Any reviews of the stock BRZ navigation?
 

Haven't been able to get into a BRZ locally to check it out. Are there any videos showing the stock nav unit in operation? haven't found any on youtube :/

My main questions are how's it like switching radio stations, are there preset buttons or do you hit "next"?

Is it simple to switch from radio to AUX or do you have to click back, choose "output" then select?

Is it possible to turn off the monitor? Would help during some night drives.

It's awful and fiddly.

I personally hate it. I lose satellite when it's cloudy and touch screen has a delay when you push buttons.

Like they said, it is awful and really sluggish. Just to answer your questions though, the presets are laid out through the screen like a list and you can press them just like you would in a normal car radio. Theres also a side list on the left side of the screen where you can switch between the radio, aux, phone, etc. For the screen, I'm not sure if you can turn off the monitor but you can definitely adjust the brightness to your preference.

Damn I ran across some negative reviews. But it can't be any slower than my BMW 2007 idrive, and hoping...

Maybe I'll just load up some mp3s on my phone and forget about navigating the stock unit.

Push and hold the audio button for a few sec and top right I think is turn off

The touch screen has a bit of delay and the navi doesn't work where I'm at so it's sort of useless other than an entertainment hub I guess.

Its not that bad, yes it is sluggish but just have a little patience and ull be fine

I like it. Eh.

I was in the same boat. No BRZ's locally to test drive and check out the nav system. I read a LOT of negative reviews about it from dropping signal, laggy interface and small buttons.

I must say that after all that, when I finally got my car the nav was much better than I was expecting. (My expectations were low.) I can say from the drive from Boston, MA all the way down to Durham, NC...through snow, sleet and heavy rain...the nav never lost signal and gave me true directions. Driving it here for the last two weeks, I've never had a lost signal.

As for the controls, there is a perceptible lag when you press a touchscreen button...but I have experienced this on every car-based nav system I have used to date (I think smart phones have spoiled all of us with regards to touchscreen aesthetics). But it is very usable from that standpoint.

I don't like the radio controls...it is awkward to scan through available radio stations. But I have solved that by inputting my favorites. The iPhone bluetooth integration is seamless and quite excellent.

The volume knob is too small and too hard to turn (I have large hands)...and that is probably my biggest complaint day to day.

The audio system in general needs more power...I find it difficult to hear talk radio while cruising because let's face it the cabin is a little loud (and I like that about the car). I do find myself fairly constantly adjusting the volume to hear well.

I have had no problems with mine. My dealer did give me a new SD card for it though.

After all the bad reviews, I've opted for an Alpine system.... Cant wait to get my BRZ (one of the first batch to arrive in South Africa on Monday)

It's the same unit as in the Impreza and XV Crosstrek; you could try searching those, too.

The system is a bit of a let-down, having used other manufacturers' media interfaces before. BMW iDrive, Audi MMI, Mercedes Comand, even the navigation in the Legacy/Outback make this thing look like X-Box vs Atari by comparison. It gets the job done but it's very clunky.

I like it but I hate it. When the sun is shining on your interior it is hard to see the NAVI(Rarely but possible). I lose GPS signal every first 5 minute drive, and I hate the limited option for zooming in and out(Too close when youre in a small town, and too far if you zoom out once). I find that changing a radio station is a PITA, I prefer the old method of turning the knob.

The AUX and USB are great, the menus have a lot of options for you to choose from such as sound options/GPS options etc, I like how you are able to upload your own picture for the start up screen, and the GPS map style looks a little outdated but better than nothing.

Overall, I am satisfied with it

Good choice...we have an Alpine nav in our lancer and it is light years beyond the BRZs nav. The BRZ system reminds me of the Garmin display/layout.

I was at an auto show right after I got my BRZ and I paid close attention to the other companies units. Considering only standard units the BRZ isn't awful hyundai's maps felt small, Ford's interface isn't big enough (felt it'd be hard to touch while driving), Acura and Chrysler have cartoon looking maps, Audi has the nicest looking maps, the GM interface and maps seem really good quality. *2 cents*

I don't use mine a lot, when I do I'm on major highways so I don't tend to lose signal, my biggest issues were that putting in an address can't be done on the fly (even if there is a passenger) and when you arrive it doesn't automatically end or give you the option to shut off the directionals (in one parking garage the fucking thing wouldn't shut up so I actually turned the car off just to cancel it out).

