New Car and GPS

[kathyzapp]

We're in the market for a new car. Need some advice. Would you rather buy a car with or without a GPS and why? We were concerned about updates to the GPS.

[starflyte1]

I prefer a car without a GPS. One reason, the last time I checked, an
update for the GPS in a GM product was $150. Another reason is that you can not work with your GPS when the car is in gear. The rider cannot program the GPS while the car is in gear. You must be parked to program it.

My Garmin can be taken into the house and programed. It can be taken in any car and golf car. The last update was about $75. When my husband is driving, I can be working with the Garmin, changing the route and finding places to get gas, sleep and eat.

[Halle]

I prefer a car without a GPS. One reason, the last time I checked, an
update for the GPS in a GM product was $150. Another reason is that you can not work with your GPS when the car is in gear. The rider cannot program the GPS while the car is in gear. You must be parked to program it.

My Garmin can be taken into the house and programed. It can be taken in any car and golf car. The last update was about $75. When my husband is driving, I can be working with the Garmin, changing the route and finding places to get gas, sleep and eat.

Thanks for the tips we have a Garmin now and I had planned to have factory GPS in my next car, but now I think may keep the Garmin for all the reasons you stated.

[784caroline]

Without a doubt the better GPS is one you buy separate from the car. The built in GPS is more convient in many respects and loooks nice but we found ours simply is not as reliable and the updates are expensive (and still not as good).

[ladydoc]

I agree with the above whole heartedly. We also have a Garmin that we love. Built ins are expensive and you can get a wonderful Garmin for under $150. Hubby drives; I play with the settings. I did not want to get one at first, chalking it up as another of Hubs electronic toys. Now I can not imagine traveling without one.

[skyguy79]

When we bought our Chevy Uplander it came equipped with Onstar and we love it. Most new GM products come equipped with it. There are many features you'll discover if you check out their web page. We even get a monthly report by email that tells us our milage, oil life and other information, even tire pressure readings and recommendation. Don't know though if it will be on any installations other than factory installations.

There is a monthly or annual fee for this service, but with the way Onstar works, there are no updates you would have to purchase to keep updated. I've provided a couple of links those who may be interested can go to in order to learn more about Onstar and the soon to be available aftermarket Onstar for more than just GM vehicles.:

http://www.onstar.com/

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/onstar-goes-aftermarket-coming-to-best-buy-in-spring-of-2011/

p.s. a few more thing... it's great for hands-free operation when you're driving alone and you can make phone calls through the system!

[rubicon]

I have a new Acura and can downlaod updates for about $90 presently. I agree that separate offers benefits I suspect the cost for a built in navagation system is much higher than a Garmin which I also own. We don't travelmuch which my wife keeps remidning me about and is using the navigation system as leverage to get me on the road....God love her heart:clap2:

[Golf-Tinker]

We drove an Acura loaner last week while our Acura was in for work. The navigation system display was neat, but the best feature was that whenever reverse gear was engaged, the "nav" window switched to a view looking out the rear. Great safety benefit. It was difficult to return the car.

I've long preferred the flexibility and cost benefits of a portable auto GPS. We've have had TomTom and now have a Garmin with lifetime map updating. Can't beat the price and convenience.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

A number of the 'store bought' GPS brands have certain units with lifetime map updates included in the purchase price.

Bill

[champion6]

I have never owned a car with built-in Nav and I have never owned a TomTom or Garmin. Now that I have an Android smartphone with Google navigation, I don't think I will ever spend the money to get them. The Google nav is great!

[Lianne from CT]

We have had GPS systems for about 4 years now. We have found that the best type is the portable kind (that you can remove from view of potentiel thieves when away from your vehicle) and can switch between vehicles (if you are a two car family) to be the best. I'm sure that the GPS has prevented numerous accidents while we have travelled in unfamiliar territory. I know for sure that it has prevented numerous fights over which way to turn - and how to get "unlost"!

