Navigation update
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
You can buy a new Garmin every year for that... But then I think Garmin updates automatically for free. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 353
Exactly! The only plus here is that the car's nav is so well integrated (and displays directions on the HUD) as against a Garmin sitting on the dash. However a lot of manufacturers price gouge on map updates. My bmw dealership wants me to pay up to the tune of 250 per map update and coding it myself comes out to under $100 once you have most of the tools needed to code these cars. Sadly it looks like you can't do that with corvettes.
I wonder if the USB key they send is locked to each car with the VIN or if they don't do any such thing and you can just copy it to any car?
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,057
Likes: 17,925
From: DFW Area TX
<p>
</p><p>It is locked to your VIN.</p>
Exactly! The only plus here is that the car's nav is so well integrated (and displays directions on the HUD) as against a Garmin sitting on the dash. However a lot of manufacturers price gouge on map updates. My bmw dealership wants me to pay up to the tune of 250 per map update and coding it myself comes out to under $100 once you have most of the tools needed to code these cars. Sadly it looks like you can't do that with corvettes.</p><p>I wonder if the USB key they send is locked to each car with the VIN or if they don't do any such thing and you can just copy it to any car?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Still waiting on my C7 to be built. This will be my first car with Nav and that's only b/c is required for PDR. I often wondered about update costs on a car's Nav. I have 2 Garmins with lifetime maps and from what I've seen on car Navs, I'd rather use the Garmin. On my brother's Ford, when I had to go to a Honda dealer and did a search for dealers on the car Nav, it only produced Ford dealers.
I will probably never update the Nav on my C7 and just keep the Garmin handy after reading these posts.
I will probably never update the Nav on my C7 and just keep the Garmin handy after reading these posts.
you may be surprised by how much windshield space they appear take up.
That alone was (one of) the main reasons I accepted NAV in my 14.
(that and the outright lie I was told about map updates, but that's another story)
Hud integration is a nice feature, too...especially when the turns/exits are very closely spaced - the onboard nav seems to do better than the Tomtom for those.
Learn how to use it (including voice programming) is the hard part, but once you figure that out, it's a pretty decent system (imho)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
I just used a 6 year old Garmin in Europe and the roads were pretty much unchanged. I don't think you need frequent updates for the roads. However, the Points of Interest do change a lot so it depends what you want.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 353
If someone who owns a C7 could tell me, is it possible to send addresses straight to the C7? I don't mean using Onstar (as in I don't want to call them and get them to send a location). I mean using Google Maps.
With BMW (this might be part of the 4 years of included BMW Assist service) and even the Chevy Volt, I've seen that you can go online, find a location on Google Maps, click "send to car" and it shows up as a message on the car.
Can you do something similar to a C7 (with or without one of the Onstar packages)? That would alleviate the need for the Points of Interest to be updated for me.
With BMW (this might be part of the 4 years of included BMW Assist service) and even the Chevy Volt, I've seen that you can go online, find a location on Google Maps, click "send to car" and it shows up as a message on the car.
Can you do something similar to a C7 (with or without one of the Onstar packages)? That would alleviate the need for the Points of Interest to be updated for me.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 338
From: San Diego CA
If someone who owns a C7 could tell me, is it possible to send addresses straight to the C7? I don't mean using Onstar (as in I don't want to call them and get them to send a location). I mean using Google Maps. With BMW (this might be part of the 4 years of included BMW Assist service) and even the Chevy Volt, I've seen that you can go online, find a location on Google Maps, click "send to car" and it shows up as a message on the car. Can you do something similar to a C7 (with or without one of the Onstar packages)? That would alleviate the need for the Points of Interest to be updated for me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 353
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
If someone who owns a C7 could tell me, is it possible to send addresses straight to the C7? I don't mean using Onstar (as in I don't want to call them and get them to send a location). I mean using Google Maps.
With BMW (this might be part of the 4 years of included BMW Assist service) and even the Chevy Volt, I've seen that you can go online, find a location on Google Maps, click "send to car" and it shows up as a message on the car.
Can you do something similar to a C7 (with or without one of the Onstar packages)? That would alleviate the need for the Points of Interest to be updated for me.
With BMW (this might be part of the 4 years of included BMW Assist service) and even the Chevy Volt, I've seen that you can go online, find a location on Google Maps, click "send to car" and it shows up as a message on the car.
Can you do something similar to a C7 (with or without one of the Onstar packages)? That would alleviate the need for the Points of Interest to be updated for me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 353
Does the touchscreen make it any easier or is it harder to type while driving? I'm used to the dial that bmw has but it's relatively slow going when you're trying to enter an address.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Ah okay. I usually send around 15 way points so I can stay on roads closest to the coast and have backup spots for where I've planned to eat and such. Plus having to pay for the highest end on star subscription kinda makes it not worth it. If only cellphone reception was great everywhere and if only they release android auto support by the end of the year.
Does the touchscreen make it any easier or is it harder to type while driving? I'm used to the dial that bmw has but it's relatively slow going when you're trying to enter an address.
Does the touchscreen make it any easier or is it harder to type while driving? I'm used to the dial that bmw has but it's relatively slow going when you're trying to enter an address.
The particular trip I had in mind had around 20 destinations and/or waypoints in the round trip. Found out real quick I could ony have 5 using the onstar app, so I did all the programming sitting in the driveway before we left.
I've tried adding/editing by keyboard while driving one time, and I wont do it again.
Use voice control while in motion or find a rest stop then add/edit your points.
It's a lot less hazardous.
(imagine trying to type "18492 east commander sheppard blvd chesters mill va" while running 75mph in traffic and on the interstate)
Bonus vs some handhelds: on a waypoint, my tomtom goes to the nearest nearest cross-street and announces you have reached your waypoint. the internal nav goes directly to the waypoint address.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 149
Likes: 57
From: Camas WA
I wasn't referring to location of the car. I was referring to having maps. Maps stream down to Google Maps/ Apple Maps and replace previous maps. If you don't have a data signal, you will soon not have any maps on your device. You will just have a GPS coordinate on a blank white screen. This is why I said data signal, not cell signal. Triangulation can be done from a cell signal only.
Give it a try.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 119
From: Bellevue WA
Google Maps allows you to download maps (in sections) to your device for offline (no signal) use, but you will not have Turn-By-Turn Directions. However, Nokia's HERE app provides fully downloadable maps and provides Turn-By-Turn Directions, even in absence of a cell and/or broadband data signal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhBNKi2FZBM
Give it a try.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhBNKi2FZBM
Give it a try.
My point here is that when there is no cell signal, the internal Nav system is great and doesn't require any antics to get it to do basic navigation.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 123
Likes: 1
From: Cary NC
I also need an update for my 2014. I discovered yesterday that many streets in my area are not covered..... and they've been there for at least 25 years. I checked the GM web site and it states a new update will be available September 28th. I don't like the $160 price but don't see any other option.