Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for Nüvi Series and StreetPilot I Series, C530, C550 and C580 GPS Navigators Reviews

• Well designed

  
  By A2U6X0GHPCODVV on 2007-05-19
  This mount works great. The selection of Garmin mounts is confusing as some are two parts and some are one. If you have a Nuvi with the included windshield mount, then this is the only part you need to buy. The included mount disassembles at the ball and socket joint and attaches to this one. I can't say it will never come off the dash if I do some really high speed maneuver, but so far it's held steady for all regular driving.
  
  I like that it's easy to move the mount and gps unit down to the floor when I park. Yeah a thief could still see it if they came right up to my car but at least it's not obvious from halfway across the parking lot like a windshield mount is. A thief that sees an empty windshield mount is probably going to assume (correctly) that I've just put the unit in the glove compartment.
  
  

• Best Solution for NUVI in my Prius and my Ford: Theft Protection As Well!!

  
  By AC2EGRJTJYVBA on 2007-06-01
  My Prius has a rough dashboard and a windshield that slopes very sharply. Thus, the suction cup mounts are not good solutions. Fortunately, the friction mount is a great solution. It works much better than I expected. Very stable, does not slide, and lets me adjust my Nuvi to a variety of different angles. I can place the GPS anywhere on the dash or even on the center console. Also works great when transferred to my wife's Ford.
  
  Only downside to the device is that it has a rather large footprint, but not prohibitively large. I like the fact that I can easily use this in both of our family vehicles depending on where we need the GPS.
  
  UPDATE: Now that I have used this mount reguarly since May, I have to say this is the best mounting solution I've found for a GPS or any other device for my car. It hasn't slid out of place once!! Given the rise in GPS units being stolen from cars, this mount allows you to easily stash your GPS Unit and mount out of sight and then put it back into position with ease.
  
  

• Finally, the right mounting solution

  
  By A1O130H3XTF5WF on 2007-06-16
  I have become addicted to my Garmin Nuvi 660 and used it for six months with a successful windshield mount. But now I have bought a new car. I discovered that the windshield suction mount left an ugly black ring on the window of my old car. (I assume I can get this cleaned up when I detail the car for selling.)
  
  So no way was I going to put one of those on my beautiful new car. I tried the Garmin dashboard mount but shied away from the "permanent" disc. I found the "temporary" disc was just not up to the job of holding this device in place -- at least on my vehicle. I found this very frustrating. I read about the Portable Friction Mount, found a Best Buy store that had it in stock and ran out to buy it.
  
  Though it is not terribly good looking, it does the job very well. I tried whipping around a few tight turns in parking lots and the whole thing stayed put. As another reviewer said, this lets you easily remove the thing and put it on the floor so it's not obvious. That may be more valuable than you would think. I know somebody who removed his Garmin Nuvi (and took it with him) but left the window mount in place. The car was broken into and the window mount alone was stolen. (Probably that was a pretty frustrated thief.)
  
  Also, this will be easy to transfer to a rental car. And it will make it easy for my wife to borrow my Nuvi. Hmmm!
  
  

• Works great, looks a bit strange at first but well worth buying

  
  By A1F9Z42CFF9IAY on 2008-04-16
  Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1LLM4RCXX0WNV I knew I didn't want to install anything permanent in my car (like adhesive mounts) because it would look strange and be a pain to deal with when I sell it. And I live in California where it is illegal to attach a GPS unit to the windsheild, plus my windsheild is very slanted so it would be a bit too far away there anyway, unless I mount it way up high on the windshield.
  
  This friction mount works well. It allows me to put the GPS on my dash or on my center console and I don't have to mount anything permanently in to my car. And if I'm going on a trip with someone else in their car, it's super easy to bring it along and put it in their car.
  
  It's also good for if you have a passenger that wants to play with and use the GPS, they can just move the mount over to their side of the dashboard.
  
  I recommend this friction mount although have to admit, it looks a bit strange at first (especially with no GPS mounted on it), but you get used to it.
  
