Sat Nav Installation

[Rob P]

I am looking to utilise the area where the ash tray currently resides for something more useful and thought about a sat nav. Having looked around the forum and also reviewed a number of sites selling sat Nav's I seem to have drawn a blank on a suitable option with most Sat Nav's these days being far too big to fit into the dlot and my desire not to enlarge this in any way so as not to compromise the standard nature of my car (Lol if anyones knows my car they will understand the irony of that statement)

has anyone fitted a Sat Nav in this area? If so any guidance on type and ease of mounting it would be appreciated

Thanks
Rob P

[John_W]

Rob,
I'm away from home at the moment, but when I get back I'll post photos of my Garmin which is unobtrusive and sits neatly in the ashtray space.

I removed the ashtray by unclipping it and made up a small bracket out of sheet metal to allow a lightly butchered standard Garmin mount to be located on the vertical side of the ashtray hollow. The satnav then just clips on and is flush with the dash at the top, and angled up a little to help the driver see it and allow you to get fingers in at the bottom to switch it on and off and for unclipping it. The ashtray can be easily replaced if I want just by unscrewing my metal bracket.

Previously I had a TomTom One mount (clip only) screwed to the front of the ashtray, but it stuck out more and sometimes my knuckles hit the touch-screen when changing hear. The Garmin is much neater.

John

[GeoffSmith]

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=6822&p=77232

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6718&p=76085

…but it stuck out more and sometimes my knuckles hit the touch-screen when changing hear.

Pardon?

[John_W]

Damn autocomplete!

[Fredjohn]

Rob

Alternatively you could buy a stereo/Bluetooth/DVD/CD/radio/USB media thingy like this with a folding screen. Single DIN fitting so will go in std radio slot.

OK you lose the top vents, but not really a problem in use. But I guess this doesn't solve your "I want to use the ashtray space" problem!!!!

[HJ2]

Or try this:
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=18685

I still do and it still is the most perfect solution.
iPhone 4 or 4s comes cheap as chips these days

[Rambo]

Hi Rob. I bought a Sat Nav blind last year from Halfrauds. Cheapest I could get with European maps and lifetime updates. It was a Garmin. No idea what model but it fits the ashtray gap perfectly. No buggering about with brackets aka John W Just take the dashboard mount off and wedge it in. It must have been made for it

No more messing about with post it notes blowing blowing out of the cabin when the roofs down

[V8vroom]

picture please Rambo!

Which model of Garmin?

[Rambo]

Sorry, no idea.

And I'm 2500 miles away right now so no pics either. Could get a few shots of some beach babes though

[Mike T]

Rob,
I bought a spare ashtray from eBay, sawed off the angled grip on the front and sanded flush, drilled a hole in the centre to accept a standard 'ball end' sat nav bracket which was fitted from the inside with some small nuts and bolts.When fitted, from the front it looks like a flat plate with a ball projecting from the centre. Then it's just a case of clipping on a suitable sat nav mount to the ball. When not in use, you have the option of fitting the standard ashtray to keep things original.

[Rob P]

Cheers One and all, some very differing options to look at and I will review and assess each before progressing

[lotusflasherman]

I've had several cars with SatNavs and reckon Subaru Forester XTN has best position for a built-in unit, though on later models they've inexplicably moved it down.
As close to 'Head up display' as you can get is safest for driving. Wouldn't been keen on using the Elan's ashtray position myself.

xtn satnav.jpg

In my Elan I use a RoadAngel on a base permanently wired in and usually in 'GPS speedo' mode - it's far more accurate than the dash speedo. Easy to set for kph when in France too.
It's as close to a head up display as I can get and very safe to use as I can't reach it when driving. Have to pull up and undo seatbelt to get to it .

satnav.jpg

[John_W]

Rob,
As promised, pictures of the Garmin in my Elan. Unlike Phil, I don't like a satnav or any other data screen in my direct line of sight when driving as I find it distracting. With it mounted in the ashtray, you can hear instructions and glance at it occasionally if need be.
John

[Rambo]

Rob,
As promised, pictures of the Garmin in my Elan. Unlike Phil, I don't like a satnav or any other data screen in my direct line of sight when driving as I find it distracting. With it mounted in the ashtray, you can hear instructions and glance at it occasionally if need be.
John

Me too John. Much safer

Mine looks much the same but it's just a push in fit. Works a treat. I still carry a road atlas though as I prefer the bigger picture

[lotusflasherman]

Rob,
As promised, pictures of the Garmin in my Elan. Unlike Phil, I don't like a satnav or any other data screen in my direct line of sight when driving as I find it distracting. With it mounted in the ashtray, you can hear instructions and glance at it occasionally if need be.
John

Me too John. Much safer

Mine looks much the same but it's just a push in fit. Works a treat. I still carry a road atlas though as I prefer the bigger picture

Ha ha... only safer if you NEVER look at your screen while driving. Bet you do..

