Hello fellow topless motorers. I am considering the purchase of a navigation system (aftermarket) for Basil the mini. I am a bit concerned about being able to see the screen in a convertible (I can't see the screen on my cell phone during the day at all....). Any tips from those of you that have a Garmin or Tom Tom or others? I get tired of printing out a map from mapquest and having to place a heavy object on it in the passenger's seat to avoid it becoming litter on the side of the road.

Thanks!

 

Laptop w/TureBright Screen, Streets and Trips w/ USB GPS, sits on the passenger seat just fine, I've got a hole in the center of the Dash (light or Auto A/C sensor there on some MINIs) that I stick the suction cup works great and gives me a ton of info. Upgrading the software soon to accomodate the new voice nav and night screen layout features. I can autoupdate construction info anytime I have internet, auto rerouting, and I can save routes I've driven and review them.

Different solution than most but solves the issue at hand so I htoght I'd throw it out there. The true birght screen can be plenty bright enough for readin in direct FL sun or broght dark enough to be an easy on the eyes at night, hoping it will be even better when I upgrade it. SOrry no photos of the setup yet :( Takes about 20 sec to setup and clear out so I never have to worry about theft. I power the laptop with an inverter on extended trips.

 

I had a GPS Sleeve for my iPAQ and used a Arkon holder that used the seat bolt to secure it. http://www.arkon.com/

It worked wekk... the only downside was the inability to move the seat all the way forward when people where in the back,

 

Garmin Nuvi 350 works very well in the convertible in birght sun. Sunglasses tend to make the display a little hard to see sometimes. I mount mine with the stock suction cup to the clear lens on the chrono pack display (center speedo if you don't have nav or chrono pack.) The swivel mount makes it simle enough to re-align if the angle is bad in the sun.

_Dave_

 

Homer...
The Garmin Nuvi 350 is supoerb in full, direct sun. I can always see it.
While it is not the perfect nav system, it is the best out of many I have tried - they all are a compromise of some sort.

But it definitely very visible in the sun. See my post here for 3 ways to mount it.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...3&postcount=41

I've not found it unreadable with shades - maybe mine are not the Zaphod Beeblebrox style that ame0ba wears!!

Enjoy!

 

I've got a TT GO 700, and all is well. I've seen some aftermarket and homemade sunshields for them, but that doesn't interest me. I just hope I can find a mount for my motorcycle...

 

Garmin i5 is inexpensive, easy to use, and has many features. Love mine. Other than my cell phone, best new tech in the past 10 years

 

great info

 

Yeah, My Sensamatic Shades do also make it hard to read the red LED display under the speedo and tach as well....

But at least I'm so cool you could hang a side of beef in me...*

_Dave_

*R.I.P. Doug Adams

 

Thanks all! I just ordered a nuvi 350 in time for the spring break trip up the coast to SF....