  

• Stable but here's an easy improvement

  
  By A1PEEY3IFLCYOH on 2007-06-26
  While the friction mount on the bottom of the beanbag is pretty darn stable even with stops, starts, and turns I sometimes would find it sliding across the dash. The solution has been to use one of those little 6x4 inch mats sold at Radio Shack or Walmart for keeping cellphones on the dash. The mat is sticky on one side but leaves no marks or glue. I have not had one slide since using the mat. I even bring the mat with me in rental cars. This gives a very secure mount that is very easy to take from car to car.
  
  
• Just the right mount for a Garmin Nuvi (works with all Nuvis)
  By A6VPK7X53QNAQ on 2007-12-02
  The first time I tried this mount was in a rental car for a Garmin C530, and I never thought it would stay on the slightly sloping dash of the Pontiac Grand Prix but it held firm going up and down San Francisco's hilly roads. That prompted me to buy one for my car. Essentially this mount is a bean bag with a mouse pad like rubber base but its engineered to stay where you put it and not slide around unless you move it. The good thing is that it stays put even if you brake suddenly, and if you drive in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic like me every day you'll appreciate this even more!
  
  The advantages are:
  - No sticking on windshield. This is a BIG advantage as the windshield mount starts to come off easily after a year of usage, less if you leave it in your car while it's parked in the sun. There is nothing worse than your GPS sliding off while you're driving round a tricky bend, especially if you are new to the area. Sometimes it can be downright dangerous.
  - The windshield mount also alerts thieves that a GPS is in the car. A friction mount can be placed down under the car seat when you leave the car without needing to disconnect anything so that you're ready to go quickly when you come back to the car.
  - The other big advantage is the ability to move it around to the position you want it. If a passenger is sitting in your car you can just slide it to their side and they can input the information while you are driving. It also makes it easy to slide it closer to yourself. Since I have the Nuvi 660 I often make calls with the bluetooth feature while driving, it is easy to slide it towards me when I am speaking to someone in order to get better voice reception.
  
  This mount works for all Nuvis as they have the "snap the ball in the joint". If you buy any model of Nuvi then this is all you need, no other adapter parts are needed. It's also easy to switch this mount between cars or move it to a rental car when you travel. It has been the best and most useful accessory I could buy for my Nuvi 660.
  
  
• Ugly, ugly, ugly
  By A1KY5G5FP31F2F on 2007-10-31
  I do not often disagree with the people who own, have evaluated items and submit reviews here. However, I must be the only one who finds this hurky, ugly and marginally useful bean bag thing for mounting a Garmin Nuvi to be awful.
  
  Yes, it works as described and may solve a mounting problem for some people in some automobiles, but I just hated it as a practical matter when I tried to use it in my Toyota 4-Runner.
  
  This huge glob of buck shot or whatever is packed in the base took up way too much room on my dashboard and was almost impossible to pack away in the car when not in use. It won't fit in a glove compartment or a console bin. I finally had to stuff mine under the seat in order to get it out of sight while I was away from my vehicle.
  
  I just couldn't bring myself to using this thing and eventually just used the "sticky" mounting bracket that came with my Nuvi instead. I was trying to avoid that.
  
  I thought of sending the Garmin Portable Friction Mount for Nuvi back, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble. Besides, someday I might need a huge unsightly paper weight or door stop with a funny plastic stalk on it.
  
  
  
  
• Works great
  By A2O2D7JV0QU630 on 2007-03-10
  Although I was skeptical, this holds onto the dash in both my Highlander and RX300. The ball attached directly to the mount that came with my Nuvi 360. No other kits were required.
  
  
• EXCELLENT
  By A3P738KVXL2YYM on 2007-09-01
  I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 350 to use for work since I travel quite a bit for my job. I was hesitant about buying the friction mount because I worried that it wouldn't stay put. I'm happy to report that I was wrong.
  
  I recently used this friction mount with my Nuvi 350 on a long trip from NJ to Maine. Not only did it stay put exactly where I placed it on my dashboard for the entire trip, but it stayed put in a near accident. On one of the many highways we traveled, there was a car accident ahead and everyone in my lane slammed on the brakes. Now, mind you, we were all traveling at approximately 60-65 miles per hour. I'm most happy to report that we didn't collide with anyone. ---> Amazingly, the friction mount and my Nuvi didn't move an inch.
  
