Navigation in Antwerp, Amsterdam and Paris

[mathijskok]

I drive from the south of france to Amsterdam (the netherlands) at least once a month so I know the route. But this time I decided to follow the navigation system every time.

Well, driving the periferique of Paris was a bit more exiting as it tries to cut corners a lot. One time it even used a petrol station exit to reduce the distance. I know this behavior from other nav systems but this was a bit excessive. On one location it was just clearly wrong and as most nav systems it tries to get you to the inner ring which is hell if it is not 04:30 at night. But not bad, roughly the same as TomTom etc.

Having to make a stop in the old city of Antwerp, I knew I was in for some rough time. I have used three other nav systems there before and only TomTom every seemed okay there. The 300c system did find the correct roads but missed the fact a lot were one way so in the end it was rather useless. Using it to get to the area and out of the city was sort of okay.

Amsterdam was about the same, sort of okay, but not even close to the finesse of TomTom. It did miss a few shortcuts and seemed to have little sense of the actual size of the roads. It should know the 300 is a LLAARRGGEE car and does not fit into some roads and parkings.

On the highway I really missed the highway mode the Landcruiser has where you get a vertical indication that shows the distance to petrol stations and rest areas. The system on the 300 seems to know only about 'some kind of thing beside the highway were you could stop' Not great.

So in the future I will keep using TomTom next to the system in the 300. If anybody has any comments on the system, let it be posted here!

[ThomasRAB]

Hi Mathijs,

is there any choice to you, go to your Chrysler Dealer and let him know, you want the Update for DVD NAV System (Navigation DVD) and the TMC System.

TMC - Traffic Message Channel System

Greetings

Thomas

[mathijskok]

Originally Posted by ThomasRAB

Hi Mathijs,

is there any choice to you, go to your Chrysler Dealer and let him know, you want the Update for DVD NAV System (Navigation DVD) and the TMC System.

TMC - Traffic Message Channel System

Greetings

Thomas

It sure is an option, but as far as I know I got the latest versions on both the software and the chart data.

[ThomasRAB]

Originally Posted by mathijskok

It sure is an option, but as far as I know I got the latest versions on both the software and the chart data.

At the latest NAV DVD the two last letters must be an "AC"

Okay if so, thats good for you. But the TomTom System is very good too.
I dont know right now, what I will do when I Order my 300C. Order the 300C w/NAV or w/o NAV and only with 6CD Charger.

Thomas

[mathijskok]

Originally Posted by ThomasRAB

At the latest NAV DVD the two last letters must be an "AC"

Okay if so, thats good for you. But the TomTom System is very good too.
I dont know right now, what I will do when I Order my 300C. Order the 300C w/NAV or w/o NAV and only with 6CD Charger.

Thomas

I would certainly go for the nav system. It might not be as good as the last versions of TomTom but it is integrated with the car (sound) and has a large screen. That makes up for a lot of small mistakes.

[LSV1970]

I noticed several funny choices too:
Through the "tangentiale" of Milano, the nav chooses a shortcut in a funny area where an exit and entrance are on the same lane out of the highway. I went 3 time in the same area in 3 months:
- 1st I followed the instruction
- 2nd I kept my way on the highway
- 3rd nav ordered to keep on the highway.

Sounds pretty smart on a 650km trip.

My car (built 11/04) is not supposed to get TMC. Once I received a funny order in the area of Rimini. I followed, left highway, went through land. Then I heard there was an accident in front with a 1h30' time loss in lines...on the highway

[mathijskok]

Originally Posted by LSV1970

I noticed several funny choices too:
Through the "tangentiale" of Milano, the nav chooses a shortcut in a funny area where an exit and entrance are on the same lane out of the highway. I went 3 time in the same area in 3 months:
- 1st I followed the instruction
- 2nd I kept my way on the highway
- 3rd nav ordered to keep on the highway.

Sounds pretty smart on a 650km trip.

My car (built 11/04) is not supposed to get TMC. Once I received a funny order in the area of Rimini. I followed, left highway, went through land. Then I heard there was an accident in front with a 1h30' time loss in lines...on the highway

I know that behavior, the system uses the same speed on highway exits and entrances and when the exit/entrance route is a few inches shorter it will advise that route. Happens twice on a south/north route over the Paris Periferique as well.

But your message seems to imply that the system learned. That would be amazing. Wonder if there is a way we can confirm that. I know of the way to ADD a route (a shame it only allows you to add short bits) but not of the system recording and learning from your routes.