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Navigation Fail - 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,315
edited October 2014 in Ram
imageNavigation Fail - 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Long-Term Road Test

This long-term update on Edmunds' 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel includes discussion of the truck's navigation system.

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    kirkhilles1kirkhilles1 Member Posts: 863
    That's why manufacturers shouldn't be coming up with their own navigation. Integrate with Google Maps and/or integrate with my mobile device. Don't give me worthless/bad mapping software and THEN expect me to pay for updated maps on top of that. This isn't 2000.
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    ebeaudoinebeaudoin Member Posts: 509
    I agree ^ It's amazing how much some people pay for in-car navigation that doesn't always work the best! I am thrilled with my $150 Garmin with Lifetime Map Updates. If I had a better-functioning smartphone, I would use Google Maps. The few times I have used it, I've loved it.

    Nav from the manufacturers just doesn't make sense anymore.
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    chol92594chol92594 Member Posts: 208
    Using Internet-sourced navigation like Google Maps is great, except that it requires a data connection. I'm not aware of any cars that have such a connection without an added cost, so you have to pay a monthly fee to a cellular carrier for data, just like with a smartphone. That's probably not a big deal on a more expensive luxury car, but on lower end models, a lot of people aren't going to want to pay that extra money each month. Plus, since navigation data requires a constant internet connection, you'll most likely be out of luck if you're in a more remote area where data service is scarce or nonexistant. Still, it would be better than a majority of the OEM nav systems used today. I use the Maps app on my iPhone for navigation (I've also used Google Maps in the past and at times where the Maps app wouldn't suffice for what I needed) and I've never wished for a stock navigation system. It's much easier to use and always up to date.
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    rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    ebeaudoin said:

    I agree ^ It's amazing how much some people pay for in-car navigation that doesn't always work the best! I am thrilled with my $150 Garmin with Lifetime Map Updates. If I had a better-functioning smartphone, I would use Google Maps. The few times I have used it, I've loved it.

    Nav from the manufacturers just doesn't make sense anymore.

    The navigation used by the Ram and other Chrysler products is made by Garmin.
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    speednetspeednet Member Posts: 52
    It just needed a reboot. That fixes computers great -- and apparently car navigation systems too.
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    Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I use Google maps with cellphone extensively, and it has been the rare instance that a failed signal leaves me stranded. I personally would never order NAV on a car, especially when it comes bundled as an expensive package. Also you can get a voice-activated Garmin for $200 bucks with lifetime maps and traffic.
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    misterfusionmisterfusion Member Posts: 471
    As noted above, the Ram's nav is by Garmin. However, the traffic data is an add-on feature provided by SiriusXM, so it's hard to tell whether the errors came from Sirius or the nav unit itself.
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