The Subaru Satnav has the ability to go split screen and can scale down to '1/32 mile' (shows 55 yards on the screen) so can show how tight the next corner is and what immediately follows it... much safer if you know where the road is going before you get there.

[dapinky]

... much safer if you know where the road is going before you get there.

I disagree with this in principle (even though it's off topic for the post!)....

It is only any help if the Satnav is 100% accurate to the existing road conditions, otherwise it leads to a confidence which is unfounded.

Also, it doesn't take into account any obstructions in the road....

...in summary, it leads a driver to think they know what to expect, and therefore they are more likely to enter a zone of invisibility at a speed which is inapropriately high.

It is MUCH safer to drive in accordance with the road that you can see

[Rob P]

Rob,
As promised, pictures of the Garmin in my Elan. Unlike Phil, I don't like a satnav or any other data screen in my direct line of sight when driving as I find it distracting. With it mounted in the ashtray, you can hear instructions and glance at it occasionally if need be.
John

Cheers John, looks neat. I have been fitting a pair of Jamie's rubber A Pillar seals this weekend but will look into this again in the weekends to come

[lotusflasherman]

... much safer if you know where the road is going before you get there.

I disagree with this in principle (even though it's off topic for the post!)....

It is only any help if the Satnav is 100% accurate to the existing road conditions, otherwise it leads to a confidence which is unfounded.

Also, it doesn't take into account any obstructions in the road....

...in summary, it leads a driver to think they know what to expect, and therefore they are more likely to enter a zone of invisibility at a speed which is inapropriately high.

It is MUCH safer to drive in accordance with the road that you can see

Agree with your final sentence Dave but not your interpretation of the use of Satnav info. A Satnav only turns a road you haven't driven on before into one where you have some idea where it's going.
The motto 'Always expect the unexpected' still applies... still got oncoming tractors so wide they use 2/3rds of the whole road, horses need to be passed slowly, pedestrians and cyclists given their roadspace!

A SatNav map is just yet another source of useful information ... like BT poles turning sharp right over the brow ahead etc. Even if it's accurate in plan view it doesn't give any guidance about the 'ups and downs' which are key to keeping a car 'in the right place, at the right speed' and if the road is falling away much less speed is a prerequisite before a corner.

The road approaching my village has a 'Z bend' sign tucked in the bushes on the hedgerow before a shallow left curve that goes over a slight brow and then a surprisingly tight 90°right turn down a steep (for Suffolk) hill. There used to be a field entrance straight on so there is a gap in the roadside trees that gives a subliminal impression the road is going straight on. Bit like Royston Vasey, it keeps strangers out. The 'chevron signs' are regularly taken out by cars not getting round but the Council have put them back on taller posts so they are visible a bit earlier. Reference to a Satnav map would indicate the road is going sharp right before drivers get anywhere near it.

As far as Satnav Installation goes, back on topic now, I still say a 'head up map display' for route guidance is preferable. The second Forester I bought came with an aftermarket Becker Radio Satnav that claimed to be fitted as OE in Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW & Porsche. I paid a HUGE amount of money for a CD update for UK & Europe but it was the biggest load of rubbish I've ever used. With silly little symbols appearing on the radio display it's use was predominantly audio as it was not safe to try to read the display due to size and position. Satnav use appears here after 1m 12secs in this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu6aBEOrql4

Audio only tells you the next immediate action but a map shows you what's coming up and you can drive with more anticipation. Try driving the Paris Périphérique at the busiest time - it can be 5 lanes with 2 exiting at major junctions and those 2 lanes start slowing and compressing before the Satnav says that's the exit needed. An occasional glance at a map display is all that's needed to be sure to be in the right lane to act on the audio as confirmation. Brit's whose Satnav is late warning them often get the "I won't let you in, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! " treatment. Agincourt seems not to be forgotten.