buying a car without built-in sat nav

[sattyb]

Hi
would you buy a used car that didn't have built in sat nav if it was right in other aspects e.g. colour, interior trim etc.
I ask as i was looking for a used BMW f10 and now think that it's not important as my android probably does a better job (and be more up to date) and I would probably only use navigation about once every other month. Also not really concerned about resale value as I usually keep my cars for a long time.
So, would you buy a car without one?

[Shaw Tarse]

If you're not bothered about resale, then yes.

[skip_1]

You have answered your own question. For your situation at the right price go for it.

[Drumroll]

Yes definitely, you can always buy a tom tom or use a tablet, would shy away from using a mobile as it is so easy for BiB to say you were using it a a phone.

[AlexHat]

I'd personally not go for a car with a built in sat nav system as by the time I'd buy one the maps would be out of date and updating them (I've found) can be as expensive, if not more, than to buy a portable tom tom or garmin etc.

[anonymous-user]

My current daily is the first car I've owned for years that doesn't have it built in, and it pisses me off enormously to have to arse around with my phone every time I want to use the sat nav. Suckers on the screen are unsightly enough, but a cable trailing down the dash can be a real annoyance for me. Even with a massive phone or aftermarket device the screen is still smaller and less optimally placed than with a built in system too.

You get people complaining that the in car systems are "outdated" but in truth it is usually only the interface graphics that are outdated while the routefinding system hasn't changed and you can almost always get updated maps for it. The decade old system in the OHs Volvo V70 has 2014 maps and despite the clunky interface it is still more than good enough that you'd never bother getting your phone out and going through that nonsense.

Yeah it's not the cheapest option, but I would be really reluctant to buy a car without it again. I can totally see why it hammers resale value.

[Devil2575]

AlexHat said:

I'd personally not go for a car with a built in sat nav system as by the time I'd buy one the maps would be out of date and updating them (I've found) can be as expensive, if not more, than to buy a portable tom tom or garmin etc.

This.

I have a free app for my phone that works as a satnav.

[TurboHatchback]

I absolutely would. I've recently bought a new (to me) car with a built in satnav but I'm still using my TomTom as it has live traffic and I think it's better.

[toon10]

I've only oned one car in the past with built in sat nav and I used my phone instead. My phone is more up to date and gets me to an exact address. The Honda built in unit in my old car only got me to an apporximate part post code address most of the time.

[jamoor]

I have one in my car and it broke a few months ago, I never used it and don't intend to use it again.

I have my phone and one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Air-Frame-Vent-Mount...

[PositronicRay]

I would try to get the car a bit cheaper. Not too bothered about built in nav nice as it is, most of my journeys just don't require it. Garmin in the glove box for the odd occasion.

If I spent all my time on unfamiliar roads then that's a different matter.

[balls-out]

Just goes to show how we all have different priorities.

PH where £50 worth of electricery being built-in matters.

[Riff Raff]

TurboHatchback said:

I absolutely would. I've recently bought a new (to me) car with a built in satnav but I'm still using my TomTom as it has live traffic and I think it's better.

I'd agree with that. I've had half a dozen cars with built in Nav, but my Tomtom stick on job beats them all for Live Traffic. All of the built in ones traffic reporting (and hence re-routing on the fly) was pretty unreliable. Tomtom reports traffic delays where they actually are.

Built in systems used were Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Jeep and Mitsubishi.

[swisstoni]

If not worried about resale and you are keeping it a long time I don't see a problem. Most built in sat navs look a bit sad after a few years anyway because technology marches on.

[Spare tyre]

i got a genuine tomotom iphone holder - best £30 ive ever spent on a motoring related gadget

Simple to slot the phone it, nice clear instructions from the (non tomtom) satnav software, quick charger

[anonymous-user]

I hate satnav and still use a map

[moffat]

It depends what else the system provides. For example I have just bought a new BMW which is the full monty iDrive and I use a lot of the additional functions that come with it e.g.

- Spotify BMW app
- Internal HDD for 20gb of my music
- Traffic reports on sat nav
- 9" screen for easier navigation
- Both phones (work and personal) synchronised
- Voice commands for handsfree driving (for all media functions)

Don't get me wrong, I would struggle to justify paying for the full setup had it not come with the car, but it's a million times better than using your iPhone or Android device for everything.

[anonymous-user]

moffat said:

It depends what else the system provides. For example I have just bought a new BMW which is the full monty iDrive and I use a lot of the additional functions that come with it e.g.

- Spotify BMW app
- Internal HDD for 20gb of my music
- Traffic reports on sat nav
- 9" screen for easier navigation
- Both phones (work and personal) synchronised
- Voice commands for handsfree driving (for all media functions)

Don't get me wrong, I would struggle to justify paying for the full setup had it not come with the car, but it's a million times better than using your iPhone or Android device for everything.

Ah yes, but you don't get to indulge yourself in the PH inverse snobbery of using a stick and length of string for all of your entertainment, navigation and communication needs. It's cheaper, don't you know, and a stick never goes out of date.

[kambites]

I'd rather not have a sat-nav element of it. Even the best built-in sat navs seem to be no better than a cheap TomTom and most are far worse. We've got integrated sat nav in the wife's Octavia and still use a TomTom.

[exiged]

I got my first car late last year with built in sat nav and I'll never have another without it if i can help it.i do use it every day though for working in different towns and cities.

Google maps is good on your phone, but not if you have calls coming in all day long.