I am due to take delivery of a Fabia 1.2 TSi SEL Estate in early August which will have both Mirrorlink and Smartlink. Unfortunately I just missed out on getting the Amundsen built-in Sat Nav. I am deliberating about what to go for and am finding this rather confusing so was hoping members of the forum might be able to offer some advice. I do not own a smartphone but would be prepared to buy one to replace my present phone, preferably for under £200 (I have a free SIM with my TV/Phone/Broadband contract so want to keep that) The options as I see it are as follows:-

 

1. Apple Carplay on an iPhone. A used iPhone 5 in good condition with a 12 month warranty can be bought for <£200. This would be my preferred phone as it would be compatible with my other iGadgets. The downside is that only Apple maps can be used and lack of reception means loss of directions as there is no off-line option. In addition my data allowance is only 200Mb and I’ve no idea how much data using Apple maps would consume.

 

2. Android Auto on an Android phone. I would not be as attracted to an Android phone and from what I have researched a compatible one would cost significantly more than £200. Only Google maps is supported and similarly with no off-line option lack of reception means loss of directions. Google maps however is rated more highly than the Apple alternative.

 

3. Sygic Sat Nav app via Mirrorlink and a compatible phone. I know a lot has been written about the lack of compatibility of most phones with Mirrorlink but I would be prepared to get a suitable phone, however the Skoda compatibility link is very confusing. The main advantage of this option would be that it would work off-line.

 

4. Separate Sat Nav. I could replace my ancient Garmin with its small screen and out of date maps with a new model for much less than £200 but it seems a shame to have to go for a ‘stick-on’ option when the car has a good sized screen. An alternative to this would be to use a smartphone running a decent Sat Nav app with off-line maps on a mount.

 

5. Use my iPad? not sure how practical this is but just a thought.

 

My ideal choice would be an iPhone with something like a Tom Tom app running through Smartlink and using the car’s screen but unfortunately this isn’t an option. Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

 

With Android Auto/CarPlay if you plot the route when you have reception - I.e at the start of the journey - then it doesn't matter if you lose reception throughout as it still knows the route from the GPS and it will continue to work.

If you take a wrong turning however it cannot recalculate without reception.

Maps don't use a huge amount of data, but obviously expect usage to go up if using phones for that regularly.

Mirror link and sygic - don't bother.

I'd recommend finding a friend who has an iPhone/android and taking them for a spin when your car arrives!

With Android Auto/CarPlay if you plot the route when you have reception - I.e at the start of the journey - then it doesn't matter if you lose reception throughout as it still knows the route from the GPS and it will continue to work.

If you take a wrong turning however it cannot recalculate without reception.

 

Thanks for the information, I didn't realise they worked in that way.

There's also an option of a Kenwood MIB unit... but that's about £500

Having the map screened deep down right (sorry, left for you lefties) needing to leave the view of the road is IMHO potentially creating dangerous situations. Go for a windscreen mounted GPS, within your driving view of field.

Having the map screened deep down right (sorry, left for you lefties) needing to leave the view of the road is IMHO potentially creating dangerous situations. Go for a windscreen mounted GPS, within your driving view of field.

No more so than constantly glancing at the speedo which we have to do with roads full of cameras these days. The real danger today is the use of mobile phones whilst driving but will Apple Carplay & Android Auto make this situation better or worse?

 

You Swedes were lefties once too but changed overnight. Imagine waking up one morning and everyone having to drive on the other side of the road! 

You Swedes were lefties once too but changed overnight. Imagine waking up one morning and everyone having to drive on the other side of the road!

Well, imagine doing that over an extended period of time....

Happened nearly 50 years ago, traffic wasnt really as intense back then.

I was in the Manchester area a week ago - and was constantly being scared to the limits of being run over from the wrong side.

Edited 8 July, 201510 yr by pfaff

I was in the Manchester area a week ago - and was constantly being scared to the limits of being run over from the wrong side.

 

Know how you feel. It's the trams you need to watch out for though!

 

back to the topic....

 

There's also an option of a Kenwood MIB unit... but that's about £500

 

 

If I was a heavy user of a Sat Nav system I would consider this but for my occasional use I couldn't really justify the cost which I have seen as typically £599 fitted. Also i've not seen this advertised as an option for the Fabia only Golf, Polo or Passat. 

 

I am leaning toward Apple Carplay but just unsure how good Apple maps will be as a Sat Nav system - does it have voice directions?

I have seen a demonstration on the internet of a device that provides a projected satnav immage onto the cars windscreen. Whether it's effective in the real world I don't know but its a possible satnav option Joe

I have seen a demonstration on the internet of a device that provides a projected satnav immage onto the cars windscreen. Whether it's effective in the real world I don't know but its a possible satnav option Joe

 

Like this - http://hudwayapp.com.  Interesting but it looks like it would be quite distracting, also I wonder if the display is visible when you're driving into the sun?

