Navi systems (subscriptions?)

[matt1215 0]

I'm doing so car shopping, as are my folks. One thing we've both run into is finding that almost perfect car online, but it costs an extra $2k b/c the factory equipped it with a navi .

Just curious how much people actually use those and whether they come with a subscription fee.

[grue 1]

no subscription on any I'm aware of, except for traffic services.

For me, it's worth it. I fucking abhor getting lost, and it's a pain in the ass to go to google and print maps, especially since I haven't owned a printer in ten years.

cavete terrae.

[PLFXpert 0]

I prefer mapquest. Navis are great, but you have to update them.

You know I pressed "Food/Beverage" then "Starbucks" and it didn't have the closest two updated in its system???

And that voice! Turn. Left. Turn. Left. Turn. Left.

OOKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!



I like having it though. Not b/c I use it. Just in case...just in case a burgler wants to know where I live b/c Billy plugged in our actual home address one time and it's still saved in previous locations and other than type in a bazillion other locations I can't figure out how the hell to erase it.

But, yea. It's good to have.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[grue 1]

You don't 'have to update them' in most cases, unless you're worried about not being able to find the nearest shitty coffee shop or fast food place. Realistically most things will be in there, and you can get new DVDs every year if you so desire.

And the voice can be turned off.

cavete terrae.

[PLFXpert 0]

Blah. Blah. Blah. "Grue has no taste in coffee."



Yea, I figured out how to turn the voice off when I found the volume, Navigator.

And of course most things will still be there, but easier, faster routes are being finished every single day. And when I know about said easier, faster route, and the damn thing wants to take me a more complicated, slower route (and has the balls to tell me to U-Turn when I pass where it wants me to go and head on toward my superior route) I get a rush--like I'm beating the system or something.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[matt1215 0]

Cool!! I thought it came with some sort of wireless service that you had to pay for. Might be cool to have, just not sure it wouldn't just be a novelty that I rarely use. $2k seems like a lot of $$ for that.

Do you input an address by voice, or is there a screen that comes up with a virtual keyboard?

[ryoder 1,590]

I bought a new car a year ago with one. I'll never be w/o one again. However, I would never buy it with the car again. There are too many very good aftermarket units that cost a fraction of what the factory-installed units cost.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[grue 1]

I don't drink coffee at all, actually

In any case, it depends on who makes the system, too, when it comes to how good the directions are. Some are shittier than others.

cavete terrae.

[boinky 0]

We bought a Garmin Street Pilot from Best Buy. Seems like it was around $299. And there are no monthly fees.

You just put this suction cup attachment onto the windshield, click the unit into it, plug it into the lighter....and it works GREAT! And you can hook it up into ANY car.

I was a little skeptical of it until it found an Arby's restaurant in a city that I knew nothing about.

The turn right, turn left, etc. does get a tad bit annoying, but we turned the voice into the British English and it's actually almost pleasant!

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[georgerussia 0]

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Just curious how much people actually use those and whether they come with a subscription fee.

I use it so often that we have two systems in both our cars.
However unless you have extra 2k you could buy much cheaper system, like Garmin or Magellan (I've got mines on ebay for ~$220-300). There is no subscription, but you have to pay for map updates if you want those - at least for Magellan.

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[georgerussia 0]

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You don't 'have to update them' in most cases, unless you're worried about not being able to find the nearest shitty coffee shop or fast food place.

There are worse problems, like driving extra 100 miles because the road which supposed to be connected to the freeway you're going to is closed for last 6 months (hello hwy 140). Or driving extra 10 miles because the exit you were going to is 0.8 miles closer after the last redevelopment, and you missed it. Or you now have exit on the right instead of exit on the left you were warned about, and you're on the left side of 5 lanes freeway. Or (the worst case) you're driving downtown San Francisco going to your destination, and cannot find the way because the navi system always leads you through the one-way street in wrong direction, and after you pass it, it recalculates the route, and leads you to the same street.

Always update the maps if you go to a new/unknown place!

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[PLFXpert 0]

That's what we have--the Garmin Street Pilot. It was a gift. My Sequoia did not come with it.

