Nav questions/comparison...
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Nav questions/comparison...
My wife has a beautiful new blue 350Z/grey/grey...
...But her nav system sux, imo. Not user friendly at all. Is the corvette nav system touch screen and easy to use in yall's opinions?
My TomTom is so easy to use, I'm considering bypassing the nav for the ease of my existing portable unit.
...But her nav system sux, imo. Not user friendly at all. Is the corvette nav system touch screen and easy to use in yall's opinions?
My TomTom is so easy to use, I'm considering bypassing the nav for the ease of my existing portable unit.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Sadly, the Corvette Nav system is not very user friendly. It is very competent in my opinion (8/10) for my geographic location. It has never steered me wrong. The Nav data has some streets missing for some cities and towns yet from one version to the next here in the northeast if a street was added it appeared in my new map data...go figure. If you have used units like the Tom Tom or the Garmin family of products then you may not like the OEM Nav. I love it (even with comparisons to my Garmin C340). I would get it again in my next Corvette. For ease of use however, I can't give it higher than a 5 or a 6 out of 10.
On the plus side, I love the touch screen interface for the audio controls and the integration with the HUD in the car with the Nav.
On the plus side, I love the touch screen interface for the audio controls and the integration with the HUD in the car with the Nav.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 1
From: Deerfield beach Fl
IMHO, I would get it, it integrates with the hud and is not that difficult to use. Using the portable is a little goofy.
My wife has a beautiful new blue 350Z/grey/grey...
...But her nav system sux, imo. Not user friendly at all. Is the corvette nav system touch screen and easy to use in yall's opinions?
My TomTom is so easy to use, I'm considering bypassing the nav for the ease of my existing portable unit.
...But her nav system sux, imo. Not user friendly at all. Is the corvette nav system touch screen and easy to use in yall's opinions?
My TomTom is so easy to use, I'm considering bypassing the nav for the ease of my existing portable unit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Washington, DC
I think you're right with the TomTom as the way to go. They are great because you can switch them between cars and TomTom products are getting even better with their newer devices. I just started using a TomTom 720 last week and its amazing - I've been using GPS units for a while and this one has everything I could as for in it.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,898
Likes: 4,351
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
I like the Denso Nav. I probably isn't the easiest to use but I don't find it difficult. My wife can use hers (Lexus uses a Denso Nav as well) and she is, shall we say, technically challenged 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,813
Likes: 287
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Watch for the C6 to get a new nav unit soon. When you look at what Cadillac is offering on their cars the outdated unit we have does not look so good. I would not be surprised to see a new revised unit on the 2009 model
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 4
From: Columbia Maryland
I doubt that 2009 will see the new GM Nav system. The new system is much nicer and I've heard a better user interface. I believe the new Nav requires the CAN ODB2 interface, while the vette still uses the GM serial bus, so we won't see the new Nav untill the Vettes electronics are upgraded.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,659
From: Las Vegas NV
The C6 factory nav -- It's a little bit counter-intuitive as far as setting the destination/waypoints, but I really like the way the route is presented, and having the directions show up on the HUD is veeeeery sweet!
Another *big* advantage to the factory system over a stand-alone system is that the factory system is *always* there, and always on. In my previous car, I had a Garmin 680 (dashtop or windshield mount). I didn't feel comfortable leaving it laying out, so it was always 'put away' until I really needed it, or went out on the road. Consequently, it spent more time in the glovebox than in use. The factory system is always right there, and so I have it on most of the time.
Another *big* advantage to the factory system over a stand-alone system is that the factory system is *always* there, and always on. In my previous car, I had a Garmin 680 (dashtop or windshield mount). I didn't feel comfortable leaving it laying out, so it was always 'put away' until I really needed it, or went out on the road. Consequently, it spent more time in the glovebox than in use. The factory system is always right there, and so I have it on most of the time.
Last edited by Kent1999; Aug 26, 2007 at 09:43 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Washington
I'm sad to say it, but the Chevy Nav system is prettty poor.
Today was another saga of poor design being shown on it. Example, you say? Sure....
I was driving into the Jackson Intl. Airport from my home.
Chevy Nav:
I typed in "Airport" in the POI for Jackson. No luck. Only result was a barber shop and a gift shop.
I tried "Jackson Airport."
No matches
I tried "Evers" which is the name of the field.
No matches.
Awful. I would have had to know either the address (who carries that?) or be able to find it on the map and use that as a waypoint. I ended up doing the latter, just because I knew where it was. How sad. And naturally, on the map it is labled as an airport.
