SatNav updates ..... . really ?

Malc1 · July 21, 2023

Your thoughts please .

Clearly my Ls400 hasn't a SatNav so I simply rely on my Iphone for google maps and maybe some others too from time to time My Honda Legend is stuck at year of manufacture 2006 version on the sat Nav

Whenever we go anywhere unusual we only ever use our IPhones for uptodate maps .... be it on the Ls400 or the Honda Legend .. the costs from Honda to update the integral SatNav is barmy .......

as is, I'm reading here the Lexus option to update the in-situ SatNavs

does anybody really bother to spend on " Official " updates or just use the freebie IPhones etc offerings ?

Malc

DomTurner · July 21, 2023

I did on my 430 as the disc in there was from 2011. The latest one for my generation of sat nav is from 2018 so includes a lot more roads and Points of Interest.

I did not buy it from main dealer as there are many aftermarket alternatives for much cheaper - I got mine for £30.

I don't often use the Sat Nav but whenever I do I am always impressed with how good it is, displaying "live" traffic updates, road works and road closures. Handy on the motorway as it shows a list of upcoming junctions and service stations and tells you how far away they are.

If there is congestion or roadworks it will show you that in between the entries on the list.

If I really need to find somewhere I will use my Iphone, either apple Maps or "Waze" as that shows GPS speed, the speed limit and cameras.

Malc1 · July 21, 2023

7 minutes ago, DomTurner said:

I will use my iPhone,

and they seem to show red for congestion and tell you you really are on the fastest route ..........🤣

Malc

BigBoomer · July 21, 2023

I have the 2018 DVD for the Nav as well, but I also have a TomTom Via53 fitted and mostly use that for navigation. I also have the voice turned off as I hate naggy satnavs.
If I want to look at maps or see traffic issues I also have my phone mounted on the centre console so can use Google Maps if needed, when the car is in Park obviously 😁
Mostly I just look at the route on my tablet and memorise the route before I travel much as I have always done (with paper maps) since I got my first moped aged 14.

DomTurner · July 21, 2023

3 minutes ago, BigBoomer said:

I also have the voice turned off as I hate naggy satnavs

That was one of the first things I did when I got the car - can't stand them.

Like you I have a look beforehand and try and memorise the route - not with paper, however. I can just about remember my dad using them with my mums "help" 😁

Malc1 · July 21, 2023

I often use BingMaps on my desktop computer prior to a strange journey to get quite exact location detail ….. shows congestion etc too …… and I can study it all at leisure ….. refer back to it the next day before the journey even

Then on the actual journey I’ll hopefully remember where I need to go and if needs be pop it on my Iphone for “ live” updates all the way there …..

The formal SatNav screen ( on the Honda ) I so rarely use or need to use ……. So then …… why would I spend large amounts of ££££££ to update the car marque SatNav

Maybe it should be an automatic freebie offering from the Marque …… just so long as it wasn’t in Japanese of course 😂

They never offer freebies like this I guess …… it would improve brand marketing tho’

Malc

Illogan · July 21, 2023

Our car still has the original sat nav, sans updates, and I shall not be updating it.

I simply research my journey beforehand (on the pc), and will use notes, google-maps or Waze to help n=me if necessary.

BMCWP · July 22, 2023

I also put the 2018 DVD into mine and while I don't use it I prefer to have a display that looks like I am driving down an actual road rather than a blank space 🤣 if going anywhere I would tend to use Google maps or Waze as well but its fun sometimes using the built in one as well.

Malc1 · July 23, 2023

7 hours ago, BMCWP said:

I also put the 2018 DVD into mine and while I don't use it I prefer to have a display that looks like I am driving down an actual road rather than a blank space 🤣 if going anywhere I would tend to use Google maps or Waze as well but its fun sometimes using the built in one as well.

An advantage that my ancient steed hasn’t got that vestigial screen to annoy me then ……. The space partially taken up by the irrepressible Tape Player 👍

Malc

ambermarine · July 23, 2023

I love the voice ,kind of fetish feel to it but she soon dumps you when she as a mind to,usually a mile away from your destination.

BigBoomer · July 24, 2023

My other problem with SatNav is that many people follow it blindly, rather than actually thinking about what they are doing and where they are going. All too often SatNavs want you to go the wrong way down one way roads, or go down some dirt track, or in one instance it told me to drive through a river. Many moons ago I had a rental car in Las Vegas and we couldn't figure out how to shut her up, so we ended up turning her down or just not using the SatNav. She had a voice that grated and when you didn't follow instructions her voice turned angry. "You have made a WRONG TURN!" with a tone of "you f***ing idiot!" 🤣

BMCWP · July 25, 2023

Its not that long ago when some sat navs allowed you to put in famous voices - it was quite funny for a short period of time having (for example) darth vader telling you that you had "gone over to the dark side" if you took a wrong turn but in the end they were just a passing trend that seems to have long vanished.