I've been having a look around the site but can't find any real basic info so I have a few dumb questions about the Columbus system as I'm thinking about getting one. Hopefully some peeps can help me

1. Can I connect my iPhone via bluetooth to play music, take calls (with a mic fitted somewhere?) and charge it?

2. Will the 6-CD cassette in the boot still work with the system?

3. How often do you get map upgrades, and how much are they?

4. Is it a big, i.e. expensive job to install the system in my Mark 1 Superb? The e-bay ads claim plug and play but I don't believe that for a minute. Do I need to make sure I have any other bits and bobs to ensure the GPS, bluetooth, music, etc. all works?

5. Will I need a new battery as I read something about battery drain?

6. Do the maxidot and steering wheel controls still work with the system?

7. Looking on flea-bay there are some used examples for £500 with 1-year warranty and European maps installed. Is this about right or are these nicked or rubbish? I saw a Skoda dealer website advertising them for £1600

8. Finally, does the system actually fit the Mark 1 Superb? If not, can anyone recommend a decent alternative that does.

Sorry for all the dumb questions.

I've been having a look around the site but can't find any real basic info so I have a few dumb questions about the Columbus system as I'm thinking about getting one. Hopefully some peeps can help me

1. Can I connect my iPhone via bluetooth to play music, take calls (with a mic fitted somewhere?) and charge it?

Only if you have a separate Bluetooth unit fitted as well that has that capability

2. Will the 6-CD cassette in the boot still work with the system?

Yes

3. How often do you get map upgrades, and how much are they?

The updates come out about once a year I believe, but cost £100+ each time

4. Is it a big, i.e. expensive job to install the system in my Mark 1 Superb? The e-bay ads claim plug and play but I don't believe that for a minute. Do I need to make sure I have any other bits and bobs to ensure the GPS, bluetooth, music, etc. all works?

In the Octavia mk2 it was plug & play, but VCDS needed for tweeking to get everything to work.

5. Will I need a new battery as I read something about battery drain?

That is an Octavia can gateway problem.

6. Do the maxidot and steering wheel controls still work with the system?

Once enabled in VCDS

7. Looking on flea-bay there are some used examples for £500 with 1-year warranty and European maps installed. Is this about right or are these nicked or rubbish? I saw a Skoda dealer website advertising them for £1600

Try OEM retrofits up in Bradford area.

8. Finally, does the system actually fit the Mark 1 Superb? If not, can anyone recommend a decent alternative that does.

Not sure. Possibly not Think it had the MFD1 fitted (the Columbus is MFD3)

Sorry for all the dumb questions.

No problem

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4. Is it a big, i.e. expensive job to install the system in my Mark 1 Superb? The e-bay ads claim plug and play but I don't believe that for a minute. Do I need to make sure I have any other bits and bobs to ensure the GPS, bluetooth, music, etc. all works?

8. Finally, does the system actually fit the Mark 1 Superb? If not, can anyone recommend a decent alternative that does.

The Columbus does not fit the MK1 Superb since it is larger than double din. Even if you could the Columbus needs canbus signals the MK1 superb cannot provide without additional expense in buying protocol converters.

Any double din unit will fit the Superb MK1, for OEM you'll be stuck with the now dated MFD1 CD based nav system. Your better off looking at something made by Alpine or Pioneer.

This thread is relevant to my interests as I'm contemplating popping a Columbus in to replace the Bolero in my car.

Can anyone give any thoughts on the general operability and quality of the navigation on the Columbus? I'm used to TomTom devices which have always been very reliable so if anyone has can share their experiences on the Columbus it would be much appreciated.

I was originally planning on adding a maxidot and BT to whichever car I bought but I ended up getting one with them in already so there is a little left for the one toy that wasn't specced on my car that might be handy!

I personally like the Columbus. It is not as customisable as a TomTom device, but the screen is much bigger. The screen is too low for my liking, but that would involve a complete redesign of the dashboard.

It is not as responsive to touch as I would like either, but you learn to live with it.

A big positive is I don't have to take it out every time I stop, which can be many times a day.

If you don't use Sat Nav often then it is not worth the expense. I use it every day.

It is OEM and looks great in the car, the sound is great with the 12 speaker sound system in my Yeti. You can play DVD's, CD's SD cards and program it on your computer and load destinations from the SD card.

The routing is not as good as TomTom's IQ routes as you would expect.

No Sat Nav is as good as local knowledge, and I regularly ignore what it tells me to do, do much so I leave it on silent almost 100% of the time just relying on the Maxidot and the screen.

I love the Maxidot integration so the next direction is always in line of site, which you can't do with TomTom.

It defaults to using dark (night time) colours when the lights come on.

(As an aside I am amazed how many Sat Nav users don't change to night time colours when they are driving, having to cope with the glare of the bright colours at night)

The Columbus is not perfect, but I believe it is one of the best OEM ones out there.

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Thanks for that fellow nearly Croydonite!

The TomTom I'm used to using is one of the originals with very out of date maps so I've not had the pleasure of using IQ yet but I do hear that it is good.

I don't use it all the time, but often enough that having one built in would be nice and it'll also add something to the car should I want to get rid down the line which happens to be the only thing it's really missing imo.