Garmin Nuvi:
I touched "Air Transit" and scrolled down a few pages to find the airport. I touched it and it gave directions. Like GPS SHOULD! Too bad. I really feel like I need to travel with my Garmin to really be able to navigate anywhere in the US with only GPS.
I will be replacing the stock unit at some point.
Today was another saga of poor design being shown on it. Example, you say? Sure....
I was driving into the Jackson Intl. Airport from my home.
Chevy Nav:
I typed in "Airport" in the POI for Jackson. No luck. Only result was a barber shop and a gift shop.
I tried "Jackson Airport."
No matches
I tried "Evers" which is the name of the field.
No matches.
Awful. I would have had to know either the address (who carries that?) or be able to find it on the map and use that as a waypoint. I ended up doing the latter, just because I knew where it was. How sad. And naturally, on the map it is labled as an airport.
Garmin Nuvi:
I touched "Air Transit" and scrolled down a few pages to find the airport. I touched it and it gave directions. Like GPS SHOULD! Too bad. I really feel like I need to travel with my Garmin to really be able to navigate anywhere in the US with only GPS.
I will be replacing the stock unit at some point.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
I'm sad to say it, but the Chevy Nav system is prettty poor.
Today was another saga of poor design being shown on it. Example, you say? Sure....
I was driving into the Jackson Intl. Airport from my home.
Chevy Nav:
I typed in "Airport" in the POI for Jackson. No luck. Only result was a barber shop and a gift shop.
I tried "Jackson Airport."
No matches
I tried "Evers" which is the name of the field.
No matches.
Awful. I would have had to know either the address (who carries that?) or be able to find it on the map and use that as a waypoint. I ended up doing the latter, just because I knew where it was. How sad. And naturally, on the map it is labled as an airport.
Garmin Nuvi:
I touched "Air Transit" and scrolled down a few pages to find the airport. I touched it and it gave directions. Like GPS SHOULD! Too bad. I really feel like I need to travel with my Garmin to really be able to navigate anywhere in the US with only GPS.
I will be replacing the stock unit at some point.
Today was another saga of poor design being shown on it. Example, you say? Sure....
I was driving into the Jackson Intl. Airport from my home.
Chevy Nav:
I typed in "Airport" in the POI for Jackson. No luck. Only result was a barber shop and a gift shop.
I tried "Jackson Airport."
No matches
I tried "Evers" which is the name of the field.
No matches.
Awful. I would have had to know either the address (who carries that?) or be able to find it on the map and use that as a waypoint. I ended up doing the latter, just because I knew where it was. How sad. And naturally, on the map it is labled as an airport.
Garmin Nuvi:
I touched "Air Transit" and scrolled down a few pages to find the airport. I touched it and it gave directions. Like GPS SHOULD! Too bad. I really feel like I need to travel with my Garmin to really be able to navigate anywhere in the US with only GPS.
I will be replacing the stock unit at some point.
To OP, if you use nav you need the factory nav. I bought my first Garmin 10 years ago and never went anywhere without one. Garmin went in the glove compartment within days of getting the C6 nav and I haven't used it since.
One problem with the C6 and a portable GPS is that if you are going to use the capability of the car you need to duct tape the GPS to the dash. The factory unit is solidly mounted.
Bottom line for me is a Corvette without the factory nav is a crippled machine. You can get by with a portable if you can keep it from flying around the cockpit but it isn't the same.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Stamford Connecticut
IMHO the Nav unit itself is just OK. Some streets aren't on it etc., but the biggest problem I have had is it often has routed me over dirt or gravel roads!
Also, it has attempted to route me the wrong way on one-way streets a few times. So the unit is OK but the data sucks.
Also, it has attempted to route me the wrong way on one-way streets a few times. So the unit is OK but the data sucks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
IMHO the Nav unit itself is just OK. Some streets aren't on it etc., but the biggest problem I have had is it often has routed me over dirt or gravel roads!
Also, it has attempted to route me the wrong way on one-way streets a few times. So the unit is OK but the data sucks.
Also, it has attempted to route me the wrong way on one-way streets a few times. So the unit is OK but the data sucks.
Yes, some streets aren't on it but that applies to every GPS you will find. Completeness depends on how much they improve the government database. I've found it to be at least as good as the Garmins I've had. Sometimes it tries to go the wrong way on a one-way and sometimes it doesn't. Depends on whether the database they all start with has been corrected in the particular application. But if it tries to go down a one-way the wrong way, just drive where you think you should and it will recalculate a new route within a few seconds. The Garmin's I've used just try to get you back to the original route. The GM recalculates the entire route and may decide on an entirely different course depending on Short/Quick/Normal. This is great when you get stuck in traffic. You don't have to change anything. Just turn off the first route and you get a new one.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Lake Charles LA
Chevrolet GPS
My 2007 C6 has Satellite Navigation. Upon first glance it seemed pretty cool. The more I looked into it, the worse it is.