  You can buy this friction mount with complete confidence. If it didn't move in the situation I was in, it won't move with normal driving. Not only that, but it is easy to remove and stow your friction mount and Nuvi without leaving evidence that you have a GPS (now a favored target for theives).
  
  
  
  
• really easy to set up and use.
  By A3NOBH42C7UI5M on 2007-08-15
  I justed pulled my Nuvi 660 off the window attachment, the ball just popped right out, then pushed it onto this ball. It works great, even has a lock/unlock, so you can slide the GPS out of the base easily, or lock it into place. It's easy to move the GPS to get just the right angle but it stays put once It's how I like it. I don't have too much trouble with the unit sliding around. I have a large, flat dash and if it were going anywhere, there's nothing to stop it, but it stays where I put it(I'm not a speeder and don't take turns sharper than I have to). As I live in California where I can't use the window attachment, I wish it would have come with this option. I wouldn't want to stick sticky tape on my leather dash. So far, I"m real happy with it.
  
  UPDATE: After a month or so driving around with this thing on my dash, I'm as happy as ever. It hasn't moved at all, over pumps, up or down really steep hills, even with the power cord pulling on it (as I have it plugged into my cigarette lighter all the time). It's light enough and small enough to move easily and tuck away, it doesn't get in the way at all when I'm driving. I think it's perfect and I love it.
  
  
• Works with the Garmin Nuvi 660 -- no additional mount to purchase
  By A13FS3MY1BVI7L on 2007-06-14
  As one of the other reviewers stated, it is unclear whether certain Garmin GPS units require one or more additional parts for the portable mounts. This portable friction mount works perfectly with the Garmin Nuvi 660 -- you do need the bracket that holds the GPS unit from the suction cup mount that ships with the Nuvi 660. Just remove it and snap it on to the ball of the friction mount.
  
  The mount itself works perfectly -- my GPS stays put in typical California driving (which has included a few sudden braking maneuvers at rush hour). Excellent solution for those who want to be able to use the GPS in multiple vehicles.
  
  
• Bean Bag Mounting BracketuUseless as a replacement mount.
  By A16BZ8222MQV2X on 2007-11-20
  I bought this as a replacement for the suction cup mounting that I lost on a trip when I left it in a rental car. This Friction Mount is completely useless unless you have the mounting bracket that came with the original unit that fits on the ball. This unit does not come with a mounting bracket needed to mount the Nuvi 200W. The cradle should be a standard accessory for this unit. To make things worse, you cannot buy just the cradle (from Garmin or any 3rd party). I have to buy the entire suction cup unit to get a replacement cradle to use with this useless bean bag mount. Garmin should ship the cradle / ball attachment with this unit. Without it the unit is useless.
  
  
  
• GREAT PRODUCT
  By A3C3K6RZ6Q7J4C on 2007-03-18
  I bought this because I did not want to mount my Garmin 350 Nuvi to the windshield. This device makes is much easier to switch the unit to different cars. I drove normally and the unit did not slide around on my dashboard. I can also mount the unit on a center console and it works there too. Please note that this is a complete unit for portable mounting and it is much cheaper than buying the sandbag & mounting arm separately.
  
  
• This is the one you need for a Nuvi--complete & works well
  By A1NADKSHMF3S6K on 2007-07-17
  I bought this friction mount for my Nuvi 350, and used both on a recent driving vacation. Both worked even better than expected!
  
  Amazon's listings are a little confusing--If you have a Nuvi, don't buy the one that says "for Garmin GPS". Get this one instead. With this one, you don't need to purchase anything else, just use the little bracket that comes with the Nuvi unit. (Put the bracket onto the mount without the GPS in it--it takes some pressure or a little twisting to get the bracket to snap onto the ball of the mount. But once it's on, you won't need to take the bracket off the mount. The GPS snaps into and out of the bracket easily--the bracket and mount stay together as one piece.)
  
