Alfa Romeo Giulia Forum banner

Cell Phone Mount Location Discussion

89K views 74 replies 48 participants last post by  Richo8657  
#1 ·
I've been leaving my phone in the forward cupholder under the climate control knobs. Not an ideal location for a number of reasons. I'd really like to install a semi-permanent phone mount (i.e. don't intend to move it around but not willing to drill / glue... two-sided tape or suction would be ok).

The dash is pretty small and I don't want to restrict middle forward visibility or have the mount be overwhelmingly visible / obtrusive to someone looking at the car from the outside. I was thinking of mounting to the windshield on the driver's side as close to the "A" pillar as possible and as low to the dash as possible. It would also be nice to be able to have a charging cable routed to the mount. But since most phones charge from the bottom this means increasing the height of the mount above the dashboard...

I'd love to hear any of your thoughts on this. I'm surprised I'm having this much of a struggle coming up with a good location for the phone, but an "ideal" place just isn't obvious to me.

Oh, and any recommendations on top tier phone mounts? I'm willing to spend some money for a high quality mounting solution. I have a Samsung Galaxy s6 but I think most car mounts are "universal" now to a certain extent, unlike a phone case, right?

Cheers!
 
#4 ·
I'll try and get a photo later.
I appreciate the recommendation and the photo, that'll help me visualize things. Thanks very much!

If you are interested in a phone mount that has double sided tape and looks clean we offer these...
I love the materials and well finished look of the mount, but I'm sorry a magnet on the back of my phone doesn't appeal to me at all. Had one on my last phone and couldn't stand it. Personal preference. Thanks for the recommendation though.
 
#3 ·
#58 ·
#12 ·
I find I can do much of what I need via the screen while leaving my phone "holstered".
 
owns 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Sport AWD
#13 ·
I use the Spigen Kuel 8201 mount and I have been loving it.

Here is the link.

The phone doesn't obstruct any controls and it kind of has a floating effect.

Image
 

Attachments

  • Like
Reactions: renzy
#49 ·
I use the Spigen Kuel 8201 mount and I have been loving it.

Here is the link.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AMGFY5M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The phone doesn't obstruct any controls and it kind of has a floating effect.

Image
I also use this (on previous cars) and really like it. It comes with 2 sizes/strengths of magnets. I don't adhere the magnet to my phone, I just put it loose inside my phone case. On previous car due to shape of the vent it did block hvac air, doesn't look like it will on the wide Giulia vent.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Mine wasn't supplied by madness but its a very similar idea. There is no magnet attached to the back of the phone unlike some similar options, just a thin steel disc so no additional danger to credit cards from your phone. The mount however has a fairly serious magnet in it so I'm not going to be using the phones compass while its stuck to the mount but a quick test had less effect than I expected. The only changing magnetic field is while your attaching or removing the phone. I'm using a short USB cable so I can plug the phone in, mainly for charging at the moment. Still hopeful we might see carlplay at some point, maybe.

Here a couple of photos of how I'm using the mount and cable to keep the phone below dash level with the absolute minimum of vent overlap and no car screen overlap. Both cup holder are available but as I mentioned in a different thread I have alternative cup holders I use. I have a small cable holder stuck to the vertical face of the dash in front of the cup holders but you can't see it from this angle It is an iPhone 5 though so larger phones are going to block more of the vent. Its at least another option.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
I may switch to this location in the future. I like the placement a lot.
 
#24 ·
Brodit Pro Clip

I use one from Brodit http://www.brodit.com/product.html?id=855253&pn=prod&brand=Alfa Romeo&model=Giulia&year=2017

Car piece is specific to the car, then you buy a phone specific attachment. Works very well for my Waze habit.

View attachment 10441

Can you tell me if the Brodit Pro Clip holder physically makes contact with the glass dash when installed?
I would be concerned with the potential for the dash glass to crack or break from vibration if the holder actually makes contact with the glass panel on the dash.
 
#29 ·

Attachments

  • Like
Reactions: daviiaco
#30 ·
Also, I ran the charger wire from the arm rest compartment along the center console trim all the way up to that location, and hence, no cable dangling in front of the climate controllers
 

Attachments

#32 ·
No passthrough.
You have to use the small space the cover has which allows cables to stick out. Pull the cable right down, and tuck it into the plastic trim that holds the carpet down. Once you tuck it in there, the tension will keep this cable from moving. Push the cable along the trim, all the way up towards the screen, and then just have the last 3 inches or so of the cable stick out. I used a 6 ft lightning cable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roo
#34 · (Edited)
So I bought a cup holder car mount, didn't want one that would stick to the dash because I was afraid the adhesive would ruin it. So I bought one, and this one can hold an ipad as well. Would have taken a picture with my phone in the mount but the ipad doesn't have a flash.

Anyhow, when I was tightening the cup holder mount, kind of put a little nick and some scratches in the cupholder from the mount. Obviously the plan is to leave it there, but if I ever take it out it's going to bug me. I'm too ocd about this crap, it's just the cupholder! Any thoughts? Leave it or take it out and try to fix the cup holder?
 

Attachments

#51 ·
I bought the same mount but didn't use it because I thought it might permanently crush the soft rubber "bumper/grippers" inside the holder. (Apparently OCD) like you, I didn't want to do that so the mount is now part of my boat anchor collection.

I did something different to accommodate my phone. Will take pictures this weekend.
 
#35 ·
I highly recommend the Spigen Kuel A201 air vent magnetic phone holder. There are 6 magnets, instead of 4, so it is strong enough to hold the larger iPhone. I put the mount on the left center air vent and the A201 allows you to turn the angle of the mount so that it better faces you. Also, I made sure to close the the vent so the heater wouldn’t heat up the phone. It has worked perfectly.
 
#36 ·
NAF
Please post images of the holder installed in your Giulia.
Thanks,
 
#37 ·
I bought this on Amazon for about ten bucks and it works perfectly (I was looking for an iPhone I ring and stumbled across it). Initially, I was quite hesitant to put it right on the wood, but I figured I’ll probably have this car a couple years, so I did it. No regrets.
 

Attachments

#38 ·
I bought this on Amazon for about ten bucks and it works perfectly
The thing that bugs me about that mounting location is that it forces you to divert your gaze so far down to look at the phone, which is really a distraction. Ideally, Alfa Romeo would have this whole Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto debacle resolved so it doesn't really matter whether the phone is in the cup holder or the center console. But given the half-baked mobile phone integration we currently have, I would prefer a mounting location that is much higher on the dash, one that doesn't block any HVAC vents or controls or result in a cracked glass infotainment screen. I know we shouldn't be looking at our phones at all while driving. But I use mine for the Waze app every day and would prefer something that is at least as easy to view as the 8.8" integrated infotainment screen in the dashboard.
 
#41 ·
Like NAF I have a Spigen mount with the metal plate between my phone and case, here is the mount, much closer to you eye line if you are navigating or listening to music.
Image


Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk