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My car came with built-in nav (bought used, so I didn't pay extra for it), but I use a $4 cd-slot phone holder to hold my iphone and ONLY use Waze. It's about a billion times better than any factory navigation.
My Honda has factory NAV and it works decently. Prior to the Honda we used a portable Garmin with lifetime updates which we bought new for 100 bucks. One thing that was/is nice about the portable one is that your passenger can change things on the Garmin such as a new destination or whatever. The factory built in navigation will not allow you to make changes while the car is in motion. One big plus I like about the built in navigation is that the voice commands are through the car speakers. I can be listening to music with the volume cranked and it will automatically lower the volume and tell me where to turn. I am also one of those people who don't like a cluttered dashboard. I don't want a portable device hanging from my windshield or an AC vent.
A lot of people mentioned that they use their phone for GPS. I've used this also, but this can be a problem if you do not have unlimited data.
As for map updates, Honda does not offer lifetime updates. So, if I want to get a new update in a few years, it will cost 100 something dollars.
phone and google maps.
not a fan of Waze, it will have me dodging 18 wheelers backing out of warehouses just to shave 3 seconds off of my route. Google maps has a better balance of time and comfort.
I do have a Garmin on the dash, still. Mostly because reminds me the time I spent drawing GPS maps. But also as a back up for poor signal areas or when i'd rather not mix navigation with other phone related tasks.
Yeah Waze uses very little data. Especially if you start it up at home while still on wifi. Once the maps are down it's largely the GPS chip doing the work and occasional syncs for updated route data in the form of very small data packets.
Yup, and I much prefer GPS on an 8.5 inch screen than a tiny phone screen. It will also alert me on the dash in between the speedo and tach about upcoming turns. And I don't like having crap hanging off my dash/windshield with cords all over the place.
Absolutely right plus the unit doesn't wobble around when you input addresses or POIs.
My Honda has factory NAV and it works decently. Prior to the Honda we used a portable Garmin with lifetime updates which we bought new for 100 bucks. One thing that was/is nice about the portable one is that your passenger can change things on the Garmin such as a new destination or whatever. The factory built in navigation will not allow you to make changes while the car is in motion. One big plus I like about the built in navigation is that the voice commands are through the car speakers. I can be listening to music with the volume cranked and it will automatically lower the volume and tell me where to turn. I am also one of those people who don't like a cluttered dashboard. I don't want a portable device hanging from my windshield or an AC vent.
That's one drawback I agree with, that factory NAVs don't allow you to use all the features while moving.
After reading threads like this I am glad that I can plan a trip with a couple of paper maps and/or a Road Atlas for detailed maps. If I am driving a complex route I will make a simple trip tape with route changes listed with miles and time between waypoints. Then just reading road signs is adequate. That works when I am alone.
Even more likely is I have my passenger provide verbal directions. That always worked but she is becoming a bit dyslexic. That can make for some exciting lane changes or quick turnarounds.
That be as it may. I thank you for your comments. I will have to figure out what WAZE is and what I need to use it.
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