Opinions, Garmin NUVI 3550 vs factory NAV.

[philsey]

I'm trying to decided if I should bother jerking around with the factory NAV in my new 4R. I haven't even turned it on yet.

PROS, my Garmin:
Lifetime free updates, easy-peasy 30 min. on line.
Usable when car in motion.
Easy to rotate for passenger use.
Easy to move to wife's car (no NAV).
I know how to use it

CONS:
I wouldn't mind a larger display.
Install/power cord a little clunky, but I won't fix this as I only use the Garmin on trips. Pretty minor stuff really.

PROS/CONS of factory unkn.

Gracias.

 

[ToyDB]

I've used OEM navigation systems in several makes of cars - USA, Asian and European. Don't think any of them beat the dedicated aftermarket units from the major players like Garmin and TomTom. Just a matter of preference for a more dedicated product (Nav only) versus an integrated unit (nav, audio, phone, etc.) I've left my Garmin in my non-nav car and go with the Etune unit in my 2018 4Runner. To your points, the OEM unit is not as easy to use, lacks several features versus my Garmin and I have to re-learn, etc. but at the end of days the Etune nav unit meets my needs 95% of the time and at least for now I don't want the clutter of a more capable, but essentially redundant unit, on my dash. No right wrong - just personal preference in my opinion.

 

[epjfsa]

Have you considered aftermarket? I recently installed a Kenwood head unit with
android auto/apple carplay and a 7" screen. Can't get any more current than google maps/Waze, with a side bonus of much better routing around traffic. To be honest, I was very hesitant because I didn't want to mess with the factory look but, so far, it looks fine and was worth it to have a nice big map and no second device to worry about (or get stolen like mine did about 6 years ago). Somewhat humorously, the side benefit was much improve sound quality.

Also, in case it mattered, you can download offline maps in google maps (I have the region from NY-DC-Pittsburgh) to your phone, so works even if cell service is out or even worse. You basically have a regional atlas.

 

[e60ral]

CONS:
I wouldn't mind a larger display.

get a cheap 7" android tablet and run navigation on that. I use waze or google maps for on road, gaiaGPS off road, and occasionally sygic for offline on-road navigation

i had a garmin nuvi 3550LM and the reason I got rid of mine was because it was slow to input long manual routes and if you're driving and see something beside you that you want to explore, the screen just wasn't responsive enough for zooming out and scrolling around to look at stuff.

 

[philsey]

Comments appreciated. To flesh out a little. I'm retired, 4R is strictly a DD, only really install/use the GPS periodically. I've read enough mediocre comment on the factory nav as to be hesitant to bother using it. I would not have gotten it but I wanted the other features of the SR5P.

You may have seen my other thread looking for a better mount.

Thanks.

 

[empty403]

I'm trying to decided if I should bother jerking around with the factory NAV in my new 4R. I haven't even turned it on yet.

PROS, my Garmin:
Lifetime free updates, easy-peasy 30 min. on line.
Usable when car in motion.
Easy to rotate for passenger use.
Easy to move to wife's car (no NAV).
I know how to use it

CONS:
I wouldn't mind a larger display.
Install/power cord a little clunky, but I won't fix this as I only use the Garmin on trips. Pretty minor stuff really.

PROS/CONS of factory unkn.

Gracias.

Why not use your phone?

 

[e60ral]

I've read enough mediocre comment on the factory nav as to be hesitant to bother using it

it's fine as far as factory systems go, it just depends on what you are trying to do. if you have an address it's easy enough to use, but searching for something is hit or miss.

it won't get as creative for directions as waze or google maps will, it prefers main roads, and even though it gets traffic updates it's pretty meh about avoiding traffic.

some examples of times i use it vs my phone or tablet would be if i'm just out running random errands and had a bunch of stops and now i need to figure out the best way home, hitting the home button in nav is easier than using my phone. when i'm on road trips i often take side trips or scenic routes and explore on the way, i usually use paper maps or my phone/tablet for that but i'll plug my ultimate destination in the factory nav just to keep an eye on how my arrival time is changing as i take detours.

there are a few features that i like about factory nav. One is giving you an at-a-glance description of what is available on the next exit (gas, food, lodging). The Garmin did this (if i remember correctly) but the factory system does a better job than google or waze. Another is being able to select what icons to show on the map - I have mine set to show gas (any), starbucks, fast food (any), and atms since those are the things I need to find when I'm on the road. It helps just being able to see where they are as you drive so you don't have to take the time to search and add to your route, you can easily tell when one is nearby you can stop at.

When I'm using my phone or tablet for navigation on road trips, I will still use the factory navigation in addition but I zoom way out and put the factory nav in north-up mode so i get an overview of where I am so I can stay better oriented which helps me find detours if I need to avoid traffic or realize I'm near something else I wanted to explore. Also I like the weather map, although that's the weather app and not maps.

