Ok, here is a question I cannot find the answer - perhaps it might have been discussed, but who knows.

So since I have such a long wait before my Clubman even hits production, I have some time to still play with the configuration.

Question: is the navigation voice activated or does it simply run by manual finger pushing? The Configurator refers to it as a voice controled hands free instrument control. I drove the Acura RDX and you could control everything through voice commands, i.e. temp settings, change radio stations, nav. etc...

So how does it work?

 

Both ways.

 

Yep- either through voice or the standard button pushing. The voice commands still require pushing the voice command button, however

The A/C isn't voice controlled, but you can do just about everything else. You may find the voice commands reference useful.

 

Just ran across this within a thread on MINI2 and thought you all might like it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMveKNx99HQ For someone like myself who does not have the Navigation, etc., it was interesting to see.

 

Thanks for the link - I hadn't thought to look there for a demo.

I had been thinking to skip a leather upgrade and get the nav, but that shows me I don't want it. The voice response is slow and clumsy, you still have to key in place names, and I could have had my directions in half the time on the Garmin Nuvi. Perhaps using it by touch would be faster. On the other hand, while driving where requiring full eyes on road the voice would come in handy.

But the map is awful looking. Horrible road lines and apparently no other detail. Can you get a low angle "3D" view? Worst of all, a $2000 system that doesn't have text to speech recognition to speak road names - Inexcusable. Is there also a way to add point of interest files to the system?

I might like having the radio controls on the screen, but the poor navigation screen kills the whole thing for me. Car companies need to stop with this in-house GPS system and DVD based junk, and just license the brains from one of the few good GPS companies out there. Then have a USB port connection to plug in the laptop for firmware updates or feature adding.

Obviously to each their own tastes, but its not for me.

 

The voice control isn't fast, but you don't have to key in the place names. City, street, address, etc can all be voice entered. I enter them on the fly while driving once in a while. Lets me keep my eyes on the road.

There is a low 3D view for the map, it's called perspective. I agree on the lack of detail. The "only horizontal" street names are annoying. I have a Nuvi that speaks the street names and find the Mini's system much simpler. I find I don't need to hear the street name, just when I need to make a turn. Most of the time it doesn't matter what the name is for navigating.

The free traffic info and the fact that I hated the non-Nav radio interface made me choose the opposite of you!

 

O.K. I had honestly forgotten about this post - but thanks everyone for the reminder. I am heading down to take a look at a Mini on the lot that does have the Nav. to finalize my choice.

I will say $2000 bucks is a steep additional, considering I already own a Garmin, which I can work at any time. Yes, the hastle of taking it out is a burden, which is one of the main reason I can't decide.

I know that the Nav. adds some system details to the clubman, but can't you still get those systems controls/adjustments on the small screen on top of the wheel?

 

One other thing to mention on the OEM Nav, it does dead reckoning. Not too many Garmin's do that. Their 7500 does and it's about $1200, which doesn't include a traffic antenna or service.

Any of the settings for the car that are in the OEM Nav are available in the tach's on screen display. When you get the Nav, they take them out of the tach's menu. My Cooper S with Nav only has 1 setting for the auto-wipers in the tach menu.

I had the same delema when I ordered my car. Originally ordered without Nav and just before it went to production I was able to get it added. I own 4 Garmin's. I'd really happy with my decision to get the Nav.

 

I know the feeling about being torn between adding and not adding the Nav. I am trying to make the decision here in the near future. Sometimes I am a firm yes and then a firm no.

To get the real time traffic, do you have to have the subscription to the Sat. Radio?

 

I have a clubman w/ BMW GPS and I am one the unlucky one who has a non working voice command due to a software upgrade...the real time traffic was fixed but I am not clear about its utility.

I haven't played a lot with this GPS and I don't care for it..Give me back the MINI GPS with the British voice option , easy usage and working maps... the Clubman takes so long to get the route directions that it's useless if I have to make a quick detour..

I don't know if I will order again a GPS in a MINI .. I am happier w/ my Pioneer touch screen ..

 

Traffic comes through an FM signal on mine. I do have the Sirius option as well but traffic worked before I activated the Sirius subscription.

 

If you order the NAV and want voice command.. you have to order the bluetooth also...

My nav does not work on voice command.. NO bluetooth..

and I have already managed to break the joystick...