I have just spent a weekend being driven around in a BMW 3 series with built in satnav/phone etc. The display for this is all on the top of the dash, similar to where the storage unit on the top of the dash is on the Yeti. This is ideal for glancing at whilst not being distracted from the road. When I got back in my Yeti this morning, I have the Bolero unit but assume it is in the same place as the Amundsen, it struck me that this was quite low down and your eyes are taken away from the road by quite a degree. I currently have my own satnav which sits on a bean bag type device on top of the dash, similar to the BMW in effect.

My question then - how do Yeti built in satnav people find the display? Do you find it quite a way down to flick your eyes?

The built in system on the SE Plus is quite appealing but its location is making me think twice.

I am going with a Tomtom Go Live 1005 mounted in the bottom R/H screen as I find this easier to view when driving and see it as a much better financial solution to the very expensive Columbus.

I have just spent a weekend being driven around in a BMW 3 series with built in satnav/phone etc. The display for this is all on the top of the dash, similar to where the storage unit on the top of the dash is on the Yeti. This is ideal for glancing at whilst not being distracted from the road. When I got back in my Yeti this morning, I have the Bolero unit but assume it is in the same place as the Amundsen, it struck me that this was quite low down and your eyes are taken away from the road by quite a degree. I currently have my own satnav which sits on a bean bag type device on top of the dash, similar to the BMW in effect.

My question then - how do Yeti built in satnav people find the display? Do you find it quite a way down to flick your eyes?

The built in system on the SE Plus is quite appealing but its location is making me think twice.

I agree that the positioning of the Columbus (which I have) is potentially dangerous/distracting. I believe the Nissan X-Trail has a built-in system which is, in effect, in the same position as the top-of-dash storage box in the Yeti and this would seem far safer. I have once or twice been conscious that, in looking at the Columbus display, my eyes have been off the road for what could have been a disastrous - if only split-second - time and I'm surprised in this overly cautious age that there has not been more of a move among car manufacturers to site satnav - or, indeed, music system - screens in a more direct line of vision for the driver.

Maybe something else for the Yeti Mark II?

I like the Columbus directional arrows that are viewable in the maxidot display, even down to approach distance bars. I have a general squnit at the colour LED displat (like 3D view with North to top of dash) but as I am driving I rely on switching the maxidot display to SatNav.

I have a Garmin nuvi 1490TV which sits nicely on top of the dash compartment, hay way Kitten can see where we're going (AND if I go wrong )

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=68763

The Garmin is portable so can be taken anywhere................. simples

I have a Garmin nuvi 1490TV which sits nicely on top of the dash compartment, hay way Kitten can see where we're going (AND if I go wrong )

https://buy.garmin.c...D=134&pID=68763

The Garmin is portable so can be taken anywhere................. simples

My Columbus is portable and is taken anywhere Elsie the Helipad takes it.

I have just spent a weekend being driven around in a BMW 3 series with built in satnav/phone etc. The display for this is all on the top of the dash, similar to where the storage unit on the top of the dash is on the Yeti. This is ideal for glancing at whilst not being distracted from the road. When I got back in my Yeti this morning, I have the Bolero unit but assume it is in the same place as the Amundsen, it struck me that this was quite low down and your eyes are taken away from the road by quite a degree. I currently have my own satnav which sits on a bean bag type device on top of the dash, similar to the BMW in effect.

My question then - how do Yeti built in satnav people find the display? Do you find it quite a way down to flick your eyes?

The built in system on the SE Plus is quite appealing but its location is making me think twice.

I have an SE plus with the Amundsen built-in. Summary info (direction, distance to next change in direction, road names) is available on the data screen in front of the driver by selecting the 'Navigation' option. This works quite well.

I have an SE plus with the Amundsen built-in. Summary info (direction, distance to next change in direction, road names) is available on the data screen in front of the driver by selecting the 'Navigation' option. This works quite well.

Be interesting to see some photos to see how if at all, it differs from the Columbus I have.

To be honest, most of the time I know where I'm going down to the last mile or maybe 1/2 mile, so just have the map showing on the Columbus and the fuel consumption on the maxidot. When I need more direction info, I switch to Navigation mode on the maxidot.

As mentioned above the Columbus screen position is not where I would like it, but I chose it over a X-Trail or a BMW 3 series and am happy to put up with it. I have used my iPhone 4 with Tom Tom or maybe Navigon or even Co-Pilot, in the past, but the screen is too small for my eyes to read anything on the screen - it is perfectly clear, just I need to use reading glasses to operate it. even a normal Tom Tom I struggle with.

So I went for the 'expensive' Columbus as I can read with it's 6.5" screen and the big symbols on the Maxidot display. I suppose Varifocals might have been cheaper . I prefer the OEM look.

The location of the Columbus display in combination with the detail instructions in the maxidot display works very well. Voice guidance and the details in the maxidot means you do not have to be fixated on the main display, which I usually have set to give a long view of the planned route.

The screen is big enough and the text big enough to read quickly, so the low position is not a problem. It also avoids the cluttering of the top of the dashboard from the pop-up type and leaves you easy access to the cubbyhole on top.

Occasionally, when swapping cogs, my hands get some contact with the buttons for the heating system and Columbus, so strange things happen to sound and/or temperature.

I prefer my TomTom in the middle of the car on the windscreen with its base touching the lid of the storage area on top of the dash. It is in my line of sight but below the line of the bonnet and wipers outside so does not obscure any of my view out. Yet I can glance at it whilst still seeing the road ahead at the same time. A far safer bet in my book.

I like the old Volvo sat nav location. They raise out of the dash in this very same spot. So they are retracted when you don't need them and right in your line of sight when you do. Though the BMW ones are nearly in the right spot they are further forward so your eye focus needs to be shorter than if further forward. And this black "ein-augen" stares at you ALL the time day and night even if not needed.

As far forward and just on top of the dash is the spot where all built in sat navs should be located in my view.

I have the Columbus unit and I agree that the screen is mounted far too low down. The Navigation option on Maxidot does help, but doesn't fully correct the issue. Same goes for the heater/air con controls which are also much too low down & small for safety.

On the VW Tiguan, everything is mounted higher up, so the satnav unit is not much below the top of the dash, and the heater controls also move up too. The downside is that you get some naff looking eyeball vents either side of the satnav, and lose the dash top cubby box.

Since the Tiguan is basically the same car, there's no reason for the Skoda satnav placement being so low down, other than it being a "styling feature" as my dealer referred to it!

Edited 17 July, 201114 yr by speedsport

I have the Columbus unit and I agree that the screen is mounted far too low down. The Navigation option on Maxidot does help, but doesn't fully correct the issue. Same goes for the heater/air con controls which are also much too low down & small for safety.

On the VW Tiguan, everything is mounted higher up, so the satnav unit is not much below the top of the dash, and the heater controls also move up too. The downside is that you get some naff looking eyeball vents either side of the satnav, and lose the dash top cubby box.

Since the Tiguan is basically the same car, there's no reason for the Skoda satnav placement being so low down, other than it being a "styling feature" as my dealer referred to it!

it is in the same place on all Skoda's......