If you’re thinking this thread has been done before, you’re right. But rather than re-awaken a three-year-old zombie, I’ll start anew and ask the question again, with the idea that my price point is a little different than in that thread, and that perhaps things have changed in three years.
Here’s the situation. I just bought a 2014 Mazda CX-5. I have a desire for navigation in the car, but I didn’t think that desire justified spending an extra $1,400 and change for the “tech package” that came with my vehicle (and would have included a few extra baubles that were mostly meaningless to me). However, I can still have navigation installed by itself by the dealership as an add-on because the vehicle already comes with the right screen and is pre-wired to have navigation added. So adding in-dash navigation for me would amount to roughly $600 after installation instead of $1,400. Since I seem determined to add navigation to the vehicle (particularly since I’m hoping there are many road trips in its future), I need to figure out whether the $600 is worth it when compared to portable systems that can be purchased for a lot less. A review that I’ve read of the Mazda’s navigation system said that it got the job done, but that it was far less sophisticated than other in-dash systems, so you get what you pay for.
First, I’ll be up front and say that I don’t really know what all the differences are between various navigation systems. What is the difference between a $90 portable and a $300 portable? I owned a portable system a long time ago, but found it incredibly difficult in my car then to find a reasonable place to hold or mount it. I parked in a garage (and still do), so in order to get a signal, I had to drive out to the street and THEN stop and wait minutes to be able to program it (my understanding is that in-dash systems tend to catch satellite signals a lot faster). And I used it infrequently, so it was never charged when I wanted it, meaning I had to dig out the plug for it (which was always complex because I had chargers for various other devices in the car, as well). I also don’t seem to have much need or use for navigation on foot, which is one of the reasons I know some people prefer the portable. And this new car, at first glance, does not seem to have any logical place to mount a portable other than on top of the dash, which means having to take it down for security reasons all the time.
So if anyone has anything to add to the older thread about the advantages and disadvantages of either option, or recommendations specific to me based on the difference in price I’d be paying for portable vs. in-dash, I’m all ears.
My car (Toyota Highlander, 2013) came with built-in GPS system. I am still using my Garmin Nuvi. Even though the built-in’s screen is bigger, its positioning is too low, and I am just not comfortable with its controls and display. Nuvi is suction-cupped below the mirror, and is very easy (for me) to use.
Oh and Garmin Nuvi is like $100. Way less than what the built-in GPS costs. I wish I could get the other features in the Highlander without getting (and paying for) the GPS, but there was no way to do that.
I am in the camp that thinks that unless you have to use nav for work or something every day it is a complete waste of money to have a built in system.
I should point out, by the way, that the back-up camera and Bluetooth integration that some people were pointing out as advantages obtained with the in-dash system are things that are already integrated in my vehicle.
Another vote for a portable system especially a Garmin. Not only are they WAY cheaper, they are actually better in many ways than a built-in system. You can update the maps from your computer yourself and they are often better at their core mission, navigation, than the built in systems. You aren’t locked into one model for the long-haul either because you can replace a portable on cheaply if they come out with some new must have algorithm or features in a few years and still come out ahead. Finally, you can take a portable one with you, even on vacation, no matter what car you are driving and you will already know its features. You can even use some of them for walking directions.
Portable. If the in-dash version dies out of warranty, it’s going to cost a bundle to fix. Something like a Garmin can be trashed and a new one bought cheaper. Plus a portable GPS can be used in more than one vehicle.
As control-z mentioned, a smart phone with Google maps works well. They will probably take the place of stand-alone GPS in the not too distance future.
Here’s a picture of the car’s interior. I’m guessing that unless I get a screen small enough to fit into the cubby hole right behind the gear shift, I’ve got to go on top of the dash or mounted to the windshield, right? Or are portable nav systems sophisticated enough with voice command that I shouldn’t worry about having it mounted within easy reach of the driver’s seat? Perhaps adjacent to the clock? Is it necessary for the portable system to be mounted up high in order to get a good enough signal?
