I just bought a Garmin GPSIII and am looking for a cool place to mount it. I have an external antenna and power adapter. I fits okay under the climate controls if I remove the "smoke box" but there is too much open space. Anyone know how I would go about getting a piece of black plastic custom fit for that area? I also have extra power/data connectors for anyone that wants to build their own custom length cable.<p>I'd prefer not to have it on top of the dash as it is a little distracting and I don't use it all the time. Its cool as hell at night with the backlight glowing. I can even link it to my palm pilot for STREET NAME level map detail. What an awesome toy!<p>David

There are really only two places to put it in the A4. Two convenient places, anyway:<p>1) Instead of the cigarette lighter and ashtray module, needing a horizontal adapter to make it look decent.<p>2) Instead of the pop-up cupholders (1996 and 1997 and 1998.0), needing a custom-fab trim piece to make it look decent, and blocked if you have an armrest (the 1997 doesn't have an armrest and has pop-up cupholders, hence being a prime candidate).<p>To be honest, though, it wouldn't kill me to just use the Garmin GPS gear for hiking in Seattle when I'm out there and settle down with the A4 and GPS for awhile. I'm waiting for that unit that supposedly looks like a mouse but has a GPS in it... if I could plug it into my CE machine I'd have color mapping. Hmm...<p>This is, however, certainly not a crucial addition to my A4, and can wait until I'm done with the current string of modifications. If this is the main thing on your A4 thought-platter, however, I'd be interested to see what you come up with.<p>I'm actually still playing with my Digital StarTAC, but soon I'll be looking for more gadgets. What can I say? I'm a gadget freak.<p>Cameron<br>

That's the best toy! For $299 is much better than the $250 trip computer!<p>I don't have the all weather package in my car. So I have the little drawer on the top right hand side of the center dash.<p>This drawer pulls out very easily. I opened some holes on the back of the drawer to run the power cable from the back of the dash connected to the fuse box. Then on the back side of the drawer lid, I put some velcro (the same that came with your GPSIII). When I use the GPS, I just open the drawer, connect the cable and velcro the GPS in place in a small angle towards me.<p>I don't have the external antenna, but in this position, I have no problems receiving up to 8 satellites with the built in antenna.<p>I didn't want to make a permanent installation of the GPS, since I also use it on my motorcycle and on my mountain bike with the optional handlebar bracket.<p>Another option that I thought, was making a "plug" that will snap in place of the drawer, take the drawer out, snap the plug with the GPS, etc. but I found that to be too involved.<p>BTW, check the Garmin site and download version 2.0.7, it has many new features and if you have the PC cable, you can upgrade your GPS.<p>Hope this helps!<p>Sergio.<br>98.5 1.8TMS / Pearl / GPSIII

I bought my GPSIII used for $250 w/ the GA-26 antenna, power adapter and case. I sent it to Garmin and they upgraded the map data from 1.03 to 2.0 for free. It also came back with 2.07 software. Nice!<p>I've got an extra connector or two to you. I bought mine from a guy at the address below. Interesting operation. You pledge to pay for the connectors, he sends them to you, and then you pay more or less than your pledge depending on how you like them.<p>David

I mounted my GPSIII just above the center dash air vents (essentially on top of the dash) I recommend this because you can look at it and still have your peripheral vision on the road. <p>I made a plexiglass bracket which grabs the top of the vent. I'll try to post a picture tonight...<p>I'd make you one and swap for one of those data cables.<p>Mikro 1.8TQM-Wett Yellow<br>

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Mine is in the space where the old cupholders were (mine are under the arm rest). It fits in nicely, with space for the external antenna and power cable to go out. It is quite firm in there. The only problem is the poor visibility, esp. with the armrest down.<p>Cheers,<br>- Stan<br>

Avstar makes a totally voice interactive navigation system. You just tell it where you want to go and it gives you the directions without your eyes leaving the road. No tiny map display. It's also portable so you can use it in your other cars as well. Check it out at www.avstar.ivs.com

I spend probably 50% of my time in Chicago, 25% in Seattle, and 25% elsewhere concentrating on my studies away from "home towns". My father lives in Seattle and my mother lives in Chicago.<p>To be honest, a couple things on my car are custom, and the rest are from part vendors (most of whom advertise here). The seat mounts to get my SPG's to fit correctly, the roll cage setup, the hood design (being fabricated), the brackets around the Tip unit... all these things are custom. But the bodykit is from Autobahn Int (Sunny and Pete are great people), along with various lights, and a lot of other stuff. The rest comes from a variety of sources like D2, KVR, Northstar, etc. I bought the taillights while I was studying in Paris for a couple weeks last summer.<p>Sports: Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing<br>Hobbies: Cars, Travel, Languages<br>Some of the Best Books Ever Written: Mutiny on the Bounty, Forbidden Knowledge from Prometheus to Pornography, Paradigms Lost, The Time Machine<br>First Big Upgrade: Intended Acceleration exhaust work on A4 2.8Q<br>Most Recent Big Upgrade: New race-ratio cassette for Cannondale Super V Raven<br>Most Recent A4 Upgrade: Touring cage on A4 1.8TQ<p>Cameron

I made a bracket which clips onto the top of the center air vents. The advantage of this is that you can look at the GPS and still see the road in your peripheral vision. Looking down below the dash while driving, sounds like rolling dice to me...<p>Regards,<br>Mikro 1.8TQM-Wett Yellow

I made this out of plexiglass.<p>I'd gladly build you one of these brackets and trade you for one of those spare data cables.<p>Mikro

nt.

I was inspired by what DonP did... so I bought a 2" guage, took the 'guts' out and built a square plexiglass enclosure. Also, I built a bar-guage thermometer for intercooler temp into it. Then I made a really cool and OEM looking label by printing on transparency film with my inkjet printer. If you want more details, let me know...<p>Regards,<br>Mike

I'll email for details.<p>dp<br>