ASTON MARTIN - Satellite Navigation
Discussion
There has been criticism of the Sat. Nav. fitted to Aston Martins. Although it is not an important part of the car to me, I had expected that it would include two features, neither of which appear to be present.
A display of a GPS calculated speed does not seem to be showing, and also, I do not think there is any audible announcement of speed cameras. I have noticed tiny on-screen speed camera symbols, but I should really be paying attention to the road.
We are used to using personal computers, where alternative, or different software can so easily be downloaded and installed. My Vantage sat. nav. is the type with the HDD in the boot, so why cannot the software be changed, to improve what is seen on the display monitor?
A display of a GPS calculated speed does not seem to be showing, and also, I do not think there is any audible announcement of speed cameras. I have noticed tiny on-screen speed camera symbols, but I should really be paying attention to the road.
We are used to using personal computers, where alternative, or different software can so easily be downloaded and installed. My Vantage sat. nav. is the type with the HDD in the boot, so why cannot the software be changed, to improve what is seen on the display monitor?
Forget it mate.....AM really put some effort into making it as UN user friendly and counter intuitive as possible.... And they succeeded...... The fact that they got away with charging money for it.... Is quite funny.... Unfortunatly the joke is on those who specified it as an option...
I'm still sticking my £80 quid Garmin on the satnav flip up lid, and it does everything I need....
I'm still sticking my £80 quid Garmin on the satnav flip up lid, and it does everything I need....
Lunablack said:
Forget it mate.....AM really put some effort into making it as UN user friendly and counter intuitive as possible.... And they succeeded...... The fact that they got away with charging money for it.... Is quite funny.... Unfortunatly the joke is on those who specified it as an option...
I'm still sticking my £80 quid Garmin on the satnav flip up lid, and it does everything I need....
But if you didn't specify the £1795 satnav, you don't get the little flip-up lid to put your £80 satnav on. You really need to plan ahead when specifying a new car I'm still sticking my £80 quid Garmin on the satnav flip up lid, and it does everything I need....
KarlFranz said:
Apple should really branch out and design automotive human interfaces. I'm really surprised at the crap that OEMs and aftermarket vendors put out as interfaces. It's as if the threw a bunch of stuff together and never bothered to try it out.
Even the updated version I find very unintuitive. I just cannot understand why they won't let the select knob turn left and right. Would make things so much easier to use.
MichaelV8V said:
But if you didn't specify the £1795 satnav, you don't get the little flip-up lid to put your £80 satnav on. You really need to plan ahead when specifying a new car
I wouldn't need the flip up lid...... A neighbour has just bought an 06 Vantage the same as mine, but without the sat nav, and his dash looks so much better
Anyone want to buy an AM Sat nav system.... Bargain at £1200
KarlFranz said:
Apple should really branch out and design automotive human interfaces. I'm really surprised at the crap that OEMs and aftermarket vendors put out as interfaces. It's as if the threw a bunch of stuff together and never bothered to try it out.
Agree. I don't like apple, but man their stuff is intuitive to use. The problem, IMO, is that everything is updatable these days so software developpers don't have the same pressure to get it right first time. They think to themselves "Oh, if there's a problem we'll release a firmware update".
Am i the only one that thinks that the Aston Sat Nav (Volvo system) is not that bad? I just drove around the Cotswolds for a couple of days and it actually worked ok. Given that technology moves on so quickly these days, sat nav systems are dated before they are launched in cars so probably in the future manufacturers must focus on "open" systems that can be constantly upgraded or simply rely on interfaces where the customer can attach his device.
I am a big fan of the tomtom, too. The LIVE services are brilliant. Traffic info has saved me many hours of lost time in various countries, and google local search is surprisingly effective.
I think that the cost of the option is much greater than the sum of the individual parts. You have to take into account the cost of offering the option in the first place (an extra variant on the production line) but I think the prices are more to do with what the market will support rather than based on any fixed margin.
I think that the cost of the option is much greater than the sum of the individual parts. You have to take into account the cost of offering the option in the first place (an extra variant on the production line) but I think the prices are more to do with what the market will support rather than based on any fixed margin.
clorenzen said:
Am i the only one that thinks that the Aston Sat Nav (Volvo system) is not that bad? I just drove around the Cotswolds for a couple of days and it actually worked ok.
+1. Going from an iPhone with CoPilot Live to the V8 Vantage SatNav, I was appalled, and ignored it, using the iPhone in the cabin. The trouble was the iPhone GPS reception was not reliable, especially in the rain (coated windscreen?), so I started using the car's SatNav. What I found was that it is brilliant at doing its basic job and holding on to the GPS signal. It's not beautiful, and I miss the safety alerts, but (as someone else said on this forum) it has never failed to get me there. I have kept it up to date with new Volvo disks. clorenzen said:
Am i the only one that thinks that the Aston Sat Nav (Volvo system) is not that bad? I just drove around the Cotswolds for a couple of days and it actually worked ok.
I have a completely un-updated AM sat nav in mine and it works just fine - well with the exception it always seems to choose the narrowest road possible which is not always the best road to be on in an Aston. Oh, and I do occasionally find myself in the middle of a field, when a new road has been built, but it always seems to get me to my destination. It works far better than the one in the RRS which seems to have a nervous breakdown every time it approaches roadworks and wants to do a 50 mile+ re-route whatever the circumstances - even if it is just a 50 mph speed limit. LR appear unable to sort and now just ignore the re-routes - prefer the Aston approach!!!
I tried the sat nav in my new 06 v8v for the first time last week. I really wasn't expecting much but it didn't seem to know where I was at all and even told me to take a left at the next T junction on the M40! I really don't mind as I have a Tom Tom too but is this normal or is mine especially bad?
clorenzen said:
Am i the only one that thinks that the Aston Sat Nav (Volvo system) is not that bad? I just drove around the Cotswolds for a couple of days and it actually worked ok. Given that technology moves on so quickly these days, sat nav systems are dated before they are launched in cars so probably in the future manufacturers must focus on "open" systems that can be constantly upgraded or simply rely on interfaces where the customer can attach his device.
No you are not. I like the simplicity of the system and the clarity of the lane guidance with the updated 2010 nav discs. It has just performed faultlessly on trip to Munich and back.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff