday I picked up a Garmin Nuvi 40 at Target for $119. Wish I had ordered the https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned), but I need one for a trip on Monday and my 4 year old Garmin is Kaputt. Will just rent a car with GPS when I fly to Canada on business.
Although the Nuvi 40 is their base model (there is one with the same features but a smaller screen, and one with larger) it's got everything I want or need: finds sats fast, quick calculation of routes, altimeter (fun for taking with on a plane ), exit sign graphics, spoken street names etc.

Anyway, now the fun of finding the best place for it.
I took a few photos in various locations and pasted them into one shot. The base of the windshield is so far away mounting it low on the front glass puts it out of reach, unless you get one of those goose-neck mounts.
Think I'm leaning towards the side window location. Best for running a power line to (though with a 5+ hour battery life, and a speaker in the unit - which is usually muted, I generally charge the unit overnight and run with it on battery), easy to see and reach, and not distracting at all.
Another option is to use double sided tape to fix a suction-disc over the top half of the 4-way flasher button, between the two front vents. Can still access the flasher, puts the GPS in great view of driver and passengers, and doesn't block anything. You'd have to use strong ass tape though, which may discolor the dash plastic or leave a residue.
Anybody have pics of where you've got your GPS situated?

 

[dieseldriver]

I used my Sony-Ericsson XPeria Android phone for my GPS. Have stopped using Garmin for a while now. Anyway, I use (again) a Velcro, not the soft kind but interlocking Velcro which is heavy duty and have it mounted right above the radios controls but before the top of the dash. I have some put on the back of the phone also but I have a case for the phone. I have never had the issue of it falling off, and it's very convenient and a good location for the GPS/Bluetooth Music Player.

 

[Nurburgringer]

Gotcha - I have a blackberry, and while it has a decent GPS function the screen is small and I like being able to bring a Garmin on airplanes for a DIY "skymap" (suctioned to the window) without people thinking I'm using a phone
Any pics of your phone/GPS mount?
Where do you buy that HD velcro?

 

[dieseldriver]

Ahh, I get them at work. I have connections! Anyway, you can get them at Lowe's. Here's the picture of (your picture) that I would mount the GPS.

Gotcha - I have a blackberry, and while it has a decent GPS function the screen is small and I like being able to bring a Garmin on airplanes for a DIY "skymap" (suctioned to the window) without people thinking I'm using a phone
Any pics of your phone/GPS mount?
Where do you buy that HD velcro?

 

[Nurburgringer]

That's very close to where I was thinking, but centered right over the 4-way flasher button. The button it tall enough that a round disc for the suction-cup to mount would allow enough space to access the bottom 1/3 of flasher button. Would look a bit funny when we're not using the GPS though.
Centered like this the GPS doesn't block any gauges (except for the airbag warning light, big deal) or air vents.

 

[dieseldriver]

Yeah, I was thinking that too. But because the Xperia is bit smaller, I like to block a little bit of vent and put it closer to me. After all, I AM the one driving, not the passenger Who cares if they have less convenient view of the GPS!

EDIT: Also, being that I am a Hammy (callsign KC2ZXL), I'm always looking for better mounts for my radio control heads. I was just thinking, this mount may work for you, it's a vent mount. But check out the whole website, they have a wide variety of mounts.

http://www.gigaparts.com/parts/gpcpa/original/zli-lm-100h.jpg

But for my Yaesu radio control head, I used my cell phone mount that I bought for my Motorola Droid which I have since upgraded. So I took apart the mount and made it fit my HAM radio in the car.

 

[vinisterz]

I use this baby right here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smart-Phone...ccessories&hash=item2566c79850#ht_3231wt_1185

I don't listen to cds so that fact that it uses the cd to mount my gps/phone doesn't bother me.

 

[Nurburgringer]

EDIT: Also, being that I am a Hammy (callsign KC2ZXL), I'm always looking for better mounts for my radio control heads. I was just thinking, this mount may work for you, it's a vent mount. But check out the whole website, they have a wide variety of mounts.

http://www.gigaparts.com/parts/gpcpa/original/zli-lm-100h.jpg

Your link won't work for me, but this is the one I think you mean:
http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZLI-LM-100H
Nice design, just wondering how sturdy it is clipped to the vents?

