I've been wondering about this since I saw the first news about the Citigo and its siblings. From the looks of things, the combined GPS and trip computer (PID?) is a pretty ordinary looking Navigon touchscreen device mounted on top of the dash, with special software for fuel consumption etc injected into it. Am I correct?

I'm just wondering why VAG decided against integrating it into the dashboard. I'd be very weary of leaving a "steal me" device clearly visible like that, but taking it on and off every day would get tedious really quickly.

Any thoughts?

So they can have a budget option with a basic radio and no sat nav.

By keeping the radio a standard (i believe its the same one as the mk2 Fabia) that also has buttons integrated into its front panel such as hazards etc saves needing to design all different front panels depending on what model radio is fitted. So it keeps it simple & cheap to design/make. All counts towards saving the buyer cash.

Im just guessing but that's my take on it.

I think it was an 'add-on' for the cheaper models which they decided to include for the dearer ones to enable them to ask a higher price.

There is no way a car of this value would include a built-in sat-nav etc, and there is probably no space behind the dashboard to accommodate one either.

The VW Taigun (built on the up! body) will have the unit built-in. At least as of this photo:

Link: http://blog.caranddriver.com/volkswagen-taigun-concept-three-cylinders-and-not-destined-for-u-s-service/

As much as I like the PID and the ability to have more information on the screen at once compared to a normal "OBC" I do find the constant removal when parking a bit of a pain although I can live with it. I also find the disassociation between the car manufacturer and Garmin a bit unhelpful. When I picked my car up the salesmen insisted on explaining the use of the simplest buttons on the dashboard but never mentioned the PID - although that in itself is also easy enough to work out after a bit of a play.

The latest Smart has a built in sat nav and the car costs £10 000 the same as the Citigo Elegance. I would not leave the removable sat nav in the Citigo,so i would have to carry it with me when i parked the car.That is ok in the winter when you can put it in your jacket pocket,but what would you do in the summer?

My Smart did not have the built in sat nav,but i do have a Tom Tom which i only use about Twice a year,as i know where i am going most of the time,so i would leave the Citigos sat nav at home,but i do know it gives other read outs like engine temp etc which is usefull. I would also leave the glove box lid open when parked to show the scum bags the sat nav is not in there.

So I suppose the most practical answer is leave the glove box open and put the PID under the seat.

Regardless of what car I drive, whenever I go on a journey that needs the use of a GPS, I take some wipes ( for the suction cup mark) and an old fashioned road map.

When I get to the other end I wipe the cup mark off the screen, open the glove compartment, put the GPS and associated bits in the boot, and leave the map on the rear seat.

I find that the PID and holder fit comfortable in the glove box, and then i insert the plastic cover over the connections on top of the dashboard.

They couldn't do a built in one because on other models a Columbus is around £1,500.

The Citigo option is a budget offering. You can feel the difference instantly if you use both, I have the Columbus in my Yeti.

It does the job, but it's priced for the car.

My PID was stolen from the closed glove box. The stalk was under the seat, which they rifled around and found. The police reckon they may have seen a USB charger wire. It only takes a little thing they said. Lots of thefts in my area using an electronic scanner to gain entry into the car they said.

 

I think I must have been seen regularly placing it in the glove box outside the house. 

Leaving the glove box open seems like a good idea - if you keep it completely empty  But again it is inconvenient. 

Also, even though I registered my PID on the Garmin Fresh site, you cannot just see the registration online. I wanted it to get the S/N of the stolen unit to give to the police. The hours don't work for me to phone because they coincide with my work and I cannot ring while working. 

 

From now on the unit comes with me. The only consolation is the replacement PID seems sleaker. 

Is there a Skoda version of the VW Taigon?

I find that built in sat navs are not in the right place. You have to move your head/eyes too far from the straight ahead and down to see the screen. I use the pid sat nav when necessary but my Garmin in my other car sits as close to the straight ahead as I can get it.

I love my pid, it's a cracking bit of kit.

I like the idea of the PID and most of the time I find it works well. Using a typical (Garmin) aftermarket sat nav is a pain as it can't handle phone calls (muting stereo etc) and doesn't hook up to the car info like the PID does. Being able to take it with you on foot is occasionally handy and bringing it into the house to do map and software updates is brilliant. It is laggy and unresponsive at times but for what it cost I'd rather have it than not.

 

What I don't like about it is the design of the user interface. The graphics look like a reject from early rushes for Tron and the buttons are in the main badly sized, poorly laid out and illogically placed. Whoever designed the GUI obviously didn't spend much time trying to use the thing. That could easily be sorted by a software update, but I'm not holding my breath for it.

Edited 11 July, 201510 yr by Citigopher

I don't use a Skoda pid but have my old tom tom sat nav. 

I have stuck a circular black plastic satnav pad (£2 from halfords) onto the cover where the pid would go. I then stick my sat nav onto this plate and remove it all to the glove compartment after use. It doesnt stop you having to hide the satnav, but enables to satnav to go exactly where the pid would go and removes the need for cleaning marks from the windscreen.