Ford offering Navigation after trial - is it worth it?

[Phil B]

The only thing I ever used was the weather radar. I do miss that. But I'm not paying for another subscription. Grateful there's not a subscription for cruise control. (Yet)

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[BroncoChallenger]

I never used it from the start. Everything works fine, my phone does maps....not sure what it does worth $50?

I don't know about in the Bronco because we never used it, but if you're towing in some vehicles, it will warn you about bridge heights ahead. That can be handy when hauling a large load or an RV...but with how little the Bronco is rated to tow, I don't know that it would ever be a helpful feature. Everything else Connected Nav can do, I can get with maps on my phone.

 

[helifino16]

I went ahead and got it because I like that it's built-in and readily available. I agree that Google Maps and even Apple Maps would likely provide all I need, but I also like having the Home Automation (open/close garage, turn lights on/off, etc.) with the Alexa-enabled interface as well.

 

[Pipper99]

I never liked the built in ford navigation system. I would try it for a while, but I’d switch back quickly to Waze: the routing, look and feel, ease of getting directions with Siri, notifications of police and road obstacles made Waze so much better for me.

 

[demos1970]

I went ahead and got it because I like that it's built-in and readily available. I agree that Google Maps and even Apple Maps would likely provide all I need, but I also like having the Home Automation (open/close garage, turn lights on/off, etc.) with the Alexa-enabled interface as well.

If you don’t mind me asking? How much did you pay? I got a $30 discount through email but I can’t seem to justify to pay for a service I can get for free through other means.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[helifino16]

If you don’t mind me asking? How much did you pay? I got a $30 discount through email but I can’t seem to justify to pay for a service I can get for free through other means.

Just my 2 cents.

Agreed - I believe that it came to about $80-90 for the year

 

[demos1970]

Agreed - I believe that it came to about $80-90 for the year

Oh wow. Mine would have came out to like $50 but I think that’s a one time deal since I bought mine last year. Once you’re hooked then back to full price. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[helifino16]

Oh wow. Mine would have came out to like $50 but I think that’s a one time deal since I bought mine last year. Once you’re hooked then back to full price. Thanks for letting me know.

This is how things are evolving on these 'connected' vehicles. I hear that other vendors are charging fees to activate pretty normal built-in features besides Navigation. (think like Self-driving, heads-up display, camera data capture, etc.)

 

[CarGuy]

Waze gives you live traffic.
Weather Radar I think it is work fantastic.
Yelp? .....uh, right. Not sure that's a deal maker or breaker.

Not a fan of apps that collect so much (non)identifiable data - I.e., Waze (a Google company).

 

[Ape Factory]

Pro tip if it hasn't been mentioned, you can download areas in Google Maps to your phone so that if entering an area with spotty or no cell service, your maps still work.

I have no idea why car companies continue to offer NAV other than to possibly have the equipment installed so they can track your vehicle or for the three people still using flip phones. Apple Maps, Google, WAZE are all far more capable and with the implementation of AI that's coming, will be far more convenient.

Earlier in my career, I did a lot of driving, usually two to three new places per day that I'd never been to before and had to learn to navigate by map. I'd look the quadrant up and then figure out how to get there efficiently, memorize it and be on my way. This smart shit definitely makes us dumber. Remember when you knew everyone's phone number by heart? Yeah, the good old days.

I look back, somewhat nostalgically, and think we all just paid attention to the world around us a whole lot more back then.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Pro tip if it hasn't been mentioned, you can download areas in Google Maps to your phone so that if entering an area with spotty or no cell service, your maps still work.

I have no idea why car companies continue to offer NAV other than to possibly have the equipment installed so they can track your vehicle or for the three people still using flip phones. Apple Maps, Google, WAZE are all far more capable and with the implementation of AI that's coming, will be far more convenient.

Earlier in my career, I did a lot of driving, usually two to three new places per day that I'd never been to before and had to learn to navigate by map. I'd look the quadrant up and then figure out how to get there efficiently, memorize it and be on my way. This smart shit definitely makes us dumber. Remember when you knew everyone's phone number by heart? Yeah, the good old days.

I look back, somewhat nostalgically, and think we all just paid attention to the world around us a whole lot more back then.

You're right, you can get downloaded areas on Google maps (and Apple maps), which on-boards them to your phone. The nice thing about built-in GPS with onboard maps in the dash is that it's not using up phone memory.

And frankly...unless you don't use a phone, and unplug the data-sending devices in your vehicle, they're going to be able to track it one way or another, whether you have built-in GPS, connected GPS, or none of the above. That's how FordPass works - it always knows where you're at if it can get service.

As for WAZE...it collects FAR too much data for me. And at least Apple maps has incorporated many of the same features as WAZE aside from showing where other Waze users are...which I didn't really want to know anyway.

 

[RR25HB]

Oh wow. Mine would have came out to like $50 but I think that’s a one time deal since I bought mine last year. Once you’re hooked then back to full price. Thanks for letting me know.

Year by year ... If you pay this year, the current technology and the apps available on your phone *next year* may obviate the need to pay in the future. Your phone advances faster than your vehicle.

 

[Headsong]

Not a fan of apps that collect so much (non)identifiable data - I.e., Waze (a Google company).

You can always use a paper map.

 

[CarGuy]

You can always use a paper map.

I use CarPlay/Apple Maps.

 

[Headsong]

I use CarPlay/Apple Maps.

And aren't they all connected and gathering data??

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