What kind of car do you drive?

[formulanone]

I don't like those huge screens in car dashboards.  There's no reason to have such a potential distraction just to turn the radio or heater on.  I want a car with a simple radio with knobs, and a HVAC setup with knobs or levers.  No need for a navigation system that will be obsolete in 2 years.  If I want navigation, I'll buy an aftermarket unit.

There seems to be two differing camps on navigation; one is going with a Google-based or other web-based map supplier, so that information could be updated as necessary. On the other hand, the old DVD disc is an non-compulsory "maintenance item" that some automakers tout as an upgrade. BMW is big on that as of late, probably because they offer free maintenance with the purchase price of the vehicle.

While we have probably each found at least a dozen glaring Google errors apiece, even my coworkers who travel the nation grind their teeth that various nav systems of all stripes have their errors...having a web-based system would probably be the biggest safety net for consumer confidence and therefore give automakers/suppliers more navigation system sales.

Unless you're a real estate agent, you don't need the intricacies of every newly-built neighborhood (never mind that there's no guarantee that information will be available for a few years). When I worked at a Lexus dealership, the complaints were thick and fast about how this neighborhood was included, and theirs wasn't - the former newer than theirs, of course - but I think there were many reasons why that was the case, which had nothing to do with the manufacturer. I think for most of us on this board, there's not that many major new roads created to justify a navigation data upgrade but every 10 years or so, if at all (I'm guessing more than a few here would prefer a 30/40/50-year-old disc, if such a thing existed). The rest we'd figure out on our own.

[PHLBOS]

Do they still make the Focus without it?

I believe one still can with the lower-trim models; similar is true with other Ford-branded models.  OTOH, I believe MyTouch is standard on ALL Lincoln models; however I'm not 100% sure if ALL the models offer the 2011 and later design (which is the one having the most issues).   If that's the case, then only the MKX might be the only one with the newer-plaqued version.

Ford models with the issues-related MyTouch might only be the models that have been introduced, revamped/redesigned since 2011 (Fiesta, 2012 Focus, 2011+ Edge, & 2011+ Explorer)

I'm sure in the wake of the MyTouch issues being reported; the non-MyTouch equipped (or ones equipped with the older variant) Fords have probably been selling better.

[Alps]

I don't like those huge screens in car dashboards.  There's no reason to have such a potential distraction just to turn the radio or heater on.  I want a car with a simple radio with knobs, and a HVAC setup with knobs or levers.  No need for a navigation system that will be obsolete in 2 years.  If I want navigation, I'll buy an aftermarket unit.

Why I Love My Camry.

[Dr Frankenstein]

The only thing I have that isn't standard is A/C. I have a manual transmission (automatic is boring), no rain detector, no automatic headlights, no electric locks/windows/mirrors/seats, no backup camera/detector, no cruise control, no navigation... and honestly, I almost forget these things exist. I wonder if the reason for that is just that I haven't really gotten used to these things. And one of the plus sides, as mentioned earlier, is that nothing breaks on that car. Oh, and seats take 3 seconds to adjust, and windows take 2 seconds to pull down.

[kphoger]

I don't like those huge screens in car dashboards.  There's no reason to have such a potential distraction just to turn the radio or heater on.  I want a car with a simple radio with knobs, and a HVAC setup with knobs or levers.  No need for a navigation system that will be obsolete in 2 years.  If I want navigation, I'll buy an aftermarket unit.

Unless you're a real estate agent, you don't need the intricacies of every newly-built neighborhood

Oh, quite to the contrary.  Any contractor has much need of map navigation for newer neighborhoods.  I work in the dispatch office for a cable installation contractor, and I get calls all the time for directions to houses.  If it's a new neighborhood, it's hit or miss even with thorough Google searching; I've had some luck with bookmarking specific towns' city maps, but online availablility is also hit or miss.

[Duke87]

I have two things that aren't standard: antilock brakes (because I insisted on having them) and the VIN number etched in the windows (because the savings on insurance more than makes up for the cost of it).

Power windows apparently are standard, and are a welcome convenience. I don't have cruise control but I'd never use it if I did. And, nav system? Pfft, who needs that? It's actually amusing, given how much driving I do and how often I go to places I don't frequent, people are at times surprised to learn I don't have a GPS device or any such thing.

[Dr Frankenstein]

And, nav system? Pfft, who needs that? It's actually amusing, given how much driving I do and how often I go to places I don't frequent, people are at times surprised to learn I don't have a GPS device or any such thing.