Overall the unit performs on par with alot of aftermarket units that offer NAV, DVD, & Music capabilities. I have a $1100 Kenwood unit (nav & dvd too) from a few years ago, and it's just as laggy & clunky, if not more. So was the $800 JVC nav/dvd unit I bought in 2010. The Kenwood offered more sound enchancement options, but the screen resolution was awful, and it was SLOWER & clunky reacting when you pushed the on-screen buttons. It couldn't even recognize the alphabetical order of songs/folders on a USB drive, which is pathetic for a $1,000+ unit.. I hope they've improved the newer models, but I'm glad to have my Subaru DVD/NAV system over that anyday.

I've had the Subaru NAV not finding a signal a few times, but 95% of the time it locates the satellite signal just fine for me.

After getting the TSB performed at my dealer, the NAV works very well now. I have GPS signal lock immediately and permanently now. I used to have it drop in the first minute and maybe come back five minutes later. That is fixed now.

There is still a little delay in the touch screen, but you get used to it. I actually prefer it now that I'm used to it. It's certainly not as quick or responsive as the cell phone screens we're used to... but in a bouncy car, sometimes it's nice having a little less senstitivy. that way a quick bounce doesn't always send you to a wrong screen or command.

Do you have a Canadian BRZ? Apparently there is a bypass DIY fix for that here.

How do you upload a pic? I can't find that anywhere :bow:

It is functional but the UI is terrible.

I am currently having issues connection with my phones and getting music to stream over blutoof. I am looking in to getting one of the new radio options from Subaru or getting an Android radio.

It's not good, but you get used to it

"Traffic Jam Ahead" Me: "im the only car on the road for 20 miles" lol

Can you stream music from your Phone/USB even when the unit is turned OFF? I guess not. Is the lowest brightness level good enough for night driving?

For those with GPS signal issues, take it in. There's a TSB for it, and they'll update the software on the unit, and relocate the GPS antenna. Mine is in the shop today for that fix.

I have not brought mine in for the TSB, but on the 2 or 3 occasions I've tried to use it, I couldn't.

First time I used it my car was headed east through the forest while driving south on a highway, before I ultimately started flying over the Atlantic Ocean for several hundred miles...

Run down to the dealership and ask the salesperson to show you a WRX with touchscreen nav. It's the same unit as the one in the BRZ. That way you can test it out yourself. You'll just have to put up with a salesperson.

:search:


haha, jk. Here you go, credit goes to Grimmspeed.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7636

:thanks:

Bad and no signal.

The whole head unit is terrible.
I had the service bulletin performed on it (fix antenna connection and update memory card) and all my loss of signal problems went away.
the stereo is still horrible and th eusability of the navigation system is poor.

Music still works with the screen off. Music is off if you push the volume button.

Are you able to stream music via blue tooth?

I had the TSB done yesterday, but haven't had the chance to try it out. New cars will have the reception problem already corrected. Other than the reception it works ok, a bit clunky, but gets the job done.

Blue tooth streaming works, but you can't control an Ipod via bluetooth. There is Ipod control with USB though.

thing is, the US spec unit is different than the rest of the world's

most reviews are based on that so YMMV

Yes, you can stream music over bluetooth and the system supports DIVX videos but only through USB. It will also read back you text messages too.

Its a good standard Navigation system. Just make sure you have all the updates. The only problem is that I can not get the Navitools software to read my SD card. There are updates that have fixed problems and added features. Mine was updated by the dealer a month ago, so i figure I am pretty much good to go but is anybody else having issues with the software reading your SD card?

I thought BMW iDrive was a crappy navigation / entertainment system. But this Subaru system is truly terrible in comparison. It's like they've never heard of gorilla arm. Changing the radio station requires that you take your eyes off the road. Some physical preset buttons would have been nice you tossers!

Is your SD card locked? There should be a little switch on the left side of the SD card, try flipping it up or down and see if that fixes it.

http://www.question-defense.com/wp-c...ard-locked.gif

^^ This.... Heading home at 4am in the morning on i5, not a single sole on the road, but every few minutes "Traffic Jam Ahead" :hitcomputer:

Overall though its fine. Mine has never lost signal, and usually has signal within 10 seconds of starting the car.

Ignoring the signal issue since they fixed it I only dislike 2 things.

1. Can't adjust your route without coming to a stop which is REALLY annoying. But as I understand it this is standard on all OEM navigation units.

2. Can't control music from headunit when using bluetooth. Only Next, Last, Pause, Play. Would be nice to have the USB menu when using bluetooth. Don't know if that is even possible though.

Does it have a way to browse by folder if using USB storage?