  The literature with the GPS unit said that the dash mount adhesive is hard to remove, so I didn't want that on my car's dash. Some reviews said the windshield mount could melt to the glass and I didn't want that, either. Also, some say that thieves will break into your car even if they can only see the windshield mount, assuming the GPS is in the car somewhere. So, I wanted the friction mount. It was about $28 at amazon.
  
  After using it, I like it even better than I thought I would. It holds VERY well; I never had a problem with it slipping even once. It's easy to reposition, for example if the sun is hitting it the wrong way, and it's easy to put into the console when you park so that nothing shows to tempt theives. Also, it can just stay plugged in to the car's power outlet. The cord plugs into the bracket on the mount instead of directly into the Nuvi, which is convenient. The Nuvi unit itself easily releases from the mount, with no cords to unplug, and is easy to take with you.
  
  The only disadvantages I can come up with are that it is a separate purchase (but is complete), and it's not beautiful (but neither are the other mounts, I guess).
  
  If you can't or don't want to use the windshield or permanent dash mounts, try this one. I'm glad I bought it.
  
  A suggestion to amazon would be to describe all these mounts & other accessories a little better--lots of postings say they bought the wrong mount or bought accessories that were already included with the GPS unit, because they were listed on the product page with the GPS unit.
  
  By the way, I love the Nuvi 350!
  
  
  
• It works
  By A1C42AM2VZLR1D on 2007-08-05
  I got tired of the spot left by the window mount, and it falling off every once in a while. This really holds my Nuvi in place. It doesn't move even on winding roads.
  
  
• Very sturdy mount a must have for all Nuvi users
  By AZ4352XO4HH3M on 2007-10-04
  The Garmin Portable Friction Mount for Nuvi is very sturdy and attaches to my Garmin Nuvi 660 with no problem. The beanbag design is awesome and works better than my old rubber weighted dashboard mount that I had with my previous SteetPilot c340. With that mount the rubber legs started to get too pliable and didn't stay on my dash as firmly as it used to. My old mount sort of stayed on the dash but would jump around, slide a bit and one day when I made a very sharp fast turn, my c340 went flying onto the floor. With the Nuvi Beanbag Mount weighted design, there's no chance of this happening. The mount stays put and sits firmly on my dashboard even on bumpy roads and sharp turns.
  This mount is great though I wish it was included with my Garmin Nuvi 660 instead of the windshield mount.
  
  
• There is a much less expensive way...
  By A1U5IJHJK84S54 on 2007-09-10
  I have a Nuvi 360. It came with a suction cup windshield mount. It also came with a steel disk with double sticky adhesive on the back. I was supposed to mount this disk somewhere on my dashboard, then use the suction cup to attach the mount. I didn't want to use the suction mount directly onto the windshield because 1) it telegraphs the presence of an expensive GPS unit, 2) it's illegal in California to attach anything to the windshield and 3) I don't think the suction cup would last very long.
  
  Then there's the disk with the very permanent double sticky tape. The problem with almost all cars these days is there really isn't anywhere to attach the disk discreetly. Every square inch is taken with existing stuff. And who wants an ugly disk glued to the dash anyway? And what if I want to use the GPS in other vehicles? More disks?
  
  So I settled on this "beanbag" mount with the ball mount arm.
  
  Unfortunately, before the beanbag friction mount arrived, I was flexing the arm in the suction cup mount and noticed the suction cup's mounting bracket had already broken. I had never even attached it to anything! The mount is beautifully engineered and built...except for one area where the arm's hinge pin attaches to the suction cup's plastic hinge loops. The loops are too thin and fragile. The loops cracked and broke with hardly any hinging at all.
  
  So now I have a quite useless suction mount but a very functional ball arm. What to do?
  
  I drove the hinge pin out of the ball arm. Then I took two small 1" x 1" steel angle brackets and attached them to the ball arm with a 2" long, 8-32 threaded machine screw and an 8-32 wingnut. This created two "feet" for the ball arm. Then I epoxied the two bracket "feet" to the fabric (upper) side of an old 1/4" thick mousepad. Ta da. A friction pad for pennies with a ball arm attached.
  
