Map Upgrades for RNS-510

[arcadelt]

Having only come to VW in the last few years, I find some of their decisions perplexing. Surely the minimum would be about 10 years of support after the last car sold with a particular system, as that would be the reasonable life of a car. But to demonstrate real customer support, life time updates until it is assessed that there are less than a small number still in existence. I await confirmed advice, but there must be some way to appeal to their better judgment?

[FJ Steve]

Having only come to VW in the last few years, I find some of their decisions perplexing. Surely the minimum would be about 10 years of support after the last car sold with a particular system, as that would be the reasonable life of a car. But to demonstrate real customer support, life time updates until it is assessed that there are less than a small number still in existence. I await confirmed advice, but there must be some way to appeal to their better judgment?

VW do not make the maps, nor the firmware.
Firmware is by Continental (the manufacturer of the RNS) and Aus/NZ maps are produced under licence by whereis (i.e. Telstra).

VW have a gun to their head, and have no control over the production/frequency of map updates, especially considering the 'low' volume of sales in Australia/NZ.

[MIG]

Just had to call back the dealer myself, the parts department has had no news on new maps and to call back in a month.

[arcadelt]

VW do not make the maps, nor the firmware.
Firmware is by Continental (the manufacturer of the RNS) and Aus/NZ maps are produced under licence by whereis (i.e. Telstra).

VW have a gun to their head, and have no control over the production/frequency of map updates, especially considering the 'low' volume of sales in Australia/NZ.

Yes, VW subcontracts, pretty much like everyone else, but it doesn't change the fact that it is their product.

I'd be surprised if what you have said about maps is entirely correct. Firstly, Whereis is a brand of Sensis, which is no longer majority owned by Telstra. Secondly, Whereis is in the business of mapping, so they will be providing map data indefinitely, and not just to VW, but a whole range of companies that require geographical information. The map data is not the issue, but the translation of it to work in particular applications - I'd be surprised if this wasn't VW's responsibility, in the same way that (say) TomTom or Mazda would have to translate map data from their providers into their specific applications. Yes, the volume of VW sold is small and those that previously chose the (very expensive) navigation option smaller, but is doesn't change that fact that once having been purchased VW has at least a moral obligation to provide updates for a reasonable time - what is reasonable is the vexed issue to decide. We'll see whether the report that they are ending support is true, but if it is, I stand by my comment that it is unreasonably early.

[FJ Steve]

and I say again...VW are a customer of the map/firmware providers. If the map providers say "Na...phuk dat, we're not doing maps for those units any more" what do you expect VW to do, in respect to an obsolete, out-of-date, no longer optioned system?

It's a commercial decision...and when that is implemented, the consumer is at the bottom of the heap.

if you took VW to court over failure to provide 'proper' service/support for a 3rd party accessory, they're just as likely to hand you the latest Garmin GPS, with Lifetime Maps and wish you well into the future.

Don't get me wrong...I'm disappointed also, but, I am a realist. I understand that my RNS (x 2) are out of date and could be replaced by the latest Android after-market units etc....but I really couldn't be bothered. besides...I never get lost. Everyone tells me where to go.

[arcadelt]

besides...I never get lost. Everyone tells me where to go.

*Cute*

[The_Hawk]

Your maps haven't stopped working. The system still does exactly what it did on the day you got it. I think you would be hard pressed to win a case if you attempted to bring a case against VW (or any other car company/GPS makers) because they weren't giving you frequent enough (or ever) updates.

If I had to guess I would say the sub set of people with Nav who have bothered to pay for the updates makes the market even smaller again! As enthusiasts we are far better informed than the masses



Yes it damages their credibility if they stop proving updates to the NAV systems so soon after selling models with them included (and a smart after market provider should/could jump in and capitalise on that) but is it going to stop people buying new cars??

For the low end cars without Nav as standard it might encourage people to buy aftermarket kit instead, but then *good* after market kits that's likely to be supported for a long period is usually expensive and probably isn't going to be purchased by people with base models anyway.

More and more models have Nav included as standard... and who's going to rip it out *just* to ensure map updates? Maybe when it's too old to use. Even then... CarPlay is built into newer models anyway which gives you another option.


Sure I'd like updated maps that include the latest (ish) mapping information, but in comparison to Google Maps or Apple Maps, the RNS system sucks. I find myself using the phone more and more often and would happily trade the RNS for a unit with DAB+ and CarPlay.

On a side note, I have a Pioneer AVIC FB20T system in our van. The latest tech of 2010 which came with the *just* updated maps of the day! Two years later there was an update (2012), since then there has been nothing. The point being that in this space it seems that ongoing updates are more of a bonus than a given.
It's always annoyed me that $100 portable unit would come with 3 years worth of free updates (and likely be supported for much longer) yet expensive head units get SFA.

[arcadelt]

if you took VW to court over failure to provide 'proper' service/support for a 3rd party accessory, they're just as likely to hand you the latest Garmin GPS, with Lifetime Maps and wish you well into the future.

I think you would be hard pressed to win a case if you attempted to bring a case against VW (or any other car company/GPS makers) because they weren't giving you frequent enough (or ever) updates.

Gezz guys, slow down already. No one said anything about pursuing litigation or anything even remotely like that.

Your maps haven't stopped working. The system still does exactly what it did on the day you got it.

That said, if you think about it, the purpose of navigation is to navigate, and unlike some aspects of the car, the accuracy of the function degrades if the maps aren't kept up to date. Its not too much of a leap to consider that someone, someday might litigate if they drove off the end of a road that didn't exist anymore...but it certainly won't be me!

Even then... CarPlay is built into newer models anyway which gives you another option.

Sure I'd like updated maps that include the latest (ish) mapping information, but in comparison to Google Maps or Apple Maps, the RNS system sucks.

100% agree. This seems to be the future of the market, and because tech is widely available and used, the maps under Apple and Google will be incidentally updated because it brings their systems other benefits. I only installed my RNS-510 in 2015 and a CarPlay unit was a contender. I love the way the RNS-510 integrates into the MFD, but if it turns out that they will stop map updates soon, I will have really wished I had gone the other way.

It's always annoyed me that $100 portable unit would come with 3 years worth of free updates (and likely be supported for much longer) yet expensive head units get SFA.

I think it's lifetime updates these days - certainly is for the TomTom app I have on my iPhone.

[Idle]

I think it's lifetime updates these days - certainly is for the TomTom app I have on my iPhone.

Like most other things with lifetime updates/warranties, the question is: Whose lifetime? Yours, the app's, the iPhone's or TomTom's.

[Hillbilly]

Like most other things with lifetime updates/warranties, the question is: Whose lifetime? Yours, the app's, the iPhone's or TomTom's.

If you read the very small print in the T &C's its for the life of the unit, which is roughly till they stop making them and change to a new model.

About 5 years would cut that out. In saying that maps are still available for my Tomtom Go 730 which I bought in April 2009. Costs me abot $90 a year for 4.