Sat navs in the middle of the windscreen

[teabagger]

Why do some people think its a good idea to mount their sat nav right in the middle of the windscreen?

Do they have a sat nav that shows more info about the road in front of them than their own eyes looking throught the windscreen gives them? It must give a fairly large bind spot.

I am all for sat nav systems but I would think its best to have them mounted lower down and near the A piller.

[mmm-five]

Mine sits at the bottom-centre of the windscreen but it's not blocking the view as the only thing that's directly behind it and in my line of vision is the bonnet.

Although I have seen some where it's between the inside mirror and dashboard.

[judas]

Depends on where the power socket is in the dashboard and how long the cable is. Some car manufacturers put the sockets in the weirdest places. In my car it's in the centre console next to the handbrake, so central mounting is the only realistic option.

[nsmith1180]

I mount mine to the quarter window. Out of LOS then and not blocking the side mirrors either.

[sebhaque]

I used to stick mine on my window, but I got tired of having the wire trailing down and once I forgot and opened the window, only to have the satnav fall out

In the Impreza I have it in the centre of the windscreen - it's only blocking the (massive) bonnet scoop so I'm not really missing anything there. Although I do try and avoid using it at night time as it's very distracting.

edit: er, lower centre. not below the mirror!

Edited by sebhaque on Monday 17th May 20:42

[Benjybh]

nsmith1180 said:

I mount mine to the quarter window. Out of LOS then and not blocking the side mirrors either.

+1

[cs02rm0]

I'm 6'5, my sat nav doesn't leave a blind spot at all, but my rear view mirror leaves a bloody enormous one, particularly dangerous at some motorway junctions where other cars are joining.

Perhaps you're a bit short?

[John D.]

I think the OP means those who stick it actually halfway up the screen slap bang in their eyeline (like some kind of head-up display ).

Usefull sign of an idiot if you spot it.

[number2301]

I have it in the middle of the screen, but in a position so that the actual sat nav is only blocking a view of the dashboard. But regardless, how much do you see out of the inch or two above the dash? I don't know about you but I've generally got my eyes higher than that.

[J4CKO]

Same as have a load of Islamic garb hanging there as well, see a lot of that, some lacy red stuff, a gold cd and some other crap, nothing should be in your line of sight, simple as that.

[Le Mans Visitor]

It cracks me up seeing the idiots driving along at night with the unit in 'floodlight mode' blinding the driver and everyone 2 miles behind them!

[carmadgaz]

When I use one in the car it goes between the instruments and the drivers side window. In the works truck the dash has such a slope I fit it the middle low so its in the line of sight but so low that its not obscuring anything.

[teabagger]

Let me clear up that I mean mounted in the center of the screen- mid way between dash and rear view mirror.

I dont have a problem with the unit mounted just above the dash.

And for those concerned, I am 6ft4, so short compared to some lanky b*****ds!

[wolf1]

Mine sits between the speedo and tacho where the multifunction display is (don't need to know how many miles to the gallon the car is doing really) in the van it goes over the tacho as it's pointless in a van.

[RosscoPCole]

Was thinking about this the other day and decided that car manufacturers should put a 12V output on top of the dash. Well I think it makes sense. No more wires trailing down over the dashboard down towards the gearlever and infront of the stereo controls.

Just a thought....

[General Price]

Pffft,middle of the windscreen is nothing.I passed a car last Friday and the sat-nav unit was to the right of the rear view mirror.I'm suprised the simple fker could see anything in front of him.I did notice he seemed to be breathing through his open mouth though.

[mph1977]

it's a sat nav not the HUD of the auto pilot !!!!

my sat nav goes as low as possible on the windscreen so it is in reach without taking my left hand (far) from the wheel - it's on a longer than standard arm after someone borrowed the unit and lost the standard window mount ...

[peterattheboro]

I have mine in the middle aswell but it's right at the bottom, pretty much sitting on the dash. It doesn't block my view at all.

Agree with the comments above about having it in daylight mode at night time though!

[RobM77]

judas said:

Depends on where the power socket is in the dashboard and how long the cable is. Some car manufacturers put the sockets in the weirdest places. In my car it's in the centre console next to the handbrake, so central mounting is the only realistic option.

I mount mine to the right of the instrument binnacle as low as it'll go, so it looks like just another instrument or, in the Elise, way over on the passenger side. I find that the lead normally stretches on the three models of sat nav I've used. When it's to my right, I just pass the lead over the top of the steering column.

[SWH]

After trying a few different locations my preference is to mount the SatNav as close as possible under the rear view mirror. Never found it created a blind spot, but being there means I get no reflections in the screen and my eyes are already used to glancing in that particular area to see what's going on behind, so it seems a sensible spot for some more information.

Clearly this location isn't so good if you've got a small screen of course!