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anyone purchase gps system aftermarket for their vette. I don't use a spart phone and was advised not to purchase corvette one. If you bought one which model and do you like it.Aldo what did it cost.
I would suggest purchasing an iPhone 7, is works really good with Apple Car Play if you have a 2016 or later Corvette. You would then have navigation and voice texting. I also purchased OEM navigation/PDR. I can have two navigation systems running at the same time going to different places.
Go to Best Buy pick up a Garmin unit plug it in when you need it and you are all set. No need for anything else unless you are constantly traveling and have no sense of direction.
I have 2x tomtoms which predate my 14 (which has NAV already)
Both the tomtoms have lifetime map updates, and were less than 100$.
Takes up a lot of windshield space though, which is why I accepted NAV in the floor model car I bought.
My parents have a garmin - I give it an edge for ease of update and a slightly larger screen.
But (perhaps because I'm used to it), the tomtom is easier overall to use.
If you decide to get one, make sure it supports Sd/micro Sd cards. The older of my two tomtoms no longer has sufficient space to store a complete US map and does not have a card slot, so I have to use regional maps in that one..
The newer one has a card slot, so no space issues in that one.
I would suggest purchasing an iPhone 7, is works really good with Apple Car Play if you have a 2016 or later Corvette.
Why suggest an iPhone? He'd then have to use Apple Maps which I hear from iPhone users is not as good as Google Maps which he'd get if he got an Android phone.
Also, if the vette is 2014 or 2015 then he'd have to get an iPhone as Android Auto didn't become supported until 2016.
Finally I believe that he said he doesn't use a smart phone and I get the impression that he doesn't want to start using one either...
You would then have navigation and voice texting. I also purchased OEM navigation/PDR. I can have two navigation systems running at the same time going to different places.
Really? Aside from the fact that I can see no use in running two nav systems going to different places, in my car running AA if it's navigating the factory nav will not have an active route. If you switch to the factory nav and program a route then AA's route will stop. IOW you can't run both systems even going to the same place! Bummer because I thought if I did run both, going to the same place, I would have turn by turn in the HUD and the better looking Google maps on the big screen.
I have a seven year old Garmin in the cubby behind the info screen. Works like a champ, although it needs to be slightly out of the cubby to pick up the satellites.
^^^ Bought my Garmin ~5 years ago and lately have only used it in rental cars. Works great and it has free lifetime updates. Paid about the same for it as GM's NAV updates!
Had NAV with my 2014 C7 but decided did not want to spend the money for what was not as good as the Garmin so got a 2LT Grand Sport.
A forum poster suggested I could put it in the cubby! Works great. Just drop the screen when I want to use it or just look at the MAP when I want to know the speed limit on a road etc!
I made a holder to mount it. Prevents it from moving when going over bumps etc. Plugs into the USB in the cubby-no wires coming outside.
PS: I don't turn my cell phone on when driving the Vette! Have enough to do watching out for distracted drivers to keep my 55+ year record of never having had an accident with another vehicle! The Garmin doesn't call with useless text or voice messages that tempt me to listen!
Cubby is covered with fine felt so suction cup mount won't work. Used an 1/8 inch thick aluminum base with side that press in the top so the Garmin doesn't move over bumps.
I use a Rand McNally AAA 2017 Road Atlas. Updates yearly (not free) and works off solar power everywhere. Oh yeah, it does not talk in that annoying voice, just lays on the seat peacefully.
To the OP: Get a Garmin Nuvi or other mainstream stand-alone GPS with lifetime maps and traffic
To the posters pushing a Smart Phone solution: It kind of depends....if you travel in areas without cellular coverage, a stand alone GPS (Garmin or equivalent) is better. I have had situations where Google Maps will not allow route changes if I don't have access to a cellular network. Ran into this last week on a trip through Canada and have also seen this in the mountains. I normally have my Garmin along but didn't have it on this trip. G Maps lost track of the route when I tried to add a waypoint. Didn't recover until I checked-in a hotel in the evening and got on-line again. No such problem with a dedicated GPS. Don't get me wrong. I like Google Maps (have an iPhone7)and use it a lot, but.....
I have a seven year old Garmin in the cubby behind the info screen. Works like a champ, although it needs to be slightly out of the cubby to pick up the satellites.
FWIW, always have my ~5 year old Garmin connected to the USB in the cubby. Initially there were a few times when it took 5 minutes to find a satellite. How it's connected instantly as long as it was connected to a satellite when I stopped as when in town.
When pulling out of the garage where it looses the signal in takes 2 or 3 minutes to find the satellites again. Have not removed it from the cubby or disconnected from the USB plug since installed.