 

[philsey]

Why not use your phone?

Legit question. I own the Garmin, know how to use it, etc. I do have a new phone, but I'm not a "Smart-phone-kinda-guy". Guess it's the same question as the factory nav: "what's the advantage"?

 

[epjfsa]

Legit question. I own the Garmin, know how to use it, etc. I do have a new phone, but I'm not a "Smart-phone-kinda-guy". Guess it's the same question as the factory nav: "what's the advantage"?

As far as the phone, I find google maps to be far more simple than any standalone GPS unit. Looking up a business or address in google maps is easier. You can almost mash the keyboard with typos or misspelled words, and google can usually figure out what you want. Also gives live reports on traffic based not just on the same DOT systems that your Garmin probably uses, but also based on others using their phones for navigation. This means you get almost immediate information and re-routed around on potential traffic jams, even on the most rural of roads where a DOT likely doesn't monitor.

 

[ayeyothisiskyle]

Sorry to thread jack, but is there a way to use the "GPS chip" from the Toyota on-board GPS, and connect it to an iPad? Sort of like those stand alone GPS units that you connect to your tablet via usb/bt to get GPS on your non-GPS tablet?

TO OP:

A smartphone map is always connected to the internet, that some apps like google maps/apple maps/waze uses real-time data of other users to suggest the fastest route for you. A garmin and factory nav unit just picks the fastest way without considering real-time traffic.

 

[e60ral]

Sorry to thread jack, but is there a way to use the "GPS chip" from the Toyota on-board GPS, and connect it to an iPad? Sort of like those stand alone GPS units that you connect to your tablet via usb/bt to get GPS on your non-GPS tablet?

TO OP:

A smartphone map is always connected to the internet, that some apps like google maps/apple maps/waze uses real-time data of other users to suggest the fastest route for you. A garmin and factory nav unit just picks the fastest way without considering real-time traffic.

no

if you want to add GPS to a non-GPS tablet get something like the garmin glo

 

[mybabydaddy]

I like this topic... this discussion has occurred more than once in my Runner (with my wife).

For me, here’s how the decision process went/goes....

Bought Trail Prem for other options, but liked the NAV setup for LARGER INTERFACE screen (think more than just GPS... I.e. radio and Apps, etc). My ‘11 Limited did NOT have NAV, and I didn’t like the interface...

Simple, easy, kind of already know most of where I’m going?... I use factory GPS.

Need to know EXACTLY how to get somewhere and need it to be very accurate & quick? ....then I use iPhone/Google/Waze.

Will never have another car without a larger interface... it’s just easier IMO. GPS part of it? Meh....

EDIT: We took a trip recently to Montana... flew, got a rental. I took my Garmin. Totally forgot how much easier it is to use the Garmin. And my rental was in fact a brand new Tundra TRD 4x4 with NAV! (Would get tired of the Garmin just sitting there if tried to use every day. That’s just me tho.)



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[empty403]

Legit question. I own the Garmin, know how to use it, etc. I do have a new phone, but I'm not a "Smart-phone-kinda-guy". Guess it's the same question as the factory nav: "what's the advantage"?

For me, a smart phone is easier to use.

 

[baldrik78]

The in-dash nav isn't bad. It's not great, but it's not the worst. It's actually pretty good when you don't have cell signal. Actually, it's been really great for navigating FS roads. It's major downside, to me, is that it's not nearly as good at routing the shortest route for time as Google maps. The problem is though, nothing is as good as Google maps for that. The amount of meta-data that Google has going into route mapping is just absurd. No other navigation service even comes close, particularly when it comes to real-time traffic updating - not even dedicated units. So I end up using my phone for Google maps about 98% of the time.

 

[Thomasdan]

I Just use my phone maps. The In Dash Nav is fine also. Hasn't really gave me any issues. My one only complaint is.. You have to be at a dead stop to type in a new address. If you try to type a new address while driving, it won't let you. I get it, it's a safety issue while driving.

I know... I know.. but it's still super annoying.. Especially when I have a passager that can type in the address for me. They still can't do it.

Anyway to work around this?? please share..

example.. this past weekend.. We typed in an address to a destination. Once on the freeway (no traffic) my wife wanted to search another address really quick.. she was unable to and had to use her phone. First world problems.

Because of this, I use my cell phone or old garmin.

 

[WallyT4R]

I only use the factory nav and just deal with it's limitations. Honestly I am the type that does not completely rely on nav systems and like to look at maps also. But if I was to rely more heavily on gps I would hands down be using Google maps. As mentioned the constant updates on traffic patterns is an excellent source for navigating through it. It will even change your route on the fly if for instance an accident or some other traffic issue arises and there is a quicker way around it.