How would you rate the sat nav? (RNS510)

[scurup]

Thanks for your replies (its great to hear such constructive replies), but how would you rate it against a stand alone gps unit in terms of functionability (map views, lane guidance, avoid traffic routes etc.), map coverage and speed of route calculation.

I think in car GPS features are always behind stand alone units because they don't have the incentive to keep up to date relative to other manufactureres, unlike Tom Tom or Navman which strive to out-do each other.

I hear the new GPS app by Google is coming out which is more intuitive and incorporates their 'street view' maps. This would be handy if you have a andriod phone or an iphone...and its free.

http://www.google.com/mobile/navigation/#p=default

[Corey_R]

Maps — I think they could have done better than Sensis (or used a better version of Sensis — I think they exist)

I'm surprised to hear this as Sensis is what powers Where Is, Tom Tom and Garmin. So it seems strange that the latest version of the RNS-510 software would have a heap of streets missing which are included on Tom Tom and Garmin or Where Is etc.

[Idle]

As I said, it's fairly good in metropolitan areas, but falls down once you get out a bit.

Case in point, check Link Rd, Briagolong, VIC (or Woolenook — sort of outer suburb of Briag.)

Google maps has it in detail (even shows the subdivisions), Whereis can direct you to it.

Sensis (supposedly latest in May '09) on my RNS510 can't find it — the nearest it can find is Landy St, which is some few K's away.

On the Mornington Peninsula, between the Frankston and Moorooduc freeways, my unit shows (and gives spoken directions for) one more roundabout than actually exist.

It was probably planned (why, I know not — it's a quite minor T junction,) but abandoned due to the long promised (but still not happening) joining of the two freeways.

Others have reported similar discrepancies elsewhere, particularly in WA.

Since Link Rd has existed for a very long time, and the freeway extension has been on the drawing board for quite a while, I can only assume older maps are being used.

[Corey_R]

Hmm, well that's a bit suspect. As I said, Sensis is what Whereis uses. So if Whereis can do it, then either those streets are newer than May 09 or the maps actually going onto the VW Navigation discs are older than the date would imply.

I would seem silly to selectively remove what had been added?!

[Idle]

Hmm, well that's a bit suspect. As I said, Sensis is what Whereis uses. So if Whereis can do it, then either those streets are newer than May 09 or the maps actually going onto the VW Navigation discs are older than the date would imply.

I would seem silly to selectively remove what had been added?!

Agreed, it would be a bit silly.

I don't know how old Link Rd is, but I do know it existed before WW2.

I get the impression that Sensis have more than one set of maps available — maybe VW went for the cheapest?

[Maverick]

$2500 is good value for an electronic street directory? To put it into perspective that's the price of a good quality LCD TV or high end laptop.

Clearly you know nothing about the RNS 510 and are trolling for a reaction.

I supposed you think $2500 for leather seats is crazy as well when you could buy a 20 seater leather lounge for that price?

The RNS 510 has a 30GB hard drive for music and maps, it has voice control, it full integrates into the car including the MFD, it has DVD playback including to the rear seats (option), it offers full phone integration (again with voice control), full ipod integration (again with voice control), it works using the cars system when out of gps range (underground etc) so it always knows where you are.

So the RNS 510 does a hell of a lot more than just an electronic street directory, perhaps you should enlighten yourself and jump on youtube and look at some of the recent firmware versions in action.

[Maverick]

Have you seen what Suzuki does overseas? It's teamed up with garmin to produce an "integrated" system when the garmin portable unit slots into the dashboard when it is then powered and controlled via the normal steering wheel controls. All this for less than 1/2 the price of a "fully" integated solution. The benefit is you can take the unit out an use it.

That's great and what happens after a few years when the unit dies and you can't replace it because it's no longer made? Or someone loses it or it's stolen and you have to fork out $1250 for a new one?

How many people have a GPS on their phone now so why would you want to take it out of the car? Seems like a stupid idea to pay $1250 for a half assed solution that doesn't offer any of the features of the RNS 510 when you could keep a $100 GPS in the dash if you really wanted a portable one.

Definitely one of the most stupid ideas I've seen.

[Lima]

To put this in perspective the RRP/Audi tax for the nav in my S3 was $5307, haha. And it's nowhere near as good an option as the RNS510.

So, when you think about it, the RNS510 is very cheap.

[pologti18t]

That's great and what happens after a few years when the unit dies and you can't replace it because it's no longer made? Or someone loses it or it's stolen and you have to fork out $1250 for a new one?

What happens with your $2500 GPS factory system fails outside of warranty? HOw much are the map upgrades compared to a hand held device?

Your logical is somewhat lacking.

For instance that's the path Seat ( a VW make) is taking with the new Ibiza. Integrated (yet changeable) cradles for difference sat nav systems. If I am not mistaken this was also shown in the new Audi A1 and the Vw Bluesport.

To think that people will pay $2500 for something that can't be upgraded when for less than 1/2 (for the Ibiza it 150UKP!) that they can get the same functionality in a sat nav unit they can buy anywhere. Dont forget all the MPS3/Iphone users that already have GB of storage space in their pockets!

[thezoneR32]

Well heres my 2 cents.

Handheld gps(navman) (tomtom) screen too small hard to read and when attached to the windscreen can be directly affected by the sun-stupid address input - after i have input a suburb why do i need to tell it that now want to input a street? small screen also means stupid little entry buttons - almost impossible to change on the fly- always falling off the windscreen-except when you actually want it to come off when it wont budge-cable running through the car over the dash down the side of the steering column and into the 12v oulet, which means i have to have it open all the time when i could be looking at the cool metal pattern on the behind the gear shift compartment!

In car gps-good size screen-intuitive menu system with good size buttons someone acutally spend the time to design an interface that works rather then punch out the latest camera taking mp3 playing technology before the other brand -no stupid cables running through my car which means i get to see my pretend metal plated compartment all the time!

I am a property valuer and i use my car for work so i drive around looking for houses everyday. In the last 3 years I have had 2 factory units (euro accord & subaru liberty) and 4 or so handhelds. Factory models have far superior general usbility than handhelds-thats withouh considering the functions that maverick listed.

Just received my rns-510 from uk cost $1000.