Suction Mount vs. Auto nav kit

[nobody@nowhere]

Looking at the Garmin online store I see that there is no "Buy" icon for the Vehivle suction mount kit, and shopping.yahoo.com also comes up dry on it. Does this mean that it is not yet available? If so, how long will we have to wait?

In any case, has anybody tried the vehicle suction mount kit, and if so can you give an opinion as to what advantages or disadvantages it has compared to the Auto navigation kit?

Thanks,

- Paul

[MitchellShnier]

I've only used the beanbag Auto-Nav kit, but really appreciate being able to pull it close. I'd think a suction mount would either have to mount on the window (too far away) or on the dash (mine has a pebbled surface, so I don't think a suction cup would "stick").

[nobody@nowhere]

Originally posted by MitchellShnier
I'd think a suction mount would either have to mount on the window (too far away) or on the dash (mine has a pebbled surface, so I don't think a suction cup would "stick").

Thanks for you response.

I was thinking about that too, and I was considering mounting on my door-window. But then I would have to pull the suction cup off when I go through the drive-through. Regarding putting it on the windshield, I was thinking that when I need to pull it close I would take it out of the mount.

- Paul

[terrier]

TVNAV.com said that it was backordered but were expecting it "anytime". My inlaws went ahead and placed an order about 3 weeks ago. No word.

The Seidio iQue ready-mount (which is also not quite available) also looks pretty nice. Seidioonline (http://www.seidioonline.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=242) If it comes available first, I might ask my inlaws to cancel their original order.

Terrier

[threeatms]

I opted for a suction mount because:

1. The main thing I use my iQue for is when I travel for work, and;
2. I usually fly to my destinations, and;
3. I never can tell exactly what rental car I will get, and;
4. The suction cup and extender are light and not too bulky
(however the holder is a little more bulky than I would like).

I originally found a mount that was 14" long ... tried it for a week and it was just not long enough in my Altima. Looked around online and found a 20" mount which works great in my Altima and every rental car I've been in. http://www.expansys.dk/product.asp?code=CM620
This is an example but I don't think it is the 20".

The flaws of this setup are:
1. I don't use the typical power cord with speaker
2. I am using the Belkin but my iQue doesn't talk when it's plugged it. I could change over to using the pin but I don't feel like joining the RMA club.

If anyone has any suggestions for the sound problem when plugged into the Belkin - I am OPEN for anything. And Yes, I have already checked all my settings etc - sound works immediately after i unplug the belkin.

Hope this helps.

[Miles Fagerlie]

I lost my sweetheart, Betty, after only six weeks of living together when I accelerated too fast while changing lanes on a clogged up Phoenix freeway yesterday afternoon.

The Auto Nav kit bean bag unit slipped off the dash before I could catch it. The screen scored a direct hit on the gear shift knob. With the entire weight of the bean bag mount piling on like a pro wrestler body slamming an opponent, poor Betty didn't have a chance. The glass fractured behind the plastic scratch shield I had installed.

Amazingly, everything still worked except the touch screen, so I did a final synch, cleared memory, and express mailed the unit back to Garmin today. I was impressed that Garmin support answered my late evening email request for an RMA by mid-morning the next day. I really miss Betty already.

Moral of the story -- make sure your holder, whether it's a bean bag or a suction cup unit, is securely mounted. I don't know which is less likely to fail, but I can't afford to collect too many data points.

[reinbeau]

Miles, Radio Shack sells a sticky pad that leaves no residue, but you put it between the dash and the base. It'll prevent that unfortunate slide in the future. Or someone else around here used a suction cup on the windshield with a binder clip to the base.