# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636 "2024-02-16T02:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 410
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8182 "2025-08-26T16:26:47Z")
I do not have a navigation system in my car. I use my phone. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8183 "2025-08-26T17:02:39Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > don’t _keep_ lots of offline maps stored on my phone. I make sure to download maps before venturing into places without good cell reception. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8184 "2025-08-26T18:10:41Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Not to mention “You think my car is new enough to have a nav system? Cute!” Yep. We do use Waze, tho. > [@eschereal](#): > > Cars have had nav systems in them for 30 years – the earliest ones were not built into the car but mounted on the dash or something of the kind. You could have an Edsel with a nav system in it, if you felt so inclined. But not Sat-Nav, which came out in 1990, Edsel’ was discontinued in 1960. I have a fairly modern Hyundai, which does not have one built in. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8185 "2025-08-26T18:45:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I have a fairly modern Hyundai, which does not have one built in. I have a modern Nissan. It comes with navigation but I find it very inferior to Waze. I use Waze through Apple CarPlay to navigate. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8186 "2025-08-26T19:15:23Z")
I could have gotten a navigation system on my 2019 Mazda, but I would have had to pay extra for it and chose not to. I’m content using my phone the rare times I want real time navigation. But like @puzzlegal noted, my phone also gives me the option of “up is forward” versus “up is north”. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8187 "2025-08-26T19:21:02Z")
I can only conclude that people who prefer “up is north” are aliens whose brains work very differently from mine. One of my friends says he prefers “up is north” and has his phone set that way. A couple of months ago we were traveling in a rented car and since he was driving, I connected my phone to the car via Android Auto. After a couple of hours of driving with “up is forward” he said, “you know, this is actually pretty convenient”. Uh, yeah? It _is_ more convenient to not have to do mental rotations to figure out which way to turn at the upcoming intersection. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8188 "2025-08-26T19:31:49Z")
Our 2017 Forester has in-dash navigation, which we quite like, but the maps are going more and more out of date (e.g. it doesn’t reflect the changed exit numbers in MA)…and the update is really expensive. So, sometimes we use the in-dash, sometimes the phone, depending on how complex the trip is. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8189 "2025-08-26T20:51:34Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > the update is really expensive… You can get (much) cheaper SD cards in ebay. I’ve been tempted - most of the reviews are very positive - but I really like Waze via Apple Carplay.\* mmm \*Assuming I’m in an area with a cell signal ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8190 "2025-08-26T23:06:49Z")
I find “up is forward” to be VERY confusing. I can do it, but only if I don’t try to superimpose it onto my understanding of real geography. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8191 "2025-08-26T23:12:21Z")
Generally if I’m using my phone for turn-by-turn navigation, I’m in an area that I’m unfamiliar with, so I have no understanding of local geography. But regardless of that, if you were getting verbal directions from a passenger, you would actually find it easier if they said “turn west at the next stoplight” rather than “turn right”? My mind boggles at that. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8192 "2025-08-26T23:43:41Z")
We have three cars: - 2007 Mazda CX-7 has a navigation system, but it relies on a set of maps which are stored on a bank of four CD-ROMs, which live in a cassette under the driver’s seat. Those maps are now nearly 20 years out of date, and when I looked into getting an updated set of CDs, maybe ten years ago, it was something like $300; by that point, we had maps on our smartphones, and it wasn’t worth the upgrade. Plus, it can’t show traffic, or recommend routing based on current conditions (accidents, construction, etc.). If we need to use a navigation app while we drive that car, we just use our phones. - 2012 Ford Mustang. It did not originally have a navigation system, as when I bought it new, I opted for the better stereo, rather than a nav display. That radio died last year, and I replaced it with a touchscreen system, which includes Apple Carplay, so I use my phone’s navigation app through the screen. - 2015 Chevrolet Corvette. Has an onboard nav system, but I don’t believe that it can access current traffic conditions. When I’m driving it, I link my phone to the car, and run my navigation app, which will pipe the audio directions through the sound system, even though it doesn’t put the map on the touchscreen. I find that, when I’m driving more than a short distance, I nearly always use the navigation app now, even if I’m on a route I know well, so I can be aware of traffic issues or road closures, and get re-routed if needed. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8193 "2025-08-27T00:04:28Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I nearly always use the navigation app now, even if I’m on a route I know well, so I can be aware of traffic issues or road closures, and get re-routed if needed. Same. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8194 "2025-08-27T01:26:46Z")
Up until … 3 weeks ago, my car-based navigation was by phone, via an aftermarket cell phone mount. It drew power from the aux with an adaptor for USB, and had wireless charging for the phone. So it gave me good if kludge-y car navigation for the old 2007. The new car has Toyota Nav (which is decent) but I almost always use Waze via Android Auto. A lot more information there. With my Wife’s RAV4 you can actually get turn by turn directions in the Instrument cluster but it isn’t consistent, it seems to work with the Android Auto and Google Maps, the internal Toyota Nav, and on iOS via Apple maps, but not with Waze. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8195 "2025-08-27T04:20:53Z")
A measly 1% rate of return on my billion dollar estate earns it $10,000,000 every year, and for 2.5% of _that_, I have a chance to visit the future? Of course I do it, what do I have to lose - death? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8196 "2025-08-27T16:10:22Z")
Almost any Billy Joel lyric makes me cringe because I really can’t stand his voice or his songs or his lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8197 "2025-08-27T16:54:16Z")
I like that line in _Piano Man_. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8198 "2025-08-27T17:06:56Z")
I chose ‘other’ because being an aged alcoholic wasting their life in a bar is just too depressing to contemplate. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8199 "2025-08-27T17:49:19Z")
**“_There’s an old man sitting next to me, making love to his tonic and gin._”** The most disturbing part is that he is sitting next to _me_. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8200 "2025-08-27T18:09:20Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I like that line in _Piano Man_. That song would depress a hyena. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636/8201 "2025-08-27T18:28:53Z")
1. I know how to read a map. I don’t use GPS of any type. 2. I don’t talk on the phone in public. If forced by circumstance to do so, I remove myself to a semiprivate location. 3. People who talk on the phone in public should have said phone inserted by force. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=409) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-2/997636.md?page=411)