My once trusty Garmin had usually be correct when giving directions however, one day, I decided to test out how accurate it was by using to drive home from work. I had it set to take major highways and such for quickest, linear directions but, for some reason, it kept telling me to take this left, go 100 yards, take a right, go another 200 yards, make a left and then make numerous left/right turns. It didn't hit me until about 20 minutes into this weaving pattern that there was a major road that went straight through all these left/right turns. It was at this point I realized that my map data was over 4 years old and it seemed like a good time to get a new GPS unit. Now, I have a TomTom with lifetime maps/traffic and all has been good now.
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How stupid is your car Navigation system?
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I live in a part of the world that is notoriously badly served by these nav systems. We give visitors easy directions to our place, and warn them to not rely on their gps navigation systems. The ones who ignore our advice can arrive as much as a 1/2 an hour later than expected (on a 30 minute drive).
I don't why, but the electronic maps include roads that don't exist; put roads in the wrong places; and, take people down the scenic side-roads instead of the main roads.
Though on the plus side it reinforces the idea of "slow island". We don't have a digital nav system, but rely on our analogue one. Works fine. We actually use it to find cool new places. Found the most amazing scenic look out in the City of Victoria a couple of weeks ago because we took a road through a park we hadn't taken before.
I don't why, but the electronic maps include roads that don't exist; put roads in the wrong places; and, take people down the scenic side-roads instead of the main roads.
Though on the plus side it reinforces the idea of "slow island". We don't have a digital nav system, but rely on our analogue one. Works fine. We actually use it to find cool new places. Found the most amazing scenic look out in the City of Victoria a couple of weeks ago because we took a road through a park we hadn't taken before.
I'll tell you which ones are the worst - the "Neverlost" Hertz installs on their premium vehicles. Half the time, it can't tell where you are, much less how to get to where you want to go. In April, I rented an Infiniti QX56 for a week and the stupid thing never once put me within a mile of where I was supposed to be. OTOH, the nav system that was already installed in the car worked fine. A week or so later, we ended up in a Cadillac SRX w/o nav and we ended up just using Google maps on our phones.
I've been spoiled by Korean and Japanese nav systems that will tell you where every speed bump on the road one lane roads out in the middle of nowhere are, down to the meter.
I've been spoiled by Korean and Japanese nav systems that will tell you where every speed bump on the road one lane roads out in the middle of nowhere are, down to the meter.
I just use my phone whenever I absolutely need directions.
I'm fortunately blessed with a keen sense of direction, so I pretty much always know where I am.
Take me to a place once, and I will remember it for a LONG time.
However, Google Navigation does come in handy for places I've never been to, or don't know where the shop is.
I'm fortunately blessed with a keen sense of direction, so I pretty much always know where I am.
Take me to a place once, and I will remember it for a LONG time.
However, Google Navigation does come in handy for places I've never been to, or don't know where the shop is.
I have a Garmin and it works fairly well, despite the maps being from 2008.
Sometime's here and there it messes up but it's not too bad considering it's age.
Sometime's here and there it messes up but it's not too bad considering it's age.
And knowing how far a rest area is for those times when you really really seriously really gotta go.
Seriously... lol.
Having to use the restroom on a long trip and having no idea when the next rest stop is... well... it's not fun. Seriously... lol.
It's why trees were created....
My KIA has an Alpine Navigation system in it. It does a decent job. I'm still form the pre-GPS days, so I almost always plan out a route in advance, and sometimes write the directions out, or print a map out. Even then, I usually at least have the map up on the GPS so that I can see when a street is coming up.
One thing I like about the Garmin we use in my wife's car is that it always has a bar on the top saying "Main Street ahead", "Oak Street ahead", etc. That way you always know what street is coming up.
I do often use the GPS, though, just so I don't have to think about where I'm going. I usually won't turn it on until I've gotten onto the main route, as I have my preferred way in my own neighborhood.
I do remember back in the very early days of internet mapping, way before they were as good as they are now. I think it was yahoo maps, maybe mapquest. It had me driving on an interstate, exiting, going about 100' down the road, doing a U-turn, coming back 100', then turning back onto the interstate. I love how detailed they are now.
One thing I like about the Garmin we use in my wife's car is that it always has a bar on the top saying "Main Street ahead", "Oak Street ahead", etc. That way you always know what street is coming up.
I do often use the GPS, though, just so I don't have to think about where I'm going. I usually won't turn it on until I've gotten onto the main route, as I have my preferred way in my own neighborhood.
I do remember back in the very early days of internet mapping, way before they were as good as they are now. I think it was yahoo maps, maybe mapquest. It had me driving on an interstate, exiting, going about 100' down the road, doing a U-turn, coming back 100', then turning back onto the interstate. I love how detailed they are now.
My Garmin works well except it was absolutely lost in the Chicago Loop, I guess it was all the tall buildings, even though I've used it in other urban canyons without issue.
I've had great luck with TomTom.
I use the "computer voice" - very detailed. The Snopp Dogg voice is pretty cool too, if you don't mind basic directions.
I've also tried the Android navigation system on my wife's Evo. It's okay at best. I prefer a stand-alone unit.
I use the "computer voice" - very detailed. The Snopp Dogg voice is pretty cool too, if you don't mind basic directions.
I've also tried the Android navigation system on my wife's Evo. It's okay at best. I prefer a stand-alone unit.
That doesn't offer much coverage and has the possibility of causing some serious harm.
Blame GM, their short relationship with Subaru left them with the useless Denso system. I like the Alpine base systems Honda, Merc, BMW (with heavy customizations
EDIT: Delphi, not Denso. Denso is also useless, since it locks out when the car moves.
I agree with you on the Alpine systems. I have had 2 Honda's with them. Their maps are easy to follow and very well laid out.
Though I mostly use my iPhone now with TomTom, so I will probably never buy another car with navigation.
My first GPS, a Magellan from 2002 (ish) was spot on accurate and very intelligent in plotting the best route. It used to produce pretty much the same route as MapQuest. However, my Magellan from 2011 does not work as well. The GPS tracking seems better. The screen is way better. However, the actual plotting of routes does not always make the most sense. Magellan changed their mapping company from NavTeq to some other company. Since then, the navigation has been mediocre. It sucks because their navigation systems used to be the best. Now, MapQuest and Google Maps plot better routes than the GPS unit.
Now I'm not going to say anything about "stupid" or any other such term, but...
My car's navigation system has a habit of not telling me when it's time to turn until it's too late to make the turn. Usually begins with a lot of hesitation when I think it MAY be time to turn but am unsure, mainly because I can't see the street sign, if any.
(My navigation system, btw, is my wife.)
My car's navigation system has a habit of not telling me when it's time to turn until it's too late to make the turn. Usually begins with a lot of hesitation when I think it MAY be time to turn but am unsure, mainly because I can't see the street sign, if any.
(My navigation system, btw, is my wife.)