Have checked and with the screen closed for the times I tried and when I opened was not hot to the touch. Will use my infrared detector after it's been close a while and quantify. Specs for my Garmin say it's operating range is 32F to 140F. Doubt it will get close to that hot!
Details of USB Cable:
Just looked this up as all I put in the PDF of my install was the cable part number I used: "GPS devices such as Garmin come equipped with a USB cable. It's primarily intended for connecting the GPS to a computer, enabling users to install or back up new maps, points of interest, and tracks or routes. The supplied USB cable won't power the GPS directly, but there are alternative methods:
Various companies manufacture aftermarket chargers and cables wired to power Garmin GPS devices."
The power cord that plugs into the USB that I used was sent to be by a Forum Member is Redband USB Cable for Garmin Novi Power 9 inches Long. Part number 202-0063-09
I had mentioned in my PDF introduction that I had posted about planning to use a ProClip mount for my Garmin that attaches to the passenger grab handle. It comes in two parts and cost $60. It would have remained in place even with the GPS not connected. Was planning to use the power cord that plugged into the receptacle on the console. The ProClip is also one used to hold a phone but does look like a wart when mounted!
Fortunately a forum member sent me a PM and said, "why not mount in the cubby as I planned." He had sold his Vette but had a 9" long cord that was designed to power the Garmin-not the one I connect to update the MAPS! It's apparently wired differently. He sent it to me FREE!
With the screen up the GPS is not visible and when needed it looks fine, IMO, compared to a phone/GPS external mount.
I just picked up another for my motorcycle. $100, lifetime map updates, and live traffic.
(motorcycles tend to kill non motorcycle specific devices due to vibrations.)
IMO, garmin is the hands down best, interface and support.
my two Garmins were killed by my motorcycle--actually the cord...maybe they both still work great in my cages with a USB cord. I use google maps/nav through my android and it works great. But to change destinations while driving, I need to pull over and park. but it's still much better than the ONSTAR.
To the posters pushing a Smart Phone solution: It kind of depends....if you travel in areas without cellular coverage, a stand alone GPS (Garmin or equivalent) is better. I have had situations where Google Maps will not allow route changes if I don't have access to a cellular network. Ran into this last week on a trip through Canada and have also seen this in the mountains. I normally have my Garmin along but didn't have it on this trip. G Maps lost track of the route when I tried to add a waypoint. Didn't recover until I checked-in a hotel in the evening and got on-line again. No such problem with a dedicated GPS. Don't get me wrong. I like Google Maps (have an iPhone7)and use it a lot, but.....
Ugh, how many times must this be said - you can download maps for offline usage in Google Maps.
Think you posted that before! Form follows function, so I think it's beautiful!
Suppose if I put the GPS (or a cell phone ) on a ProClip mount secured the passenger grab handle you'd think it looks better! I don't!
When not using the GPS and the screen is up you can just look at whatever! Since I listen to the ~1000 sings I have playing on in shuffle mode from a thumb drive as soon as I get in the car, don't need to see the name and song! If I do I just raise the screen!
Decide to get actual data re your comment of excess heat in the cubby.
TEST DETAILS:
Drove the car into town to get a Certificate of Origin from the Chamber of Commerce. It was operating for about 1 hour of which 10 minutes was parked waiting for the raised seal and notarization (some countries are a PIA!) The screen was up all that time and the Garmin operates when the car is running.
Came back home and with the kept the Vette running while I got my Infrared thermometer. Checked the reading by pointing at the large thermometer mounted on a white metal holder in the garage, which read 80F as did my Infrared thermometer!
GARMIN TEXT RESULT:
Lowered the screen for the first time since the car was started in the AM. The cubby black interior reflecting off of the felt and the wood holder read 85F on the Infrared thermometer.
The center of the Garmin screen, where it was white read 96F on the Infrared thermometer.
The outer black boarder around the center Garmin screen read the highest at 103F. Note the color of the area being read does affect the temp reading.
BOTTOM LINE:
On a cloudy SC day with a temp of 82F and Vette air set at it's usual 72F the cubby reached 85F with the screen closed for 1 hour. Interior car surfaces read just slightly less accept for the air-conditioning vents that read ~65F.
The Garmin on the outer black edge of the screen read 103F. That is well under he 140F max allowed temp shown in the specs!
FWIW
Prior Post discussed that the USB cord used and should be used is different that that used to update the unit from the Net.
gps
Bought my Garmin ~5 years ago and lately have only used it in rental cars. Works great and it has free lifetime updates. Paid about the same for it as GM's NAV updates!
they both still work great in my cages with a USB cord. I use google maps/nav through my android and it works great. But to change destinations while driving, I need to pull over and park. but it's still much better than the ONSTAR.
Form follows function, so I think it's beautiful! 