Is Stock Navigation As Bad as it seems? [Expired Topic]

1) They probably have a CD that was licensed to the VIN number. It all depends on how long ago that vehicle was "born" and left the plant. With the sluggish full-sized SUV sales that could have been a while ago. HOWEVER, that being said, I would think that perpetual upgrades would be available. Check the chevy website or call GM, they might help you out. The disc probably costs the dealership $$, but you might be able to get a comp.

2) Sounds like a usability design-flaw ... bad programming. This may be updatable with firmware, but probably not.

3) I had no idea that would be a requirement. The little pocket-nav systems don't require a CD, they either load via GSM/EVDO cellular data connection or they just have little hard drives on them. Any stock NAV system I would think to have a hard drive or 1GB flash memory at least.

4) Most all backlit displays have a way to dim. Nothing in the users guide?

Steve said:

HOWEVER, that being said, I would think that perpetual upgrades would be available. Check the chevy website or call GM, they might help you out. The disc probably costs the dealership $$, but you might be able to get a comp.

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On the 2006 models they will comp you 2 updates (a new policy). On '05 their opinion is "buzz off". The alternative is to buy a disc off ebay where the price is < $200. My beef is that this is a $53K truck with a $2K Nav system that I drove off the lot in 2006 with 2004 nav data. New roads and points of interest don't appear on it! That is bad I wrote a letter to anyone at GM who would listen because the dealer _AND_ GM Customer service both turned down a complimentary upgrade.

Steve said:

2) Sounds like a usability design-flaw ... bad programming. This may be updatable with firmware, but probably not.

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Oh, it is a bug alright. I hope that in a trip to the dealer they could reflash the unit to update the firmware.

Steve said:

3) I had no idea that would be a requirement. The little pocket-nav systems don't require a CD, they either load via GSM/EVDO cellular data connection or they just have little hard drives on them. Any stock NAV system I would think to have a hard drive or 1GB flash memory at least.

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This puppy may have internal storage but it needs to Map disc inserted to do anything. Whether that is just to force you to buy upgrades instead of just installing the upgrade and sharing it with your friends is a good question but it is limiting.

Steve said:

4) Most all backlit displays have a way to dim. Nothing in the users guide?

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Nothing but I will have to dig around in the menus on-screen to see if I could set the colors. It is less the dimming and more the powder-blue color that is annoying.

Thanks for replying,
Joe.

Steve,

Scarily, I bought the deal-breaker. My bad for not researching it better. The only downside with the standalone units (which I almost bought prior to the new car) is:

1) Wires and suction cup mounts
2) A theft magnet just dangling there on your windshield
3) Many of them have a weak speaker for the voice guidance

The problem with the GM factory unit is:

1) Needs a DVD in place all of the time making the CD playback useless
2) My Suburban could not be purchased with Nav and a 6 disc changer (it was either/or)

In GMs weak defense they somehow think sticking a CD in place of a DVD in the rear seat video playback is a reasonable alternative to using the CD slot in the Nav system. The problem is that when driving a car it is unrealistic to reach back to the rear-seat device hanging off the ceiling to change disks and change tracks!

The whole thing is dissapointing at best. I feel like I should have banked the $2K and told my wife to use the OnStar if she gets lost

GM has had a lot of problems with this Navigation. Units. I have to say they are the worst of all the units sold on any vehicle available. They are made by Delphi, which has them made in Tywan or Korea or some off shore dump.

I think it is more an engineering problem with the unit than anything else is is. There is no reason the flash memory can’t be large enough to handle the maps in it without the use of cds. Everyone else’s does.

I do know there was a recall on the older units for a lot of different things, but you still have to use the discs to navigate. I really don’t like the way the engineers designed this system, No foresight on the real world use of these units.

It should have been made to be upgradeable other than with new discs. On the flip side there are a couple of aftermarket units available that will fit right in the space that this one fits. They are expensive and you do loose some of the options but if the navigation unit is an important item to you I would look into it.

Sorry dude I really can’t say much good to help you with this peace of overpriced crap GM decided to put in. They are not a good unit, especially at the cost of the unit.

Steve,

When the snow clears up here in NY I will post a photo. From a picture point of view it looks pretty nice actually. It is really 3 things that make it dissapointing;

1) Map updates are expensive (most of the standalone units include lifetime map updates)
2) The fact that it requires a DVD to be in place at all times thus making CD playback impossible is baffling
3) It has a lot of little feature bugs (like losing mute) that need to be updated.

It is a functional Nav unit and for the most part will get you where you are going but it is like a 2000/2001 vintage product. Most other manufaturers have made a lot of improvements (like my FILs Subaru which allows you to control the rear seat video from the nav screen, displays the rear video on the Nav when the car is in park and the latest update allows you to talk to the unit so that you never need to take your hands off the wheel).

GM has a number of problems with "keeping current" IMOHO and that is why they are losing market share. Their products don't suck, their union wages aren't the problem....their problem is not understanding the customer demand, not keeping pace with their competitors and trying to lean too much on alternate income streams (subscriptions to OnStar, XM, nav update discs, etc). When I but a car, I want a car. Chrysler sold me a car, Jeep sold me a car, Toyota sold me a car and Chevy sold me a bunch of subscriptions services

Nav unit

bravajo said:

84Fiero,

Replacing the unit now would feel too much like throwing good money after bad. This shouldn't be something that I need to consider given the sticker price of this truck. I never thought I would spend this much money on a car in my life (a mid-line BMW is about the same price) and I will live with the stock nav if it kills me

BTW, I have a friend who is a real Fiero officianado. He used-to have 3 (Original 84, a Indy Pace Car and a GT). I think he sold all but one now. Cool cars.