Same here. Friends saying "you're the first one to get here without a GPS and without getting lost the first time." That's roadgeekery right there.

[vtk]

My biggest beef with the consumer nav systems is I can't update or correct the map data myself, and "upgrades" for newer data often cost more than the hardware.  Not that I would use such a system myself, but friends and family could benefit from a nav system that I can correct for them.  I'm surprised nobody's making an "economy" nav system with freely updateable data derived from OpenStreetMap.  True, there's no residual revenue from data updates, but there's no cost in licensing from traditional data providers, and marketing as "the cheapest overall" nav system should be an incredible advantage in a down economy. 

[DeaconG]

My biggest beef with the consumer nav systems is I can't update or correct the map data myself, and "upgrades" for newer data often cost more than the hardware.  Not that I would use such a system myself, but friends and family could benefit from a nav system that I can correct for them.  I'm surprised nobody's making an "economy" nav system with freely updateable data derived from OpenStreetMap.  True, there's no residual revenue from data updates, but there's no cost in licensing from traditional data providers, and marketing as "the cheapest overall" nav system should be an incredible advantage in a down economy. 

No duh.  I just bought updated nav discs for my car...$199.
Bought updated nav discs for my previous car three years ago...$199.
Grrrrr...

[realjd]

I don't like those huge screens in car dashboards.  There's no reason to have such a potential distraction just to turn the radio or heater on.  I want a car with a simple radio with knobs, and a HVAC setup with knobs or levers.  No need for a navigation system that will be obsolete in 2 years.  If I want navigation, I'll buy an aftermarket unit.

My Infiniti has the big screen like that, but it has physical HVAC and radio knobs/levers also.



The nav system upgrade is usually expensive, but includes more than the nav system itself. In the case of the Infiniti, if I had purchased the nav system upgrade it would have also come with a higher resolution, touch-screen LCD screen, video playback in-dash, a built-in HD to store digital music, voice control, and the ability to stream audio from my iPhone over bluetooth (as opposed to the USB port I have to use now). That said, the in-dash nav systems are very nice. The screens are usually much bigger than an aftermarket Garmin, and it's much better integrated with the rest of the car.

[DeaconG]

^Oh God, I miss my 2006 M45 Premium...complete with entertainment center, backup camera...the absolute bomb.  Had to go to Atlanta to get it, was absolutely worth it...until some (expletive) in a 2002 Ford Explorer pulled in front of me in Pensacola Christmas 2010 and totalled it.

Yes, I'm still in mourning.

That's why I'm driving a 2006 BMW 750Li right now-I couldn't find anything to replace my M45 within 500 miles of Orlando, and I wasn't going to do that out of town thing again.  I'm an old fart who needs his creature comforts...on the last day of my rental I found one with 40K miles with 14 months left on the CPO, so I bought it (on my birthday no less).

[Sanctimoniously]

Wow, I leave home for a few days and look what happens. . .

The Focus does have physical knobs for the HVAC and the radio (I can still change station and adjust the volume without the touchscreen). I personally like it, the normal screen looked kinda cheap and didn't fit its allotted space very well. I drove two top-of-the-line Buick LeSabres, then went into a base-model Jeep and it was like living in the dark, so I'm glad to have some comforts again.

[realjd]

^Oh God, I miss my 2006 M45 Premium...complete with entertainment center, backup camera...the absolute bomb.  Had to go to Atlanta to get it, was absolutely worth it...until some (expletive) in a 2002 Ford Explorer pulled in front of me in Pensacola Christmas 2010 and totalled it.

Yes, I'm still in mourning.

That's why I'm driving a 2006 BMW 750Li right now-I couldn't find anything to replace my M45 within 500 miles of Orlando, and I wasn't going to do that out of town thing again.  I'm an old fart who needs his creature comforts...on the last day of my rental I found one with 40K miles with 14 months left on the CPO, so I bought it (on my birthday no less).

M45? Drool....

I absolutely love my G37. BMWs are awesome to drive, but the interiors feel stuck in the 90's IMO. My wife loves my G so much that she's looking at picking up a used FX35 for her next car, which I like because the FX can tow a boat (which I want) while my G can't.

Backup cameras are an absolute unnecessary luxury, but I find that's the primary feature I miss when I travel and get a rental car.

[agentsteel53]

I don't have cruise control but I'd never use it if I did.

I use cruise control as often as possible.  It gives me one less thing to think about, cuts down on the possibility of speeding tickets, and also increases my fuel efficiency.  I even use it on arterials, setting it for 40-50mph or so... and I definitely use it in small towns: 28 in a 30 very much discourages police interference.

