Is it just me that doesn't WANT built in sat nav?
Discussion
Looking at the photos from the Boxster review yesterday and coming to the photo with the satnav shown prompted me to write about this.
Don't get me wrong - I understand it's still one of the must-have options for gadget value, and I understand I can just not use it even if it's fitted. But is it just me that hates them? I want the big nice screen because it makes controlling music a bit more pleasant and feels suitably flash, but the nav always lets it down and I'd rather that function wasn't there at all. They are always clunky rubbish that feels 5-10 years behind the times and pales in comparison to what my smartphone can do. I've yet to have a car with Apple CarPlay or the android version so I've not experienced those, are they any good?
Don't get me wrong - I understand it's still one of the must-have options for gadget value, and I understand I can just not use it even if it's fitted. But is it just me that hates them? I want the big nice screen because it makes controlling music a bit more pleasant and feels suitably flash, but the nav always lets it down and I'd rather that function wasn't there at all. They are always clunky rubbish that feels 5-10 years behind the times and pales in comparison to what my smartphone can do. I've yet to have a car with Apple CarPlay or the android version so I've not experienced those, are they any good?
I much prefer using the built in one in my car than a separate app. Main reason is because mine gives me the directions in the driver display in addition to on the built in screen, so I'm only taking my eyes off the road to look at the instruments anyway which I find much better.
It has TMC which for the driving I do, is decent enough; I pretty much know that the M25 is going to be clogged but its still the best route, if I'm going further afield I'm still old enough to look at the route on a map before I go and use those general directions.
It has TMC which for the driving I do, is decent enough; I pretty much know that the M25 is going to be clogged but its still the best route, if I'm going further afield I'm still old enough to look at the route on a map before I go and use those general directions.
The latest (v2.0) version of the Android Auto phone app doesn't need a compatible car or head unit, it can put the big button car friendly interface on the phone screen for when you're driving. This does mean having the phone on the dash with a holder instead of using the built in dashboard screen, but you get Google Maps.
I'd far rather use a TomTom, but integrated sat nav systems often seem to be necessary for the better "infotainment" systems in modern cars. Ultimately the Sat Nav is only a software feature, I couldn't care less whether it's there or not.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 10th November 15:02
Modern Sat-nav in the current generation of cars is really good. My wife has an i3 with the latest BMW navigation and its faultless and simply works. I have tom tom on my phone and only use it when we are away in Europe on holiday.
I test drove a new Audi a couple of weeks back that have both their own satellite navigation and the apple play system so have the choice of using both navigation systems and since it was on test drive for the day I tested both out. Within an hour I seeing came to the conclusion that the inbuilt Audi for my purposes was better. I live out in the countryside, the signal for the apple system ( and therefore also the Google maps version) is limited at times and the map quite often wasn't updating which in my opinion was then useless.
If you're comparing 5-year-old cars with current tom tom or phone based mapping them without doubt the inbuilt car system will be out of date, clunky and definitely inferior.
I test drove a new Audi a couple of weeks back that have both their own satellite navigation and the apple play system so have the choice of using both navigation systems and since it was on test drive for the day I tested both out. Within an hour I seeing came to the conclusion that the inbuilt Audi for my purposes was better. I live out in the countryside, the signal for the apple system ( and therefore also the Google maps version) is limited at times and the map quite often wasn't updating which in my opinion was then useless.
If you're comparing 5-year-old cars with current tom tom or phone based mapping them without doubt the inbuilt car system will be out of date, clunky and definitely inferior.
kambites said:
Modern sat nav is generally really good when it's new; it's just hopelessly out of date five years later. TomToms are really good when they're new and cheaply replaceable when they're old.
Map update software can certainly be purchased for the equivalent price of a TomTom. Shakermaker said:
kambites said:
Modern sat nav is generally really good when it's new; it's just hopelessly out of date five years later. TomToms are really good when they're new and cheaply replaceable when they're old.
Map update software can certainly be purchased for the equivalent price of a TomTom. Map updates are a different matter. TomTom map updates are free for life for anything other than the really cheap models; do most car manufacturers offer free map updates for life? I'd assumed they do but I don't actually know.
Reminds me of a few months ago when the Mrs had an email from Audi saying a SatNav update was available for her 1 year old A5. We went in to organise a date for updating only to be told it was £250+vat for a six month update - she laughed at the service advisor and said I can buy 2 Tom Toms with lifetime free maps, traffic and camera warnings for that!
The poor guy was embarrassed, but what a mental price - £500+vat to stay up to date for a year FFS.
You are not alone OP
The poor guy was embarrassed, but what a mental price - £500+vat to stay up to date for a year FFS.
You are not alone OP
Has anybody on here tried using the basic Mercedes built-in Satnav? It's the most non-intuitive thing I've encountered in my life!
There's no satnav in my Porsche. £100 TomTom is ideal for the job.
OT: Mind you, in a modern Merc it's not just the satnav - all the electronics seem completely perverse and very slow to respond to inputs. The buit-in electronic handbook is hopelessness personified.
There's no satnav in my Porsche. £100 TomTom is ideal for the job.
OT: Mind you, in a modern Merc it's not just the satnav - all the electronics seem completely perverse and very slow to respond to inputs. The buit-in electronic handbook is hopelessness personified.
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