Petitioning for a lifetime maps option?

[BillyHW]

The Uconnect map update system is still in the stone ages. For the price of a one-time map update you can throw away a portable unit into the trash and replace it with a new one. This is driving people away to phone-based systems that are always up-to-date, or portable units with lifetime map options that are quite a bit easier to update. It's also creating a black market on eBay for pirated updates.

This is such a waste of all the R&D put into developing the integrated Uconnect hardware and map software. No one in their right mind would pay these prices for a single map update. I think they are just throwing money away with this model.

I, for one, would be willing to pay a $500 premium for a lifetime maps option with say 1 map update per year. I'm sure there are a lot of other people out there who would pay this as well. I truly think uConnect would make more money with such a model if it were priced right, and it would make more customers happy.

Do you think there's any way to convince Uconnect to do this?

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[Lurvis33]

I’m not sure how to effectively get their attention but the price of their map updates is absurd. Especially when, like you said, it’s cheaper to just buy and then replace a third party gps (that also come with unlimited downloadable updates!).

 

[theplankeye]

If $500 is the proposed reasonable premium for LM, I don’t want to know how much an update costs.

 

[BillyHW]

If $500 is the proposed reasonable premium for LM, I don’t want to know how much an update costs.

It's not reasonable, but I'm willing to be raped $500 for a lifetime maps option than to be raped $150 for each single map update.

 

[1quick1]

No thanks. I'll use Waze for free hence why I opted for the 7" screen this time. The built in Nav was okay at best in my 2017 RAM with 8.4"

I personally think it should come from the factory with lifetime updates or at least something like 5-7 years.

 

[CashMonkey]

The Uconnect map update system is still in the stone ages. For the price of a one-time map update you can throw away a portable unit into the trash and replace it with a new one. This is driving people away to phone-based systems that are always up-to-date, or portable units with lifetime map options that are quite a bit easier to update. It's also creating a black market on eBay for pirated updates.

This is such a waste of all the R&D put into developing the integrated Uconnect hardware and map software. No one in their right mind would pay these prices for a single map update. I think they are just throwing money away with this model.

I, for one, would be willing to pay a $500 premium for a lifetime maps option with say 1 map update per year. I'm sure there are a lot of other people out there who would pay this as well. I truly think uConnect would make more money with such a model if it were priced right, and it would make more customers happy.

Do you think there's any way to convince Uconnect to do this?

Upgrading to Uconnect 4 with 8.4 Lifetime should have already been added to the price, then you get 1 free year of updates or something and pay the rest of the years that you own the vehicle. Kind of like how Sirius XM works.

However if you think this is the best compromise I'll petition with you

 

[CashMonkey]

No thanks. I'll use Waze for free hence why I opted for the 7" screen this time. The built in Nav was okay at best in my 2017 RAM with 8.4"

I personally think it should come from the factory with lifetime updates or at least something like 5-7 years.

I agree, if they can do that with XM radio why cant they do that with Navi? When XM first became a thing you paid 500 one time and you got a lifetime membership instead of this monthly yearly crap that Sirius implemented.

 

[The Great Grape Ape]

I agree with you, but $500 is a bit pricey.

For $150 per typical update, That’s 3yrs + $50, so something like $250 seems like a good sweet spot. More than a single update, and already a savings of $50 from a second one.

Also more likely to get adoption from people less likely to keep the Wrangler for much more than the Warranty period.

And considering a stand-alone dedicated TRUE off-road + Topo HD maps unit from Magellan with more map detal / info than the Uconnect is priced at just $199 with lifetime maps, $250 even seems like too high a price just for map updates.

http://www.magellangps.com/Store/TRX-Off-Road-Navigators

Realistically it should be just included, and if not then should be either cheap and easy to do without dealership intervention, or else reasonably easy and extremely quick for a dealer to do as a fixed fee close to the songle $150 update.

 

[RNJeeper]

I’m shocked that you have to pay for updates. I ended up getting a Sport S so I didn’t even have the option of getting nav but my husband really wanted me to get a Sahara just so that I would have built in nav. Glad I didn’t. Apple maps with CarPlay has done just fine so far.

 

[Killed by Death]

I’m shocked that you have to pay for updates. I ended up getting a Sport S so I didn’t even have the option of getting nav but my husband really wanted me to get a Sahara just so that I would have built in nav. Glad I didn’t. Apple maps with CarPlay has done just fine so far.

I've had problems with Apple maps in the mountains where I like to fly fish because of weak cell phone service. So I'll probably get the Nav system. Its also the only way to get HD radio

 

[LennyV]

Is it possible to use waze from your phone and have it project onto the 8.4 uconnect screen?

I only ask because I find each car manufactures quality of GPS varies. My Mercedes and MINI have an awesome GPS with perfect traffic alerts that get you around the traffic. My Acura GPS is horrible. It is slow and clunky and does a horrible job with traffic. I use waze in the Acura, but I hate looking at my phone screen. I like looking at the larger dash screen. I don't know how Jeeps will rate.

I like Waze and google maps better than all three, but I have had issues when Cell service was weak.

 

[Killed by Death]

Is it possible to use waze from your phone and have it project onto the 8.4 uconnect screen?

I only ask because I find each car manufactures quality of GPS varies. My Mercedes and MINI have an awesome GPS with perfect traffic alerts that get you around the traffic. My Acura GPS is horrible. It is slow and clunky and does a horrible job with traffic. I use waze in the Acura, but I hate looking at my phone screen. I like looking at the larger dash screen. I don't know how Jeeps will rate.

I like Waze and google maps better than all three, but I have had issues when Cell service was weak.

I don't think CarPlay allows Waze or Google Maps at all. Can't speak for Jeep since I don't have mine yet. However, my BMW only allows Bluetooth audio for Waze and Google Map via CarPlay. No map appears on the display. I think it is CarPlays attempt to force Apple maps on you. BTW, IMHO CarPlay absolutely SUCKS!!! BMWs iDrive system is MUCH better so I don't even use it.

 

[RNJeeper]

I don't think CarPlay allows Waze or Google Maps at all. Can't speak for Jeep since I don't have mine yet. However, my BMW only allows Bluetooth audio for Waze and Google Map via CarPlay. No map appears on the display. I think it is CarPlays attempt to force Apple maps on you. BTW, IMHO CarPlay absolutely SUCKS!!! BMWs iDrive system is MUCH better so I don't even use it.

It works with Android I believe but not be apple CarPlay.

 

[cosmokenney]

Just for reference -- I paid $89 for Garmin's nüMaps Subscription North America Download for my Montana 600. I just about puked when I went to uconnect and saw the pricing to update my maps. My dealer also told me that maps would be updated for life. So I guess I'm going to have to have a conversation with that little shit.

EDIT: for clarification: the $89 is, by the way, for lifetime map updates to Garmin's City Nav North America NT product.
I'd pay that much for lifetime on the Jeep. My Montana lives on my motorcycles and I'd like better quality maps in the built-in dash screen on my Jeep. Because, why else get the big screen? Would also love to be able to get topo/terrain shaded maps with actual TRAILs on the Jeep screen.

 

[TMac99]

I don't think CarPlay allows Waze or Google Maps at all.....

I can confirm that Apple CarPlay does allow both Waze and Google Maps to be sent to the 8.4 screen (you have to be connected via a cable to do this).

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