So, I'd love to have navigation on the car but from what I hear on these forums it's pretty terrible. I absolutely love Google Maps, and pretty much tossed my Garmin's and use my smartphone exclusively for navigation.

So my question is, what exactly is the technical reason why google maps can't be put on the C7 screen? From what I understand, the Pandora app links to your smartphone and uses that internet connection to play music. Why can't that exact same concept be used to allow google maps to stream to the navi screen? If anyone from Chevrolet watches these forums...make it happen.

Hell, it's not even about price. I'll happily pay the 900 bucks or whatever it is just for the option to have google maps on the car.

 

I was told this past weekend that the only automaker using Google maps in their cars is Audi.
But I agree...I think it would be great to have that app in the car!
S.

 

I think that many of the negative comments are being made by persons who have not used the system very much. I also use Google Maps with my smart phone. But, I am often in areas where I don't have a cell signal, so my Google Maps won't update my route. I also use On*Star with my built in Nav. It is also dependent on cell phone update availability (although less dependent on cell provider sites because it uses any available cell site).

I used it for my recent 3000 mile trip across the US from Bowling Green to California without any problems whatsoever.

I believe that the Nav is a very worthwhile option. I like that it is integrated with the HUD and other electronic systems in the vehicle. I would purchase it again without a second thought.

 

As long as GM sells a navigation option, they won't let you stream to their display. That's just good business sense. Where they don't sell a nav like on a Sonic or Spark, they do allow it with the Bringo app.

 

I don't have any real complaints about the C7 nav. But honestly, compared to what's available from Google Maps on your phone, nearly every nav system in current cars is out of date. And this opinion is a real departure from how I felt in the past. I've been using Google Maps quite a bit for the last ~6 months, and I love it.
S.

 

Agree, I really think that navigation technology as is in current auto industry is dated. I have Infiniti fx 2010 with navigation and now I rarely use it as I prefer to use Google maps on my smart phone. Tesla did it so it can be done. I don't think it is worth it to spend 800$ on the navigation

 

I love the C7 GPS, but that's because the C6 was just plain awful and GM hitting you for over $200 to get an updated CD that's over a year old was criminal.

When we added the C7 to our stable, we got dealer to throw in GPS upgrades for 3 years. So far, C7 & C6 are mikes apart on GPS. We'll still use our iPad TomTom when we drive the C6.

 

I love the nave in my 2014 GMC seriaa I would think the C6 one would be the same

 

I tend to think it's a bad business decision. If GM is looking for younger buyers, not allowing the nav stream is a point against C7.

(I suspect that older buyers are likely to go for the nav option whether they've got a phone app or not.)

I also suspect that in the long run built-in nav will go away from all cars.

 

I think it depends on how you use it. I can't stand the nav in my car, I never use it. The directions are generally "okay", but no traffic updates and sometimes it'll take me on slightly inefficient routes. But the big reason I prefer Google maps is the fact that the voice recognition is actually useful. Sure if you're hard-coding the address into your nav it's probably going to be fine.

But when it comes to driving on the interstate and getting a random craving for White Castle, nothing beats being able to say "Navigate to White Castle" and having it actually understand what you want.

 

The current state of NAV systems in cars was designed a few years ago. Integration with the HUD and car display thru Google Maps is the way things are going. The problem is that we are stuck with the C7 NAV probably until the C8 is announced. GM does not design and build the NAV systems. They purchase them from a supplier.

 

Tesla.

-bZj

 

Here are three instances of the navigation system in my C7 failing:

1. I was driving yesterday on a relatively new road, but completed three years ago. It is a bypass around a local community close to where I live. It was not on the GM navigation system map. The navigation system was totally lost.

2. Earlier, on that same trip, I used the navigation system to locate a street number and take me to the location. I decided to allow the navigation system to direct my course from my home to the business location just to see how it would do. It failed miserably. It zigzagged all over the place taking me through residential neighborhoods and sidestreets. I rechecked the settings and it was set to take me on the "fastest route". Clearly it didn't.

