I've just got my 'new' Octy with the Columbus satnav system fitted, not that I paid more for the car than I would have done anyway. In any case, other than navigating less well and in a less user-friendly way than my £60 Garmin, it doesn't show the parking sensors the way the Stream on my other Octy does. Should it display them? Seems a bit daft to have a system that costs £1500 or whatever to fit, and it doesn't do useful things as well as the much cheaper Stream and a Nuvi combined. OK, so I'm really going to be watching DVDs while I'm on the Autobahn, right...

Anybody got an idea?

I've just got my 'new' Octy with the Columbus satnav system fitted, not that I paid more for the car than I would have done anyway. In any case, other than navigating less well and in a less user-friendly way than my £60 Garmin, it doesn't show the parking sensors the way the Stream on my other Octy does. Should it display them? Seems a bit daft to have a system that costs £1500 or whatever to fit, and it doesn't do useful things as well as the much cheaper Stream and a Nuvi combined. OK, so I'm really going to be watching DVDs while I'm on the Autobahn, right...

Anybody got an idea?

Have a look here, saves me typing it all out

I have to admit I wasn't overly impressed with the system when I first tried it but having fiddled around with a few of the settings and getting used to the way it works overall it's on a par with the one which I had in previous car. One thing which is disgraceful is the 4 digit Postcode entry

I thought the latest map came with full post code search?

Fine on activation, etc - it's the same as my old one, automatic on/off or press the button. But the display doesn't come up on the screen of the Columbus system, that's my point. It makes it hard to judge quite what you are actually being warned about! If for example you're parking alongside a wall, you'll know not to listen to the sensors from that side - but you then can't judge the distance from the car behind you... If it's back to MkI Dead Reckoning, there's not much point having the things at all. So far my old Octy is streets ahead... (Plus it has the PD engine, not the CR one...)

I really don't see the attraction of the in-built sat-nav in any car. It looks very nice but is it really worth £1500?

My £100 TomTom:

Can be used in any car - mine (3 cars over the time I have had it), swmbo's, hire cars I get for work or on holiday

I get map updates every quarter for £20 per year

I get live traffic info and "safety" camera info for another £25 per year

I can plan the route at home and try alternatives before I leave

In the windscreen, it is closer to the line of sight - less time with your eyes off the road.

Fits in my pocket so I can use it to navigate on foot - very useful around town centres to find your final destination and find your way back to the car!

If it breaks I can replace it for £100

Downside:

ugly sucker marks on the windscreen

cable dangling across the dash

I really don't see the attraction of the in-built sat-nav in any car. It looks very nice but is it really worth £1500?

My £100 TomTom:

Can be used in any car - mine (3 cars over the time I have had it), swmbo's, hire cars I get for work or on holiday

I get map updates every quarter for £20 per year

I get live traffic info and "safety" camera info for another £25 per year

I can plan the route at home and try alternatives before I leave

In the windscreen, it is closer to the line of sight - less time with your eyes off the road.

Fits in my pocket so I can use it to navigate on foot - very useful around town centres to find your final destination and find your way back to the car!

If it breaks I can replace it for £100

Downside:

ugly sucker marks on the windscreen

cable dangling across the dash

And those two "downsides" alone are enough for me to want a built-in unit.

Personally, looking at your advantages of a Tom Tom:

I don't drive other cars - so don't need to move it around.

Updates may not be monthly - but at the same time new roads do not appear on a monthly basis either.

Do not require safety or traffic cameras because, basically to the point, I use my eyes and don't need to be made aware of them - 18yrs without a speeding ticket

The Sat-Nav displays it's directions on the Maxidot display just above the steering wheel and it also talks to you - so no need for long periods of "not looking"

When I want to navigate on foot I take the much more pocket friendly HTC Desire with Google Maps with me

If mine breaks I get it replaced for free under warranty

Of course everyone's situation is different.

But with so few Pro's for going for a Tom Tom but the massive ones for the Columbus (No ugly suckers, no trailing cables, always "fully charged") it was worth the money to me.

Do not require safety or traffic cameras because, basically to the point, I use my eyes and don't need to be made aware of them - 18yrs without a speeding ticket

37 years without a speeding ticket

Only had the sat nav for 4 of those years.

The TomTom traffic option isn't for cameras, it is live (internet connect via bluetooth/mobile phone) info on hold-ups to give more accurate journey times and allow replanning of route. Not perfect but pretty good.

The speed camera facility is not much good even with weekly updates - drives you mad with the beeping for long-gone motorway works and the way they are springing up around Bradford and Leeds it can't keep up. Don't need to look around here - just assume they are everywhere!

Off topic, but anyone travelling from Shipley to DM Keith on Canal Road - 3 speed cameras just installed. What a joke! In rush hour you struggle to move!

