I have a ProClip holder dock for my iPhone 3G and a Pro.Fit Crossfire specific mounting bracket. I love the Panavise bracket much better (had one in my last car) but had to sell it because it won't work with the newer Crossfires since we have the knee airbag rather than the longer glovebox, so it won't clear the mount. The Pro.Fit is ok... Just would like something like the the Pro.Fit G3, which isn't made for our cars (very low profile. I also don't care for the position of the Pro.Fit since it is obtrusive of the passenger climate control and vent. ProClip has a nice location (to the right of the cig lighter) but it has an unsightly black bracket running down the side of the console which wouldn't look right on Cedar. Yeh, my setup was $140, but I'm all about a clean install!

Let me know what you all think and show your own as well! Also let me know if you can figure out a non-obtrusive way (doesn't hinder any controls) to mount my ProClip iPhone holder.









Visit my gallery for many more images.

 

Probably not what your looking for but it might give you a few ideas? This is what I came up with for my XM mount. I put a few bends in a pieice of 1/8 x 2" peice of aluminum, drilled a couple of holes then put a coat of rustoleum hammer paint on it. Cost was less than five bucks but I spent the better part of a day fitting and such.

HPIM2058.jpg

HPIM2060.jpg

 

• iPod runs through the head unit (full controls) and is stashed in console
• cell phone runs through the head unit (blue tooth) and is stashed where-ever I happen to have it on my person
• GPS, remote control for RD and display for gyro are mounted on Panavise mount as shown.

 

I mount my cell phone in my front pocket(of my pants)..............and have never used/owned an Ipod in my life.

 

Holy ****! Interplanetary travel is beyond my needs. But if one needs that much information...

Nice job on the installs, and I really like what you've done for others on your website. With all of that going on, I don't think I'd feel safe going over 35 mph.

Did I mention that I personally feel that cell phones should be banned in moving vehicles?

 

We leave for Mars on Tuesday...

The cell phone is completely hands off. I don't make outgoing calls. Inbound calls are answered with a push of the head unit ****, come in through the stereo speakers and out through a mic on the visor. Completely hands-free and wireless.

There rest is intentionally just outside the normal angle of view. This helps with paying attention to the road. Navigation is handy but not pasted in the middle of the windshield like I am starting to see with all the "late adopters". Again, outside the angle of view when driving.

The vehicle dynamics and reverse camera screen is even more off-axis. Naturally the reverse camera only comes into play in reverse. The vehicle dynamics can be left running all the time, but for anything to be analyzed, it records up to five minute sessions that can be played back when the vehicle is stationary.

So yeah, it is a little busy in there. But once you start rolling the view out the windshield is uncluttered and all the extra info is off to the side. Getting the car ready to drive has become interesting - there's sort of a pre-flight sequence...

- clutch in, start car
- lights on (why didn't we get daytime running lights...?)
- couple blue-tooth device (phone)
- turn on GPS (optionally wait for satellite lock)
- click past lawyer screen on vehicle dynamics processor, select view
- select an iPod playlist (or continue the one in progress)
- check that Radar Detector came on
- set destination (optional GPS step)
- roll

I'd be the last one off the line at LeMans when they shout "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!"

 

On the iPod, perhaps if you are not into music or require no-holds barred hi-fi, I can understand not having one. Interestingly, as a hi-fi user, I had avoided them thinking they must be cheap plastic junk.

Then a funny thing happened. My factory amp went belly up halfway through a 1400-mile road trip. It was too quiet in the car. I needed music.

Feeling my pain, and having asked me what my requirements might be if I ever changed my mind and got an iPod, my wife bought for an anniversary gift an 80Gb unit for me. Soon I had fixed the factory amp but I was hooked.

Up until this time, I carried a large collection of CD's in the car. It was a pain to shuffle them in and out. Too many CD's to find what I wanted quickly, a space hog, etc.

In my quest to connect the iPod to the factory stereo, I ended up getting an aftermarket head unit and a few other things. The iPod integration took me way beyond what a CD-changer would have done for me in terms of music capacity and options.

I have been slowly burning my LP collection onto CD and dumping it into iTunes. Long ago I eclipsed what I used to carry in the CD case, and still have a huge reserve left in the 80GB. I'm pretty close to having every last bit (pun intended) of music I own, which is no small thing.

