I've used this bean-bag dash mount for a couple hundred miles in my '95 Saturn SL2. Even with the harder, more "slippery" plastic dash, this mount doesn't slide around. The bottom of the mount is coated in a tacky rubber material. The round suction cup mounting disk fits the default RAM suction cup and Garmin suction cup with room to spare. It will also fit my larger, older RAM suction cup. Suction power is good: I regularly lift this 3.2 pound mount by holding onto the GPS cradle.
The three "wings" of the mount are flexible and move independently of the main body of the mount. The wings help it to contour better to my dash. The wings do stick up a little bit above the plane of the suction cup mounting disk. That interfered a little bit with the bottom edge of my GPS until I rotated the GPS so that the bottom edge was then along one of the gaps.
No regrets on this purchase. I'll probably use this mount more than attaching the GPS to the windshield. It's easier to take off the dash and conceal when not in use and it also permits my wife or me to hold the GPS closer (in the passenger's seat, of course) rather than reaching up to the windshield to make navigation changes. NAVGEAR Universal Dash Mount
Both my wife and I own a GPS. Hers is a Garmin Nuvi 250W and mine is the Magellan 1470. Both units are mounted on a portable friction mounts, hers on the Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Series and StreetPilot C5XX Series GPS Navigators (C530, C550, and C580) and mine on the NAVGEAR universal dash mount.
What I liked most about the NAVGEAR mount is that the 1470's mounting suction cup makes and maintains excellent contact with the mounting base so there is little risk of accidental release from the base. When I want to release my GPS, the 1470 and the mounting base can be easily separated and then just as easily re-attached. They remain securely joined until I release them.
What I don't like about the NAVGEAR mount is the lack of grip when using it on the dash. The lack of grip has resulted in constant risk of my GPS sliding across the dash or into my passenger's or my lap when making even a slightly hard turn and especially a sudden stop. I've had several experiences already where it literally flew across the dash and onto the floor. On the other hand, the grip on the Garmin friction mount has not once failed to hold in all but the most severe maneuvers and is by far superior to what the NAVGEAR offers. The material used on the bottom of NAVGEAR feels less flexible/firmer and although slightly textured, somewhat smooth. The material on the bottom of the Garmin mount feels somewhat softer and more pliable - almost slightly sticky.
Bottom line - if you're considering the NAVGEAR ME201133 Universal Dash Mount for a Garmin Nuvi, spend the money on the Garmin friction mount noted above. You will be much more satisfied. For other GPS brands, the NAVGEAR mount may be a reasonable alternative although you will have to live with the constant risk of your GPS slipping and sliding across the dash and onto the floor unless you find a way to improve the grip.
I ordered the navgear dash mount because I had broken the screen on my previous tom tom because it always fell off the window. The navgear has prevented my tom tom from falling forward and hitting something however it does not stay in place 100% on the dashboard. When you have to get around a corner quickly it does slide and fall to the floor. I will say though, the tom tom remained upright thru the fall because of the weight of the navgear. Another plus of the navgear is that you can just take the whole thing and hide it easily in the car w/ no marks left on your window advertising that you have a gps in your car. So, for the money it is working out for me but it's not completely up to how it was advertised. Also, it works well with the tom tom 130 - no issues with the power cord.
I have had this product for about one month. I am using it to hold a Apple iPhone Deluxe Mounting System from pocketsolutions.com, and use it mainly to hold my iPhone 3G on my Toyota Sequoia SUV. I am very satisfied with this product.
I am very familiar with many mounting systems. I have tried the mounting system that attaches to the A/C vents, but these block the vents and do not feel as sturdy. The suction cups that mount on the windshield are illegal in California and another state (I forget which one). These suction cups are not meant for daily stalling and uninstalling, as each cycle tends to wear the silicon mechanism. This means that they will more than likely be left almost permanently on windshields, which serves as an advertisement for opportunistic punks to break a window in the hopes of finding whatever piece of electronic they may think you have in the car.
The neat thing about these friction mounts is that they can be put away out of sight of thieves. They also afford the opportunity for easy adjustments and positioning while driving.
Why this particular dash mount as opposed to other friction dash mounts available. The problem with most other dash mounts is that they are circular and do not conform or negotiate the non-flat or angled dashboard surfaces found in many cars, including mine. This particular dash mount is similar to the top of the line Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Series GPS's, which I also own for my Garmin GPS, in its versatility and stability.
I bought a TomTom GPS over a year ago and used the stupid system it comes with to attach the thing to your windshield. Horrible situation as the thing would get hot and lose it suction and then the tomtom fell to the floor...ugh. I remembered a friend of mine who had a Garmin and a bean bag type of stand to sit on the dashboard so I found one for my tomtom and I simply LOVE IT! Now, if I can just find out how to get that adhesive piece of plastic that the suction cup had to attach to off of my windshield I will be truly at peace with my TomTom. lol - Gps Mount - Dashboard Mount - Gps - Dash Mount'
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