I used to fly a Cessna and I like having data that pilots prefer;
1. I want my exact heading in degrees displayed.
2. I want my ground speed displayed.
3. I want to compute legs of my trips.
4. I want to see the highway drawn on the display that I'm on when I zoom out to larger scale.
5. I don't really care all that much for street to street navigation although I'm sure most people desire that feature.
6. I want a pushputton to mark this spot NOW.
7. I want much more higher resolution.
8. I want it to be more easily seen during daytime hours.
9. I'd like a bigger compass display. The 12mm icon requires study!
The screen quality is like that of an old 1983 Apple IIe computer.(Not very impressive...............)
Why is it that my $300 Garmin handheld displays so much more information and so much more high resolution imagry than does my Sat/Nav???
My 2006 Avalanche Sat/Nav is even far worse! You cannot navigate if you decide to insert a CD............
Come on GM, for 2 large, give us more??????????
I used to fly a Cessna and I like having data that pilots prefer;
1. I want my exact heading in degrees displayed.
2. I want my ground speed displayed.
3. I want to compute legs of my trips.
4. I want to see the highway drawn on the display that I'm on when I zoom out to larger scale.
5. I don't really care all that much for street to street navigation although I'm sure most people desire that feature.
6. I want a pushputton to mark this spot NOW.
7. I want much more higher resolution.
8. I want it to be more easily seen during daytime hours.
9. I'd like a bigger compass display. The 12mm icon requires study!
The screen quality is like that of an old 1983 Apple IIe computer.(Not very impressive...............)
Why is it that my $300 Garmin handheld displays so much more information and so much more high resolution imagry than does my Sat/Nav???
My 2006 Avalanche Sat/Nav is even far worse! You cannot navigate if you decide to insert a CD............
Come on GM, for 2 large, give us more??????????
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Murrieta California
My wife has a beautiful new blue 350Z/grey/grey...
...But her nav system sux, imo. Not user friendly at all. Is the corvette nav system touch screen and easy to use in yall's opinions?
My TomTom is so easy to use, I'm considering bypassing the nav for the ease of my existing portable unit.
...But her nav system sux, imo. Not user friendly at all. Is the corvette nav system touch screen and easy to use in yall's opinions?
My TomTom is so easy to use, I'm considering bypassing the nav for the ease of my existing portable unit.
You're right about the Nissan navigation. My wife has it in her '05 G35 coupe and not very user friendly. I had the factory nav in my '05 C6 and really liked it for the voice commands and option of three routes when programming a destination. When I traded the '05 for my '07, I decided on the 1LT package and get an after market unit. I bought the Kenwood DNX7100 with Garmin nav and am somewhat disappointed in the unit. My next one will have factory nav....
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Washington
Although I did go out and play with the thing for a while and figured out a way to get it to find it: do a search for jackson, then catagory airport. OK, fair enough, I got it that way, btu I had to try a lot of things to find the airport. I really think it should have showed up as a POI under the search "Jackson Airport" or one of the 10 other things I tried.
Good that I actually know how to use that feature now, but bad that is is such a hassle.
I feel like I will have to search for things 2 different ways; once using the POI name search, and if that doesn't work, try searching for it as a catagory.
I'm glad some people like the interface, but I am into IOCO (like the Garmin): Intituatively Obvious to the Casual Observer. I have never even thought of looking at a manual for the Garmin, and it has at least as much capability as the C6 unit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 1
From: New Orleans Louisiana
Sadly, the Corvette Nav system is not very user friendly. It is very competent in my opinion (8/10) for my geographic location. It has never steered me wrong. The Nav data has some streets missing for some cities and towns yet from one version to the next here in the northeast if a street was added it appeared in my new map data...go figure. If you have used units like the Tom Tom or the Garmin family of products then you may not like the OEM Nav. I love it (even with comparisons to my Garmin C340). I would get it again in my next Corvette. For ease of use however, I can't give it higher than a 5 or a 6 out of 10.
On the plus side, I love the touch screen interface for the audio controls and the integration with the HUD in the car with the Nav.
On the plus side, I love the touch screen interface for the audio controls and the integration with the HUD in the car with the Nav.
I love the NAV System in my C6. My BMW has the NAV System and I find myself comparing features of both systems. I like both systems. Overall, I have to say that I like the NAV System in my Corvette better. 