Clearly the iPod sound quality has some shortcomings when you sit it side-by-side with a CD (or high-end LP) sound-source. Notwithstanding, the differences are hard for me to detect in a moving car, with 50-something year old ears, and my mind on my driving.

I abhor the way they've locked up the music sold on iTunes (they could do a lot better job of making it easy for me to manage and use my music and still prevent piracy) but that's in the noise for me - I buy my music on CD or LP and don't have to deal with that nonsense.

In the end, having all my music in a package the size of a cigarette pack and the playback options, text and album art display, I can't imagine not having an iPod...

YMMV

 

I like that! Very stealth!

 

I have a Cuda base.

 

ppro,

I'm happy to hear a more than reasonable response to my drunken ramblings of the evening last. Heartfelt as they were, I feel I must explain. I live in and work on a major college campus, and just driving the 5 miles to and from work has become a daily chore only because of the added exitement of dodging folks either speaking on their hand-held cells or texting. Fully 50% of the students driving on campus are on the phone, using the left hand. Making, of course, signalling lane changes or turn intentions impossible. Or at least of no concern to them. Couple this with truly poor high school drivers education programs and non-existant vehicle safety codes it makes a recipe for problems. It is not uncommon for folks in this neck of the woods to purposely disable 2 of 3 stop lamps hoping for a rear ender. I'm friends with a couple of municipal police officers and have been told they "don't have time" to ticket drivers for such "minor concerns"!

My insurance premiums would go down a bit if they found the time I think.

In all, since I have to concentrate for everyone else, it ticks me off a bit when I see it. I guess I'm just too darned old?

 

I am glad I am not so irreplaceable as most of you appear to be, if my cell phone rang when I was in my car it would be remarkable as it is never on. The only person who has the number is my wife and she only phones by arrangement if the need arises. I think that phones have tied most people to their work and it increases their stress.
When I see people walking around talking on the cells, mostly about the most inane subjects, I get the feeling that they must need to be talking to someone or feel out of the loop. When driving they are a peril to everyone else, I am none to worried about their safety as they will get what they are asking for one day.
What ever happened to just driving in silence?

 

Let's get back on topic here!! That's why I have that damn $200 alpine bluetooth adapter for my headunit. It's easy/safe and requires minimal attention.

Pictures pictures pictures.

 

180, I couldn't agree with you more. I hate the damn things and wish they were never invented. Sure, in an emergency, they come in pretty handy but I hate to think how many people have been killed because someone was yakking or dialing while driving. As a motorcycle rider, I know the dangers first hand.

 

I believe it was the science channel that did a documentary on the use of cell phones while driving. They used a driving simulator and conducted several experiments. The end result was there was no difference from holding a cell phone or talking with a hands free system. They all had wrecks, ran stop signs and such. It seems as though driving and talking on the cell is similar to driving under the influence?
Bill,

 

I have a MOTO ROCKER that is bluetooth and transmitts an fm signal and it works pretty good for music and calls. otherwise i rather just enjoy driving the car rather than chat on the phone

 

For me the whole purpose to have a mount is because I don't remove it the entire time my car is moving. It's handsfree and would only glance at the caller ID as you would glance at your instrument gauge. Not at all trying to create animosity but why would you view a forum to mount your phone if you disagree with it... Anyone else have mounting options?

 

I find the perspective that a cell phone can "tie people to work" very interesting.

For me, the reverse is true. Here's an example.

Instead of hurrying to get up extra early on days I have an 8:00am meeting, I can have breakfast with my wife and kids, drop the kids at the bus stop, and catch the conference call as I drive to work at a leisurely pace, my hands never touching the phone. Without the cell, I'd have a miserable, stress-laden morning and be forced to be at the office - truly tied to work.

It's the same with e-mail. I have never felt less stressed than when I no longer had to be in the office to get email. For me that means that during business hours, I am not tied to my desk. If I need to move about, or leave the office, I don't miss anything. If it's truly urgent, I can respond. If it's routine, I can leave it until I get back.

Overall it's been very liberating. But I digress.

 

I believe it. This hands free thing is a joke. Who the hell can't drive with one hand these days. When they come out with a brains free system I'll endorse it.

 

How bout some pictures of actual installs instead of a "MACD" (mothers against cellphone drivers)!?

It started off nice [shaking my head]

 

You callin' me a mother?