In-Car Navigation

[AznAnarchy99]

This is great.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/5/7982525/in-car-navigation-systems-are-terrible

One of the main reasons I didn't get navi in my BMW. I didn't want to pay 2k for something I'd never use just for a slightly bigger screen.

 

[Midwayman]

This is a really good example of why they need to focus on a way to just be able to display what your smartphone is doing. Duplicate the display and relay touches. Even the best system suck ass compared to a mediocre smart phone.

 

[gorcorps]

I agree on the premise, but Subaru is well known for being behind the times in this kind of technology. Their interiors are really plain and boring, so this is kind of an extreme example.

Still, it's true. I already have a device in my pocket that's far superior than any vehicle navigation out there. At most it costs me $700 for a bleeding edge device at full price. These auto companies want $2-3k for the option when it's a much slower technology. Not only that, but I think they all also charge you for map updates. So while my phone will pretty much always be up to date via Google, you have to shell out an extra $100 per map update to stay current in your car.

I'm actually impressed with how Jeep/Chrysler handles this. I got the larger screen that's "nav ready", meaning I could pay extra to enable navigation at any time, but I didn't have to pay for it just to get the bigger screen. Most vehicles I've seen rope them all together, so if you want the big screen you're paying for the nav system too.

 

[smackababy]

I haven't had a problem with my in dash Nav in the Audi. Granted, I probably wouldn't buy one with something that isn't moderately modular; ie. I can replace it myself or update it in some way. These things tend to age pretty poorly and even getting map updates is awful.

If some car company could come up with some kind of standard dock and let makes fight for "in dash" options, I think we'd be better off. But, they'd lose out on the markup for that $200 "tablet" then, I suppose.

 

[Insomniator]

Just mirror my phone, end of story. I've never seen a in dash system I didn't absolutely hate (ford, acura, bmw, honda of various years) -- slow, old, outdated -- all worse then any phone or actual GPS of the era. Ford sync was probably the worst... that was an absolute joke.

Phones are updated more frequently (both hardware and software), more familiar with everyone and just simply make more sense. Give me a mirrored 720p or 1080p screen with a dock and you know what, I don't even need a radio. Phone can handle that too.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Just mirror my phone, end of story. I've never seen a in dash system I didn't absolutely hate (ford, acura, bmw, honda of various years) -- slow, old, outdated -- all worse then any phone or actual GPS of the era. Ford sync was probably the worst... that was an absolute joke.

Phones are updated more frequently (both hardware and software), more familiar with everyone and just simply make more sense. Give me a mirrored 720p or 1080p screen with a dock and you know what, I don't even need a radio. Phone can handle that too.

Yup. Although both Apple and Android has announced their system, who's willing to bet car makers are going to charge an arm and a leg for them.

Take for example BMW. Their current system is $2150 for the Nav, $700-1000 for map updates, $500 for "enhanced" Bluetooth connectivity (reading texts, emails, album art). You really think they want to give up that dough?

https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/
http://www.android.com/auto/

 

[KentState]

The Volt is going to support both Apple and Android mirroring and I believe that's a '16 model.

Personally, I'd pay the $2k to not deal with a phone for the actual turn-by-turn directions. Now, if I'm stopped and trying to find a POI or navigate the map, I will pull out the phone, but once I start moving it gets put away.

 

[shabby]

That looks so painful to use, even a cheap moto g does nav better than my friends new 60k f150. What moron approves this shit? They should be shot like the aztek designers.

 

[nerp]

High end luxury automakers resist the "mirror my phone" idea because they want to have an exclusive brand-only experience. Mercedes does not want their S class to have the same user experience as some schlub in a Hyundai accent.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

iDrive Navigation works better than google maps. By Far.

 

[Uppsala9496]

No complaints about the nav in my fords. And yes, I do think the sync system.
My ford nav is better than the subaru ('15 forrester) by far. Night and day difference. The tiny screen in the subaru drives me insane. And don't get me started on the miniscule rear view camera screen.

 

[Demo24]

Yup. Although both Apple and Android has announced their system, who's willing to bet car makers are going to charge an arm and a leg for them.

