In order to charge my iPhone 5s in the car, do I need to get the Mitsumi - Apple iPhone 5 cable at £55 or are there other options.

If it's only to charge your phone, one of these or similar is a lot cheaper......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-PowerDrive-2-Port-Charger-iPhone/dp/B00VH84L5E/ref=sr_1_1_m?s=telephone&ie=UTF8&qid=1456840776&sr=1-1

You don't need a 12 volt charging adaptor as the USB socket in the car will recharge your phone.

I use a 12" iPhone USB lead (Anker) - £6.50p. Not trying to boast that I've got 12" but it's the most convenient length for connecting/disconnecting if, like me, you prefer to leave the cable plugged in at all times.

With the phone connected in the tray the lid closes without fouling the USB connection.

 

I have tried a USB 90º 4" lead but it was impractical as [a] the 90º actually hindered easy access to the phone and the 4" lead didn't allow enough manoevering for easy connecting/disconnecting.

You don't need a 12 volt charging adaptor as the USB socket in the car will recharge your phone.

I use a 12" iPhone USB lead (Anker) - £6.50p. Not trying to boast that I've got 12" but it's the most convenient length for connecting/disconnecting if, like me, you prefer to leave the cable plugged in at all times.

With the phone connected in the tray the lid closes without fouling the USB connection.

 

I have tried a USB 90º 4" lead but it was impractical as [a] the 90º actually hindered easy access to the phone and the 4" lead didn't allow enough manoevering for easy connecting/disconnecting.

Thanks both for the reply, it's much appreciated. I have been used to having my phone in a cradle, bottom right of the windscreen with a cable hard wired behind the dash coming out from the A pillar, which I connect when I get back in the car each time. I then use the phone with Waze, as my sat-nat (My Mondeo does not have one) and Bluetooth to the stereo for calls. Just trying to get everything ready for the new car in just over a weeks time.

I'm going to stick with Waze as I find it far superior to the built-in satnav.

I'd be interested in getting a USB cable run to the pillar. I wonder how doable that is?

Edited 1 March, 201610 yr by thewinelake

I'm going to stick with Waze as I find it far superior to the built-in satnav.

I'd be interested in getting a USB cable run to the pillar. I wonder how doable that is?

Will take a look, once I get the car next week.

 

Brodit do a centre dash clip which might be an option. http://www.brodit.com/product.html?id=655137&pn=prod&brand=Skoda&model=Superb&year=2016

Yes, that looks sensible (but not cheap). However, there's going to be a wire dangling down all the way into the "phone box". Any way in which that can be neatened up?

 

Apart from cable issues, I think centrally mounted is more practical. There could be ways in which the passenger could use the phone that would come in handy (compared to mounting it near the pillar).  

 

There seem to be so many passive tilt/swivel brodit clips for iPhone 6+ that have the same description but different prices and part numbers.

Edited 2 March, 201610 yr by thewinelake

I find this solution excellent for holding a phone.

 http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/scosche-vent-magicmount-a60tx

This is what it looks like on the vent, very neat, just not quite sorted the routing for the cable yet.

 

I find this solution excellent for holding a phone.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/scosche-vent-magicmount-a60tx

This is what it looks like on the vent, very neat, just not quite sorted the routing for the cable yet.

I normally use a CD Slotmount for my phone, but as most ICE appears to be doing away with a front loading CD slot, I bought this as backup.

Magnetic Car Air Vent Holder for Smartphones for £4.98 (75% Off)

http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/gg-groupon-goods-global-gmbh-6-328?utm_source=NsaiKO&utm_campaign=UserReferral_ma

It came in really handy when I had a MkIII Fabia as a courtesy car. One downside is the back of the satnav or mobile gets really hot if you have a high temperature set on the AC or CC.

I find this solution excellent for holding a phone.

 http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/scosche-vent-magicmount-a60tx

This is what it looks like on the vent, very neat, just not quite sorted the routing for the cable yet.

"Magnetic mounting system", You're sure you want to use magnets to hold a device full of electronics? There are a lot of systems in your smartphone which can't deal with strong magnetic fields.

There seem to be so many passive tilt/swivel brodit clips for iPhone 6+ that have the same description but different prices and part numbers.

 

For the iphone 6 plus (not S) there looks to be the following passive holders.

 

511661 - Bare phone with no case/skin

511667 - For 'slim' cases that are 75-89mm wide and 2-10mm thick

511698 - For 'standard' cases that are 75-89mm wide and 6-10mm thick

511705 - For Griffin Survivor All-Terrain case

511741 - For Otterbox Defender cases

 

Choose which ever most closely matches your phone/case combination

 

Taken from: http://www.brodit.com/productList.html?brand=Apple&model=iPhone+6+Plus&pn=prod

"Magnetic mounting system", You're sure you want to use magnets to hold a device full of electronics? There are a lot of systems in your smartphone which can't deal with strong magnetic fields.

Passive magnets are not a problem. I have a dual bumper/wallet for my iPhone and the bumper is held in the wallet with some fairly strong magnets. It's electromagnetic fields that can cause issues.

Funny how £45 sounds like quite a lot for such a bundle of plastic. I guess if it really does a much better job than the sub-£20 options (and they really are crapware) then it's ok...

Funny how £45 sounds like quite a lot for such a bundle of plastic. I guess if it really does a much better job than the sub-£20 options (and they really are crapware) then it's ok...

1.Your 'evaluation' of the 'crapware' is based on.....

2. With the Brodit products you have to choose a phone specific case. Change your phone/case you require a new Brodit holder. With Crapware you just slide the metal tab in the battery compartment or protective case.

3. To fit the Brodit you need to prise some of the dash to insert the plastic tabs. As there are a few threads in the S3 section on dash rattles, is that really advisable?

3. There may be an occasion you need a courtesy car, (your dash has inexplicably developed a rattle for instance), compare the time it would take to transfer the Crapware over to that of the Brodit.

I looked into the Brodick products, but all the points I raised above are the reason I never made a purchase. I would much rather people used the Crapware than the following product, which I saw attached to the steering wheel of a vehicle parked next to me a few weeks ago.

Steering Wheel Phone Holder for £4.99 (62% Off)

http://gr.pn/1QrqfqX

Crapware would be something that didn't hold steady or broke. Just realised that I should ask an Uber driver!

"Magnetic mounting system", You're sure you want to use magnets to hold a device full of electronics? There are a lot of systems in your smartphone which can't deal with strong magnetic fields.

I can assure you the magnet does not affect the phone in any way.

Steering Wheel Phone Holder for £4.99 (62% Off)

http://gr.pn/1QrqfqX

 

Thank you for making my day. That's got to be the STUPIDEST thing I've ever seen. 

 

Well officer.......the reason my phone is stuck ON my steering wheel is this...............

Boggle!

 

So, I've ordered a couple of "crapware" holders from Amazon (at about £10 each). We'll see how well they hold.

Edited 2 March, 201610 yr by thewinelake

Is my Crapware not good enough for you?

The Groupon link I posted earlier (NOT the steering wheel holder!) has the magnetic Vent holders at £5.00 each.

As an aside, Crapware is probably how my wife would describe my collection of mobile phone holders (approximately 12, and I'm considering buying that steering wheel one just to wind my wife up!), coffee machines (about 5, and I'm buying a Nespresso machine tomorrow) and travel mugs (about 7) which I have accumulated over the years.

"Magnetic mounting system", You're sure you want to use magnets to hold a device full of electronics? There are a lot of systems in your smartphone which can't deal with strong magnetic fields.

The compass is not going to like it for one...