[starflyte1]

I did not realize that OnStar had to be in connection with a navigation system. Our last two GM cars have had the nav system and OnStar. Although I do not like the nav system, neither my husband nor I will ever have a car without OnStar. At our ages and travels, it is a wonderful security blanket, even if the nav system is not used.

We still use our Garmin.

[kathyzapp]

Thanks for all the great advice!

Now we just need to find the right car.

[swrinfla]

A word from a really old-fashioned guy:

Any body ever use a paper map to find their way around? It's a really very simple device, and doesn't constantly tell you, "Recalculating!"

:MOJE_whot:

SWR
:beer3:

[BobKat1]

When we travel I use the nav, and my wife keeps the Atlas on her lap and uses it to second guess the nav, and occasionally yell at me for making a wrong turn.

[Pturner]

When I've had occasions to rent a car with built in nav., it always seem to get the directions wrong. My Garmin almost always gets them right.

[Tbugs]

GPS' are absolutely great. How did we survive trips with our wives giving us directions from a map?

Instead of paying the extra amount of upgrade on a car to get a navigation system, just go to Best Buy, WalMart, Sam's, etc and get a Magellan or Tom Tom for well under $200 - and most are now coming with FREE LIFETIME updates of maps as well as FREE TRAFFIC reports.

The GPS is easily taken between vehicles and I even like to use it in a game called "geocaching". My Tom Tom gives the exact coordinates of where you are standing down to the second. Try geocaching. It is quite a bit of fun to find the little caches.

[skyguy79]

Any body ever use a paper map to find their way around? It's a really very simple device, and doesn't constantly tell you, "Recalculating!"
Used to and still will when in our other vehicle without OnStar or I just might try my GPS navigator in my cell phone. Also, I don't know about other GPS's but OnStar only recalculates when you leave the planned route by accident, to get food, gas or whatever reason!

[jblum315]

Trouble with a paper map is you need somebody be to reading it while you're driving

[Niels]

I have a navigation system in my car and I have a portable Garmin system that I purchased for use in rental cars when I travel. I think most of the comments here have covered the advantages of purchasing a portable system (lower cost, can be used in other vehicles, can be programmed by a passenger when the vehicle is moving, cheaper map updates, etc) fairly well.

However, there are also some advantages that favor a factory navigation system. First, factory navigation systems tend to have larger screens (7 or 8") that are easier to read. They are large enough to use in split screen modes (showing your next turn while showing where you currently are). Second, the system is always there when you need it (you can't forget to take it with you). Third, you don't have to be bothered with unplugging it and putting it away when you leave the vehicle and then setting it up when you return. (My son got lazy one night and left his Garmin on his dashboard and someone smashed his window to steal it.). Fourth, you can have the radio on without worrying that you won't hear the instructions for the next turn because most systems will lower your radio volume when giving navigation instructions. Fifth, portable systems like my Garmin often have suction cups which will start failing and cause your portable system to fall off the windshield, usually at the worst possible time. Finally, factory navigation systems are often packaged with rear backup cameras. I find the rear backup camera to be very useful, especially if your car has blind spots. A couple of manufacturers have started offering backup cameras without having to purchase a navigation system.

Is it worth the price to purchase a factory navigation system? I don't know if I would purchase it on my next car or not. However, I just thought someone should present the other side.

[scroll]

On star for gm cars is great. There price for unlimited minutes has been greatly reduced and it is completely hands free as skyguy stated. Very safe. Also, it is like a personal attendant that you can not only use it for navigation but it will tell you were the nearest starbucks is or any other reasonable request. You are talking to another human being on the other end and they actually care about answering your question or making sure you are completely satisfied. This type of service is getting rarer each day. GM got this right.
:BigApplause:

[skyguy79]

On star for gm cars is great. :BigApplause:You can say that again! There is another thing OnStar can do that no other GPS can and that's assist if your car is stolen. Read about it at the following web page and view the video available there! You just might be amazed! http://www.onstar.com/web/portal/securityexplore?tab=1