Ford owners prefer factory infotainment over Android Auto

[TarnishedCopper]

I'm curious what you folks think? I'm not sure I could own a vehicle without Android Auto.

https://fordauthority.com/2023/07/ford-owners-prefer-factory-systems-over-android-auto/amp/

I purchased my 2022 F-150 in October of '22. None of the trucks at that dealership had Sync installed. So we did not get XM, or the Navigation Package. It still pizzes me off. The excuse was that "we can't get the chips to build it." Then after a hailstorm destroyed wife's Jeep in April and insurance totalled it, we purchased a Ford Bronco Sport. Even though it cost much less than the truck, it had XM and nav in it.

The AA works ok, but it's just not as convenient as having it built-in. Sometimes the connection to the Android is rather "clumsy " getting established. In retrospect, if I had it to do over, I would not have bought a truck without the NAV package. The upside is that Google Maps are continuously being updated and the maps in the NAV package only update when the software updates.

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[Groovicles]

I use a blend of the two. Sync4 navigation is good most of the time but Its set up some really odd routes in the past. I understand its built off TomTom (I think?) and it handles traffic relatively well; however, I think Google maps is still quicker and more accurate overall. However, the main reason I use AA is to listen to Youtube music playlists. In my opinion, Android Automotive would be a great upgrade for Ford. This way we'll have a top tier navigation system and we can listen to streaming services as well as radio/satellite without having to switch things on and off all the time.

 

[bfastr]

That's interesting, my google maps works just like it does on a tablet. Drag to move, pinch zoom and rotate, turn on sat view to have a good look around, etc...

yah.. NOPE.. tried Google maps, and apple maps. at least in apple maps I can touch the screen and move the map, but I cant find a way to make it pinch zoom on either, and for that reason, I'm out !! I am not an IT guy so if it aint simple, forget it. could be my iphone, could be carplay. could be russian hackers. probably operator error. but path of least frustration remains the Ford Nav for me !

 

[Groovicles]

I thought I read somewhere, a while back (probably a forum thread), that we have to start paying for SYNC 4 NAV after 3 years. Is this correct? I mostly use AA but use the built-nav occasionally

Yup, the day Ford asks me to pay for connected navigation is the day I don't subscribe to it. For me, the decision is paying for connected navigation because it looks good on the infotainment screen but have a less than stellar navigation system, or don't pay for connected navigation and have a free and better navigation system which doesn't look so good on the infotainment screen. Easy choice for me!

 

[Snakebitten]

No CarPlay = No Buy, for me. Mostly because of Waze and Google Maps. The "idiot mode" for the Ford Nav preventing searching while driving is intrusive, and the POI searches are pretty awful.

That's the one biggest reason Alexa makes sense to me in this truck. She gets around the idiot mode.

She's allowed to do everything at 55mph that I'm not allowed to do. And she's a master of the native Navigation in Sync4.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

It’s a 3 month subscription from purchase. I found Fords nav to be useless and let it expire. Unless they beg me to come back and discount it sharply like Sirius XM did no thanks. Sirius gave me like 70% off what the initial fee was after I told them to fly a kite, it was worth it for that cost but not the $60 per month or whatever the standard fee was. Pro tip for anyone who wants dirt cheap XM: let it expire and let them call/email you every week. The rate magically falls every time.

2021 so I have real built in navigation that isn't worthless when 3 year trial runs out. I doubt I'll pay for it when I can switch to AA for free. Ford nav has done better than Google maps in a few instances but turning on the traffic rerouting feature is a joke. It wants to navigate around a five minute delay with a ten minute detour. Outside that it's fine for what it is.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

Apple CarPlay here and enjoy it for the most part. Along with a grandfathered SiriusXM lifetime subscription, serves most my needs and Waze and Google maps are my navigation staples.

 

[dolsen]

Just an FYI - Unless it has changed from the 2022's if you have a 502a or higher with built in nav you got a 3 year trial. If you had lower than that 502a then you had the built in nav removed and you got the regular nav with 3 month trial.

So I think it kinda depends on when your truck was built. I had a 501a and I had it for 6 months, never had to renew the nav subscription, but it was built January 2022, before many of the price increases and before they started deleting SXM and nav

 

[dolsen]

Hopefully next time someone starts a thread about adding factory nav and SXM back to their truck, this thread will help people understand that “just use AA or CarPlay” isn’t always the best solution

 

[fordtruckman2003]

Hopefully next time someone starts a thread about adding factory nav and SXM back to their truck, this thread will help people understand that “just use AA or CarPlay” isn’t always the best solution

Choices are good. I have both useful sync built in nav and I'll try AA eventually. I really don't care about Alexa at all but that was forced into my truck.

 

[dolsen]

Choices are good. I have both useful sync built in nav and I'll try AA eventually. I really don't care about Alexa at all but that was forced into my truck.

Totally agree, both choices are good, it’s all about preference. I just get tired of people pushing their preferences onto others as fact

 

[Snakebitten]

Alexa plays dead for you if you don't mention her name.
And she IS dead if you don't give her your Amazon credentials.

She is far from imposing her way into your truck. I'm just saying. ?

 

[Popplemer]

I use Android auto locally but when I'm going camping and need a satellite navigation because there's no service I use the connected navigation. I'm not thrilled to be paying for it but like insurance, if it saves me from driving an hour in the wrong direction it's worth it. The sync voice prompt is hot garbage though. I've never had any success with it. The Android auto prompt works every time. Maybe the Alexa is worth a shot...

 

[Snakebitten]

She's brilliant.
But she works for an escort service. Amazon.
So not a free date if you want to see everything she's capable of.

 

[Popplemer]

She's brilliant.
But she works for an escort service. Amazon.
So not a free date if you want to see everything she's capable of.

I've never met a woman that didn't need something in return...

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