$8/mo for connected Nav is too much.

[Ninjak]

Been using CarPlay ever since I switched over to an Apple Phone. I mostly use Apple maps. I have not had any issues. Used it to and from SuperCel this year, and it got me there when it said I would get there. Used it while in Tenn, and had zero issues. Like others, I use Siri to do a lot and again, no problems. I stop using Ford Nav back in 17....

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[Bugkillah]

In my job, Google Maps is everything, because it’s the only nav you can make corrections to. You can fix property entry, the house marker, names of streets, street addresses, you can even add streets. Invaluable for me.

 

[Area51BS]

Been using CarPlay and Apple Maps. I’m still here.

 

[MayhemMike]

Found my way for over 50 years without any of this.

 

[MachingBird]

Waze

 

[helifino16]

This whole idea is crazy, but I'm hearing that other manufacturers are doing the same thing for their installed options. You'd think that getting over $50K for these things that stuff like this would remain available for first-time owners at the very least.

I never dreamed that I'd PAY for radio, but here I am coughing up $6 a month to listen to commercial free Sirius/XM.

 

[tourproto]

I remember my mother and father bickering over the folded paper maps while driving the Country Squire on the east coast with us kids in the back seat.

Ahhh, the beloved Ford Country Squire station wagon, The 70s on-road vacation vehicle Ours had the faux wood side panels. Many a summer vacation across the western US in that car!

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Waze uses a LOT of data, because it is constantly updating locations of other users.

Apple Maps IIRC is actually powered by Google Maps (or was, much like Apple Weather is/was powered by WeatherChannel), so if you find an issue with Apple Maps you can report it to Google Maps and it'll get updated...it's not a direct report but it is still reporting it.

IIRC and depending on the vehicle/year, if you have Connected Nav, once it expires you MAY still have the built-in Nav that will still do the job, but it won't have updates, can't send directions from/to your phone, and won't give traffic alerts...but when Apple/Google maps are better and allow for offline maps, and are included on the phone you purchased and your data plan...why NOT use those?

 

[GoHawks63]

Also, it's an off road vehicle subject to use outside of cell range, especially out west. I don't know the map capability when there is no cell service. It appears there is no way to interface it to internet/live maps via Starlink (that some people put in their off road vehicles).

I primarily use Waze, however, last year we were camping in Northern Michigan where cell service was spotty at best. We couldn't get cell service to get directions to a restaurant we wanted to visit. Ended up using the Ford Navigation and was able to get the directions.

I ended up renewing it for the year when my when my complimentary service expired in January. Sure, you can download offline maps, but you have to remember to do that ahead of time, and if you didn't, you don't have cell service to get the offline maps when you need it. We go camping often so for a little over $8/month it was worth it to me. If most of your driving is in cell service range, Carplay/Google Maps is sufficient.

I did not subscribe for the full Premium Connectivity that gives you Amazon Alexa features. I don't need to tell Alexa to turn on my lights at home or adjust my thermostat before I get home.

 

[tourproto]

Y'know, the other thing that puzzles me about this (the cost for Ford Connected Nav), is that for all other aspects of how Ford packages the Bronco, they can be irritatingly good and forcing some of us to buy higher level packages to get features we want.

For me as an example, I wanted the Black Diamond back in the day, but I also wanted a manual and a I wanted heated seat (both hard requirements). So I was forced up to a Badlands and Ford extracted more $$$ from me.

When I look at all the people on this thread who won't pay for Ford's Nav, I don't understand why they are not doing anything to drive adoption. I won't pay what they want either but I would pay $30 a year, but Ford never sends (or at least I haven't received on) any discount codes or anything to get me to buy. So let's say they have 10% of their base paying $100 a year (just guessing at both), if they dropped the price to $33/year they might get 30% of their base opting in.

Maybe they are happy with the % of users they have but if Ford expects their "Infotainment team" to be a profit center (and again maybe they don't) with growing revenue, they sure aren't doing anything about it.

At some point either the team is gonna be laid off and the app will die (their cost outweighs the revenue they pull in). Or if Ford does consider it something they "have to provide" then the quality of the app will suffer (lay off 1/2 the team but not the whole team). Or they can find a price point where the uptake will increase significantly and the lower revenue per customer will be offset by the larger number of customers (Walmart method).

