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UPDATE...2011 Nav. Systems

14K views 71 replies 18 participants last post by  clockwoo 
#1 ·
12/29, I picked up my Overland. There were two other Overlands w/Saddle being delivered as well. All were delivered with the 730N RER Nav., yet the MSRP states the 420N Garmin. My order was placed in Sept., built in Dec. The order placed, and the MRSP clearly state 420N Garmin. I know the dealership owner well, and have informed him, insisted that Chrysler replace with the Garmin. As I recall, the 730N RER was discontinued, phased out, to be replaced by the Garmin. I am very disappointed with Chrysler.
 
#2 ·
Yep, that's exactly what happened to me, same dealer. Not sure if I care that much yet. Only nit is the iPhone doesn't fit real well in that front compartment since the cable is so thick and not very flexible. Also I can't figure out how to make it shuffle my playlists.
 
#3 ·
slafirst....saw your ride yesterday, while Dan was walking me through the different features. Dan was surprised to see the Garmin was not installed. Frankly, the Nav. in the 2011 is the same one I had in my 2008 Overland Hemi. I am not a happy camper. That said, the ride back to the Cape was extremely pleasant. Big difference when compared to the 2008 Overland.
 
#4 ·
Yeh, I talked to Dan as well. He's a straight up guy. It sounds like these dealers are at the mercy of "corporate" lately. Damn those "corporate" guys, they don't bring in any revenue.....:lol: sorry just the old consulting field guy kicking in. ;)
 
#6 · (Edited)
This is very discouraging.....

Cape, just to clarify, when you ordered your vehicle did you have the option of both the 430 and the 730? If so which one did you order?
 
#7 ·
PMD G8......I recall the only option was 430N Garmin. The dealership owner responded this morning, informing me the Chrysler reps (DM) he needs to speak with is off the rest of this week. He plans to get to the bottom of the issue next week. Personally, I am not backing off. I want either the 430N Garmin, or the much talked about, 730N RHR. Either way, I do not want the 730N RER, which is the same as the one in the '08 Overland Hemi that I turned in. Stay tuned...!!!!
 
#8 ·
Thx guys!! I am feeling 1000% better about "settling" for my 430n now! (seriously)

Good luck with your resolution. It does seem like the dealers are at the mercy of Corporate on this one. Some smart guy probably made the calculated decision that a surprise switch to RER would be seen as an upgrade by most buyers.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Why would you want the cheaper unit with less accurate navigation than the 730 RER? The Garmin unit has no dead reckoning gyroscopes, lower resolution, no Sirius live road condition updates and was intended as a low cost "value" alternative to the Harman unit.

Disappointed in Chrysler? They did you a favor.

By the way, the Hemi unit in your engine compartment is an old design that's been around for years. I suggest you force the dealer to swap out that antique for the brand new Pentastar, it must be better.
 
#36 ·
Have to say I disagree on both points.

Though you may be technically correct, the fact is that the Garmin has an updated interface and doesn't suffer from any issues with navigation, so it's useless to try to insinuate that it may. The actual screen resolution of both units is the same. And the Garmin also comes with an updated media center/IPOD interface.

As for the V6 versus V8, again, you may be technically correct that the Hemi is an older design, but in many people's worlds a reliable, well-tested engine is a very good thing. And the bottom line is I get about 21 mpg highway and have 390 lb./ft of torque to play with. The car feels much lighter and sportier to drive than in the V6 because of this I noticed. And it sounds much better (of course IMO).

I think the gentleman should go with the Garmin and the V8 if he can.
 
#10 ·
GlowingGhoul,

You may have a point...! However, the much talked about software upgrade for the Garmin is suppose to enhance the features on the Garmin. My dealer intend's to find out when he engages with the local Chrysler DM next week. Diappointed with Chrysler until issue is resolved. Stay tuned.
 
#11 ·
No dead reckoning on the Garmin unit? I thought all in-dash nav units had speed sensor input for dead reckoning? Without dead reckoning, you might as well be using a portable unit suction-cupped to your windshield!
 
#12 · (Edited)
Speed sensor input is used to improve accuracy in both units, but the Harman has accelerometers which are more accurate than speed sensors alone for distance and electronic gyro's to detect yaw.

You can drive for miles in city canyons with the 730 RER and not lose Nav. Most mainstream head units cannot maintain pinpoint accuracy for very long periods with a complete loss of the Sat signal. I drive extensively in and around NYC and the 730 never, ever, lost it's bearing for a second, even being able to distinguish between closely placed, narrow streets blocked by bridges above and buildings to the sides.
 
#14 ·
GlowingGhoul, I appreciate your technical feedback. Do you have an opinion on the much discussed 730N RHR unit ? How is compares to the 730N RER and 420N Garmin?
 
#17 ·
GlowingGhoul, I appreciate your technical feedback. Do you have an opinion on the much discussed 730N RHR unit ? How is compares to the 730N RER and 420N Garmin?
Yes, I'd take the RHR in a heartbeat and it's the only reason I'm not bitching about my delivery being a month late, since I'm hoping they'll throw it in. It's got all the advantages of the RER with a slicker interface and new features.