Edited 9 July, 201510 yr by Coaster

 Also i've not seen this advertised as an option for the Fabia only Golf, Polo or Passat. 

Agree, but the Skoda system is the same as the Polo system. It does work... I have it in my Golf 7 and it really is brilliant as it is a high spec Garmin unit with integrated traffic and lane guidance. Much better than Amundsen. I have, however, specced the latter in my car as it is bargain option at £275 compared to the £700 odd VW charge for Discover!

No more so than constantly glancing at the speedo which we have to do with roads full of cameras these days. The real danger today is the use of mobile phones whilst driving but will Apple Carplay & Android Auto make this situation better or worse?

You Swedes were lefties once too but changed overnight. Imagine waking up one morning and everyone having to drive on the other side of the road!

Hmm but then most people in the UK drive either in the middle or on the right. That in itself is a shock to anyone arriving here for the first time expecting to have to drive on the left and suddenly realising if they did that they would have the lane to themselves. It explains the bewildered looks of the drivers of any PL, RO, F, D, SK, LT number plate codes..

Edited 9 July, 201510 yr by EdinKent

Has anybody had a play with the Amundsen in a Fabia III, or seen video of it online? Reading about the misery that Mirrorlink is causing folks on here, I think that's best viewed as a novelty without practical purpose, for now at least. So if one wants a 'plumbed in' satnav, the Amundsen is the cheapest option. How do its features compare to, say, a mid range Garmin? What's the mapping and route guidance like? Postcodes? It barely even gets a mention in the new Fabia brochure. It's almost as though are reluctant to admit that Mirrorlink is a failure.

VW's built in navigation system is one of the best of the built in systems and that includes Amundsen. And yes, it does have built in postcode search. Do a search on VW discover media system or have a look on the mark 7 golf forums or even on here in the Octy III area for views.

Thanks. Are those the exact same units as the one offered on the Fabia III? I see a lot of mention made of a Columbus unit - presumably that's different to the Amundsen.

I've just got an Octavia with the smart link system - it works brilliantly with my Moto G 4G (an android phone that cost me £105 brand new and unlocked from Three). I have the amundsen sat nav but so far I've been using google maps as I find it better to use. It also works brilliantly with the andorid voice activated search. I am able to send and receive texts, make calls, navigate and even ask it questions all without taking my hands off the wheel. It's outstanding. 

 

Columbus costs £1000 or so

VW's built in navigation system is one of the best of the built in systems and that includes Amundsen. And yes, it does have built in postcode search. Do a search on VW discover media system or have a look on the mark 7 golf forums or even on here in the Octy III area for views.

 

Is this the right one?

 

Is this the right one?

 

 

that looks near identical to the new amundsen although both bolero and amundsen now have smart link (chargeable option on the octavia) so you can just use google maps

I've got a Windows phone and have no intention of changing as it does me well for work. However, WP's are the lepers when it comes to Smart link, Mirrorlink et al, so that leaves me with in-built sat navs. What's fitted to our Citigo suits me perfectly as the Garmin on that has Windows under the hood and, to use someone else's slogan "It just works" with my phone. Now looking at getting a Fabia III estate and the world of pain that others here are suffering with Mirrorlink sends a cold shiver down my spine.

 

Skoda's current pricing of Amundsen for the Fabia looks like a (sheepish) concession of defeat on their part, but I'm happy to benefit from that.

I think WP are just the lepers because unlike apple and google they haven't developed an interface for cars. That can't be long, as more and more cars ship with carplay and android auto it is bound to eat into WP sales and Microsoft will respond. 

I've just got an Octavia with the smart link system - it works brilliantly with my Moto G 4G (an android phone that cost me £105 brand new and unlocked from Three). I have the amundsen sat nav but so far I've been using google maps as I find it better to use. It also works brilliantly with the andorid voice activated search. I am able to send and receive texts, make calls, navigate and even ask it questions all without taking my hands off the wheel. It's outstanding. 

 

Columbus costs £1000 or so

 

Thanks, that's exactly the sort of information I was hoping to receive from someone who's actually got a working system. A solution for just over £100 sounds great. Presumably you are running this through the Android Auto app and Smartlink?

 

I had another play last night on the iPad, trying a couple of routes I drive regularly with both Apple and Google maps. Apple maps came up with some crazy routes whereas Google maps came up with much better ones similar to those I've found best through trial & error. On this basis I'm not sure the Apple Carplay system is for me.

yes, with android auto, works really well. In fact it's not just nav, I was listening to the budget, heard a reference to the MP for Uxbridge, thought, "I'm sure I should know who that is as they are all laughing" so I pressed the google button asked "who is the MP for uxbridge" it then interrupted the radio, told me it is Boris Johnston and then told me who the three previous MPS were. Then when it was done it handed me back to the radio

 

brilliant system. and the moto g phone is a great bargain

Regarding Windows Phone, Microsoft did demo a system working on, horror of horrors, Mirrorlink technology a little while back. The interface looked really nice.