Choosing a car mount that survives an Indian summer

A parked car in May reaches temperatures that soften adhesive and cook batteries. That decides which mount is right more than anything else.

Vent mounts

Simplest and coolest, because airflow passes the phone. The trade-off is that they load the vent fin, and older or thin fins can crack. They also block one vent.

Suction on the windshield

Strong when the glass is clean and the pad is fresh. Suction relaxes as the cabin heats, which is why a mount that held all winter drops the phone in April. Re-seat it periodically.

Dashboard adhesive pads

Most stable, least forgiving. Once it is on, moving it usually means a new pad, and textured dashboards give it very little to grip.

The rule that matters most

Do not leave the phone mounted in a parked car in the sun. It is the single biggest cause of both swollen batteries and failed mounts. Take it with you.