I would get the nav anyway. $700 is a drop in the bucket compared to the price of the car, and I think it's daft to have that big ol' screen and no nav. What if you change service providers or forget your phone or the phone breaks down or you end up in a place with no cell service? Then there is resale...a fair number of potential buyers would walk if the car didn't have nav.
I got the Nav in my last vehicle but after a few years it became out of date and they stopped handing out free updates for the system. I stopped trusting it after a while and haven't had any issues with the iPhone nav. This includes a full trip from Pittsburgh to Tallahassee and back. I don't know how Ford goes about updating their gps software though. I would say if you're going to have the touchscreen then yeah go ahead and get it. But if your looking to save money just get the base system and use your phone. Thats what I ended up doing and I saved a pile of money upgrading the sound system myself.
I struggled with this question on the last two vehicles we bought. My 2cents: A Garmin provides the best experience with lifetime maps, offline (no cell coverage) use and lifetime traffic. Phone is the second best due to updated maps however screen is usually smaller.
Unfortunately both are awkward to use and the GPS will suck down the phone battery in no time. If money were tighter I'd just use my phone. I ended up getting the NAV in both my most recent car purchases simply do to the fact it's always there and convenient. The Garmin I would always hide (to prevent a broken window) and would be out of sight/out of mind and not get used. I never had a good spot to mount my phone and it would always drain the battery unless I plugged-in which is another hassle. I've found the Navigation in my Mustang to be better than the wife's Acura and pretty good. I wish the display integrated into the dash screen like the Acura but its maps are much newer and the routing engine is better. For me it was mostly the convenience of being integrated and the larger screen.
I have both. I like the nav. Main reason is to see at a glance where to turn. iPhone means picking it up (I HATE mounts), unlocking, seeing where I am, analyzing roads and the turn on that tiny screen. If using turn by turn voice, better not have stereo turned up too loud. The navi is is bigger screen, always on, and will come across even if I'm jamming. Granted I don't use it often, and wouldn't have gotten it if I had the choice, but glad I have it now.
Fwiw, paying 700$ for an option that will net 350$ later on resale I think is crazy.
The phone can let you down in the mountains or out of cell range in the country.
Buy the nav. You won't feel the $700, but you'll likely regret not getting it if you pass.
The phone can let you down in the mountains or out of cell range in the country.
Buy the nav. You won't feel the $700, but you'll likely regret not getting it if you pass.
Never in mountains I always have reception and honestly I never look at my phone just listen . My only thing is if I changed head unit ever I wasted money . Maybe il opt out never had nav before so I mean I can't be missing much ... Or can I haha why is this car stuff so hard lol
Apple's and Android's nav apps are both better than the factory nav. I have it but don't use it because it's so much easier to use voice control on a smartphone. Looking forward to ProClip to release a vehicle-specific mount for this car.
My wife has an iPhone and I have an S4 we both have dedicated nav apps that solve the biggest issue using a cell phone, the reliance on a data connection to keep updating the map.
BUT, either phone pales in comparison to the built in Nav systems in our cars.
1. The 8" screen makes glancing at the map easy.
2. The next turn info in the center display is very convenient, allowing you to keep your eyes ahead.
3. The image of the next turn that comes up in the main display makes confusing turns much simplier. I give the nod to my wife's uConnect system because it has actual street view photographs verse the graphical rendition in MyFordTouch.
While I can get by using a phone my preference is the built in system, then a standalone GPS, then the phone.
I use Waze on the iPhone from the moment I get in the car, but I wish I also wish I had the nav... In the big scheme it isn't very expensive and is even more expensive to add it later.