Navigation System

[GraveDanger]

I paid the extra $$$ for the NAV. I wanted the 10 speaker stereo and HDD and felt I could continue to get by without any NAV device, in fact that is how I ordered my CTS originally. After about 24hrs I realized I would regret it for as long as I owned the car. I imagined myself telling a passenger "and if I got the NAV this cut out on top of the dash would pop up and reveal an 8" touch screen". In the end I went back to the dealer and changed my order to include the NAV.

It ultimately came down to the WOW factor for me.

[exm22psu]

I had a Magellan and a Garmin, both before the CTS. They would sometimes lead me astray as the CTS nav does . . . still, I never regret getting it. It makes life in the car so much more enjoyable. And sometimes when I am waiting for someone, or early for a meeting, I can watch a DVD.

[marktanner]

Yes, the Nav system does give some silly directions at times, but so does Mapquest. A lot of their programming is the same. Sometimes it makes the ridiculous directions over and over again, which indicates a programming error (not the unit's fault). I solve this by previewing the route to make sure it makes sense, then also looking at the moving map to see the route ahead. Sometimes the unit tells you to turn into side streets and then turn back on roads where there is a new median, even just a few feet wide, when obviously one should just continue straight (and I have had Mapquest do this at exactly the same places!). At least the moving map can help you to avoid this. Sometimes, the unit is confused when you first start out and directs you around the block. Again, look at the map if it doesn't make sense, and shrink the magnification if necessary to look at the big picture. It will recalculate correctly when you go the correct way yourself. OnStar makes some mistakes, too, as I found out today, so please use common sense when following directions.

[GraveDanger]

What Marktanner said... I read posts about taking the 'long way' because the NAV said so and I laugh. I immediately think of the Office episode where Michael drives into a lake because the NAV told him to.

YouTube - The Office- Michael drives into a lake!

[Gator5000e]

Originally Posted by marktanner

Yes, the Nav system does give some silly directions at times, but so does Mapquest. A lot of their programming is the same. Sometimes it makes the ridiculous directions over and over again, which indicates a programming error (not the unit's fault). I solve this by previewing the route to make sure it makes sense, then also looking at the moving map to see the route ahead. Sometimes the unit tells you to turn into side streets and then turn back on roads where there is a new median, even just a few feet wide, when obviously one should just continue straight (and I have had Mapquest do this at exactly the same places!). At least the moving map can help you to avoid this. Sometimes, the unit is confused when you first start out and directs you around the block. Again, look at the map if it doesn't make sense, and shrink the magnification if necessary to look at the big picture. It will recalculate correctly when you go the correct way yourself. OnStar makes some mistakes, too, as I found out today, so please use common sense when following directions.

It seems like mine gives awful directions 99% of the time. I will use it to find a specific office or building in an area I know and the directions it gives me to get there is usually way out of the way. The options for streamlining directions are plain weird. Avoid Ferry??? What does that mean?

On my prior Acura, there were options to Maximize/Avoid Freeways, Toll Roads, etc. The options worked very well and would keep you on main roads most of the time. With the CTS' system, even if i head in a direction I know is better, the Nav will keep telling me to make a U-turn for a long time. It really does take away the usefulness of the Nav. If you really don't know where you are going, the way the Nav is set up could really send you on a very round about way.

[mik2718]

Originally Posted by Gator5000e

Avoid Ferry??? What does that mean?

Well, if there's two ways to cross a river (or other body of water) -- ferry or a farther away bridge -- you might want to drive farther to get to the bridge rather than sitting on the river bank waiting for the ferry.

At least, that's what it means to me.

[Gator5000e]

I was sort of trying to be sarcastic as that being one of the routing choices. Highways, toll roads, etc., are not included as a choice, but Ferrys are. It just sums up the routing experiences I have had with this navigation system.

[brianwetzel]

Under "Route Preference" the options are "Avoid Freeway", "Avoid Toll Road", "Avoid Ferry" and "Avoid time and seasonal restricted road". I have only had the car for 1 week now but I love the nav system in it. It does take alot of reading and playing with it. You can save locations as "presets" like radio stations and select them with one touch. It also lets you save them with names like "Home" and even add a phone number so you can call it easily. When I make a wrong turn (to see how it reacts) it recalculates the route within seconds.

[Gator5000e]

The NAV system works and will get you there (eventually), but my other system would make sure I stayed on the main highways by allowing me to maximize freeways, etc. The choice of avoiding freeways only uses smaller side roads even more than it does already (which it does a lot - too much actually, IMHO). the system is good, but it needs to be tweaked some (again, IMHO).

[UNFNick2]

you get "turn by turn navigation" with onstar - which doesn't require the nav system but still updates your position and gives you route directions. also a benefit is you don't have to buy new map dvds since they are downloaded from the most recent database of maps everytime you use it. also check into how much it is to insure your car with a nav system then without, you'll be suprised it costs you about $100 or more every 6 months to have the nav.

[marktanner]

OnStar's directions are not consistent, either. I used it this weekend, and my return route was way different and more convoluted than the route I started with. It does know where you are, but it's harder to get it to recalculate than the NAV, which just does it without question. OnStar also doesn't have traffic info, and may route you into a traffic jam. Still, it's much better than nothing.

[SKJSKJ]

I just found a feature that I wondered why the CST Nav didn't have. It's NOT documented in the Nav manual. (FYI:I have SW version 2.50)

When driving though an area and you want to see the approaching cross street name, touch to box in the botton center that lists the name of the road you are driving on, and it will expand to 2 lines with the top having an icon indicating cross street and then the name of the street you are approaching. This is great when you are looking for a cross street and the sun keeps you from seeing the street signs.

NOTE: This feature is totally different than when on a freeway the split screen lists the next 3 exits.

Anybody else find undocumented features?

[Argent55]

Originally Posted by Gator5000e

The NAV system works and will get you there (eventually), but my other system would make sure I stayed on the main highways by allowing me to maximize freeways, etc. The choice of avoiding freeways only uses smaller side roads even more than it does already (which it does a lot - too much actually, IMHO). the system is good, but it needs to be tweaked some (again, IMHO).

When you input your destination, & press "Go" you usually have an option for "Fastest", "Shortest" & one other option (which escapes me at the moment) pop up on the Nav screen. I can only guess that "Fastest" will use freeways if possible; "Shortest" is self evident, but will probably take longer.

[ddawson]

Originally Posted by SKJSKJ

I just found a feature that I wondered why the CST Nav didn't have. It's NOT documented in the Nav manual. (FYI:I have SW version 2.50)

When driving though an area and you want to see the approaching cross street name, touch to box in the botton center that lists the name of the road you are driving on, and it will expand to 2 lines with the top having an icon indicating cross street and then the name of the street you are approaching. This is great when you are looking for a cross street and the sun keeps you from seeing the street signs.

NOTE: This feature is totally different than when on a freeway the split screen lists the next 3 exits.

Anybody else find undocumented features?

This is very well written.

[Bookworm]

I just purchased a 2009 CTS with NAV on August 7th. Its a terrific car but I have what may be a dumb question about the NAV system. Is it possible to have the NAV system working without music playing on the radio? I am sure there is a way to do that but I haven't been able to figure it out...