Phone directions vs GPS navigation unit

[clifffaith]

So in spite of me saying to Cliff, as he wandered DFW 24 hours ahead of his flight, “Did you get the Garmin out of the rental car before you turned it in?”, and being told “yes”, the Garmin was left behind in Texas. So we need a new way to navigate.

Even after taking the maps class at the OFH (note to self to review paperwork handed out in class), I find the phone awkward to use. We’d just taken the class last fall before our last trip to Maui, so I made an executive decision to leave the Garmin home and just use the phone. I tried both Apple Maps and Google. It was “fine”, mostly because we knew where we were more or less because of two dozen previous trips. But I much prefer the Garmin.

So I am debating getting one of those “cup holder” things for the phone and trying to get used to using it in the car, versus dropping a couple hundred on a new GPS-with-traffic-updates machine. Last night on the way home from our new and still unfamiliar to us local airport (John Wayne), in the dark, I tried “hey Siri-ing” the phone for directions and it did not speak to me, just showed silent maps to Cliff as he held it. It spoke out loud through the car dash telling me it was finding directions, but then did not voice those instructions. That’s weird and problematic to me.

Has anyone happily or unhappily given up a GPS navigator and switched to just using their phone? Or did you try the phone but revert back to GPS?

 

[moonstone]

Since we dont have data (it and cell plans in general are super expensive in Canada) we stick with a separate GPS that has lifetime updates. Our kids who do have data use their phones with Google Maps or Waze as they give a more accurate traffic routing. They can have the voice directions turned off or on. They also all have a suction cup windshield mount for their phones that enables them to keep their eye on the road better than having the phone down in the cup holder or on the seat beside them.

We have almost left our TomTom in a rental car twice, but I remembered it at the last second. Did you try calling the rental car office to see if they have it? I'm sure they get lots left behind.


~Diane,

 

[clifffaith]

Since we dont have data (it and cell plans in general are super expensive in Canada) we stick with a separate GPS that has lifetime updates. Our kids who do have data use their phones with Google Maps or Waze as they give a more accurate traffic routing. They can have the voice directions turned off or on. They also all have a suction cup windshield mount for their phones that enables them to keep their eye on the road better than having the phone down in the cup holder or on the seat beside them.

We have almost left our TomTom in a rental car twice, but I remembered it at the last second. Did you try calling the rental car office to see if they have it? I'm sure they get lots left behind.


~Diane,

Cliff is supposed to call Avis today. Hasn’t happened yet!

 

[louisianab]

I don't know if your settings are all setup correctly, maybe double check for phone use.
Turn by Turn using Apple Carplay
Youtube Apple Carplay setup (2021 ios)

 

[geist1223]

We use our Fones with Google Maps with voice activated all over the World.

 

[ausman]

I held on to using my Garmin unit over using a phone for navigation. I think I transitioned to the phone only after about two years. I still would be using both at the same time if not for tech upgrades.

Getting a blue tooth transmitter in my 2009 model car made a major difference. I could hear the phone directions in noisy traffic conditions through the car speakers which was impossible before. I recently upgraded my phone which now has a 6.7 " screen, that also made a difference.

A good phone holder is of great importance also.

 

[clifffaith]

He contacted Avis and they had him email a lost item note. Wow, two hours later they acknowledge having found it, complete with a photo of it sitting on someone’s desk. $45 to send it to us, done! Now the eBay seller in me hopes the packer will cushion it properly. I did dig out my notes from the maps class, and used the apple car play link to read more about it. I will try to use the phone around town; want to be sure I can get spoken turn by turn directions through the car speakers.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I stopped using GPS units back in 2015 I think, never looked back. Does your car have Apple Carplay/Android Auto support? Most vehicles built after 2020 have this inbuilt - though certainly not all vehicles. I miss Carplay when using my wife's Tesla MY - but their inbuilt navigation is nearly as good as Carplay so it's not missed that much. I've used Carplay in both of my RAM pickups - so it all appears right on the vehicle's screen and is easily controlled via either touchscreen or via voice control. You don't "need" Carplay/Auto support but it makes for a much smoother user experience IMHO. You can make due with a Bluetooth connection of course - but it's not as feature rich nor as convenient IME.

