GPS Ripoff

[gzebrick]

I prefer WAZE with the crowd-sourced warnings and real-time traffic re-routing. I have found though that I usually look at the selection of routes as it tends to pick the shortest/fastest route that can sometimes be painful (residential streets vs major highways). A quick click on the route list let's me see the paths available and I can select the route I prefer.

I also appreciate the pothole alert, the speed camera/cop alert, and especially the dreaded "object on road" alert that's saved me a few times from getting into a very bad situation (especially on unlit roads at night). I also try to be a good citizen and often report critical road issues with the buttons.

WAZE isn't prefect but it's free and has the most useful features. I'm not bothering to pay for any subscriptions on any of my vehicles (they all support CarPlay & WAZE). I use WAZE every time I am in the car, even if I know where I'm going.

Sponsored

 

[mkebikecop]

At least, unlike GM, You have a choice just to use your connected phone through Android, auto or Apple carplay that your already pay for. Your Crestliner just had a paper map that You were responsible for buying.

Maps back then were free at the Texaco gas stations

 

[Paulyz]

Waze, google maps, iphone maps. All free and they magically appear on your screen.

Will Waze work without cable?

 

[BigOil]

Maps back then were free at the Texaco gas stations

Ha! Texcao made DEALER buy them as I recall... assuming Texaco did...had to pay for the Metropolitan Opera -- fun fact, the Senior Executives lived in White Plains - though they should've lived in Texas. With the body of the company and the center of gravity of their business. Not well run but did not matter back then...
Texaco dead now only a brand. Nothin's free...

Big company "can never win an arguments" about pricing in a retail forum. Interestingly Ford bundled some of their Subscriptions into the pricing for like seven years as a dealer order option. At least SiriusXM not sure on Ford App when I looked at '26 order guide.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I have most of the highest end GPS's from Garmin...about as close to a professional GPS user as possible. My main unit is the Garmin Montana - Make most of my own latitude and longitude coordinates....my Garmin's have been in a drawer for years... None of them will touch GoogleMaps, Apple Maps, WAZE or GalaGPS, etc...to fit a wide CarPlay screen...with full voice directions, bluetooth connected to phone. Highly recommend giving one of them a try through CarPlay. GoogleMaps is probably the most popular. Failed to mention it's FREE with any Iphone. Never need software or map updates since you are running from the Iphone. The reason FORD is weak on GPS support and product is because Iphones have eaten their lunch.

If this is the Garmin Montana you had. As a handheld. I can certainly understand why, you want the bigger screen display of the Maverick. Especially when driving.

 

[22XLThybrid]

Big company "can never win an arguments" about pricing in a retail forum. Interestingly Ford bundled some of their Subscriptions into the pricing for like seven years as a dealer order option. At least SiriusXM not sure on Ford App when I looked at '26 order guide.

I've seen it on window stickers with the $795 conductivity "option" included that the dealer ordered with the truck. That would just annoy the hell out of me to see that on a retail truck on the long list of things that I have to get and don't want

 

[MavStangVa]

Maps back then were free at the Texaco gas stations

Nothing is free. It was rolled into the cost of their gas and service. No such thing as a free lunch

 

[Dave O]

I like the voice option on the steering wheel I press it and simply say “drive me to”

 

[ScottyC]

Maps back then were free at the Texaco gas stations

My first job was at a local Mobil gas station as a pump jockey and nightly garage bay cleanup guy. Began in 1979....Maps were (if I remember correctly) $0.25 cents by then since if you offered free maps, people would just come into the office and clean you out....I remember re-stocking the map display case at night. The owner would do "drive by's" at various times to make sure I wasn't goofing off....he also let me use the lift after hours when I got my first car to work on it...as long as I cleaned the station first and did not leave any mess from my wrenching...

 

[Art Vandelay]

I prefer WAZE with the crowd-sourced warnings and real-time traffic re-routing. I have found though that I usually look at the selection of routes as it tends to pick the shortest/fastest route that can sometimes be painful (residential streets vs major highways). A quick click on the route list let's me see the paths available and I can select the route I prefer.

Google Maps has started doing that as well with the painful routes only they don't offer a clear option to choose a the route you want. I prefer staying on the highway in most situations on long trips but Google Maps seems to find alternative routes and supposedly they do this because it's Eco friendly.

Google Maps increasingly routes users off highways to prioritize fuel-efficient routes, avoid traffic incidents, or accommodate user preferences like avoiding tolls. These "Eco-friendly" routes (indicated by a leaf icon) often prioritize lower speeds and fewer stops over pure speed, sometimes resulting in longer travel times.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Google Maps has started doing that as well with the painful routes only they don't offer a clear option to choose a the route you want. I prefer staying on the highway in most situations on long trips but Google Maps seems to find alternative routes and supposedly they do this because it's Eco friendly.

Here is a great example of Google routing you through an area because it's eco-friendly.
My niece's boyfriend was driving from Las Vegas to meet with law enforcement in Eureka Nevada.
To keep it simple I'll start the map at route 318 and Route 6 near Lund Nevada. Google Maps told him to turn left and then turn right on State Route 379. What Google doesn't tell you is that halfway through at Duckwater Indian reservation, route 379 turn to gravel for 36 miles the rest of the way.
Clearly on my Road Atlas it shows the change to gravel.

Here's what Google doesn't tell you 36 miles of gravel road.
View attachment 240655

The Road Atlas shows it as dashed lines, which means a unimproved road.

 

[Scupking]

Most people use their phones. These trucks have apple car play and android auto. Why would you pay Ford for gps usage.

 

[22XLThybrid]

My first job was at a local Mobil gas station as a pump jockey and nightly garage bay cleanup guy. Began in 1979....Maps were (if I remember correctly) $0.25 cents by then since if you offered free maps, people would just come into the office and clean you out....I remember re-stocking the map display case at night. The owner would do "drive by's" at various times to make sure I wasn't goofing off....he also let me use the lift after hours when I got my first car to work on it...as long as I cleaned the station first and did not leave any mess from my wrenching...

$1.12 in today's $ for the map, but who misses the windows down and the giant map flapping in your face and trying to correct a missed turn without pulling over. "Free GPS", aka Google maps. I remember when it went live. What an amazing evolution, particularly if your job requires finding places all day.

 

[Dave O]

There’s aways Rand McNally

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

There’s aways Rand McNally

Read my post #41 that's exactly the one that I bought my niece's boyfriend after his ordeal following Google Maps for a shorter route. Turned out, at Duckwater Indian reservation the road turned to gravel for the last 36 miles.
Google Maps doesn't tell you that.

Sponsored