  Works great. Cost was virtually nothing. Doesn't slide on either of the two dashboards I've tried it on. The mousepad is flexible and conforms easily to the curving shape of the various dashboards. It doesn't weigh much but the thick mousepad has enough heft to plant the getup nicely. The grippy rubber side of the mousepad adheres nicely to the dash. Yet I can pull it down to the floor quickly and reposition it easily.
  
  I wish I'd thought of this BEFORE I ordered this "official" friction mount to the tune of a couple of twenties.
  
  
  
  
• useless
  By AJJV951A4W4KY on 2007-11-29
  Suggest dimensions on this product be provided and checked for fit within car before purchase. It is absolutely useless in my Honda Element as it doesn't fit in any spot where it would not obscure vision.
  
  
  
  
  
• When the suction mount fails, this is the best alternative
  By A18SUS6FTDRWV0 on 2007-06-30
  Like so many other who have written reviews for this product, the suction mount that came with the Nuvi failed miserably leaving black goo all over my windshield and never sticking properly again. Realizing that it was a widespread problem, I looked for other mounting methods and found this one.
  
  I am pleased with the effectiveness of this product. The friction between the mount and the dashboard holds quite well in standard driving -- turns don't seem to make it shift at all. I did notice that going over potholes and train tracks, that the mount does shift a little, but I found it easy to slide it back into place. I find that I like the flexibility of positioning this mount. With the windshield mount, the unit was always at a specified distance from me, but with this moveable mount I found that I could position the Nuvi closer to me to make it easier to see and easier to use. (An unexpected bonus) I also like that I can move it so that it isn't obvious to thieves that I have a GPS unit in the car.
  
  The only thing that I was a little disappointed with was the physical size of the mount. It is about 8 inches by 6 inches and takes up a large section of my small dashboard. Also its size makes storing it in the car difficult as it doesn't fit in the glove box.
  
  The positives definitely outweigh the negatives, but I still wish that Garmin didn't have problems with the suction cups that made buying this a necessity.
  
  
• Works Great!
  By A13BG9L8Q252OE on 2007-05-11
  I was a little skeptical, but saw the reviews and decide to give it a try. It actually works well. I have a Nuvi 350 and where I want to put the nuvi on my RAV4's dash is actually curve and a little V-shape, so I can't get all 4 sides to be completely touching the dash, but it is working great! I put it where I can easily reach the nuvi (windshield mount would be farther away and I think it is safer to be able to reach it easier if you need to). It is easy to take down and hide - you are not advertising you may have a gps in your car. It is also easy to transport to use in another car.
  
  
• Not enough "Friction"
  By A1GDZXXB6OHJ2M on 2007-09-03
  when hitting bumps in a uneven road, everything moves. Is there something I'm doing wrong? There are no directions with this mount.
  
  
• Hold well but kinks cable
  By AMKVTJO568W2F on 2007-08-23
  I bought this for my Nuvi 680. It does stay where you put it. But it does put a tight bend radius in the cable. My advice is use it without the power cable that came with the unit or plug in the USB cable in the side of the unit to power it. The price of a replacement cable for the Nuvi 680 is over $200, if you buy the OEM one with the radio receiver built in. I have no idea how long your cable will last with such a tight bend radius but I anm not taking any chances. Truly a poor design.
  
  
• Depends on your dash material...
  By A33SG2UA24DJ9P on 2007-11-27
  On my dashboard, this thing slid right off on the first tight turn. Useless.
  
  So clearly the effectiveness of this product depends on the material on your dashboard.
  
  Good way to break your GPS if your dash isn't of a "compatible" material for this...
  
  
• Quite Dependeable
  By AS10GWAI5QCZX on 2007-05-13
  I used this device to hold my GPS device in both the Honda Civic and Acura TL. It was great and never moved despite fast turns and hard braking.
  
  Highly recommended!
  
  
  
  
• Slides easier as it ages
  By A37OW83035B8J7 on 2007-12-05
  I've had this item for 3 months, and initially was very impressed with it's holding power on the dash. It's not magic - it will come off if you make a sudden turn or floor it from a stop light - but generally it stayed put, even through some *very* curvy roads in West Virginia at a "spirited" pace.
  
