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dashboard phone mounts

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by winnertakesteve, Dec 30, 2015.

  1. winnertakesteve

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    as a canadian prius c owner, the infotainment system is *ahem* not that great. there is zero traffic info and the mapping application will never get updated.

    consequently i often have my phone running google maps turn-by-turn through bluetooth when i need directions. i'm considering a car mount, and was curious if anyone else has done a similar setup on their c.

    is there a particular option that works well for the c's dash layout? i'm leaning towards one of the ones that clips onto a vent rather than some sort of suction thing, but i'm open to whatever works best.

    i'm also wanting to make sure there's no issues with people getting pulled over for having their phones running (even if its just replacing the car's gps functionality).

    thanks for any advice!
     
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  2. djdawn

    djdawn Active Member

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    Have you seen the proclip mount? They're the least awkward imo, but they're also the most expensive. Luckily they can be had 2nd hand on eBay for ~$30 (phone adapter + mount) if you watch for them.
     
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  3. 2015Prius2

    2015Prius2 Member

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    Agreed, I had the proclip dash mount on our C and now on our Prius 2. Couldn't be happier with them. Because we have a big difference in phone sizes, I am using the proclip pillar mount along with the Ram Mount x grip with a 1" ball mount adapter from the proclip to the x grip.
     
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  4. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    ProClip mount is by far the best mount I've used.

    Currently have the GPS and IPhone 6s ProClip mounts.
    image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
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  5. winnertakesteve

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    nice! thanks guys!

    i ended up getting the kenu airframe+ as it seemed the least obtrusive, but the down side is its kinda fiddly to try to put the phone in without accidentally pulling the mount out of the vent. that proclip mount looks much more robust! oh well.

    now i just need to figure out how to sort the mess that is bluetooth audio. :mad: navigation audio appears to be treated as a form of music playback (whereas calls/siri is a separate phone connection). it'll only push the navigation through to the car speakers if i select my music input to bluetooth, which auto starts the most recent media played on the phone (music app, or even safari or youtube audio). so then i have to stop pause that audio. and if i ever need to adjust the volume, it starts auto playing the media again!

    anyway thats a rant more for the audio/electronics section, but what an insanely un-user-friendly mess it is.
     
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  6. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    That's what I like about the ProClip mount, nice and solid,
     
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  7. djdawn

    djdawn Active Member

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    Another guy on the forums had the same issue, as do I, but it came down to the way apple Bluetooth interacts with Bluetooth devices. No idea about android/other devices. The behavior with apple is the same with any random Bluetooth speaker, it appears our cars are only playing what they're instructed to play. Thought I'd share before you start pulling your hair out, however if you find another way around the "feature" please share.
     
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  8. winnertakesteve

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    someone recommended to me that there is a "handsfree mode" that you need to select once the mapping app is connected that will separate the turn by turn voice from the music output. the option was never popping up in apple maps, so i gave google maps a try, and it did offer the option, as did waze.

    so ultimately its just apple's own software that has issues (not much of a surprise there). which is no big loss, since i tend to find google maps better anyway. hope you have some luck!
     
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  9. amerc001

    amerc001 Junior Member

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    I use the iOttie phone holder, purchased from Amazon. I use the included adhesive disk to attach it to my dash. No idea how it will work if I decide to buy a dash mat. The suction cup uses adhesive as well to "stage" it I guess. It works very well I rarely use the A/C so the position mounted doesn't bother me.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Danny3xd

    Danny3xd Active Member

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    II
    Got this for 10 bucks. Really chinsy. But has a solar charger. Works better as a spare battery as it takes forever to charge via the sun, so I use a phone charger. Had to velcro the holder/phone.

    But oddly, I really like it.

    car phone holder.jpg


    *edit, Google maps rocks! Update "street view" and GMs shows you a picture of final destination before and after you get there. It works far better than my 5 GPS!

    Majorly important as I am a courier. Nothing like looking for an address in rain, snow or bad areas, armed with a mini-flashlight.
     
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  11. mrpinkie

    mrpinkie Junior Member

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    I use the NiteIze Steelie I am very happy with it. The Phone stays in position and I have only had it move when I hit a pothole that was pretty big and unavoidable, and then I just had to adjust the angel back up a little bit. I mounted the ball just above the Start button on my PC and used some 3M cable guides to route and hide the USB cable from the accessory port. It is minimal and doesnt look big or out of place. I use a rubber phone case and cut out a small circle for the pad that goes on the phone and I really dont notice it on the phone.
     
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  12. dborn

    dborn Junior Member

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    If you don't listen to CDs (who does these days?), get this:
    [​IMG]


    That's what I use in my car and it also works very well in my wife's C.
    By the way, that big yellow sticker can be peeled off :)
     
    #12 dborn, Jan 12, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2016
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  13. Mo G

    Mo G Member

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    Have a CD mount as well. Came in today as a matter of fact.
     
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  14. mrpinkie

    mrpinkie Junior Member

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    I was wrong about the location of the mount in the car. It is on the smooth flat section between the Start button and the Infotainment system.
     
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  15. Danny3xd

    Danny3xd Active Member

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    Uber cool! (y)
    Any links for 'em?

    Uber cool! (y)
    Any links for 'em?


     
    #15 Danny3xd, Jan 13, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 13, 2016
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  16. Mo G

    Mo G Member

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    #16 Mo G, Jan 13, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2016
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  17. dborn

    dborn Junior Member

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    Sorry, are you serious? the link is right there in my original post... :)
    Do you not see it? If not, go to amazon.com and search for "Mountek nGroove"
     
  18. Danny3xd

    Danny3xd Active Member

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    Thanks, Mo!

    Just noticed, db. So seriously, thanks.
     
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  19. tk1971

    tk1971 Active Member

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    One
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    I modified a McNally cup holder mount and attached the flexible neck and phone holder to the unused start button blank on my dash.
     
    #19 tk1971, Jan 14, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2016
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  20. winnertakesteve

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    Love all these suggestions! You guys are the best, seriously!