How easy is it to see the satnav without getting distracted or taking your eyes off the road too long? All of my cars with built-in satnav have been higher on the dash (BMW). Even my E39 seemed less of a look-down to see it, but maybe it just seems that way because you are sat higher in the A2.
Information Steve B's Project "Violet"
- Thread starter Birchall
- Start date
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
I find that the voice instructions are so clear that you rarely need to look down at the map. But when I do look at the map for that moment my eyes are off the road wherever the screen is. Even if it was directly in front of me I am still not looking at the road ahead for that moment anyway. So I really don’t find it a problem.
I used to to go for a Sat Nav system called “Smartnav” it was brilliant, no screen, no key pad just one button and that was it.
To program ram in the route you just press the button and you are connected to a real human being and you explain where you want to go. They then pass down the details directly to your car.
You just ask them to guide you to the nearest cash point, car park etc. It was brilliant. The fact that it had no screen (as standard) the spoken instructions were very clear. No looking away at all.
But back on topic, looking at a sat nav screen takes your eyes off the road wherever the screen is so I find it quite natural (especially since I am used to an RNSE in my A2s normally.
The added advantage of the unit in my car (the RNSD) is that the screen swivels a small amount and so you can aim it towards you to some extent.
Also don’t forget that the directions are repeated on the DIS and that is right in front of you too!!!!!
Steve B
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Kleynie
A2OC Donor
Not so with head up display. On my BM I turn the voice off and have the map instructions on the HUD leaving the main control screen for music etc. No-one else can see the HUD apart from me and therefore no-one knows I have the map instructions in front of me. It makes it look like I know where I’m going!
I guess someone somewhere in the world has fitted HUD to an A2?
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
You misunderstood my point. Whether it is heads up or not you are not looking at the road ahead if your eyes are focussed on the heads up display.
The heads up means less distance for your eyes to travel but it is impossible to focus your eyes on the heads up display AND the road ahead and to the sides.
My basic point is that looking at a sat nav display wherever it is distracts you. The position of the display merely means a split second less time for your eyes to move to that display.
I bought a HUD kit but took it out straight away. Unlike the factory ones you can see the full shape of every pixel even when the screen is off and due to the steep angle of the A2 screen I was getting double vision (one from the internal surface of the screen and another from the external surface of the screen. (Just a plain HUD not Sat Nav HUD)
So I am not sure that there are aftermarket kits that are good enough to use.
Steve B
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Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
Not much been happening with "violet" at the moment.
The seats are being refurbed and not much I can do since that is one of the few tasks remaining.
One thing that I thought might be of interest is this view next to two silver cars.
Most of the pictures of it I post just seem to make it look silver.
This one is slightly better and the difference from a silver car can be clearly seen, but even this one tones down the difference a bit.
The seats are due back in the next week or so, I am currently driving around with just a driver's seat, the most awkward thing of all is that when reversing there is no passenger seat back to grab to help you look back. It still catches me out from time to time, I still reach out for it!
One thing that I discovered (every day is a school day, as they say) The passenger airbag bypass (a standard factory option) is easily bypassed by inserting a key and turning. The surprise was that the key has to be one for this car!!!
I am not sure why that level of security is essential, but it is just more proof that you learn something new every day, even with the A2.
Hopefully the next post will be a picture of the seats back in!!!!!
Cheers
Steve B
The seats are being refurbed and not much I can do since that is one of the few tasks remaining.
One thing that I thought might be of interest is this view next to two silver cars.
Most of the pictures of it I post just seem to make it look silver.
This one is slightly better and the difference from a silver car can be clearly seen, but even this one tones down the difference a bit.
The seats are due back in the next week or so, I am currently driving around with just a driver's seat, the most awkward thing of all is that when reversing there is no passenger seat back to grab to help you look back. It still catches me out from time to time, I still reach out for it!
One thing that I discovered (every day is a school day, as they say) The passenger airbag bypass (a standard factory option) is easily bypassed by inserting a key and turning. The surprise was that the key has to be one for this car!!!
I am not sure why that level of security is essential, but it is just more proof that you learn something new every day, even with the A2.
Hopefully the next post will be a picture of the seats back in!!!!!
Cheers
Steve B
homeoffraser
Member
Think I might have seen you out on the A316 near Richmond on Saturday afternoon Steve? Passed a really beautiful coloured A2 and guessed it might be you. Really lovely colour in the flesh pictures don’t really do it justice.
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
It was sold to a very enthusiastic owner but I don’t think he is an A2OC member.
Steve B