Poll: Do you use built-in GPS/Navigation?

[SketchMaster]

With everyone and their kids owning a Smart Phone these days, I was curious how many people truly use their car's built in navigation?

It just seems like a hassle when apps like google and waze are giving you up to date road and traffic information for free* right on your phone. Unless car navigation systems have gotten a lot more simple to update, and with better streaming data.

What's your preference?

*Minus data charges.

 

[Demo24]

No poll, but I've only used my cars navigation a handful of times. It's often faster to use google maps on the phone than to type in the address on the car screen. Still if I take a long trip the car gps is kind nice since it frees up my phone from such duties.

 

[jlee]

Nope. I generally hate in-car nav. Interfaces are far more clunky than a new phone.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yes, since it's essentially a Garmin unit.

It's pretty nice.

I mostly just use it as a map, though. I generally don't use it to give me directions. I just like the moving map, with my position on it.

I like to know exactly where I am and what is around me.

 

[NutBucket]

I don't...but the only car we have with in-dash nav is our WRX which has a unit that predates smartphone apps.

 

[Kaido]

I absolutely hate every single in-dash navigation I have ever used. I only like Garmin or Google Maps. I use Google Maps in a pinch, but I prefer Garmin (a lot of them have Lifetime Maps these days) because it's more finger-friendly & can live permanently on your windshield.

 

[Midwayman]

I use the in car nav mostly. Its always there. It doesn't drain my battery. Its way easier to see. The on phone nav is better with its online POI and search features, but most of the time I'm entering a specific address anyways. What really needs to happen is for your phone to talk to the car nav and update traffic (mine has sat traffic if you pay for it) and shoot the addresses you google over to the car nav. Used to have a RAM mount with power for my phone in a previous car, and that worked fine, but its nice to have it in car too. FWIW supposedly you can shoot address on your phone to my nav, I just have to figure out how to get bluetooth DUN working on my phone.

 

[cabri]

when I had it installed (Garmin) in our 2009 Escape; we used it alot. did a lot of traveling around the country for 3 years; different locations; having the map function to find places was great.

With a smart phone now and the current vehicle not haing a GPS system; there is not regrets.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

BMW iDrive Navi is the best by far IMO. Better routing than google maps, looks better than garmin, etc.

The best combo is looking up the address then shooting it over to the car via send to car with google maps.

 

[LTC8K6]

I absolutely hate every single in-dash navigation I have ever used. I only like Garmin or Google Maps. I use Google Maps in a pinch, but I prefer Garmin (a lot of them have Lifetime Maps these days) because it's more finger-friendly & can live permanently on your windshield.

Chrysler's Nav is by Garmin. It looks and works just like a portable Garmin unit.

 

[Euchrestalin]

Chrysler's Nav is by Garmin. It looks and works just like a portable Garmin unit.

The only exception being that you can't input addresses while moving.

I primarily use my in-car navigation when driving my 2014 Charger. When driving rental cars I also have a Garmin I use. Phone navigation just annoys me.

 

[NutBucket]

I use Waze almost exclusively. I contend no other nav has better traffic data/routing. Yes, Google uses Waze data but their routing is more "conservative".

Both cars have Panavise dash mounts that keep the phone in easy reach and out of the way. Much better than any type of suction cup mount and none of the vents, radio or climate controls are obstructed.

 

[rh71]

BMW iDrive Navi is the best by far IMO. Better routing than google maps, looks better than garmin, etc.

The best combo is looking up the address then shooting it over to the car via send to car with google maps.

I have the 2008 idrive (before CIC and the harddrive based system) and over time I've realized it's slow as molasses. It was ok for its time. The searching of points of interest drives me up the wall I want to punch the screen. For instance if I want to find the closest Toys R Us, I have to drill down 3 levels of sub-categories before getting to type the name of the place like "Toy" to narrow it down further... and then it would say nothing found, change search criteria? Many times after trying multiple sub-categories and it still says nothing found, I just give up. I want to strangle the person who came up with that category requirement.

Garmin is terrible too because its interface is slow and clunky.

Smartphone is faster (both Google and Waze) and I can do the same search in less than 10 seconds mostly hands-free. I bought a vent phone holder and just use that now. I don't know if the search is just as quick and simple with the CIC idrive. I like the newer idrive for other things like the top view, etc.

 

[SSSnail]

BMW iDrive Navi is the best by far IMO. Better routing than google maps, looks better than garmin, etc.

The best combo is looking up the address then shooting it over to the car via send to car with google maps.

I've been loving the navi, you just press a button, tell it where you want to go, and off you go. Even with 3D modeling. :awe:

Rh71, the new iDrive is awesome. Very intuitive, very quick.

 

[LTC8K6]

The only exception being that you can't input addresses while moving.

I primarily use my in-car navigation when driving my 2014 Charger. When driving rental cars I also have a Garmin I use. Phone navigation just annoys me.

You can use the voice command with the nav while moving. It works pretty good.

 

[Insomniator]

I only use my phone, and would not want pay for one built into a car. Just buttons and gauges in the car please... no screens unless they just duplicate my phone exactly.

 

[SketchMaster]

I'm a bit surprised by the votes, it's pretty close to 50/50, I was thinking more people would use their phones.

 

[NutBucket]

I only use my phone, and would not want pay for one built into a car. Just buttons and gauges in the car please... no screens unless they just duplicate my phone exactly.

I really want the screen mirroring tech to take off but it seems to still be in it's infancy.

 

[IronWing]

No, I use a paper map when needed. The last car I rented had a built in nav system. We played with it but mostly kept it turned off as the screen was distracting.

 

[KentState]

I hate using my phone's nav while driving. It offers very little benefit besides being free. Now if I'm looking for a certain POI like food then I may use my phone for something in the area. My opinion of course will change once Android Auto is available.

 

[Anubis]

my car does not have built in nav, its an option in most casts that is a giant waste of money

I use my phone - I set the destination and it talks to me without me having to do anything


EDIT. Id use onstar if avail before the damn onscreen nav in cars

 

[cbrunny]

Phone does a better job but the in dash is waaaay more convenient. It is also pretty good, not great, since it grabs traffic from XM and routes around it, albeit with very slow updates.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Use it in both my Focus and Edge. Really like the large screen and the directions have always been accurate for me.
Use a portable Magellan for rental cars. Never use my phone. Screen is too small and it just murders my battery (N4).

 

[Imported]

Use my BMW's navigation exclusively when driving it. Though I think we're picking up a used NC Miata soon so that'll get the phone/Waze treatment.

 

[twinrider1]

Poll is missing the "No, I'm a man and use my innate sense of direction." option.

Sometimes I'll mapquest an address on the pc before I leave the house.