Still no idea of how to get the parking sensors to display on the Screen of the Columbus units, or even the Maxidot...

37 years without a speeding ticket

Only had the sat nav for 4 of those years.

The TomTom traffic option isn't for cameras, it is live (internet connect via bluetooth/mobile phone) info on hold-ups to give more accurate journey times and allow replanning of route. Not perfect but pretty good.

The speed camera facility is not much good even with weekly updates - drives you mad with the beeping for long-gone motorway works and the way they are springing up around Bradford and Leeds it can't keep up. Don't need to look around here - just assume they are everywhere!

Off topic, but anyone travelling from Shipley to DM Keith on Canal Road - 3 speed cameras just installed. What a joke! In rush hour you struggle to move!

I completely agree Eccleshill - the new cameras near the Skoda garage are shocking!

Still no idea of how to get the parking sensors to display on the Screen of the Columbus units, or even the Maxidot...

You can't get the PDC to display on maxidot.

Off topic, but anyone travelling from Shipley to DM Keith on Canal Road - 3 speed cameras just installed. What a joke! In rush hour you struggle to move!

Obvious installed to catch anyone that has just picked up a shiney new vRS

On a slightly more on-topic note: If the Columbus was retrofitted the you will need probably need to upgrade the PDC controller (there are a few existing topics about this). If the sensors were retrofitted then you can't get them to display on the head unit.

And on the hot topic of Columbus vs TomTom: While I do like the idea of an integrated sat nav that displays on the maxidot, I find the Columbus system overpriced and lacking in features compared to other sat navs. The best solution I have found so far is CoPilot running on a iPhone held in a decent cradle connected to the head unit via a Dension iPod cable. While this isn't quite as neat as a built in sat nav (extra cradle on the dash and a single cable to the glovebox) it is much cheaper (iPhone: max £200-300, CoPilot £20, cradle £80, Dension £150), gives me better features (iPod integration, traffic updates, speed cameras, more regular updates) and uses items that I would have in the car anyway.

You can't get the PDC to display on maxidot.

Or on the Columbus? At all? Seems bloody silly to me!

Edited 18 March, 201115 yr by ndicki

Or on the Columbus? At all? Seems bloody silly to me!

as stated you need a new pdc controller. i have the same probblem

as stated you need a new pdc controller. i have the same probblem

OK, got you - thanks... Theoretically the unit was fitted from new, not retrofitted. Odd, that. There seem to be gremlins in this car...

I thought the latest map came with full post code search?

Apologies to the OP for hijacking here but regarding the full post code search MKSkoda do you know that for sure? If so I'll be calling in at my dealers tomorrow.

You can get the full 7 digit postcode search but to do so you must have the latest V7 maps and one of the later firmware versions which supports the 7 digit requirements.

I don't have the reverse sensors come up on my Columbus either, I don't think it is a standard fitment form the factory. You can get it retrofitted I believe by having a new sensor controller fitted and the Columbus coded to accept the new input.

Ian

It's worth mentioning that the Columbus does get traffic updates.

I have been driving when I've suddenly got a "traffic problems ahead" voice and I've been able to get off that road and choose an alternative route.

I know the coumbus is expensive.

I could have gone the retrofit option in my new vRS - but I prefer the idea of having a 100% legitimate unit and one with a 3yr warranty.

Expensive, but it will more than pay for itself over the 4+ years I own the car.

And the fact it's just so neat and tidy

You can get the full 7 digit postcode search but to do so you must have the latest V7 maps and one of the later firmware versions which supports the 7 digit requirements.

Seeing as my car is only 6 weeks old I should have all that surely?

Seeing as my car is only 6 weeks old I should have all that surely?

you should have the V7 maps installed yes.

And also the Columbus does have traffi alerts.

Just to round it off, any idea, roughly, how much the PDC would cost? Assuming that I get it done professionally, that is.

you should have the V7 maps installed yes.

And also the Columbus does have traffic alerts.

How does one know what version maps are installed?

How does one know what version maps are installed?

can you input 7 digit postcodes? have you tried?

Just because you can't do 7 digit postcodes doesn't mean it's not V7 maps.

The maps have the data and the s/w provides the functionality.

V7 maps will, IIRC, work quite fine with software that doesn't support 7 digit postcodes.

Just because you can't do 7 digit postcodes doesn't mean it's not V7 maps.

The maps have the data and the s/w provides the functionality.

V7 maps will, IIRC, work quite fine with software that doesn't support 7 digit postcodes.

That's is right. But if you can put in 7 digit postcodes that means you have the latest software......and maps. I can't enable the secret menu which Telstar me what version I have, but I can do 7 digit postcodes so I am happy and I have voice activation as well. :-)

Double post. Mobiles. Grrrrrr