 

[clifffaith]

I stopped using GPS units back in 2015 I think, never looked back. Does your car have Apple Carplay/Android Auto support? Most vehicles built after 2020 have this inbuilt - though certainly not all vehicles. I miss Carplay when using my wife's Tesla MY - but their inbuilt navigation is nearly as good as Carplay so it's not missed that much. I've used Carplay in both of my RAM pickups - so it all appears right on the vehicle's screen and is easily controlled via either touchscreen or via voice control. You don't "need" Carplay/Auto support but it makes for a much smoother user experience IMHO. You can make due with a Bluetooth connection of course - but it's not as feature rich nor as convenient IME.

I didn’t realize CarPlay “came from” the car and not the phone. We have a 2015 Ford Escape, so I’ll have to check on that.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I didn’t realize CarPlay “came from” the car and not the phone. We have a 2015 Ford Escape, so I’ll have to check on that.

The vehicle has to support CarPlay/Auto - specifically the electronics within the head unit itself. I doubt the 2015 Ford Escape supports either as only luxury vehicles had support at that time, but it’s worth checking to be sure.

 

[Ken555]

There are dozens of portable CarPlay solutions for cars that don’t have it from the manufacturer. I recently purchased this unit and it works great:

[2023 Newest] Road Top 8.9 inch Portable Car Stereo for Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto, 1920 * 720 Car Touch Screen Car Radio Receiver with Mirror Link, Navigation, Bluetooth, Camera https://a.co/d/fX7T9Tx


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[artringwald]

I've had hit or miss with Apple Carplay/Android Auto in rental cars over the years. It seems to be getting better, but still doesn't always work correctly.

At home with my 2010 Mariner that doesn't support Apple Carplay/Android Auto, I use Google Maps all the time. If you're phone is connected to the car's bluetooth, you have to select bluetooth as the input for the car's music system, otherwise you won't hear the directions. The advantage is that you can listen to music on your phone, and directions will override the music.

I did get a cup holder mount for the phone, but it was low and hard to look at while I was driving. Since my car has a CD player that I rarely used, I recently got a Magnetic CD Slot Car Mount Holder. It holds it higher, and is easier to see.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JCLPCKT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

There's a wide variety of car mounts because dashboards are so different between manufacturers.

 

[Superchief]

My brother is raving about his new GPS for seniors. It not only gives him accurate directions to his destination, but it also reminds him why he is going there when he arrives.

 

[babysteps]

I use Waze for driving directions and Sygic (free gps app and no data required of you've already downloaded the map) or Google maps (data required unless you've downloaded a map) for general way finding. I tend not to plug my phone into my car - too confusing lol

 

[DaveNV]

I didn’t realize CarPlay “came from” the car and not the phone. We have a 2015 Ford Escape, so I’ll have to check on that.

My 2015 Ford Escape did not have Carplay on it. My newer 2018 Volvo XC-60 SUV does.

I use my car's built-in Navigation app, which works very well. We've also used Waze and Google Maps through Carplay, when it was easier to use the phone instead.

Dave

 

[stmartinfan]

Our cars are newer and have the Apple Car Play function so it’s easy to connect the phone and see the directions on our built in screen. Love using Waze because it provides real time info on accidents, police or cars on the side of the road. Also much more intuitive, so you don't need the specific address, just a store name or other info to quickly get a location. Our car's built in nav system is too finicky about addresses…have to input them exactly right or it can’t find them. And ours charges for periodic updates.

