[alwann]

Here's a question for people living in the new villages, or for folks with brand new cars.
Does your vehicle's onboard navigation system have data relating to the newest neighborhoods? GMC just informed me I can buy the software update for my 2023 Buick, priced at $100 plus shipping. However, they cannot tell me what's new for this region. Why buy if what you get is no more useful that what you've already got. I know about The Villages GPS and Waze.

[dtennent]

One of the map apps for your phone will be more up to date. I hook my phone up to my car and the map shows up on my screen. I stopped using the navigation software supplied by the car companies many years ago.

[C&CGray-AK]

Save your money and stick with either google or Apple Maps. My BMW, with the latest "map" update still has nothing south of 44 except how to get to the Coleman prison via Hwy 470 from 301. Nothing built int the last three to four years has been added and I would be willing to bet this problem will not be fixed by BMW. The database of hospitals, stores, gas stations, etc. has the same problem. Even my dealer told me the system is a POS and to use my phone. They were right!

Then again, you can entertain yourself cursing at your computer for its inability to find your house or the Magnolia Publix. BMW has programmed all the colorful language into the system and "she" stops responding and closes.

Have some fun with your vehicle's navigation system and ask for directions to the nearest Tesla Dealer. My BMW cannot find any Tesla dealer in Florida.

[Risuli]

As mentioned, the most up to date navigation maps will be those from your phone apps (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc.) which are generally free. Auto manufacturers only make updated maps available for a fee and they can be seriously out of date. I ONCE paid for an update for my BMW navigation system. Never again.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by dtennent

One of the map apps for your phone will be more up to date. I hook my phone up to my car and the map shows up on my screen. I stopped using the navigation software supplied by the car companies many years ago.

I knew somewhere, there was someone you used their vehicles on-board GPS ... now I know where it is.

I haven't used my car's GPS, in at least 20 years.

[alwann]

Okay, so far nobody who looks at this board can tell me whether their installed navigation system includes the new area of The Villages. That was the question. I just happen to prefer my onboard, touch screen system and wonder if buying the update is worth it.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by alwann

Okay, so far nobody who looks at this board can tell me whether their installed navigation system includes the new area of The Villages. That was the question. I just happen to prefer my onboard, touch screen system and wonder if buying the update is worth it.

The Manufacture updates typically lag three to five years behind. The Villages is adding over 3,000 new home a year, so it's impossible an embedded map update will have the newest areas.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Villages averages adding 10-30 new residential roads a month.

For example, most of the roads in this screen shot (and more) were added the past year.

Second screen shot show how much was built out the past year.

[Arlington2]

Don’t know about GMC and not new, but my Toyota gps was about 2 years behind google maps. I stopped updating my on board gps several years ago.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I knew somewhere, there was someone you used their vehicles on-board GPS ... now I know where it is.

I haven't used my car's GPS, in at least 20 years.

The onboard maps have helped me a few times in areas with no cell service.

[Arlington2]

Don’t know about GMC and not new, but my Toyota gps was about 2 years behind google maps. I stopped updating my on board gps several years ago.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by alwann

Okay, so far nobody who looks at this board can tell me whether their installed navigation system includes the new area of The Villages. That was the question. I just happen to prefer my onboard, touch screen system and wonder if buying the update is worth it.

Our Audi includes at least some of the newer sections. Certainly not the newest, there is some lag time, but many of the roads are in there.

The Audi system can receive monthly updates with the right subscriptions.

[CarlR33]

A GMC is not a Buick? If an Onstar system it should be updated all the time. If it’s an old style built in system then no it will not always be as up to date after you pay the $100 and how long is that subscription good for? It sounds like you want to get the update anyhow so I would purchase it and if the maps are not up to date with the Villages complain to Buick or GMC? Apple car play cannot be beat as you never have to remove your phone from your pocket and it’s all on the car screen. I would not donate $100 when you don’t say how long the subscription is good for and when there are so many better options like the phone your already paying for,, IMO

[VAtoFLA]

Originally Posted by alwann

Okay, so far nobody who looks at this board can tell me whether their installed navigation system includes the new area of The Villages. That was the question. I just happen to prefer my onboard, touch screen system and wonder if buying the update is worth it.

Not trying to pile on, but your response makes me think that you are not aware of Android Auto or Apple Carplay. With either if these, you would still be able to use your system's touch screen and voice commands to control the Nav.

I was staunchly loyal to my built in GPS, but I had to drop it both for this reason and for the superiority in real time events like traffic re-routing and presence of speed traps.

I wouldn't spend the $100 if I we you and would start to try to go down the path of Android Auto or Carplay depending on your phone.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by alwann

Okay, so far nobody who looks at this board can tell me whether their installed navigation system includes the new area of The Villages. That was the question. I just happen to prefer my onboard, touch screen system and wonder if buying the update is worth it.

Originally Posted by Altavia

The onboard maps have helped me a few times in areas with no cell service.

Originally Posted by VAtoFLA

Not trying to pile on, but your response makes me think that you are not aware of Android Auto or Apple Carplay. With either if these, you would still be able to use your system's touch screen and voice commands to control the Nav.

I was staunchly loyal to my built in GPS, but I had to drop it both for this reason and for the superiority in real time events like traffic re-routing and presence of speed traps.

I wouldn't spend the $100 if I we you and would start to try to go down the path of Android Auto or Carplay depending on your phone.

I had the exact same thought, but the OP's response above was so far off the charts, I stopped responding. It's hard to believe that in 2025, someone is still using "on-board navigation", which has always been years behind the curve.

Altavia's response has some merit, but other than around Barstow, FL, I've never been in a situation anywhere in the USA, that I didn't have cell service for more than a few minutes. To say nothing of the fact, that even with no Cell Phone service, a phone's GPS is still operational (albeit, you can't download map detail in real time).

Not wanted to use modern, cell phone GPS in your vehicle, is like complaining you can't use your "Princess Rotary Dial" phone on your nightstand, any longer.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I had the exact same thought, but the OP's response above was so far off the charts, I stopped responding. It's hard to believe that in 2025, someone is still using "on-board navigation", which has always been years behind the curve.

Altavia's response has some merit, but other than around Barstow, FL, I've never been in a situation anywhere in the USA, that I didn't have cell service for more than a few minutes. To say nothing of the fact, that even with no Cell Phone service, a phone's GPS is still operational (albeit, you can't download map detail in real time).

Not wanted to use modern, cell phone GPS in your vehicle, is like complaining you can't use your "Princess Rotary Dial" phone on your nightstand, any longer.

I prefer my princess rotary dial phone in my car
- it is there every time I start the car with no extra time to bring up CarPlay or open the mapping app
- the Audi nav display integrates better with the rest of the Audi information rather than being separated
- when I am a passenger I can use my phone without interfering with the navigation being displayed
- the Adirondacks of NYS, some areas in GA, and parts of the west have dead zones. Perhaps the GPS still works but without the map detail it doesn’t help at the next turn.

CarPlay is great and an excellent solution if the onboard maps aren’t up to date. If it is what you have become accustomed to then it’s all you need. I prefer it as a backup.