Fiat 500 & Abarth 595 sat nav (U Connect)? Or a phone holder

[clockworks]

We visited the local Fiat main dealer yesterday, as my housemate wanted to swap her 2014 Astra for a newer 500. She settled on a 2018 1.2 Lounge in Burgundy metallic.

Just as we were leaving, I spotted three 595s for sale. We were just having a look around, when a salesman spotted us. I ended up deciding to buy a 2019 595 with just 7000 miles on the clock for myself.

We are hopefully collecting both of them next weekend.

A question about the in-car tech.
Both have what looks like the same head unit - smallish touchscreen with a row of buttons along the bottom edge. The "Apps" button brings up "U Connect". The Fiat website is pretty useless, and the information about U Connect is very sketchy.
From what I can make out, it's just something that uses a paired smartphone to allow a few basic online functions, with a few more functions if you pay a subscription.
As far as I can tell, there's no satnav function available on this head unit?

We currently have a couple of Garmin units in our cars, and are happy to use those if the cars don't have inbuilt satnav or Carplay/mirroring.
The problem is, how to mount the Garmins?

Normally I'd just get a Brodit Proclip, and adapt the Garmin windscreen mount to fit.
Problem is, Brodit don't make a centre console or dash Proclip for the facelift 500, just one that fits to the A pillar.

What are other 500 owners using as phone/satnav mounts in their cars?

[abartholomew]

(Don't boot me out of the forum for this.......)

Dare I say it but having used a 595 for a daily for a while now, I found the boost guage a bit superfluous for daily use so I found a iPhone mount with a circular suction holder and use this to mount my phone on to!

It's close enough to run a short lead to the USB and within view for Google Maps should you not have CarPlay etc on your car.

I'll take a pic tomorrow and post it!

[clockworks]

Interesting idea. Please do post a pic

[Bungleaio]

U connect is a waste of time and can't use it as a sat nav unless it's been improved in the past 2 years. Mounting your phone on the dash will be far better.

[clockworks]

I tried to set up UConnect, but it seems I need to phone Fiat head office to deregister the previous owner. Probably not worth the effort.

I decided to use the Brodit A pillar bracket with a modified Garmin windscreen mount for the Abarth. Looks like it should work without obscuring the windscreen.
She's happy with a Garmin dash top mount in her Lounge.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

abartholomew said:

(Don't boot me out of the forum for this.......)

Dare I say it but having used a 595 for a daily for a while now, I found the boost guage a bit superfluous for daily use so I found a iPhone mount with a circular suction holder and use this to mount my phone on to!

It's close enough to run a short lead to the USB and within view for Google Maps should you not have CarPlay etc on your car.

I'll take a pic tomorrow and post it!

Would love the pic of this and how well it stays stuck on.

[deltaevo16]

The U connect system is pretty rubbish, but it does have a redeeming feature Find my car. Pair it with your phone app and it will tell you where your car is. Handy for vast car parks, and I guess if someone tries to nick it. I used mine at the NEC and it worked a treat.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Will it work with android?

That's a good feature. Basically a tracker..

[deltaevo16]

Works with either, just download the app, it's a bit of a faff, but it does work. It's about u connects only redeeming feature.