So I was getting really tired of putting my GPS device up on the window because it's so far away. I noticed that I don't use the little cubby to the left of the steering wheel so I thought I'd try and make my own GPS mount that fits in there. I own a Navigon 2100 and the mount can be taken apart so I was able to reuse everything but the suction base. I made the mount out of 1mm thick balsa wood. I measured it so it would fit perfectly but of course I couldn't follow my own directions and I made it backwards lol. It still works though. It would have fit flush had I not screwed up.

Right now it's still just the bare wood but I plan on covering it. Once covered it won't move around at all. I've got 3 very heavy weights inside the box to keep it from tipping over. So far working really really well.

that is a great idea!!!

 

Yeah it does block that ac vent but that's not been a big issue for me. I still have the one in the middle and I generally use a mix of floor and vent. I just close that one off. I also don't keep the GPS in the car at all times. I tend to only put it in the car when I don't know the area I'm going to or I'm going on long trips. I do plan to build another one since I still have the plans. I think I'll make it a bit wider next time. I'm not using the whole thing as well so there is still room for my cell phone

It wasn't that hard to make. I think it took me about an hour including taking the measurements and actually cutting the balsa.

Thats pretty freakin cool.

Most of these portable GPS Units are completely wireless for their basic features. Other than a charge cable some have a cable for traffic updates. As far as charging goes I've had a few different portable gps units and most have about a 2-3 hour usage period before they need to be charged. This navigon lasts just under 3 hours before I have to charge it. Where I have it I can wrap the wire around and you can hardly see it when it's plugged in.

The navigon is an ok GPS. The only wire it has is the charge cable. I got it because it's customizable and you can get 3 years of map updates for $60 and lifetime traffic service for $70. I'm a programmer so I wanted a GPS that was hackable and the navigon has that ability. The only real complaint I have about it is sometimes I get some strange routes. All GPS units do that but this one a bit more than the others. The best ones are the Garmin Nuvi's and they are on sale right now. They tend to have the best routing engine and best map data. About middle of the road are the tom tom's. Their map data is not as good as the garmins but they have created tools to try and make that better. They allow users to share map changes. Thier routing is pretty good but because the map data is iffy they sometimes don't route well.

Hope that helps

Great job! i own a garmin street pilot, I just put it in that same hole & listen to directions...

I did mine a little different.  I cut a piece of plexiglass to fit over that little tray on the left side of the dash.  I drilled a hole in it so I could route the cable so I don't have to worry about the battery going dead.  Drilled a hole in the compartment for the cable and hooked it up.  Painted it black from the bottom and adhered it with 3M tape to the dash.  The suction cup holds the GPS just fine.  Here are a couple photos.

Did you just pop out the tray with a blade inserted under the edge?