J.

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I know just exactly how you feel about replacing it, and feeling that you got ripped off. Try and see if there is a recall on the unit. Don't ask your dealer check the recall web site.

I still say buy the Bose unit, plus its made in the USA. It fits right in the place were your Navigation. Unit goes, and maybe you can sell your Navigation unit on ebay and recoup some of the loss.

Yes I do drive a Fiero. It’s an 86 SE V6 now but still have my first 84 out back for parts. I love the dam thing in good weather. A lot different than all the other trucks we have. Handles like a dream and goes alright. No parking problems anywhere and gets one hell of a lot better mileage than our 2 Burbs.

86 2 wheel drive and the 94 four-wheel drive. On a good day I might get 18 mpg with the 86 on the highway, down hill with a good tailwind. The 94 gets about 20 mpg on the highway, if we take it easy and keep it under 60 mph.

in GMs defense

bravajo said:

Steve,


GM has a number of problems with "keeping current" IMOHO and that is why they are losing market share. Their products don't suck, their union wages aren't the problem....their problem is not understanding the customer demand, not keeping pace with their competitors and trying to lean too much on alternate income streams (subscriptions to OnStar, XM, nav update discs, etc). When I but a car, I want a car. Chrysler sold me a car, Jeep sold me a car, Toyota sold me a car and Chevy sold me a bunch of subscriptions services

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I worked for GM for 15 years at the Assembly plant in Framingham, MA. For 15 years on the line. I completely agree. Their problem is in the upper management’s inability to change or see anything other than increasing their personal pay. The board of directors has this wish to ship everything but their jobs overseas so they can get more money for themselves even at the cost of the company’s future.

But that’s enough ranting.

One thing I have to disagree with is that you bought a “car“.
You bought a truck from Chevy. Not only a truck but a Burb. The one and only Suburban. The first SUV. Even though I hate that term it is the first the best and the only true work truck for the working man. We here have a true love for the old girls, and even some of the new one’s.
You will not find a more truck version of the SUV than a Stripped Burb. with the rubber floor mats, roll up windows, and no options other than air and AM-FM radio. That’s my 86.
Now the new ones have become to yuppie oriented. Sorry but that's just the way I feel. They put to many things in them to get the yuppies to buy them and they ruined them. My wife who I bought the 94 for. Likes the old girl better even though the 94 has leather, electric windows, locks, seats, cd player.
Convenience is not always good.

84Fiero123,

I agree, I bought a truck. Never thought I would buy a truck but I did I actually owned the First True SUV though. Had a Jeep wrangler for 14 years. The first new car I ever bought. It was stripped down, manual transmission part time 4WD straight 6 powered, rough riding, hand-cranked window beast.

I also think an entry-level 'burban is a pretty darn good deal if you could live w/o the creature comforts. You get a lot for the base price.

That being said mine is clearly a "yuppie truck" as you call it. Actually, that might be one of the few things GM brass did get right. If they didn't make every truck into a yuppie version they would really be begging people to take them off their lots!

The unfortunate fact is that all cars have gotten fat and bloated. Hell, it seems any car over $12K new has power windows, auto transmission and heated seats!

I really preferred the day when you could get the better engine/transmission without taking the sunroof and rear seat video packaged along with it. All of the manufacturers do it. If you want one thing upgraded then you have to take a package full of crap that you have no interest in to get there.

My deal is I have a big family and a boat to tow. Not many options out there that fit that bill. The Suburban Line and Nissan Armada are about it. Ford discountinued the Excursion (hated that car anyway) so as things stand now I need a Suburban. I am actually glad that I bought it but I never pictured myself (or my wife for that matter) piloting such a large truck!

Thanks,
Joe.

PS Will post pictures. Just got back from my first roadtrip with the car and things went smoothly

Just thought I would Pass this along.

Feb 21, 10:31 AM (ET)


LONDON (Reuters) - Fiddling around with in-car satellite navigation systems is causing motorists to lose concentration on the road, according to a survey on Tuesday.

The new technology, rather than helping motorists, could be even more distracting than trying to read a map at the wheel, it added.

One in 10 motorists with navigation systems set off on their journeys without bothering to program their route, and more than half admitted they had then had to take their eyes off the road to input the details whilst driving.

Nearly one in eight did not even bother to check out a route they were unfamiliar with and simply relied on the technology to get them to their destination.

In addition, almost one in four motorists said they had read maps while driving although research suggested that this might not be quite so distracting.

The survey of almost 2,000 people by Privilege Insurance found 19 percent of drivers who used their navigation system lost concentration compared to 17 percent reading a map.

The survey said most motorists who used either resource while driving would take their eyes off the road for 10 seconds, which at 60 mph, would equate to traveling twice the length of a football pitch.

"Our research shows even satellite navigation equipment, if used incorrectly, can lead to driver danger," said Ian Parker, Privilege's managing director.