Mounting gps on panda question ?

[jakelleo]

Am finding is very difficult to find a good spot for my Tomtom Go 530.

Appears so little room to fit it.. Wonder if anyone has solved this problem?
The Go530 is a little larger than a previous Garmin..

I have tried cutting the original Garmin suction base and bolting on the
Tomtom top mount. Then fixing between the radio housing and speedo shell, but its a bit too far forward and very difficult to access with the
pinkies.
Any info much appreciated..

Jake.

 

[udtrev]

My Navman lurks on the windscreen between the speedo and radio consoles.


Trev

 

[jakelleo]

Is that not too far forward for the pinkies access ?

Have tried that with the Tomtom but as I say its very far forward. I really
need something closer. Ive been told that a Brodit clip might help.

But as I see it will only work with smaller screened Gps units.

 

[udtrev]

Is that not too far forward for the pinkies access ?

Have tried that with the Tomtom but as I say its very far forward. I really
need something closer. Ive been told that a Brodit clip might help.

But as I see it will only work with smaller screened Gps units.

Here's where it lives (when and only when it's fitted)

 

[jakelleo]

YES ..exactly !.
You can see just how far forward it is, and thats with a
small screen..
The problem is the Go530 is much larger and although
I can operate it with my left hand its just too far forward. Ideally if it
could be mounted level with the front of the radio housing but not too high, this would be perfect.
I wonder if its possible to mould something out of a plastic material that would fill in the gap between the radio and speedo. And then I could fix the mounting bracket to that. Bringing the Gps forward and easy to access.
But I dont have any experience of model making, and wondered if any of you had. ?

 

[udtrev]

To be honest it would be great if car makers put a smooth plastic section on the dash.

It would be great for sat navs, but would also be useful for those who wish to put a camcorder in the car to record drives (it's a common practice with offroaders for recording trips out, but can also be used to show how great/crap a stretch of road you know is)

I'm lucky for my sat nav, I have long arms

I'm also left handed so cannot put the sat nav by the drivers door.


Trev

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I can operate it with my left hand its just too far forward.

Well lean forward then.

Shouldn't be fiddling when driving anyways.

 

[jakelleo]

Well, thanks M.E.P. for that wonderful suggestion.
I was hoping for some useful advice that might be of use to others who
have the same problem as me..
I will add that I suffer from a disability to my left hand and fingers,, the result of service in the Falklands all those years ago, and just wanted a bit of sensible help...
Jake.

 

[udtrev]

Jake,

Are you intending to keep the car for ages ?

If so perhaps using something like silicon to put the sat nav mount onto the central console ?


Trev

 

[jakelleo]

I had thought of a more permanent fixing, but then its going to be
a target for the theives.. So need to dismount when parking up etc.

I wonder if anyone has used/fitted one of the Brodit mounts to the Panda.
Again a problem with the Tomtom Go530 having a larger screen than a lot of other Gps models.
I had one on my old Skoda Fabia and it was brill. But with the Panda we have a problem with such a small area that could be used.

 

[jakelleo]

Bingo!! Or words to that effect...

Yes the Brodit solution is fine. The Brodit mounting just clips behind the
radio and dash housing on one side and after slacking off the outer
speedo housing on the other side another portion of the Brodit clips in.
Then just by adding a small block of wood 3/4 X 2 X 3 and then mounting the Tomtom mount on that brings the GPS up and completly readable
and finger accessable..

Job done.. Thanks for the Brodit info it works a treat with a small add on.

Jake.

 

[SurreyAlan]

having used Brodit mounts in my C4 for many years thought I'd get one for the Panda.
My navigation software is on an ageing PDA.
First picture shows the Brodit clip in place, I use adhesive velcro for fixing most things and the loopy velcro is fixed to the clip.
Second picture shows the pda in it's Brodit cradle (which has the hooky velcro) pressed to the clip.
The great advantage I've found with the clips is that being fixed to the body you don't get the wobble that seems to occur with the long swanneck mounts suckered to the windscreen.