 

[Nurburgringer]

I use this baby right here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smart-Phone...ccessories&hash=item2566c79850#ht_3231wt_1185

I don't listen to cds so that fact that it uses the cd to mount my gps/phone doesn't bother me.

That is cool! Don't like that the round knob (that spreads the tabs inside the CD slot) sticks so far out though, but maybe you can't see it if it's facing down?
Any pics installed in your 5?
thanks!

 

[dieseldriver]

I actually used it with 3M double backed tape and put them on the places where it meets the vent. It was fairly sturdy and never had it fall off on me once I did that.

I will try to get some photos tomorrow morning, had to work late tonight. Here's the picture of the mount I was talking about.

Your link won't work for me, but this is the one I think you mean:
http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZLI-LM-100H
Nice design, just wondering how sturdy it is clipped to the vents?

 

[dieseldriver]

Hmm never seen that one before, looks cool but I'm not sure how that actually works.

 

[vinisterz]

cellphone mount on cd slot

That is cool! Don't like that the round knob (that spreads the tabs inside the CD slot) sticks so far out though, but maybe you can't see it if it's facing down?
Any pics installed in your 5?
thanks!

here it is. when my cellphone is on there, you can't see the knob.

 

[dieseldriver]

Here are the photos of how I mounted my Android:

 

[Nurburgringer]

here it is. when my cellphone is on there, you can't see the knob.

OK I'm sold - bought one on Ebay this morning!
Think I'll flip the mount 180 so it puts the GPS/Phone up higher.

For this week's 300+ mile trip to Illinois I had my Garmin on the side window right inside of the driver's side mirror.
Worked fine, but when the battery got low and I had to plug it in the cord running over the shifter and steering column is annoying.
With the GPS mounted on the CD tray, it'll be pretty easy to run a hard line behind the console and maybe through the HVAC vent so no holes have to be drilled. Should be invisible with either the GPS or my blackberry in the mount.

 

[Nurburgringer]

After all, I AM the one driving, not the passenger Who cares if they have less convenient view of the GPS!

BTW - During my trip this week there was one point where I would have liked to have let the passenger enter the address - with a center mounted GPS this is easy.

 

[90210]

I am going to put my gps in the middle. Waiting for the OEM like setup they have in Europe.

 

[Nurburgringer]

Received the CD-slot mount suggested by Vinisterz (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smart-Phone...ccessories&hash=item2566c79850#ht_3231wt_1185)

Very fast shipped, well designed and constructed. The GPS/phone is not exactly rock solid, but it's stable enough. Doesn't seem to vibrate or shake much but will keep an eye on it.
In the 'low' orientation it blocks the tuner knob and a bunch of other radio buttons I don't use much (redundant with steering wheel controls) and sits lower than I'd like, while in the 'hi' orientation (180 degree flipped) the tensioner knob touches the tuner knob (not a bit deal) but is slightly less visible.

"Low"

"High"

Phone

tensioner knob

The stereo will play a CD with this installed, but be careful not to hit/bump/breath on the CD eject button while the mount is on!

Have to try it out on a long trip. Even in the higher position it's a slightly farther look away from the road than mounted on the front lower corner of the side window, but the center mount has other advantages.

I also ordered a fuse-panel jumper off Amazon so I can run a dedicated power line somewhere. Could go out the left dash vent for a window mounted GPS, or through a center stack vent for center.

One niggle with the CD mount - it came with a big ugly "Handsfree" sticker on the pad backing, that left a residue even with very careful removal. Should have tried a bit of heat like I did with the crunched-hand warning stickers on the B-posts. Stupid warning stickers...

 

[vinisterz]

you know I did not bother with that yellow sticker until you mentioned it. Now you make me want to take it out. haha

 

[dieseldriver]

Here's another company that sells mobile mounts. I actually bought one for my Garmin 2720 before to use it on my '99 BMW 328iC, a RAM mount. They are made in USA and are very sturdy and of high quality materials.

http://www.e-mount.com/

 

[flcruising]

Being left-handed, I would have chosen a suction cup mount on the sail panel window.