Honestly, I've been through a dozen mounts over the years with my Subarus, and that pebbled dash is the absolute worst for suction. I once had a mount fly off mid-turn and land right in my coffee—not fun! Since you're trying to avoid the screen and that tricky texture, you might find this useful: check out Panavise InDash Mount 75137-419. It’s a custom-fit steel bracket that bolts into existing dash screws, so it’s rock solid on bumpy roads without needing any adhesive.

Pro tip: If you want to stick with a magnetic setup on a custom base, here are two technical winners I've used:

* Scosche MagicMount Pro 2 Magnetic Dash Mount - It has a much stronger neodymium magnet than the cheap ones.
* Course Motorsports Direct Fit Phone Mount for Subaru Outback - This is a total game changer because it uses a vehicle-specific bracket that clears the 11.6-inch screen perfectly.

Technically speaking, the Outback dash expands and contracts with heat, which is why those suction cups fail. A mechanical bolt-on or a vent-wing mount is definitely the way to go! Good luck!

Seconding the recommendation above! Honestly, I've had issues with expensive mounts failing on that textured dash too. If you're on a budget, try a Scosche MagicMount MAGD1 on the smooth trim instead.

Hi there, I totally get that frustration. The Outback's dash material is surprisingly tricky because of that pebbled texture; standard suction cups just can't get a vacuum seal. Since you want to avoid blocking the 11.6-inch screen, I would suggest looking into a vehicle-specific mounting base rather than a generic dash sticker.

In my experience, the best way to handle this is using a ProClip Center Mount 855541 which clips into the dashboard seams. It's way more secure than any adhesive on that textured plastic. You then attach a magnetic head to it. I personally use the Scosche MagicMount Pro 2 Magnetic Phone Mount because it's rated for those heavy Pro Max or Ultra phones and hasn't budged on bumpy fire roads.

One thing to be careful about: if you go the adhesive route, you might want to consider the Lamicall Magnetic Dash Phone Holder with 3M VHB Adhesive. It uses a specific high-bond tape, but honestly, even that can struggle with the Outback's dash oils over time. Make sure to clean the spot with isopropyl alcohol first! Personally, I'd stick with the ProClip setup... it costs more (usually around $30-$50 for the base), but it's rock solid and keeps the phone right next to the screen without covering it. Hope this helps!

Did this last week, worked perfectly

Did this last week, worked perfectly