3. On a recent trip from Charlotte, NC to the Outer Banks, I used navigation for a portion of the route with which I wasn't familiar, from Rocky Mount, NC to Duck, NC. I allowed the navigation to direct me totally without looking at a paper map or my iPhone. Big mistake. I realized once I had arrived at the destination that the navigation had taken me approximately 75 miles out-of-the-way on a longer course which perhaps it thought was quicker...but it certainly was not.

There are other problems as well. Entering addresses into this system is the absolute worst. Trying to use voice recognition to do so is a miserable failure. Zooming in and out on your route is kludgy and time-consuming and unnecessarily take your eyes off the road more than it should. The "pinch to zoom" and "swipe to pan" are essentially non-functional. The scrolling is slow. The resolution is poor on medium zoom screens and the alphanumerics are awful.

I have owned a Mercedes S class now for three years. The navigation in that car has never let me down. It is extremely easy to use and very intuitive. Entering addresses is a breeze and it has never taken a route that I wouldn't have taken by my own choice.

Chevy...please go back to the drawing board, redesign and reprogram our nav systems. This is a fine car, which in all other respects is awesome. IT DESERVES BETTER!

 

I hate GMs Nav system. I just ordered a C7 and traded in my C6. I did not get the Nav, I specifically refuse to buy something that has to be updated at their mercy. I hated being told nothing is allowed once the car is in drive. I think the best map is the google one on my Iphone but Garmin has some charm to it. The big difference I see is Google is free right now (it seems to be updated very frequently) but Garmin is pricey.
Just before trading it in I replaced the GM head unit, in a 2006 C6 convertible, with a Kenwood unit. Many thanks to the CF members that wrote how to’s.In the C6 I had nav, Serius radio, and On star. The Kenwood unit worked with the On star perfectly but they wanted to install a new and separate antennae then the factory one. Not a big fan of paying for radio so I did not hook up the serius.
The Kenwood unit was advertised to play a Garmin AP on it’s screen. To do this you need to get the Garmin AP downloaded to your phone through Itunes (there is a $50 cost for the AP). Then you plug it in to an adapter that runs from the back of the head unit to wherever you lay this cable down. Once you plug it in you have to download another AP or two (about $100 more). The problem here is that when you run the Gamin AP you can’t do anything else on the head unit (no music) but your phone still works.
What I found out by accident is the Garmin AP will Blue Toothe to any radio with Blue Toothe. This works great. This is how I intend to do nav on my new C7. I start the Garmin AP on my Iphone Now I have the maps etc on my Iphone. The phone still takes calls but I don’t think you can do Pandora. The Radio is playing. No commands to stop the car before changing anything on the GPS. Now while I am driving the Garmin AP gives me directions (I can hear through the car’s sound system) by way of Blue Toothe. It interrupts the radio exactly like a phone call would. It then tells me to turn or whatever it feels it needs to when it finishes giving me directions it hangs up. The head unit then goes back to whatever music is being played (CD, AUX, RADIO, eetc). Oh there is a Google selection on the AP. You can use the Garmin or the Google maps.
Oh by the way I can do this in any system that I have synched with. When I use my 2012 F150, It works great. I have not tried it in my new C7 but can’t see any reason why it won’t work. No map on he head unit but there is one on the phone. Definetly worth the investment so far. Looked at the Garmin site but they wanted like $800 for a unit that would Blue Toothe.

 

[QUOTE=Tannman;1585668144]I think that many of the negative comments are being made by persons who have not used the system very much.QUOTE]

I would say that most drivers probably only use nav when they are going somewhere they havent been before. So, using a device that requires them to use it regularly doesn't make sense...

 

 

I'm sold.

 

With the availability of the SDK (Software Development Kit) for the C7 version of MyLink, it will be just a matter of time before someone makes public an app for that

 

Don't wait for it. With external NAV units being so cheap there is no incentive to develop an app.

 

Love the Nav unit in my new C7… it’s so simple to use and gets me there every time!

1. Push ON Star button - say can you please send "address" to my Nav unit. 30 seconds later it's there!

2. Drive to destination!

3. So easy!