Think twice before coughing for a built-in satnav in your new car...

Following is a rant. Feel free to bypass it if it isn't your thing.

Just received an email from WhereIs - the makers of the satnav software in out pretty new Subaru Forester.

They want $300 for the latest update for the Subaru satnav! The notes show just one road in the ACT that's been upgraded - just 20 roads upgrades across the entire nation. But there've been tens of thousands of new "points of interest" added... By which I assume they mean paid inclusions from businesses to get themselves listed. So you have the pleasure of paying (a lot) for something that has already been paid for by the advertisers.

Nicely integrated - about the only good thing
you can say about the Subaru Forester satnav!

I'm still gobsmacked that we fell for getting charged $3000 extra for what could just be the worst satnav on the market...

Not even the simplest basics like speed limits. Surely this is the most important and useful inclusion a satnav could have?


Forget "standard" inclusions on after market units (for well under $300 I might add) like speed cameras, red light cameras, and live traffic condition updates.

And we drive a 4WD with a satnav that doesn't like dirt roads...basically useless for long distance driving off the tarmac.

And this unit which also functions as the sound system is actually less functional with iPod/Phones, etc than the base model.

So I guess that's a big No thanks to WhereIs for your kind offer.

But feel free to let me know when you start paying more attention to the basics than you obviously do to built-in advertisers.

And for readers thinking about buying a new car - get a thorough run-down on the operations of any such accessories before committing your hard-earned and landing a lemon.