 

[x3 skier]

I use the Car Built in Navigator or use Waze on my phone. Have to update the maps in the car GPS every couple of years or so but Waze is my go to Nav system. The menu system is a little funky and sometimes it doesn't download my calendar but all in all, I've been done with separate Nav Systems since 2015. (Except for my iPad and ForeFlight for aerial navigation in my plane .)

I never use Car Play in any car since it downloads your entire address book into the car system unless that's been fixed.

 

[TheHolleys87]

We often used Google Maps on my iPhone, with me giving verbal directions to DH, because it was much easier for me to search for and find a place than it was for him to do it on the car's built-in navigation system. That sometimes resulted in difficulties due to my not being able to watch the phone and the streets at the same time and telling him to turn too early or too late. Then a few months ago, DH tried to remove the SD card from our car's navigation system to replace it with an updated version and managed to break the card in two, with one piece remaining in the slot. He took it to a couple of places that sell after market GPS as well as to the dealer; everyone wanted $$$$, so we left it as is and bought a Garmin with automatic map updates. We love it so much more than the car's original navigation system! But if we ever buy another car, our two requirements will be Apple CarPlay and the blind spot monitor.

 

[SmithOp]

We have a 2015 Honda that I've paired using Bluetooth with my Android phone. I use the Google Maps app on the phone and the directions are broadcast on the car speakers. I didn't do anything special other than pairing. Why should Apple make it so difficult?

My wife calls it my girlfriend giving me directions.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

Here is THE cupphone holder! It is 100% made in the USA (Bolingbrook IL), fits all sizes, and you can even get colored buttons. If you buy from Amazon or 99.99% of other stores, they're made in China or SE Asia.

TS

 

[moonstone]

Here is THE cupphone holder! It is 100% made in the USA (Bolingbrook IL), fits all sizes, and you can even get colored buttons. If you buy from Amazon or 99.99% of other stores, they're made in China or SE Asia.

TS

The trouble with that is the driver needs to take their eyes off the road to look at it. A suction cup mount phone holder near the A pillar or under the rearview mirror on the windshield, or even one fixed to the dash, is much safer as the road will still be in the drivers peripheral vision when looking at the phone. Looking down at a phone in a cupholder, in a lap or other area below the dash, or typing on one, will get you a distracted driving ticket in Ontario which is $615. for the first offence and higher for each one after to a max of $3000.

~Diane

 

[HitchHiker71]

We have a 2015 Honda that I've paired using Bluetooth with my Android phone. I use the Google Maps app on the phone and the directions are broadcast on the car speakers. I didn't do anything special other than pairing. Why should Apple make it so difficult?

My wife calls it my girlfriend giving me directions.

Apple is the exact same - you can use Bluetooth pairing just the same in other words - it's just that it doesn't integrate with the vehicle screen/electronics like Carplay or Android Auto. Ask anyone who has Android Auto to downgrade to basic Bluetooth - they aren't going to want to do it.

 

[davidvel]

We exclusively use Google maps through carplay/android auto. I use it every time I drive, even to places I routinely go to. Realtime traffic will tell you if there is an accident, road closure, etc. Nothing to type in, just tell it Navigate to . . . and google lady will know where to go.

I cannot stand all the clutter of waze. It reminds me of the mushrooms, shells and bananas in Mario Cart.

 

[PigsDad]

I never use Car Play in any car since it downloads your entire address book into the car system unless that's been fixed.

Incorrect. All data for Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) resides on your phone and is not stored in the car's system, and it always has been that way. However, if you pair your phone w/ the car via Bluetooth, then yes, your contacts, etc. can be stored in the car's system, but it should ask you during the pairing process if you want to share your contacts, etc.

https://www.cars.com/articles/do-apple-carplay-android-auto-keep-data-from-your-smartphone-1420684038897/

Kurt

 

[dioxide45]

We still use a Garmin sdantalone GPS device even though we now have a smart phone. We never had one till May of last year. I guess we are late adopters of technology. I am still not sure the $80 a month to AT&T is worth it.