Are Navigation Systems Useless?
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 1,034
From: Illinois
I assume that everyone knows this, but, just in case some don't, there are many roads that will not show up on the map unless you have the screen zoomed in tighter. So, for example, there are roads that won't show up on the map if it is zoomed, say, to 1/4 mile, but, if you zoom the map into, say, 300 ft., the roads will appear on the map.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,570
Likes: 282
From: Illinois
For now, I still prefer an integrated nav system to using my phone. Granted it's hard for built in systems to keep up with changing technology but overall recent ones have worked for me. I don't keep cars much beyond the warranty period so the nav doesn't have a chance to get too old. As long as they are optional most buyers should be able to get pretty much what they want.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 51
From: CN
For me, it's the screen size that matters. A phone screen just isn't big or bright enough.
I have an aftermarket nav system for my ES300h and it does a decent job navigating, although my phone has more up to date maps and traffic rerouting. I end up using both if I'm going to a city I'm not familiar with.
I have an aftermarket nav system for my ES300h and it does a decent job navigating, although my phone has more up to date maps and traffic rerouting. I end up using both if I'm going to a city I'm not familiar with.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 252
Likes: 19
From: California
If you use the voice commands with the (free) Enform app, finding and entering destinations into the ES navigation system is quite simple, very quick, and very good.
I, too, had thought that finding and entering destinations into the nav system, itself, was quite cumbersome, and I found that doing so with voice commands didn't work very well. But, about a year ago, Lexus updated the Enform suite, and using it to find and enter destinations made a night and day difference with regard to the usability of the ES navigation system.
There have been a few other threads about this, and others have agreed about how well the Enform app works with the navigation system. For those who haven't tried it, I strongly recommend doing so. Besides how easy it is to use, another advantage is that the data base that it is using comes via the internet, and, like with smart phone navigation apps, it is constantly updated. In fact, using the Enform app essentially makes it unnecessary ever to have to buy an update to the vehicle's navigation system.
I, too, had thought that finding and entering destinations into the nav system, itself, was quite cumbersome, and I found that doing so with voice commands didn't work very well. But, about a year ago, Lexus updated the Enform suite, and using it to find and enter destinations made a night and day difference with regard to the usability of the ES navigation system.
There have been a few other threads about this, and others have agreed about how well the Enform app works with the navigation system. For those who haven't tried it, I strongly recommend doing so. Besides how easy it is to use, another advantage is that the data base that it is using comes via the internet, and, like with smart phone navigation apps, it is constantly updated. In fact, using the Enform app essentially makes it unnecessary ever to have to buy an update to the vehicle's navigation system.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 566
Likes: 50
From: Ontario
We Lexus buyers in Canada don't have Enform, and my smartphone might be classified as not so smart...I use it solely with wifi or for the odd phone call on pay as you go. No data for me.
So for me, built in Nav is the way to go.
Add to the fact that here if the police even see you touching a cell phone or holding it you can get a ticket of $495.
So for me, built in Nav is the way to go.
Add to the fact that here if the police even see you touching a cell phone or holding it you can get a ticket of $495.
Driver
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: CA
We Lexus buyers in Canada don't have Enform, and my smartphone might be classified as not so smart...I use it solely with wifi or for the odd phone call on pay as you go. No data for me.
So for me, built in Nav is the way to go.
Add to the fact that here if the police even see you touching a cell phone or holding it you can get a ticket of $495.
So for me, built in Nav is the way to go.
Add to the fact that here if the police even see you touching a cell phone or holding it you can get a ticket of $495.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 6
From: NT
We Lexus buyers in Canada don't have Enform, and my smartphone might be classified as not so smart...I use it solely with wifi or for the odd phone call on pay as you go. No data for me.
So for me, built in Nav is the way to go.
Add to the fact that here if the police even see you touching a cell phone or holding it you can get a ticket of $495.
So for me, built in Nav is the way to go.
Add to the fact that here if the police even see you touching a cell phone or holding it you can get a ticket of $495.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 566
Likes: 50
From: Ontario
Just googled this:
Ontario provincial police handed out 11,500 distracted driving tickets in the first seven months of 2014.
