HD_Rider

Since I was not about to pay $1,500 for the crappy GM GPS system, I came up with my own.

(1) After making a cardboard template for the cubby hole, I cut a piece of black ABS plastic to fit. I then used epoxy to bond the ball-stalk to the plastic.






(2) Using a 9-inch cable, I am able to power the Garmin GPS from the USB port in the cubby hole.







Here's a pic showing the plate from the backside, with the GPS attached.





The GPS works perfectly fine in the cubby hole with no problems picking up multiple satellites.

My total cost, including the GPS, was less than $200. And I get lifetime map updates along with weather and traffic.

Sir Nuke

I am with you......and I did the exact same thing with my Tom Tom.....works like a champ.....AND the car on the screen is MY car!!

meyerweb

Do you guys miss being able to use the infotainment screen while using the GPS?

SUPRTOY

Great Idea.
Look like I have a project tomorrow.

Stangslayer

OK, but now where do I put he 9mm?

HD_Rider

I do not travel very much so I don't use the GPS all that often. However, it's not a problem switching between the GPS and the infotainment system. I simply raise or lower the screen depending on what I want to do.



My 9mm sits in the side console where it's much easier and quicker to get to.

pjitty

Google Maps on my smart Phone is light years ahead of my Garmin's, but only slightly ahead of the vettes. I have to admit it took some getting used too for the GM GPS, but once I learned how to use it, I think it's quite Good, plus I can use all the other functions of the Infotainment unit. Sorry guy's but I think you'd be better off to learn the GM unit. JMHO...

C7DriverOnt

I agree the price is pretty high with the PDR. My 2014 with NAV added $800 approx , I use a Garmin in my other vehicle. It is really nice to have the GPS display show up in the HUD though especially when you are in traffic and busy. Is it worth $1500 probably not but glad I have it. The HUD and integrated NAV is something I would like with all my vehicles. Nice job installing yours !!

billeee

Nicely done HD!

sanantguy

on your side where it belongs.

sanantguy

I'm still curious why anyone needs a dedicated gps these days. Any quality phone has google maps, which is superior to all.

So all you really need is a good phone mount.

meyerweb

A good GPS (and not all of them qualify) can do far more than Google Maps. OTOH, Google Maps does things most GPS's can't. They each have their advantages, but Google Maps is not superior in all respects. They can complement each other.

sanantguy

please. tell me in what aspects google maps is not better?

Cruiter

For me, there are certain popular options that are must have's especially in the average price range of this car considered normally equipped. The Nav system is one as well as 2LT, Z51, NPP, and Mag Ride. I do like how the NAV (with a destination entered) throws info into the HUD. That won't happen just using a Garmin.

But that's all my opinion and I'm sure there are many others that differ. Other than that, good job with mounting your Garmin.

sanantguy

Didn't see anyone mention that carplay will be available on the 16's. If you already have an iphone, that will blow away any GM navigation hands down. And what do you know, won't cost 800 bucks extra.

I call that a win.

In car navigation is a frivolous dead option that will be phased out in the coming years. Most of the guys
that still think it is relevant are 75 and still have a flip phone.

sorry old timers

The only navigation system in car that was ever worth a damn is infiniti's anyhow.

11B250

We have a '14 Q50 with nav, and it's nothing great.... Not sure why you say that.

sanantguy

better than any other navigation system built in that I've seen so far.


And yet it is still crappy compared to google maps

meyerweb

• My Garmin lets me build routes on the computer, defining exactly the roads I want to take, and upload those routes to the GPS. Google maps only lets you put in destinations, and then it chooses the roads. When I'm out for fun, I don't want to pick the fastest or shortest route, I want to pick the twistiest route. No way to do that with Google. (You can do it manually on the PC, by dragging the route around, but there's no way to force your phone to follow that route.)
  
• My Garmin lets me choose to automatically reroute if I go off the programmed route, or not. Maps always reroutes. Not always what I want to do.
  
• My Garmin will remember a track of where I've driven, which I can upload to a PC and review later. I can also convert that to a route later.
  
• My Garmin shows me more info: altitude, moving average speed, total average speed, time spent not moving, total time, and more.
  
• I can save a Garmin route to a file, and share it with other Garmin users. Handy if you want a group of people to travel together.

OTOH, maps let's me say things like "Navigate to [restaurant name] without having to look up the address. Can't do that on my GPS. But sometimes doing that doesn't work very well. Yesterday I told Maps to "Navigate to [restaurant name, city, state] and the app insisted on taking me to a restaurant of the same name in a neighboring state. Not very helpful.

VETJAZZ

I have a Garmin in the cubby, but rarely use it.



I usually use WAZE. Directions sent through the car sound system.

MikeyTX