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NFT: Navigation System: How Important?

GruningsOnTheHill : 11/10/2017 1:52 pm
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.
The navigation systems are nice  
DennyInDenville : 11/10/2017 1:57 pm : link
However not worth the price if you are looking to keep car payment a certain price and can easily stream Apple car play? Yeah I'd take the discount and run with Apple car play
i use google maps  
mattlawson : 11/10/2017 1:58 pm : link
on the iphone and thats it. havent used navigation in quite a long time
I have a nav system in my car -- with a fairly large touch screen  
gidiefor : Mod : 11/10/2017 2:00 pm : link
and still prefer either Waze or Google Maps
Waze  
pjcas18 : 11/10/2017 2:01 pm : link
through bluetooth, no need for NAV in a car
Thanks Gid-Man, et. al.  
GruningsOnTheHill : 11/10/2017 2:03 pm : link
I should mention that the 5.0 uConnect touchscreen in the 2017 does not have Apple Play.
It should have bluetooth  
pjcas18 : 11/10/2017 2:05 pm : link
connectivity.

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.
.  
arcarsenal : 11/10/2017 2:08 pm : link
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.
RE: .  
Sean : 11/10/2017 2:10 pm : link
In comment 13685079 arcarsenal said:
Quote:
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
RE: .  
gidiefor : Mod : 11/10/2017 2:16 pm : link
In comment 13685079 arcarsenal said:
Quote:
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.


Yeah -- I use a suction cup mount like this with suction cup on lower windshield and magnet just to edge of dash

woiks great!
Google owns Waze  
pjcas18 : 11/10/2017 2:16 pm : link
I prefer Waze for a variety of reasons, but I suspect they'll become closer and closer on functionality soon enough.
I too go back and forth with Waze and Google maps  
gidiefor : Mod : 11/10/2017 2:16 pm : link
-- really depends on my mood
Bluetooth  
GruningsOnTheHill : 11/10/2017 2:20 pm : link

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 have a  
bc0312 : 11/10/2017 2:22 pm : link
Nav in my Ford and never use it. Sirius Traffic is terrible and is always wrong not to mention Ford wants a significant amount of money to update it annually ($299).

I only use Waze or Google Maps now.
Can't trust them in some places, like rural areas.  
Red Dog : 11/10/2017 2:23 pm : link
You simply cannot count on them outside major metro areas and their 'burbs. Sometimes they are fine, other times they will get you into trouble, sometimes really serious trouble. People have even died from blind reliance on them.

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.
RE: Bluetooth  
pjcas18 : 11/10/2017 2:27 pm : link
In comment 13685098 GruningsOnTheHill said:
Quote:

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.
_________  
I am Ninja : 11/10/2017 2:28 pm : link
i am annoyed by the fact that theres like a 7 inch screen on my dash with wifi that basically tells me what the time, temp and radio channel are. its 2017 and i paid 40k. give a brotha some youtube at least.
btw  
gidiefor : Mod : 11/10/2017 2:30 pm : link
the gooseneck with suction cup and magnet ends -- $7 on Amazon.com
If you are worried about your cellular data plan  
loafin : 11/10/2017 3:12 pm : link
Just buy a your favorite brand of GPS for the car. I love Garmin and I find so many of the Car manufacturers GPS unit are very difficult to use and very slow. It will cost you about $150.00 bucks for a GPS unit you can give it voice commands and you can easily update it.
Waze beats all NAVs  
spike : 11/10/2017 3:36 pm : link
So save your money and use the free app.
we have these in both cars  
Alan in Toledo : 11/10/2017 5:26 pm : link
very stable inserted in CD slot
Link - ( New Window )
RE: RE: .  
arcarsenal : 11/10/2017 5:32 pm : link
In comment 13685084 Sean said:
Quote:
In comment 13685079 arcarsenal said:


Quote:


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.
RE: we have these in both cars  
BigBlueShock : 11/10/2017 5:35 pm : link
In comment 13685314 Alan in Toledo said:
Quote:
very stable inserted in CD slot Link - ( New Window )

That actually looks pretty nice. I HATE sticking those damn suction cup units on my windshield. Refuse to do it.
All depends what you need and where  
ctc in ftmyers : 11/10/2017 5:55 pm : link
you are going.

You talking urban/suburban? Yeah.

You talking real rural as in the mid-west,etc? It will get you close.
RE: we have these in both cars  
Jim in Fairfax : 11/10/2017 5:58 pm : link
In comment 13685314 Alan in Toledo said:
Quote:
very stable inserted in CD slot Link - ( New Window )

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.
Seems crazy that new cars don't all come with a cell phone mount  
Gary from The East End : Admin : 11/10/2017 6:34 pm : link
It's 2017. 99.99999% of the people buying new cars have a cell phone.
I have GM's Nav and it is  
section125 : 11/10/2017 8:21 pm : link
not nearly as good as Google Maps or Waze. I may turn it on because it is easier to see, but I go by the other two.
RE: Seems crazy that new cars don't all come with a cell phone mount  
GentleGiant : 11/10/2017 9:26 pm : link
In comment 13685383 Gary from The East End said:
Quote:
It's 2017. 99.99999% of the people buying new cars have a cell phone.


probably don't want to be held liable if accident happens because of distracted driving
I have NAV in my truck and never use it...  
EricJ : 11/10/2017 9:28 pm : link
always use Waze.
RE: Seems crazy that new cars don't all come with a cell phone mount  
bluepepper : 11/10/2017 10:48 pm : link
In comment 13685383 Gary from The East End said:
Quote:
It's 2017. 99.99999% of the people buying new cars have a cell phone.

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.
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