Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to aid us in our driving today has become common place. I can tell you first hand that it is an option I will always have in my vehicles. Just the fuel savings from getting accurate and efficient route directs alone has paid for the technology. Most manufacturers offer an optional GPS system on their vehicles. Two manufacturers are GM and Ford. GM offers the Onstar® system and Ford offers the SYNC® system. Both offer many features besides GPS turn by turn assistance. Both systems work specifically with the manufacturers vehicles and are options for all models. If you can afford this feature in every vehicle in your garage or driveway that would be great, every vehicle would assist with turn by turn directions. But let’s face it that is not the case for most of us.
A few of the negatives with factory systems are; if you decide to change vehicles or your vehicle gets totaled in an accident, you lose the GPS system. Next, you cannot switch the system to other vehicles in your fleet. This would mean purchasing the option again in your new vehicle and paying the cost of ownership again. Some manufacturers GPS benefits are the system integrates with your vehicle and can do more than GPS. Some systems monitor your vehicle computer systems for faults and can alert you through a call center service. Some systems can lock and unlock doors and call you when certain safety systems report activation to assist if needed via phone.
Another choice available is the one I really like. Purchasing an aftermarket GPS system that is transferable to any vehicle. My GPS unit is a Garmin unit which I purchased in 2003. I purchased the lifetime updates for a onetime fee. Garmin notifies me via email when new updates are available. This Garmin unit includes GPS and lives traffic reporting. The biggest benefit to us has been the ability to install the unit in any of our vehicles. We Lease one of our vehicles and never get the GPS option. This saves us money on the lease! We have sold and purchased at least 3 vehicles in the last year and we have continued to have GPS assistance with our Garmin unit in every one of them. A few negatives are it will not connect with our computer system to monitor vehicle faults, and it will not unlock or lock doors. But, I know there are systems available today in the aftermarket that can!
A new emerging technology is the new phones that have this capability and phone companies that offer this GPS service. This is also a portable turn by turn alternative that can follow you from vehicle to vehicle. These phones include voice command and turn by turn directions. You can take a call while using this feature and continue with the driving directions simultaneously. The screens on these phones are about the same size as most aftermarket GPS units. This type of technology can also be used while hiking if cellular service is available. These phone have optional holders to mount the phone on the dash for easy visibility while driving. This technology also includes internet access for even more resources you may need while traveling on the road. This would be the cheapest because who is not using a cellular phone? Or needs email? While traveling on the road.
If you are looking for GPS enhancement I would recommend you do some homework and pick the system that best fits your budget and life style. Owning a GPS unit that continues to serve me no matter what vehicles I own or drive has been a great cost savings over the last 10 years.