I was pleasently surprised when I got the free upgrade to the 730N RER in my first Overland since they would only let me order the 430n back in October.
 
#20 ·
WOW.....excellent feedback..!! I am curious as to how Chrysler will respond to the issue regarding, what was ordered, what is on the MSRP, and what the vehicle was delivered with. Honestly, they should do a better job communicating at the dealer/customer level. Bear's repeating, the 730N RER is the same unit that was in my 2008 Overland. For 2011, I expect enhanced, newer technology. That said, I will not swap out, before knowing all the facts. STAY TUNED.
 
#22 ·
I have the 430N listed on my online sticker.....but I honesty don't know what it's going to show up with next week. I like them both, don't really care either way.
 
#24 ·
My wife has the 730N RER system in her Company car (2008 Dodge Magnum) and I have had OEM in-dash navigation in the two cars I’ve owned since 2003, and an aftermarket in-dash navigation system in my F-150 plus two dash top units for vacation and business travel. And I can say without question that the 730N RER was the worst of all the nav systems we have had. I don’t really care about gyros and accelerometers; what I do care about is the Navigation system plotting the best and most correct route based on how I have it set up (fastest or shortest route). And my wife and I are always amazed at how often the 730N RER gave us the dumbest route. We almost always look at each other and ask; why in the #$%& is it taking us that way? Also, I could never understand why it would almost never show the names of the surrounding streets. I had an in-dash Pioneer navigation system in my F-150 that would show the name of every street on the screen, so you could use it as if it were really a map (duh). You’re not always trying to find a particular address or POI you might just want to get to a street that you know. I could look at the screen and find my way to the street or intersection I needed. Just seeing a bunch of lines on the 730N screen tells you nothing. Since getting our GC with the 430N we have found it to always give us the best most common sense route from point “A” to point “B”. It doesn’t show enough street names for me, but does show more that the 730N RER ever did. And having the 430N show us what lane to get into when out of town on a busy freeway is priceless. So unless Harman has improved the “navigation” in the new 730N RNR I’m much happier with the 430N and Garmin Navigation.
 
#25 · (Edited)
You are referring to 4 year old maps and 7 software revisions ago(if it was an early 2008 model, it probobly had the original buggy "beta" software. If most people's experience was as bad as yours with the unit we'd be hearing it all over the forums by now.

The same Harman nav system and Navteq maps are used exclusively by BMW, Porsche, VW, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
 
#49 ·
The results show up sorted in distance order, with the closest first.

How are you having to look at results from "thousands of miles away" without scrolling through all the closer results first?

What would limiting results to a certain radius accomplish?

I use the "Find Nearby POI" extensively, and once you understand how it works, it's very easy. Want something specific, like Lowes? Type Lowes. Want a gas station, choose that catagory.

The system would have to be able to read your mind to be any easier.

Voice nav does suck, as in every system I've tried.
I've typed in Walmart and it shows zero listings because it is spelled Wal-Mart or Wal Mart in the GPS. I've also typed in Dick's and the nearest one would be 200 miles away. There are numerous examples of this type that have frustrated me to the point that I rarely use the search function. I have to caveat this with I'm using a 2007 730N in my JK...this is not the same as the current crop of 730Ns so I don't know if they have gotten better.
 
#57 ·
I've typed in Walmart and it shows zero listings because it is spelled Wal-Mart or Wal Mart in the GPS. I've also typed in Dick's and the nearest one would be 200 miles away. There are numerous examples of this type that have frustrated me to the point that I rarely use the search function. I have to caveat this with I'm using a 2007 730N in my JK...this is not the same as the current crop of 730Ns so I don't know if they have gotten better.
I just tried "Walmart" on the 430N and it almost instantly showed me the "Wal-Mart" that is about 1 mile from my location. It even highlighted in the letters I searched for in red, like this: Wal-Mart. This works as I expected.

I searched for "Office Max" (with a space) and it found several Office Max stores, but not the one closest to my location (about a mile away). It showed me one 7 miles away and one 12 miles away. I didn't check to see how the one closest to me is spelled in the 430N.
 
#26 · (Edited)
My wife updated the software every time it was available and the maps weren't four years old three years ago when she got the new car. BTW, the second worst navigation system we had was in the Mercedes; now I know why.
 
#28 ·
I forgot to add Bentley and Lamborghini.

I guess they should've spoken to Ford or just picked up a $69 Garmin from Walmart and velcro'd it to the dash.

I don't doubt your bad experience, but it just doesn't jive with decision made by so many high end, cost is no object manufacturers.

What's more likely, you had a problem with a particular unit, or all these companies made the same idiotic decision in choosing a system with route algorithims destined to piss off their well heeled customers?
 
