EazyRider562

I have a trial version of the traffic feature on my 4G GPS for the time being.

I'm just curious when I'm going home from work does it give you the best option with traffic taken into consideration?

Do they work together?

fleming23

I notice when traveling longer distances the Navigation will change routes as it detects traffic and determines a faster route. I don't know that the routing is always necessarily the "best option" as you put it but it does attempt to give you the shortest time based on the route it deems fastest.

91lgndsdn

What's a "trial version"? I have the NAV on my 4G TL and I don't recall having to subscribe to anything or it being a trial NAV unit. Is it subscribed through the XM radio? Is the traffic feature always on? or can it be adjusted?

fleming23

I think he was referring to the traffic subscription which does expire after 90 days if you don't subscribe through XM.

jasonwdp10

The TL comes with a trial (3-4 month?) subscription to XM radio, which gives you live traffic and weather updates.

After that, if you don't subscribe, it goes away. Though recently I've seen the weather come back?

As for the nav routing, without XM traffic, the TL does not give me the best route. Especially in a place like LA, the nav seems to choose routes with shorter distances or more freeway (vs local). Which is logical, except LA has bumper to bumper traffic very often and the routes I already know are much faster than the ones that the nav are giving me.

It may have been better with XM traffic, not sure though.

91lgndsdn

Thanks for the clarification. When I bought my new TL I just transferred my existing XM subscription over to the new car from my trade-in so I never noticed a difference. I really don't notice the NAV changing my routing due to traffic but then again in San Antonio I really don't rely on the NAV unit since I know my way around with out it. I do use the traffic info to see where any congestion is every now and then but normally it's off.
One complaint I do have about the Acura NAV unit is that they should offer better updates, streets which have been on the map for a few years here don't show up on the map. I want to get an update as soon as I can. I believe it is a dealer DVD you have to get? Has anybody checked out on how this is done.

This is my first Acura with a NAV.

EazyRider562

You can buy the yearly update for about $140

diddy_nyc

iTrader: (1)

The traffice info is pretty accurate, but the calculated routes are terrible.

DEman19901

Rerouted me around traffic and into a whole !@#$ load of tolls.

91lgndsdn

I believe the updates only come out once a year around the fall time frame, is that true? and is it purely a dealer item or can the update be gotten another way? anybody done the update to an Acura NAV unit?

fleming23

Probably want to change the route preferences to minimize toll roads.

Ant$

it always seems like XM's traffic information is maybe half and hour to an hour old. Half the time that I don't follow the detour route and it tells me that i'm entering heavy traffic, there usually isn't any traffic...

EazyRider562

Well you live in Pennsylvania, I think that makes sense!

gibjer

I've found this as well, the calculated routes are terrible. Was in Providence and had to goto western CT the other day, it sent me through downtown New Haven instead of up 9 and over 684.

No traffic to speak of.

Double K

You guys in the US get all the neat gizmos...

91lgndsdn

?? Don't the Canadian models have NAV?

Double K

They do, but they don't have the traffic updates. I even looked through the settings on my drive home and that setting is nowhere to be found.

Ken1997TL

It worked fine, I did not renew XM after the trial. I don't need the music, traffic or weather info. The navi plus some common sense goes a long ways.

91lgndsdn

I do not think you are missing much Double K. Does your model have the Canadian only headlight washers?

Double K

It has headlight washers, but didn't know that was specific to the Canadian model.

91lgndsdn

Yeah, so you see. You guys up north are the ones that really get the cool gadgets. Headlight washer's isn't even offered here in the US. Wonder what else.

Double K

You guys don't get extorted when purchasing tires. It's FAR cheaper to pay $200+ for shipping and duty to get them from the US.