So I admit. I have not paid for and updated the GPS on my 06, but OMG is sucks. I like that it is integrated in with the stereo vs my smart phone. So that part makes me always want to use it. But every time I do, I just get pretty upset with it lousy directional capabilities.

Have others updated the GPS? Does it work well on newer models?

I'd love to hear other's experiences.

 

I haven't updated mine since '09. Recently drove it through DC and up the east coast. I did not have any issues.

I don't think any gps data base will be issue free. I've used my portable Garmin (always downloaded most current data base with the free lifetime updates) in rental cars and it has acted goofy sometimes.

 

The GPS on my Android phone is the most accurate I've ever used. I almost regret my Kenwood head unit with Garmin navigation.

 

The factory NAV was great when I bought my car in 05, but it’s horribly outdated now.
So I bought a Garmin Nuvi.
150 bucks with lifetime maps and traffic updates. I have it hardwired into the fusebox so it goes on/off with the car.

It’s hard to believe they have the same 8-Year old system in the 110,000 dollar ZR1.

 

To answer your question, an updated disc may resolve some of your problems.

 

Updating your GPS is not really a priority IMO,new roads being aren't built every year. Especially if you have a newer model. That said, I did update the maps on my 5 year old Garmin last year but won't do it again. As for reliability,you can't get much more accuracy than the satellites circling the earth.

 

I recently sold my 05 and it had very few issues, even though the latest disc update I had was the 07. I'm sure the the C7 technology is up to date but, if you learn how to use it, the C6 nav is tolerable.

 

The first time I used it on the way home from the museum it seemed pretty bad. Then I spent the time to learn how to use it and it immediately totally replaced my Garmin. When it gives you what you think is a bad direction, there is a reason. The reason is usually because you told it that is what you wanted. As with any GPS, however, you need at least a smidgen of common sense. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...rn-Oregon.html

Here is the manual GM forgot to write - http://www.theredlion.us/Using%20the...navigation.htm

Learn how to set the options (admittedly not an easy task) and it is a fantastic unit compared to the simpler Garmin/TomTom units. It is similar to the difference between Windows and Apple. Apple is limited in what it can do and Windows can do anything. Apple decides what you want to do and then makes it user friendly to do what they think you should do. Windows says "what do you want to do?" and it is up to you to figure out the magic incantations to get it done. The C6 nav will do what you tell it. A Garmin will do what Garmin tells it.

There is no significant difference between 2006 and 2013 units. Updating the DVD(s) will mostly just update POIs. Unless you are having trouble with roads not showing up on the map, a new DVD will not help. If you can see the road on the map then the unit knows it is there and the reason it won't tell you to take that road is because you told it you wanted to go a different way.

I know I'm getting long winded but an example: I take a routine trip to Illinois. On the way back it always tells me to turn off the main highway and go down an oiled country road. Why? Because I told it I wanted to go the quickest way and that oiled road is about 10 seconds quicker than staying on the main road. I use some common sense and don't turn and it quickly figures out I want to stay on the highway. Northbound in Nashville there is another "errror". It always wanted me to get on I24 as soon as possible because that is "quicker". But I know from experience that exit is subject to more traffic so I want to stay on I65 and go around town rather than through. Since it is more confusing than the oiled road decision, I set an "avoid" area to avoid I24 at that point. Now it takes me around town instead of through. At least it has the ability to do that which I couldn't on my older Garmin.

 

So perhaps there is something I am missing in the setup. I'll look at it again, but I've just gotten so frustrated when it tells me to turn into the middle of an airport(that's been there for 60 years) to get to a road on the other side. There also so many missing streets which I'm sure are not brand new. It just seems silly to have an integrate NAV system and then strap some silly little portable device or smartphone over the top of the built in one. And I'm sure the original cost of the Bose/NAV system option was waaay more than a portable GPS device.

 

If you mean the Navigation option on the C6 then an update won't help you at all. The updates are mostly new POI and more recent advertizing.

You're stuck with the 90's technology for address search and recognition. If you can't miss-spell a street name exactly the same way the Nav does you will never get correct directions.

 

The simple matter of the OEM NAV, is to learn how to use it, learn the features, select only Major Highways, and select the best of 3 routes that the system gives you. The routes can be reviewed, so the best ones for your needs can be selected.
The OEM Nav is not as outdated as most would let you believe. Roads and streets haven't changed that much since 2005 in most areas.
What usually happens, and some confusion, is when cities decide to change street names, then those new names may be hard to find if one doesn't know what the previous street name was.
This is when updates may help.
I have an 06, updated my DVD's twice, the last was for the 2011 model, and I didn't see too many changes from my original 2006 DVD.
The OEM NAV is just as good as any Garmin, Tom Tom or Magellan GPS. Those aftermarket systems have better graphics, but they can also give some stinky directions at times as well.
I'll take my custom built in, HUD compatible OEM NAV over any add on GPS systems that are a PIA to store in the vehicle when not in use.
I think there is a pic of one of those in this thread.

 

That may work for you, but it's F-ugly IMO. If I ever wanted to replace an OEM NAV, it would be with a custom look fitted NAV unit that looks OEM.

 

The oem nav works ok for me, but one must get past the primitive graphics and less than intuitive interface.I don't plan to update my 2012 for several years. TALON90 has great tutorial as well.

 

The GM Nav. is junk. It's about as user friendly as a grenade with the pin pulled.

Do you need a manual and/or tutorial to use Mapquest or Yahoo Maps?

 

I remember trying to find a friend's house shortly after getting my 09 with factory NAV. He gave me instructions(good thing too) as the 30 year old paved county road he lived on was showing up as me driving through some farmer's cow pasture. Looking for a address in a recently built or expanded housing subdivision? They are being built every year.


I gave up on the factory NAV and purchased a Garmin 40LM(leaving my old Garmin in my 64 Wette which I don't take on long trips from home anymore) for $85 at best Buy and I update it every 3 months for FREE. My new Garmin has a lot of extremely useful features that the factory NAV doesn't have.

 

One man's so called junk, is often another man's treasure.

 

Do you remember what resolution you had the NAV screen selected for when you were seeing cow pastures?
Unlike the Garmin, the resolution does not automatically recalibrate as you get closer to your address. In the OEM NAV, you have to select that manually, but users that know and use the system have the resolution set to either 1/16 mile or 1/8 mile, so streets show up on the screen instead of so called cow pastures.
The resolution of the NAV can be set from 1/16 mile to 128 miles

I will agree with you that the Garmin and TOM TOM units are really easy to navigate, and they have neat features that the OEM NAV doesn't....but guess what? The OEM NAV has some pretty niffy features of it's own that the Garmin doesn't have.

Each GPS system have their good and bad points. Unfortunately, the OEM NAV bad point is that it has to be learned on a slower curve that the Garmin or TOM TOM. The Garmin graphics are much nicer than the OEM.
I've used the OEM NAV for 60K miles on numerous road trips, and it has never let me down.
I also own a Garmin for my other non NAV vehicles, and those have never let me down either.
Each has had hiccups on finding an address, but both systems were able to recover by manual interjection.