Am looking at getting a year-end deal on a new car; it's a base model with a low-production stick shift, which is what I prefer to drive. The one option it does have is a backup camera and a small 5" touchscreen package, though the touchscreen does not have navigation. It has limited iPhone compatibility, so outside of the backup camera and a fancy display of the radio/Sirius stations, the touchscreen isn't overly functional. My current vehicle is a 2000 Mercedes wagon, so I've never had a touchscreen at all.
I do have a deal in place for a specific car in the color I like from an out-of-state dealer with taxes/license/fees/flatbed transport to my driveway at what my local dealer says is an impossible price: "Whatever dealer it is you're buying it from is losing $1000 minimum at that price point." As the papers have just arrived via FedEx for me to sign, I have just discovered that the new 2018 model will come standard with a larger, more modern-looking touchscreen that will have navigation built into it.
Yes, I know that I can stream Mapquest or iMap through my iPhone, but that's a pain in the ass and it will burn through my cellular data. For those of you more familiar with modern car technology than I am, do you find the navigation system to be useful or gimmicky? Trying to determine if it would be worth the extra $$$ of holding off and waiting for a 2018.
Thanks for your advice.
I say this as someone with a Nav system in both cars, it's not worth it. If it wasn't already on the vehicle I wanted I'd regret getting it.
Updates are a pain in the ass, and in Boston streets change, so Nav updates are necessary (not sure where you live).
Plus, many Nav systems do not include traffic for free, after a trial period.
Waze is perfect because it contains travel updates and routes, and allows you to re-route yourself, etc and with bluetooth the directions go through your speakers like nav systems do.
You don't even really need a mount, honestly - you can just connect to bluetooth and you'll hear the voice nav through your speakers. Easy peasy.
You don't even really need a mount, honestly - you can just connect to bluetooth and you'll hear the voice nav through your speakers. Easy peasy.
Which do you prefer? I️ go back and fourth with Waze & GM
You don't even really need a mount, honestly - you can just connect to bluetooth and you'll hear the voice nav through your speakers. Easy peasy.
Yeah -- I use a suction cup mount like this with suction cup on lower windshield and magnet just to edge of dash
woiks great!
This touchscreen does in fact come with bluetooth. From what I understand, google maps through my iPhone will not work, but MapQuest and iMap will. I haven't heard of Waze; I will have to check into that.
If I'm understanding correctly, I can have my iPhone connected via bluetooth and see the map display on the touchscreen. Will I then--and please forgive the fact that I'm a relative technology idiot--be able to change directions/type in addresses through the touchscreen, or will I have to be fiddling with the iPhone.
Voice command is included, but I'm not sure exactly what it is I'll be voice-commanding...
I only use Waze or Google Maps now.
Among other issues, they usually don't distinguish between good roads and bad ones. Or roads that are only seasonally maintained. And that's what can get you into serious trouble.
And as noted above, they are only as good as their last update. In some cities, traffic patterns and one way streets change often, which can render the info in the system obsolete.
So if you do get one, you need to use it with a degree of skepticism. Do not follow it blindly.
This touchscreen does in fact come with bluetooth. From what I understand, google maps through my iPhone will not work, but MapQuest and iMap will. I haven't heard of Waze; I will have to check into that.
If I'm understanding correctly, I can have my iPhone connected via bluetooth and see the map display on the touchscreen. Will I then--and please forgive the fact that I'm a relative technology idiot--be able to change directions/type in addresses through the touchscreen, or will I have to be fiddling with the iPhone.
Voice command is included, but I'm not sure exactly what it is I'll be voice-commanding...
The map won't display on your touch screen. Waze is a free iPhone app that is a navigation app that is essentially a "crowd sourced" app. Meaning users update it with traffic conditions and miscellaneous things like road hazards and police activity.
the map will only display on your phone (as far as I know) but the audio directions to turn, etc. will come through your speakers if you connect your phone to your car via bluetooth.
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Yeah, I'd just get a mount you can stick your phone on and use the nav on it. Waze, Google Maps, etc. Seems pointless to pay extra for a system included with the car.
You don't even really need a mount, honestly - you can just connect to bluetooth and you'll hear the voice nav through your speakers. Easy peasy.
Which do you prefer? I️ go back and fourth with Waze & GM
I lean towards Waze. I like the extra features and find it to be a bit more immersive.
That actually looks pretty nice. I HATE sticking those damn suction cup units on my windshield. Refuse to do it.
You talking urban/suburban? Yeah.
You talking real rural as in the mid-west,etc? It will get you close.
It doesnt work in some cars. My car has some buttons right under the slot with a very thin divider between. Pressure from the slot holder was bending the divider.
Moved it to another car where it worked fine.
probably don't want to be held liable if accident happens because of distracted driving
Yeah, it bizarre. My guess is that they'd say it's because phone sizes vary so much but jeez it can't be that hard. Of course it took them until about the late 80's to get the cup-holder thing figured out.