I rolled 140000 on my Taurus not too long ago.  I believe I've put 26000 miles on it since I got it in September.

[Kacie Jane]

1986 Toyota Camry.  180K miles, 35K of which are mine over 3 years.  Runs like a charm.

[Sanctimoniously]

I use cruise control as often as possible.  It gives me one less thing to think about, cuts down on the possibility of speeding tickets, and also increases my fuel efficiency.  I even use it on arterials, setting it for 40-50mph or so... and I definitely use it in small towns: 28 in a 30 very much discourages police interference.

This. I find when I'm on the highway, I rarely use the brake to control my speed, just the accelerate and decelerate buttons. Makes it much easier to decelerate two or three miles per hour to keep my distance from a car and accelerating back to my previous speed afterward is much more efficient.

[DeaconG]

BMWs are awesome to drive, but the interiors feel stuck in the 90's IMO.

Wasn't my first choice-when I couldn't get a matching M45 I wanted a used MB C-Class (I really wanted a used CLS), but the prices for a 4-year old MB were just beyond my reach.  Same for the Audi A8. That left the 750Li...and I found one in Ft. Pierce.

Besides, the seats are evil (14 way power plus heating/cooling and butt massager for the driver)...and believe me when I tell you it will flat out MOVE, especially in Sport mode.

[PHLBOS]

My Infiniti has the big screen like that, but it has physical HVAC and radio knobs/levers also.



The nav system upgrade is usually expensive, but includes more than the nav system itself. In the case of the Infiniti, if I had purchased the nav system upgrade it would have also come with a higher resolution, touch-screen LCD screen, video playback in-dash, a built-in HD to store digital music, voice control, and the ability to stream audio from my iPhone over bluetooth (as opposed to the USB port I have to use now). That said, the in-dash nav systems are very nice. The screens are usually much bigger than an aftermarket Garmin, and it's much better integrated with the rest of the car.

Set the way-back machine to 1989:

Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo

[Takumi]

I've seen similar dashboards in old Nissan 300ZX's, back to at least '86.

[Stratuscaster]

My biggest beef with the consumer nav systems is I can't update or correct the map data myself, and "upgrades" for newer data often cost more than the hardware.  Not that I would use such a system myself, but friends and family could benefit from a nav system that I can correct for them.  I'm surprised nobody's making an "economy" nav system with freely updateable data derived from OpenStreetMap.  True, there's no residual revenue from data updates, but there's no cost in licensing from traditional data providers, and marketing as "the cheapest overall" nav system should be an incredible advantage in a down economy. 

Garmin's latest NAVs appear to now have a "Lifetime Maps" option on at least some of the SKUs. If I recall, Garmin changed map data sources recently, too - might have something to so with it.

(I may or may not be aware of a fairly easy method to obtain map updates for some Garmin nuvi models at no charge, but that may require obtaining an SD or microSD card to use it. Anyone with some Google-fu can find it as well.)

Having said that - I do agree - leveraging OSM's maps could make it cheaper. My concern would be making sure that edits and such are confirmed and verified, lest we get folks sending people where they ought not be going.

[vtk]

Actually, to me the biggest problem with OSM in consumer nav systems is that, at least in most of the US, OSM currently lacks the data necessary for geocoding addresses.  Intersections could work, but not everyone knows what is the nearest cross-street for their destination or how to obtain that information.  Lat&lon are another issue altogether, from a user standpoint.

Personally I think there are problems inherent with identifying locations solely by the same information one uses to send mail to those locations.  But I'm getting way off-topic...

[F350]

1997 Ford F350 4-wheel pickup. No options, and loving it.

My travel vehicle is a 1977 Dodge B200 full-sized van.

[Duke87]

I don't like cruise control because I need the tactile feedback of my foot on the pedals. If my foot isn't doing anything I feel like all of a sudden I'm not in control anymore and that freaks me out.

Which is funny, because I don't and can't drive manual transmission. But I grew up with every car always having automatic so it doesn't feel "missing".

[signalman]

Funny you mentioned cruise control and a manual transmission.  Those were two musts in my book when I was car shopping.  I like cruise control for long trips.  It allows me to not worry about maintaining speed while I look for cool license plates and signs.  The manual transmission I wanted for a more hands on driving experience, however, I'll be the first to admit they suck in stop and go traffic. 

[formulanone]

I'm not big on cruise control, but they aero helpful when you have to:
1) Scratch your foot, ankle, toes
2) Maintain some absurdly low speed limit for several miles in a construction zone with no work.