Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewGS
You also have to look at it from the standpoint of keeping basic OnStar active. It's $100 more per year to have 'Directions and Connections' over 'Safe and Sound', so you'd have to keep the Turn-By-Turn subscription active for 20 years to pay for a $2,000 SatNav option.
I totally understand wanting a SatNav with a screen, I advised my grandparents to shell out $2K for it in their Acadia, but Turn-By-Turn does give visual cues on the radio/DIC/HUD. For most people that just want to get instructions on how to get somewhere without all the cool stuff a typical SatNav offers or by simply telling someone else where they need to go, Turn-By-Turn is great. However, with simple but excellent add-on units like my Garmin Nuvi 200 going for well under $200, I'd opt out of the in-dash SatNav in cars under $30,000 and seriously reconsider paying $100/yr. for Turn-By-Turn.
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Where did you get the $100 per year price? According to the
On Star website it is $300 a year for the Directions and Connections plan, which seems to be the only package to have the Turn by Turn navigation service. So I would break even in a little over 6 years. We keep our vehicles for 6-8 years so it works out for us at least. I am also aware that On Star can display some basic navigation data on the HUD/DIC/Radio display but you can't compare that to a large color screen with a map.
I understand what you mean about the price, I feel in dash units and On Star's turn by turn service cost more than it should. However the factory installed units have the advantage of being integrated, which looks better than an on dash navigation. It also has the added advantage of not being easy to steal. The screen is much bigger than any portable unit, a big plus IMO. Finally it can do things that the portable units can't. It can control/display information for your HVAC/Radio and most modern in-dash systems have voice recognition, which is an easy and safe way of controlling certain functions without taking your hands off the wheel.
Once I saw discovered all those advantages it was easy to see the superior choice. Honestly also I see more and more cars with this option, I have even seen many new Honda Civic's in the parking lots with the in dash system. The portable units are great from a price point and being able to move them but for me that’s where the advantages end.