Navigation Voice Recognition Sucks
Lead Lap
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 576
Likes: 4
From: Florida
"The only downside is the annual $265 subscription fee"
First, it comes free with the vehicle for the first year - why not use it! Secondly it is not $265 a year.
One of the main reasons I bought a Lexus was for the Safety Connect feature. The fee for DA is $10/month in addition to the cost of Safety Connect. I consider DA one of the vehicles best safety features (aside from the Safety Connect feature).
Fees can be viewed here:
http://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdriver...bscriptions.do
"My wife tells me..., to use it" - Didn't you know you should always listen to your wife!
First, it comes free with the vehicle for the first year - why not use it! Secondly it is not $265 a year.
One of the main reasons I bought a Lexus was for the Safety Connect feature. The fee for DA is $10/month in addition to the cost of Safety Connect. I consider DA one of the vehicles best safety features (aside from the Safety Connect feature).
Fees can be viewed here:
http://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdriver...bscriptions.do
"My wife tells me..., to use it" - Didn't you know you should always listen to your wife!
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: CA
Elliot, I'm just the opposite. I would like to be able to do it myself for two reasons: 1) when my subscription runs out, I probably won't renew so I'll need to learn how to use it; and, 2) I feel foolish calling some call center to ask for directions (into the Nav). I know, it's me. My wife tells me the same, to use it since we have it.
Sadly this plagues all Lexus vehicles
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,581
Likes: 283
From: Illinois
We used DA and eDestination primarily while travelling. eDestination was handy when planning a trip, loading in hotels, POI's etc before leaving. DA was convenient for us while on the road. As mentioned not for everyone since they are subscription based.
I've often wondered what the renewal rate is after the 1 year trial expires.
I've often wondered what the renewal rate is after the 1 year trial expires.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,871
Likes: 4,114
From: Maryland
My problem with DA is time. It takes it 20-30 seconds to load and connect, then the person has to search, then it takes time to download to the car. The VR is much faster for addresses, although I do like the DA for POAs, etc.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 11
From: SF Bay Area, CA
For me, it's a guy thing. I hate asking for directions, and I hate asking someone on the DA 'phone' to give me directions, especially if its local. 
I'd just like to give VC an address, enter and go. What's so hard with that 
?
I'd just like to give VC an address, enter and go. What's so hard with that ?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,581
Likes: 283
From: Illinois
) those 45-60 seconds are no big deal. I see what you mean though. If the VR was more user friendly, for me at least, I'm sure I wouldn't have used these services so much.,
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Could not get the voice recognition to work inputting an address. It would not recognize the street name, and continued to get it VERY very wrong. My previous car gave you three attempts, after the third attempt it asked you to spell the name which worked flawlessly.
For a quiet car, smooth road, background noise should not be the issue.
See my youtube video:
feature=youtu.be"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGOHY-9RJ9U&feature=youtu.be[/URL]
Like the car, but continued to be frustrated for the poor execution of the electronic interface.
For a quiet car, smooth road, background noise should not be the issue.
See my youtube video:
feature=youtu.be"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGOHY-9RJ9U&feature=youtu.be[/URL]
Like the car, but continued to be frustrated for the poor execution of the electronic interface.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 11
From: SF Bay Area, CA
I've tried some of the commands that are part of the GS, and they don't work on the current ES. These commands were given from another ES thread and the author thought that the GS VR commands should work for the ES. A biggie for me: "Cancel" command will not work in the ES. I've tried to cancel current Navi, but must do it via menu. This is not user friendly.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,871
Likes: 4,114
From: Maryland
95% of the time I have no issues.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 959
From: FL
I finally watched the youtube video. It made my wife laugh, because she has the exact same problem in her CR-V trying to use the phone. I have yet to try this feature in the ES, but you make it look like a challange. Something to look forward to! 
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,581
Likes: 283
From: Illinois
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 11
From: SF Bay Area, CA
That sounds like my experience with the ES VR. Can't get it to do anything except make and receive calls.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: WA
"Lexus voice recognition SUCKS" is an extreme understatement!! When it can't recognize who you're trying to call(which is most of the time) it guesses at something close and asks if its correct then gives you 2 choices, Yes and No. When you respond with "No" it can't "Recognize The Command". It can't recognize the word "No" over and over and over again it can't recognize "No", the simplest word in the English language. My dog understands the word "No". My sisters cat understands the word "No", but my $50,000 Lexus can't! My service department say it's working correctly, well that's good news.