Navigation subscription surprise

[halfbakedenchilada]

One thing I like about Ford nav is it shows elevation, which I like as I drive in the mountains often.

If you only use Ford nav for elevation, but would like to use other mapping software, ABRP shows elevation while routing, at least on my phone. (Along with battery temp and a few other bits.) I use the pro version, not sure about the basic version, but the pro version shows elevation for sure.

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[chl]

Before there were built-in nav systems or any nav systems we used to use these paper things called maps.
If you were a member AAA would even make to a little booklet with your route marked from point A to point B.

Later when GPS came along, I had a series of devices, a hand-held GPS, and several dash mount TomToms. Now they sit around collecting dust and cluttering up my room waiting to become collectable antiques when my kids have to clean out our house when we die, lol.

Our old Prius uses a set of discs along with GPS for its nav system, the discs are now a few years out of date, replacing with a new set costs over $100 and are probably out of date they day after they're issued anyway.

My wife's iPhone and free APPs do the trick now, although pairing it to the car with BlueTooth often has problems (drop-outs and reconnects).

My 2012 Nissan Leaf has a built in map system, but after a few years it stopped updating - ATT changed their technology and the car could not keep up. Also if it sits in my garage too long without being driven, the GPS system gets out of whack and the clock has to be reset.

I haven't put the Ford system in my 2023 Pro Lightning to the test. Way back when (pre-college) I drove delivery in this area for an electric supply company and then a private mailing company, and all that map knowledge is still in my brain somewhere - they have changed a few things around here in the subsequent 50 years, but I've mostly kept my internal maps updated.

I have a pretty good sense of direction as well, even in multilevel parking garages.

Some of my kids did not inherit those abilities.
Nor does my wife have them, she relies on Siri.

Occasionally Siri and I have a disagreement about directions, and I am usually correct but not always, since Siri has access to more information about road changes than I do on a day to day basis.

In conclusion, would I pay for the Ford nav system, probably not.

 

[K6CCC]

Finding charge stations when traveling around is about all I would ever need a built-in NAV system for and there are plenty of free APPs that can do that.

And the built in Ford Nav does a terrible job at finding charging. Granted I never open the built in nav other than to poke at it once in a while just to see how bad it is, but my observation is that it only sometimes shows chargers. When I am driving near home, there are a bunch of DCFC stations. Each individual station will sometimes show up and usually not, and which stations show up is not consistent. For example when sitting in my driveway, one time it will show stations A & E, next time only station B, next time station C, next time station A & D, etc. Totally worthless.

As Chi said, there are FAR better options.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

It's actually impressive that Ford wants to charge for this. They should really have this be free to get more data, and get more people using it. Then it would help create an actual useable product and could start charging something small, like $1.99/mo, then as it continues to get better, $3.99, $5.99, etc...

 

[Pacific.NW]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I prefer Apple Maps anyhow.

 

[bmwhitetx]

And newer models get no maps at all when nav expires.

I think they still have maps, it's just a moving map with no means to navigate. That started in 2024. Long post about it here.

In other words, in 2024 they dropped "Connected Built-in Nav" and transitioned to just "Connected Nav". But always a map display.

 

[Mal106]

ABRP for planning, Android Auto enroute and Torque for elevation and GPS speed. All free. I like Blue Cruise but it's a bit naggey and unreliable in any inclement weather so I'm on the fence with keeping it. I don't miss the Ford connectivity at all.

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