Finally bit the bullet...

...or would that be unclamped the wallet?

Hey folks! Long time lurker - first time poster. I've read a couple hundred of these posts over the last 2 weeks as I made final preparations to purchase my V1, and I just pulled the trigger this evening. I went ahead and got the case and the remote display (I'll probably do my own version of the LED mod to it sometime).

A couple questions regarding mounting:

1. I have a Toyota Solara (not the newest style - the one before), which has a small area above the mirror with the black "defroster dots" on it. They are very small, I'd say around 1/16 of an inch. Would putting the suction cup mount here cause them to lose grip, or would they hold? I'd prefer to keep it mounted above the mirror and slightly in the tint band (I know, I know). The other option is some sort of custom ABS/Fiberglass mount. Never done that kind of work before though.

2. You guys will laugh at this. I just know it. If I take an extra long phone cord, can I use small gobs of the blue, gummy "poster tack" stuff to route the wire around the periphery of the windshield and have it stick? I'm going for a workaround to hard-wiring it, while I'm within the 30 days, but I HATE dangling cords - they look way too 80's for me. Any suggestions or ideas? I'm trying to do something without removing trim pieces, A-pillar housings, etc.

Thanks for the help guys, and I'm looking forward to my new toy!...

i would try not to mount them in the defrost dots, only because of the fact that it COULD reduce holding of the suction cups and may reduce the reception. the tint band will not reduce reception as long as its not metal based. i have my V1 mounted behind the tint band and still get over 2 miles warning on K band. I would do research on the type of windshield you have to make sure it doesnt have any metal based layers smashed between the other layers as well as if the defrost dots are metalic (im assuming they are).

I see nothing wrong with your McGyver approch to your stealth install as long as it work. :D . Good luck and tell us how it works out.

P.S. I would love to see the pictures of the blue tack holding up your wires. :lol:

againstme, thanks for the advice and the good-natured mocking... ;)

I am pretty sure the defroster dots are just paint - they don't appear to be metallic, and are definitely non-magnetic.

As for researching car windshield materials - any idea where to look, other than searching on here?

on the valentine website, it has a list of cars with "bad windshields" with windshields that block out radar signals.

I did check the list found here:

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt2.asp

The thing that scares me is the worst car listed is the 1998 Toyota Camry, which is not that different than my 2000 (Camry) Solara. Is there a good way to test range on this? There's not a fixed speed sign around me.

I was thinking of using the laser across the garage technique that I think FordFocus used. That should provide an indication if it can pick up strong off-axis laser, at least...

This really saddens me - I'd hate to have to return it due to a stupid windshield issue.

that sucks. I have no prior experience to your type of car. i would ask toyota directly or try and find a willing cop to shoot you with radar.