Recently I tried to remove my suction-mount from a hot windshield and ended up ripping the rubber in the process, and leaving a ring of residue on the windshield glass. That got me thinking about alternate mounting options, so I decided to give Garmin's "friction mount" a whirl. The mount runs about $30 and is available at various retailers and online.

After a few weeks of using the new mount, I've found it to be a worthy alternative to the standard windshield mount.

Garmin's friction mount is essentially a bean bag with a grip lining on the bottom, and a standard Garmin mount attached on the top.

Once the mount has been angled into the optimal position, sliding the lock lever into the "locked" position keeps the mount securely in place.

The friction mount is designed to sit on the edge of the dashboard, as shown above.

The friction, or beanbag, type mount may not look as sleek as the windshield mount, but local laws and/or criminals may dictate that you use one. The mount can easily be taken off the dash and hidden under the seat when parking. Plus, you don't have to worry about melting the rubber mount in a hot parked car.