Take for example BMW. Their current system is $2150 for the Nav, $700-1000 for map updates, $500 for "enhanced" Bluetooth connectivity (reading texts, emails, album art). You really think they want to give up that dough?

https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/
http://www.android.com/auto/

That's because BMW can get away with charging stupidly overpriced sums of money for their systems. My Mazda 3 does most of those things (nav, read text messages, quick Bluetooth connect), with the tech package ($1600) that adds in several other features not directly related to the screen. Now admittedly the BMW system is likely far better.

However, vw has come out recently stating that their 2016 model cars will get carplay/auto. All golfs have the screen system now which is supposed being upgraded too a bigger and better unit for 2016. Sorely needed since the current 5.8" is outdated compared to others. No pricing yet, but it probably won't increase much to avoid raising the golfs msrp

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm fairly happy with the system in my Camry Hybrid but the system in my wife's Lexus is much better. Both connect to our phones easily and effortlessly and the voice commands work well for the phone features, which is really all I use voice commands for.

The Lexus has that joystick pointer which is very intuitive and easy to use and the nav system just seems more responsive and better designed. I really like the system Lexus uses.

I'll never buy another car without blue tooth. Making calls without ever touching your phone is so much safer than fumbling around with your fucking cell phone. And you idiots still texting while driving should be shot on sight.

 

[iamwiz82]

I love uConnect nav. I like that it's integrated into the car. I don't have some junk hanging off the windshield and the directions appear in my dash too.

 

[drbrock]

I am getting a new system in my acura tl. I was looking at the Pioneer Nex series with has carplay from apple but the reviews are fairly terrible for it. The head units are double or triple the price just because they have carplay. Probably going to pass on it until it becomes more useable in a few years.

For those who don't know what airplay is it is basically a mini mirror of the iphone. You plug in your iphone via usb and it displays the basic iphone functionality and is interactive with siri.

If anyone has any recs for solid car audio I am open to it.
I am looking at these two models. I think the cheaper one has all I really need. The only issue is that the car installer that is doing it said I should be looking at 55x4 at the min. This is only 50x4.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8B7BCW/...I39UU81NICVYH7

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GN5K88U/...EVL2GSZ7&psc=1

 

[QueBert]

I have a pioneer avh-x8500bhs, I bought it almost 2 years ago when it was their top of the line non Appradio model. It's crazy how behind the curve compared to smart phones head units are. UI is pretty clunky and low resolution. It cost me $600 so it wasn't even cheap. If I wanted navigation too it would have cost me another $400. I know they sell a kit where you can mirror an iPhone or certain Android phones. But I don't see it being very fluid. The UI overall sucks.

What's crazy is when I bought it I was looking at the high end JVC, Kenwood & Alpine the Pioneer was the best UI and performance wise. Yet it was still like I was using a 7 year old cell phone overall.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I'm fairly happy with the system in my Camry Hybrid but the system in my wife's Lexus is much better. Both connect to our phones easily and effortlessly and the voice commands work well for the phone features, which is really all I use voice commands for.

The Lexus has that joystick pointer which is very intuitive and easy to use and the nav system just seems more responsive and better designed. I really like the system Lexus uses.

I'll never buy another car without blue tooth. Making calls without ever touching your phone is so much safer than fumbling around with your fucking cell phone. And you idiots still texting while driving should be shot on sight.

IMO that mouse thing Lexus uses is horrible.

 

[Imported]

IMO that mouse thing Lexus uses is horrible.

Totally agreed. The mouse sucked. BMW's iDrive is so much better.

The BMW nav isn't cheap but it actually works pretty well. I use the split screen function all the time. It's much better than the aftermarket in-dash nav unit I bought for my last car.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

IMO most in car navi's are terrible. Honda's blows, toyota looks like an 80s video game, VWs is stone age slow.

BMW is quite nice, it is expensive but it works very very well. Split screen, good routing, fast and easy to use, can send addresses from my phone to car, etc.

Google maps works in a pinch but is not a reliable option no matter what anyone says.

 

[evident]

agreed with every oem nav system being terrible. I also wish i could plug a single or double din aftermarket head unit into my car w/o it looking bad either.

some people still insist on having a built in nav though.

 

[Knavish]

I recently drove a Nissan Leaf and it's navigation was horrible looking and slow. It looked like someone was trying to re-create a map application with the look of early 1990s DOS programs. The whole touch screen was pretty crappy, including hard-to-find-while-driving icons for radio presets.