  Over time, however, it seems to have absorbed the oils or possiblly Armor-All out of the dash (leaving a distinct dry spot on the dash in the shape of the mount), which has impacted it's performance. It still generally stays put, but takes much less aggressive a maneuver to make it move. I am currently trying different cleaners to try to reclaim some of the original grip.
  
  As mentioned many times, the ability to remove it from the car, put it on the floor, move it to different cars, etc. is very nice. I would buy it again.
  
  
• Works well - much better than windshield mount
  By AG3TLTD4KJB7B on 2007-04-07
  This mount works well and the price is reasonable.
  I've used it for over a month now and it has never slid or moved while I've been driving.
  Much easier to reach on the dash of my F150 truck than trying to reach the windshield. Can also take it down and hide it easily - lots of GPS units are being stolen from vehicles. Also cheaper than buying the two separate piece options.
  
  
• Great Mount
  By A16W2LHINF8JRI on 2007-05-12
  Great mount if you're changing cars frequently or doing a lot of traveling. Got us from CA to NJ to MI across Canada in a variety of vehichles and road conditions without slipping once. High praise and recommendation.
  
  
• Stable mount and easy on/off for the Garmin Nuvi
  By AV28VYSSUDNIZ on 2007-08-31
  I purchased this item from Amazon with the initial purchase of a Nuvi 350 Unit (also reviewed) and have found it to be a very good add on. The bracket included with the Nuvi Unit allows for not only the ability to attach the unit but as well a place for power cord for the vehicle. Once attached to the bean bag friction mount it's a snap to attach or remove the Nuvi Unit. The mount holds steady in its place and does not seem to slide around with vehicle movement.
  
  When mounting the bracket to the friction mount, do so prior to attaching the Nuvi GPS as it is a fairly tight fit and requires some force to snap in place. Once attached however, it really does not need to be removed as you can take the friction mount from vehicle to vehicle and seems adaptable to any dash I have thus far placed it on.
  
  All, in all I would recommend this over the suction cup mount provided as it offers a much better alternative for keeping your Garmin Nuvi secure in its place.
  
  One final suggestion, make sure you order the correct unit for your GPS. Some have ordered the friction mount not realizing that they have purchased just the platform minus the mounting stem. Amazon's # is 010-10908-00
  
  
• Stable and works great.
  By A11T807LX2EF00 on 2007-09-27
  This item works great. I travel to California now and then and it is always an issue how to position my GPS since you can't attach it to the windshield. This solves the problem. It is very stable (more than I thought it would be) and the holder slips out to make packing a breeze. Lots of swivel gives you just about any viewing option you need. And then you can lock that position in place. The price is great here on Amazon. You can't go wrong. I use it more than I had thought (not just in California). When I park the car I just move the whole thing to the floor which hides the fact I have a GPS in the car. I never took the windshield mount down in the past, which was a dead giveaway. Great product. Price is right!
  
  
• I was skeptical, but it works great
  By A3SWR657V85SSP on 2007-10-23
  I have a 2001 VW Beetle, which has lots of great curved surfaces all over the dashboard. That, and the windshield being about 2.5 feet in front of the steering wheel meant that I didn't have any good place to stick the suction mount. It looked like this was the only other real solution, but I was skeptical about just placing something on my dashboard and expecting it to stay there. Between the sticky rubber surface on the bottom, and the beanbag weights (this thing is pretty heavy for its size) on the sides, my Nuvi 370 barely moves at all. On a 4-hour trip, I might only have to nudge it back up the dashboard a few centimeters. I haven't taken this through any race track hairpin turns, but it has been very steady through all of my somewhat-aggressive Boston driving.
  
  Another great feature of this is that when you leave your car, you can just place the whole mount out of view, instead of just taking the GPS unit off the dashboard. If you were looking to break into a car and see a mount on the windshield, isn't your first thought that the GPS is probably just stowed away in the glove compartment?
  
  

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