In dash GPS wins, well yesterday it did

I ran into a similar situation last year. I always carry a Garmin in my pickup either on the dash or in the console. My wife does not. I was using her Suzuki with in dash nav system and encountered a wreck on I-81. While not great, it was better than nothing. It did route me around the problem and saved me a good hour.

In all fairness, this scenario should be included in future posts on the subject of in dash or standalone GPS units. The in dash is always with you.

... loaded, ready to show you the area with the single touch of a button.

Soberbyker, If you have the re-routing capability on your Garmin based unit you are lucky, my Garmin based unit does not. So in your case Chrysler must have specified that feature.

The only good thing I can say about my built in, is that if it gives an instruction it automatically overrides the stereo.

Honestly I'm not sure if I backed off the map screen if there is a "detour" button like some of the stand alone GPS's I've had with a route programmed in.

The scenario I was talking about in the OP was not a route, nothing programmed. The map wasn't on the screen, a radio station info was, but once I needed it, one button touch and the map was on the screen. I used the screen like I would a paper map, to "see" the surrounding area and thereby plotting my way through mentally. Knowing the basic area I knew how far of a parallel route I needed to take through the zig zagging streets to re-enter the main road to continue on our way.

Oh and the auto mute feature you mention is awesome, I can listen to radio at any level and not miss a direction.

It accepts 7XX-8XX Nuvi's, just wish Garmin would make new models to fit it

...of my built-in unit leading me into a driveway somewhere out in Indiana at 0400 in the morning. Had to whip out the iPhone and punch in the address that I was looking in Google Maps. It was interesting pulling into some farmers driveway and having the in-dash unit telling you to turn right.

That's probably where the farmers daughter was?

...but you are probably right.

In response to the original post, a stand alone GPS would do the same thing (show surrounding streets) as it has a map mode when not programmed.

Yes it would, I use mine at work like that all week long, but the point was, the stand alone was tucked away in my work backpack in the backseat of my Jeep. I was in a fairly familiar area to travel through, but didn't know the surrounding streets. The indash was ready to view in less than 5 seconds to get me around the problem. Using the stand alone would have meant stopping and setting it up.

http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/a395aca8-a381-...

https://walkingthefenceline.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/your...

https://static.neatorama.com/images/2011-04/your-gps-is-wron...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DADN0XoXkAEk8RZ.jpg

http://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/1625206/812161...

I go with a triple threat system. Drives the wife crazy, but that's just a fringe benefit .

In-dash GPS zoomed out to maybe 7-10 miles in view, with traffic showing. No routing.

Garmin 2460 zoomed at about 2-4 miles. No routing, but speaker on for speedtrap and RLC POI warnings.

Waze running on phone, with routing active for long trips, no routing for short trips. Good warnings for cops (and cameras).

Not saying I intentionally speed. Just nice to not get in trouble if accidentally speeding.

not trying to be funny because I rented a Jeep Wrangler and had to head to Richmond VA. I was trying to change the orientation of the built in nav, so that the map was oriented north, not the driving direction. Is that even possible?

I can't find anything online to help you but I have to ask why do this (north = up)? That seems so unnatural to me as compared to having the driving direction be up.

One possibility, pull into a Jeep dealer and ask. But then every renter moving forward will likely curse you (or Jeep).

I always use North Up. I want to see naturally what's around me and it's relationship. 3D does not show this.

I hate 3D but prefer direction up to north up

You should be able to click on the 'N' or compass symbol on the map to change the heading-up orientation to a North-up orientation. Most people prefer to have their map oriented so regardless of the actual direction they are heading it is always heading up on the map.

The symbol should indicate whether the map orientation is set to north-up or heading-up. Selecting the symbol changes the map orientation. Both north-up and heading-up symbols display the vehicles direction as a letter (e.g. N for north or W for west).

but it may have been nice to have one when the blacktop ended and the gravel started. (I do like the way the person spelled guaranteed on the one sign.)

For the year of my Jeep, there were two versions of in dash Navigation, the one I opted for, was less expensive and a Garmin which I was familiar with. It's the 430n, and when turned on it shows a Garmin splash screen. I don't recall who the more expensive one was made by.

That said I never thought about and the next time I am in the Jeep I'll hopefully remember to hunt around for it.

Personally I like the 'top' of the map to show me what's coming up no matter which way I turn.

I feel the 3D is as if I'm looking out of the windshield ahead of me which I think is more natural than north up.
But to each his own, however it is.

Northup on in-dash and Garmin standalone. Heading-up on phone-Waze.

I find the map shows more detail in north up mode. The scale is also distorted in 3D.

I buy a GPS to navigate travel, not make coffee, play chess with and so on. I like my Flip Tray because I can take in house to update or change things on Computer rather the use "Smart Phone" battery and small screen, tiny keys. Lifetime Free versus $199 per year on Wife's Juke In Dash