I don’t understand the concern with mounting. You said in your OP that you don’t use it often. I would keep it put away unless you need it and then just mount it to the windshield. Yeah, the battery will die when it’s put away. But you’ll almost always know in advance that you need it for your road trip or whatever and should have time to charge it up and get destinations entered before your trip. Or if it’s like mine it doesn’t matter if the battery is dead; it will work as soon as I plug it in. I can think of only a couple times when I needed it now and it added maybe 1-2 minutes to get it out, on, and linked.
I admit the concern is fairly minor. I guess there are two parts to it. First, I’d feel less inclined to have a need to put it away all the time if I could mount it somewhere that wasn’t incredibly obvious to everybody walking by the car, somewhere lower. I’m just paranoid enough that I’d probably put it away anyway, though. Second is that I want to avoid having a long cord draped someplace that is in my driving view or in the way of the console. Hence, my desire to have it mounted lower. But again, I acknowledge that these would be small concerns the vast majority of the time.
I don’t understand why cars have proprietary displays for GPS, satellite radio, vehicle telemetry, etc. Why not just have a cradle for an iPad or Android tablet built into the dash, and write apps for all the functions needed for the car? All the sensors could feed into the tablet through Bluetooth, and the apps could be easily updated via wifi.
Why do car manufacturers want to reinvent the wheel when others have done it cheaper and better?
I can’t wrap my mind around the need for a standalone GPS, either in-dash, or portable these days. Google Maps is the best GPS I have ever owned and it came with my phone, is free, updates its maps and POI automatically over the air (because of which, I always have the absolute latest maps at all times), gives me real-time traffic info and alternate routes automatically, is accurate, and because it is also my phone, I always have it with me. I just tap on Google Now and say “Give me directions to XX” and drop the phone on the passenger seat or in my shirt pocket, and listen to the turn-by-turn directions.
I have an in-dash GPS in my old car, and I can’t even get updates anymore because it’s a CD-based system. Even when it was new, the maps went quickly out of date, and the system was always kind of wonky…not recognizing roads, providing weird, roundabout directions, etc…
But they sell fewer digital packages when it doesn’t work as well as third party electronics. It’s like car manufacturers started making their own tires, except theirs were square, and third party tires are round.
I think the main reasons Google Maps, which is superior to many standalone GPS devices IMO, hasn’t already completely taken over the market is because, for some reason, people are too invested in their standalone device to switch, and a surprising number of people still don’t have smartphones.
My whole point is that it sounds like with your level of use there’s no reason to have it out all the time to begin with. Just keep the thing put away until you need it.
If I had a smart phone I wouldn’t bother with a separate GPS device either. But I don’t have a smart phone and the fact that one feature on a smart phone will let me replace a device I rarely use isn’t enough to get me to upgrade to one.
They bundle it with other options hoping that at least one of those options is a “can’t live without…” for any particular buyer.
That is what I use. Works fine but always apply common sense. Just yesterday Google tried to kill me by telling me to turn the wrong way onto a one-way street. I didn’t fall for it, I can happily report.
There isn’t much ‘investment’ to a portable GPS. They are remarkably cheap for the features they have. I don’t have a smartphone or desire one but even people that do still use portable GPS devices in their vehicles. Google Maps does work great but so do the standalone devices.
The important part is that you can mount a portable GPS and not worry about where your phone is when you want to get somewhere plus all of them have a bigger (often much bigger) screen than a smartphone. You don’t have to worry about being connected to the internet to use it and portable GPS devices are free to use once you buy them and that usually includes the map updates as well these days. If you have a smartphone, you don’t have to worry about it doing double duty. You can stream Pandora or make phone calls while letting the portable GPS do its job.
Many people like having a GPS screen to look at all the time as well and that isn’t as convenient with a smartphone. Sure, I might know how to get home from a particular place but I also like being able to glance at a screen and know down to the minute when I will be there. Dedicated GPS devices are also good for telling you the current speed limit in a readily accessible way. That isn’t always as obvious as you would think even for roads that I travel on regularly.