#29 ·
It's pretty well known that the Japanese manufacturers have had superior nav systems in their vehicles, despite the fact that the German cars are higher end. Hell, when I was driving around in a 2001 Acura, it had a DVD-based nav system, while my brother still had 8 different CD-ROMs for mapping in his new Mercedes. Not only was my system faster, but it was far more intuitive and easy to use. Point is, just because MB/BMW and the others use the same mapping data and software doesn't mean that it's the best out there. I'd still take an Acura or Lexus nav system over anything else I've seen out there.
 
#38 ·
I got lost in the smokey mountains beause my Garmin Nuvi 255W lost satelite signal. Dead reckoning would have been very very helpful at this point.

As far as which unit is best....you got me.....it would be like saying that Coke is better than Pepsi, each person is going to have a different take on it, especially if they just bought a case of coke :)
 
#58 ·
I stand corrected. I just checked my 730, and typing in "Walmart" brings up Wal-Mart and Walmart entries. Typing "Office Max" brings up "Officemax" and "Office Max" listings. "Wamart" or "Officemx" don't work (though google does recognize and corrects them). So there we have it, a very basic fuzzy search that can ignore blank spaces.

So what was it that made the 730 a POS again?
 
#60 ·
I'm glad we finally agree that these nav systems with a $10 processor have the ability to see that WalMart = Wal-Mart = Wal Mart. Call it fuzzy, basic fuzzy, or AI. As for missing actual letters... yeah that's more involved, but I didn't suggest that my $10 processor should be able to do that.

As for the 730N... I only spent a short time with it in on a test drive. My wk2 came with a 430N (I bought off the lot, not a special order) and I'm perfectly happy with it. I don't live in NYC so I can't comment on the 430N's ability to traverse a city with dense, tall buildings or long tunnels. The 430N works great for me in suburbia.
 
#62 ·
For POIs, I flat don't trust any GPS' internal database. I had a TomTom take me to a residential area in Chicago before saying "well, screw it" when looking for a burger joint. The nature of retail/restaurant businesses and the lag before they make it into the POI database means it will often be incorrect. If you have a smartphone, you're better off searching in Google Maps, then punching the address into the GPS.

I will, however, disagree that the 730N's voice nav sucks. It's slow, but I find it works pretty well. Better than I anticipated, in fact. I was expecting the 730N's Harmon nav to be mediocre at best, but I've been generally impressed with it. I doubt it's the best thing out there, but it's no worse than my previous GPS unit, a TomTom Go 740 Live. In fact, I find it better- it doesn't spontaneously reboot like the TT will do.
 
#63 ·
I like the uConnect phone functions, and the satellite radio control...but for everthing else, especially Nav, I find it cumbersome.

One of the improvements in the RHR will be the ability to string long commands together. Saying "Select Name Octane" will get you there in one command instead of Select Name - BEEP - Octane.
 
#66 ·
Hmm. If I want to change the station by voice, I just say the station name. Instead of saying select name when in SAT radio mode, I just hit the voice command button and say the name of the channel.

This can mean amusing things if the person saying it isn't clear. When my dad was fiddling with it, he was standing outside the vehicle and said "Patriot Radio." It ended up tuning in "Out Gay Radio." That was funny.
 
#70 ·
Does anyone know if the 430N allows uploading of custom routes? I routinely use Garmin's Mapsource to plan out trips using my 265T, adding my own special POI's and preferred routing. It would be great if the 430N could do what my "suction cup mounted" el cheapo nav system can do ;)

BTW, I saw one of the Overlands with 430N on the sticker and a 730N (RER) unit in the dash. I just ordered my Overland and expect to get the 430N, hopefully with the traffic update. I'll be somewhat pissed if it shows up with the RER radio.
 
#71 ·
My biggest thing I had to realize with this system is that is different that what I was used too. The more time I spend with it and understand how it works (different system than the Garmin Nuvi I had used previously) the more I like it. Change is hard to except, I find this across everything, nobody likes change, especially if they don't understand it.

I am still struggling to figure out the routing. I too, expected it to take the rout I always take, but I did this same thing with my Garmin at 1st. Though I knew a better way. One time I took it, saved me 70 miles and an hour of drive time (700 miles and 11 hour trip).

The Nav in the Jeep took me a different route, but I fought it most of the way thinking I knew better so I can't judge it on the route. NO machine can read your mind, some may agree with us.

I wouldn't write anything off until you fully understand it. (not saying everyone here doesn't understand, but clearly they are a few....I don't fully understand).
 
#72 ·
I am one of those Overland owners that was surprised to find a 730 RER in the dash as oppose to the 430N. I honestly have not used to NAV functionality enough to really provide a detailed opinion as others have, but I can say that when I have used it, I had no issues. I have used to the Voice NAV and it worked great and I especially like the traffic indications. I was disappointed to learn that the 730 RER does not support streaming audio from my iphone as the 430N does. I find the thick hidden cable to be very cumbersome and I use it only on longer trips. I also like to concept of voice texting available from the 430N and not available on the 730 RER. In Massachusetts, they smartly passed a law against texting while driving. Voice texting would be a nice feature. Not likely, but I am secretly hoping that a software update may give the 730 RER both Streaming audio and voice texting.
 
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