Just seems weird to me how Ford is approaching the sales model for this since 99.9% of Bronco owners on the planet will have an Apple or Google smart phone and the built-in nav is not a must have.

 

[Headsong]

I wondered what I was missing, never renewed the Ford thing since I use my phone for nav anyway. Waze all the way for me. Navigates, pulls up contacts. I can only think of one or two things I can't do without the Ford app, well, actually I can't think of them. So what am I missing?

 

[ptgptg]

I just lost my connected services navigation last week. I thought it was for life, but on my 24 Wildtrak it was only for one year. On my wife's 23 Outerbanks, she got three years (I learned something when calling Ford 10 times--more on that later--as we thought hers was for life too). In any case, I prefer the simplicity of having it on my screen rather than having to use my phone. Perhaps laziness, I prefer to call it less "wires".

I don't know what the best maps app is, but I wanted to use Ford points to get the connected nav back. That is where my trouble began. I could not get the app, my phone browser, laptop or desktop to allow me the option to use points. Until I got someone yesterday who told me that I needed to input a credit card because the NEXT payment (I went annual but it applies to monthly too) was automatic and needed to have a card on file.

I was pissed and told the guy that Ford was holding my points hostage by requiring me to save a card on file before I could use my points. Called him a few names and then a few more. I hope Ford was recording and uses me for training. In fact, when I retire, I want to be a trainer for call centers! I think I have a unique set of skills.

I finally resigned myself to doing it their way, but with a twist. I used a card I know won't get approved next year when they try to hit me up for the renewal.

Ford, if you are listening or reading, you can go F yourself.

 

[DarthLincoln]

Apple Maps IIRC is actually powered by Google Maps (or was, much like Apple Weather is/was powered by WeatherChannel), so if you find an issue with Apple Maps you can report it to Google Maps and it'll get updated...it's not a direct report but it is still reporting it.

No, Apple Maps is not powered by Google Maps. Apple does use partners, and used to partner with TomTom, but never with Google.

 

[UncleBrad]

I just lost my connected services navigation last week. I thought it was for life, but on my 24 Wildtrak it was only for one year. On my wife's 23 Outerbanks, she got three years (I learned something when calling Ford 10 times--more on that later--as we thought hers was for life too). In any case, I prefer the simplicity of having it on my screen rather than having to use my phone. Perhaps laziness, I prefer to call it less "wires".

I don't know what the best maps app is, but I wanted to use Ford points to get the connected nav back. That is where my trouble began. I could not get the app, my phone browser, laptop or desktop to allow me the option to use points. Until I got someone yesterday who told me that I needed to input a credit card because the NEXT payment (I went annual but it applies to monthly too) was automatic and needed to have a card on file.

I was pissed and told the guy that Ford was holding my points hostage by requiring me to save a card on file before I could use my points. Called him a few names and then a few more. I hope Ford was recording and uses me for training. In fact, when I retire, I want to be a trainer for call centers! I think I have a unique set of skills.

I finally resigned myself to doing it their way, but with a twist. I used a card I know won't get approved next year when they try to hit me up for the renewal.

Ford, if you are listening or reading, you can go F yourself.

Before I bought my Big Bend, I briefly had a 2024 Bronco Sport. It had Ford's navigation (and I really liked it). The salesman told me that as far as he knew, it was for life. I asked him how it got its updates, and he didn't know.

My wife bought a new Escape at the same time. Her Ford Navigation is still functioning after over 2 years, and has not paid anything for the subscription.

I'm baffled.

 

[Beach_Bum]

...

IIRC and depending on the vehicle/year, if you have Connected Nav, once it expires you MAY still have the built-in Nav that will still do the job, but it won't have updates, can't send directions from/to your phone, and won't give traffic alerts...but when Apple/Google maps are better and allow for offline maps, and are included on the phone you purchased and your data plan...why NOT use those?

The Connected Built-In Nav. standalone option or the LUX package was for 3 years. But the key feature is that the system doesn't "dumb" down afterwards. It still functions as a point to point navigation. It just doesn't have the map updates along with the added features like searching for a gas station/hotel/restaurant near your location.

I believe in MY'24, Ford eliminated the 3yr package/option and only included 1yr for the High/Lux package.

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