SatNav, any good?

[Dickster]

Should be picking up my replacement car tomorrow (see Rejecting Car thread) and the new one has the SatNav option.

Anyone else got this and is it any good? Owt else you can do with it?

Ta.

****ster.

[Tom_vRS]

I think it links in nicely with the Maxidot display if nothing else.

I think you can get a TV tuner and DVD player to work with it too if that tickles your fancy.

[adso]

first of all, hi to you all.

second: the MFD2 (Nexus) on Octavia is the CD-ROM version. For the moment, the DVD version is only mounted on VW models.

Apart from having to buy one CD/country, roughly, apparently it is also slower.

Also, it cannot display the park assist info - so if you have it, it's only audio.

The screen is great apparently, and you can mount aftermarket TV tuners or even plug a PS2 to it, to play games and watch DVDs.

For much more info: www.vwNavi.com

[mluton]

Originally Posted by ****ster

Should be picking up my replacement car tomorrow (see Rejecting Car thread) and the new one has the SatNav option.

Anyone else got this and is it any good? Owt else you can do with it?

Ta.

****ster.

Have you seen the new motor yet ? Im going there in 10 minutes.

I might bump the front off it and damage it.

[Dickster]

Ha ha harrr!! I'm worried enough about it a tell thee! I get it tomorrow hopefully.

[VRStu]

Octavia-vRS.com - MFD2 Install Guide

Some info there.

No problems with it at all - great bit of kit.

Tom wasn't saying that it was a DVD unit simply that a DVD, as can any composite output, can be connected via a media interface.

The DVD has Europe on one disk and the CD has each country on a disk, no big deal really.

[Bagpuss]

I've recently been borrowing an L+K Octavia with satnav, and compared to the Pioneer unit in my Superb, the Skoda unit is rubbish. Especially, when you consider that my Pioneer touchscreen setup cost £400 less than the Skoda factory fit.

Even the VW DVD-ROM based unit isn't great. When you compare it to some of the Alpine and Pioneer aftermarket offerings, then I begin to wonder why anyone would bother with the factory offering.

For a start, the TMC feature that's advertised doesn't work with the Skoda supplied navigation CD. This is because there is a license fee involved with the TMC location data, and Skoda won't pay it. You can get a proper retail disk that enables TMC, but it'll cost you another £250. Even when it is enabled, then it only shows up traffic problems on the motorways (a failing of the Blaupunkt software in the unit). Every other satnav I've seen (that has TMC) shows the traffic information for both motorways and A-roads.

Route planning also takes forever, and don't even think about deviating from the route it wants you to follow. It takes an absolute age to reroute. Maybe it's just the unit I've been using, but on average it takes three times longer than the Pioneer to plot routes to the same place (and the Pioneer is plotting multiple routes when the Skoda only plots one).

My other real issue is the cost of the map disks. If you have the VW unit, then you get the whole of Europe on 1 DVD. If you want to get an updated DVD, it costs around £350. On the Skoda unit, they charge you £250 for each country!! That makes it seriously expensive if you plan on doing any touring around Europe.

If you manage to get a used Octavia that has the satnav fitted, then great. I certainly wouldn't order a new car with it, as there are way better aftermarket options for the same (or less) money.

Having said all this, if I had to do it all again, I'd probably get TomTom and save myself £700. At least that way I can easily move it from one car to another. I'm seriously dreading the day my Superb goes back, as it will take forever to remove the navigation kit.... :-(

Bagpuss.

[VRStu]

Well as an owner of one of these units rather than a casual user I have to disagree with some of your comments.

My TMC works fine.

It does take a little while to calculate a route but no longer than the ICN520 I have.

I doesn't take long to re-calculate after a route change - quicker than the TomTom 3 and 5 I used to have.

The disk doesn't cost £250 - I know I have one. £130.

When you buy a disk you have the option to buy TMC or not.

I agree that I wouldn't order it as an option but I also wouldn't deviate from the OEM setup to install an aftermarket unit - I don't like them.

You have to remember that the OEM unit is by far from cutting edge whereas I would imagine your Pioneer is more up to date.