Matt, ours is not voice-activated. You plug in an address or it has several quick-find lists like "food" or "gas", etc. I was actually really impressed with how many little hole-in-the-wall joints we love that were in the easy-list.
And boinky I didn't know I could change the voice! That's awesome! I rather like not hearing the voice at all, though--but I always have a general idea of where I'm going. If I were somewhere unfamiliar, the voice would certainly come in handy. I'll have to try the British guy!

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

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There are worse problems, like driving extra 100 miles because the road which supposed to be connected to the freeway you're going to is closed for last 6 months (hello hwy 140). Or driving extra 10 miles because the exit you were going to is 0.8 miles closer after the last redevelopment, and you missed it. Or you now have exit on the right instead of exit on the left you were warned about, and you're on the left side of 5 lanes freeway. Or (the worst case) you're driving downtown San Francisco going to your destination, and cannot find the way because the navi system always leads you through the one-way street in wrong direction, and after you pass it, it recalculates the route, and leads you to the same street.

Always update the maps if you go to a new/unknown place!

Exactly! My Starbucks example is true, but I used that instead for dramatic, humorous effect.

I have a question now, though...and not that I'll be buying a new car for myself anytime soon. I'm still madly in love with my car.

My question is: I would definitely want a GPS in all future vehicles. But, I'm certainly not willing to pay $2k for one that's already in my vehicle. The ones you can buy separately, is it tough/expensive to have them installed in the control panel, rather than have a suction cup thingie? The suction cup thingie isn't hideous or anything (which I thought it would be, and looks come first, of course. ((Teasing!))), but would still be more desirable to have installed directly in the control panel.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[lauras 0]

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And boinky I didn't know I could change the voice! That's awesome! I rather like not hearing the voice at all, though--but I always have a general idea of where I'm going. If I were somewhere unfamiliar, the voice would certainly come in handy. I'll have to try the British guy!

I have TomTom on my cell phone/PDA and you can download tons of voices for it. I have even found things like Yoda, Darth Vader and Austin Powers voices. I travel for work and spend a lot of time in random cities, TomTom makes life so much easier.

[kingbunky 3]

i love mine! it was a $2900 option , but over the life of the car it doesn't add a lot to the monthly payment, and will probably add to the resale. overall, i think it was a good investment. i like the fact that it's built-in. no extra device to take out of the car so it doesn't get swiped. as far as updates go, i was told there are 3 or 4 updates a year available, but they cost about $250CDN. i haven't bothered yet, but before my next road trip i'll probably invest. or find a torrent .

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[PLFXpert 0]

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but over the life of the car it doesn't add a lot to the monthly payment

If you shop for payments, rather than bottomline. $2,900 is still $2,900 no matter how you slice it.

Ordinarily I'd not responded...I'm in a mood...forgive me.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[boinky 0]

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I'll have to try the British guy!

No...it's not a British guy. Shoot...I think I wish it were. It's still a woman. But she's a hell of a lot more pleasant sounding than the American woman. The American woman says, "Drive" and then pauses to figure out how far. Bossy as hell. The British woman often says "Continue" instead. Just a nicer way of saying the same thing.
Sounds like we have the same thing. This one isn't voice activated. You have to input food or and address, etc.

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[kingbunky 3]

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but over the life of the car it doesn't add a lot to the monthly payment

If you shop for payments, rather than bottomline. $2,900 is still $2,900 no matter how you slice it.

Ordinarily ...I'm in a mood...forgive me.

no worries, you're forgiven! can i pick at your grammar? what exactly does "I'd not responded" mean?

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[PLFXpert 0]

It's my personal & superior way of abbreviating "I would have". I also love how snobby it sounds.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

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No...it's not a British guy. Shoot...I think I wish it were. It's still a woman.

Damn. Always wanted to try a British guy.

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The American woman says, "Drive" and then pauses to figure out how far. Bossy as hell. The British woman often says "Continue" instead. Just a nicer way of saying the same thing.

Perfect!

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[georgerussia 0]

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My question is: I would definitely want a GPS in all future vehicles. But, I'm certainly not willing to pay $2k for one that's already in my vehicle. The ones you can buy separately, is it tough/expensive to have them installed in the control panel, rather than have a suction cup thingie?

I'd say it is basically not possible.

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[kingbunky 3]

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It's my personal & superior way of abbreviating "I would have". I also love how snobby it sounds.

okay, i can picture the queen saying it that way... i guess you have to work the accent in there for it to make sense.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001