So yes, they do enforce it.
http://handsfreeinfo.com/ontario-dis...-driving-news/
Ontario provincial police handed out 11,500 distracted driving tickets in the first seven months of 2014.
So yes, they do enforce it.
http://handsfreeinfo.com/ontario-dis...-driving-news/
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 6
From: NT
Just googled this:
Ontario provincial police handed out 11,500 distracted driving tickets in the first seven months of 2014.
So yes, they do enforce it.
http://handsfreeinfo.com/ontario-dis...-driving-news/
Ontario provincial police handed out 11,500 distracted driving tickets in the first seven months of 2014.
So yes, they do enforce it.
http://handsfreeinfo.com/ontario-dis...-driving-news/
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
From: Texas
(2013 ES) I recently made a trip from Fort Worth to Albuquerque. The nav system recommended three routes, two of which went through Oklahoma City. I have always used US 287, which is mostly a controlled access freeway and a very direct route. I have used that route for over 30 years. I would be an idiot to do otherwise. 287 is also the route recommended by my phone app.
All three Lexus recommended routes required an extra 150 miles and 2 hours. No matter what I tried, the system behaved as though US 287 did not exist. It did not even show up on the map. I would not trust a $ 300 nav update at the dealer to work any better.
All three Lexus recommended routes required an extra 150 miles and 2 hours. No matter what I tried, the system behaved as though US 287 did not exist. It did not even show up on the map. I would not trust a $ 300 nav update at the dealer to work any better.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 228
From: GA
(2013 ES) I recently made a trip from Fort Worth to Albuquerque. The nav system recommended three routes, two of which went through Oklahoma City. I have always used US 287, which is mostly a controlled access freeway and a very direct route. I have used that route for over 30 years. I would be an idiot to do otherwise. 287 is also the route recommended by my phone app.
All three Lexus recommended routes required an extra 150 miles and 2 hours. No matter what I tried, the system behaved as though US 287 did not exist. It did not even show up on the map. I would not trust a $ 300 nav update at the dealer to work any better.
All three Lexus recommended routes required an extra 150 miles and 2 hours. No matter what I tried, the system behaved as though US 287 did not exist. It did not even show up on the map. I would not trust a $ 300 nav update at the dealer to work any better.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 51
From: CN
The good old days of paper maps... At least you could see the whole trip's routing at one go, instead of having to look at a tiny screen.
Before a long trip I fire up Google Maps or Bing Maps on my laptop and I compare the routing with the onboard nav and my phone. I usually save the routing on my tablet with my own changes tacked on. I don't trust nav systems completely, seen too many crazy routings especially when map coverage isn't complete.
Before a long trip I fire up Google Maps or Bing Maps on my laptop and I compare the routing with the onboard nav and my phone. I usually save the routing on my tablet with my own changes tacked on. I don't trust nav systems completely, seen too many crazy routings especially when map coverage isn't complete.
Pit Crew
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 5
From: ON
Pole Position
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 841
From: Idaho
Going to a funeral today and didn't know quite where the church was, but knew the general area. The GPS was putting me on the interstate and sending me into the downtown when I knew better. There was a far more direct route and until I got really close it wouldn't give up on its intent to steer me onto the interstate.
I checked in the "options" and the setup and couldn't find any settings that allowed me to tailor the behavior. I thought there was a place where you could tailor the GPS with your preferences. I thought you could tell it to use fastest route, or most direct route, or least interstate or so forth. Does anyone know where those settings might be - if they even exist on this particular Nav unit?
I have to say it was a bit annoying and I ended up really only using the guidance as I got within a few streets of my destination. I have expressed basic satisfaction with the Nav in the past but very many experiences like I had today will certainly make me rethink that position.
I checked in the "options" and the setup and couldn't find any settings that allowed me to tailor the behavior. I thought there was a place where you could tailor the GPS with your preferences. I thought you could tell it to use fastest route, or most direct route, or least interstate or so forth. Does anyone know where those settings might be - if they even exist on this particular Nav unit?
I have to say it was a bit annoying and I ended up really only using the guidance as I got within a few streets of my destination. I have expressed basic satisfaction with the Nav in the past but very many experiences like I had today will certainly make me rethink that position.