[Bagpuss]

Hi VRStu,

If you're happy with your unit, then cool. Having been used to OEM satnavs from the likes of Honda, Mazda etc., the Skoda unit is somewhat lacking. That's why I chose to go the aftermarket route when I got my Superb.

Pictures of my unit can be found here:

AVICX1Forums.com :: View topic - Pictures of the completed install in my Skoda Superb

I understand the benefits of keeping it OEM, but I just can't ignore the fact that there are better (and cheaper) alternatives out there. With regards to my Pioneer, it's 2.5 years old, so not the very latest technology. Even so, it's still streets ahead of the Skoda unit as far as functionality is concerned.

If your TMC works fine, then I guess Blaupunkt must have finally fixed the software. Certainly in the 2005/2006 disk I've got, you only get coverage of traffic on the motorways.

With regards to the disk prices, you're right. They've gotten a lot cheaper since I last looked. However, you are still paying £160 for a TMC enabled disk for the UK+Ireland. Contrast that with £170 for the DVD version that covers the whole of Europe.

Just out of curiosity, why don't you like aftermarket units?

Bagpuss.

[VRStu]

Originally Posted by Bagpuss

Just out of curiosity, why don't you like aftermarket units?

Bagpuss.

I really don't like these bloody great screens that slide out of the dash.

Shifty has one in his MKII so I've see one in an Octy - just not for me I'm afraid.

[dstev2000]

The MFD2 isn't what you would call cutting edge by any means but it does what it says on the tin (albeit sometimes frustratingly slowly!).

Mine cost £400 or thereabouts and there is no way I would pay the full asking price for it.

Rerouting is almost instantaneous on mine.

My old Primera (2002) had DVD based birdview sat nav that is still well ahead of the Skoda system.

The TMC works without any problems and with the latest maps on board you can't go wrong. (only does motorways, is that right???)

It talks to the maxi dot display and as it's OEM it doesnt come with windscreen suckers!

I am in the process of connecting DVD, DTV and MP3(acronyms, acronyms!) to it for those slow days at work

[Dickster]

Thanks for these. I am confused about all the acronyms though!!! I'm a simple fellow.

I haven't orderd this myself but it is in a car I'm getting so.... I also don't like windscreen mounted SatNav as I think it looks pants and don't want some scrote to break in to try n find it! I won't use it too much but do want it to work well enough.

[mluton]

What time you getting the new motor ?

[Bagpuss]

@VRStu - Fair enough. I'll admit that the Pioneer lacks that 'factory fitted' look, but I don't think I could do without the functionality it offers now.
The other reason I can't go OEM is my MP3 player. The Empeg unit is such a brilliant piece of kit, and it wouldn't fit if I had the double DIN Skoda navigation. It's not that the unit is particularly advanced, just that it has the best user interface I've ever seen in a car stereo. Going back to an iPod after the Empeg is just too painful. Having said that, the guy that designed the Empeg is now head of iPod special projects at Apple, so who knows what might happen in the future ;-)

As my vRS will be a company car, I'm also loath to add satnav because of how much it adds to the P11D value of the car. That was another factor in why I bought the Pioneer kit when I got the Superb. The money I saved on the company car tax by not having satnav, I spent on buying my Pioneer kit.

Still can't order the damned car, as Skoda UK can't make up their minds how much to charge me for the heated seats :-(

Bagpuss.

[Dickster]

Originally Posted by mluton

What time you getting the new motor ?

Hope to be there for about 3pm. I'm still scared though!! I haven't seen it yet and just want anything to be wrong with it. I'm not filled with too much confidence about things like this.

[mluton]

Originally Posted by ****ster

Hope to be there for about 3pm. I'm still scared though!! I haven't seen it yet and just want anything to be wrong with it. I'm not filled with too much confidence about things like this.

I cant remember what it was you were swapping it for was it a mk2 vRS ?

[Dickster]

It's on another thread about the fact I traded my Mk1 in for this Mk2 last August but have now found it has had all the front end repainted!

Long story short I said I wanted a replacement and to be fair to them (they did sell me what I call a dodgy car) they agreed to it.

Thus I am taking my Mk2 to change it for another Mk2 of similar spec, more miles but with SatNav.

I'm worried due to the fact I haven't seen the car I'm getting yet.....