[Madywheel]

I would vote Never. As majority of Bhpians saying here, GPS based navigation in not killing the adventure of driving. I believe on the contrary, this feature is enabling more and more people to venture out in their vehicles. Having a GPS assitance is always assuring that you don't need to worry about getting lost in an unknown terrain. This is especially useful when you are traveling with family or on a time bound trip (as we all mostly travel in our busy schedule).

[dipdawiz]

Being a person with limited sense of direction and location, also being an introvert (do not like verbal communication with people I do not know) I am completely dependent on Google Maps (gmaps and waze was readily available for whole of India in android phones when I started driving in 2010). But not that I have not navigated without gps anytime, but only handful of times and places where I have been at least 2-3 times before.

Normally, even if I travelled to the place before, I switch on the gps (android auto helps a lot); volume would be always on mute for navigation. I do not need to constantly monitor it (I prefer to study the route before hand), but casual look at times give assurance that we are on track and also helps me properly take correct direction.

On the contrary to "kill the adventure", sometime driving with gps on can give you adventure - when gps does not work or suggested route looks suspicious, I get sort of anxiety attack - an adventure of its own

[lifebuoy]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

G

Have you ever felt that GPS takes away some of the fun of the adventure in the driving by taking away the uncertainty of the journey, the very big thing that it solved in the first place?


I realized that this uncertainty without the GPS have a lot more thrill. All in all, WE ENJOYED the journey way better.

Curious, what do other BHPians think? If you are inclined to believe that it does not impact your feelings then recommend going without it at least once, and make sure its not on daily office commute rather a semi unknown route.

Absolutely. GPS only helps in crowded cities and when one is a newbie in that geographical area. Let me highlight with an example. I have been driving around in Israel for three years (on holidays only, by hiring a car from Eldan or SixT, etc using my DL issued by RTO Bangalore East...) I felt the need in cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Jaffa, which are densely populated and missing one turn could be irritating.

However, the drives on the Negev, to Eilat, to the north, etc were delightful without a GPS.. I used to note down turn by turn information from the local navigation websites and that would suffice for the most part. With sign boards in Hebrew (can read them, but took time), this was a boon and one did not have to even miss a turn or an exit, where coming back was the next exit, not a U turn on the road !!

One watches the roads, for signs, buildings, or other landmarks in this case. You are alive to your surroundings and without the bugging directions, at ease as well. One's sense of direction and navigation improves quite a bit. These are true for Indian cities as well, but crowded lanes and bylanes are better off with GPS, where there are proper roads.

Another example. I used Google maps to navigate from India Gate to a friends' new apartment in experion Windchants, Gurgaon on the Dwarka Expressway. Google took me by the shortest route into village roads, dry patches of what seemed to be roads in the last part of the route. The ARIA thankfully negotiated the muddy areas with ease, but Google actually messed up. Once we got to know the metalled road leading from the Eway under construction, it was easier, without G Maps.

[GrandTourer]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

Curious, what do other BHPians think? If you are inclined to believe that it does not impact your feelings then recommend going without it at least once, and make sure its not on daily office commute rather a semi unknown route.

I beg to differ from the idea of GPS taking away the adventure. In fact, I tend to believe that one can enjoy the drive even more without having to constantly wonder if a turn is missed or where the next exit is. I tend to use GPS on my regular routes too, and not because I am not good with directions. In fact I remember a road years after having travelled in it once. But just the fact that there might be a better alternate route, or to avoid traffic.

Coming to the "adventure" part of maybe overshooting an exit or missing a turn, I would rather have the GPS than drive in an unsafe manner. A typical behavior of someone not using GPS on a fairly unknown route is driving significantly slower than the rest of the traffic and sudden and dangerous turns/lane switching. This I believe causes more accidents on highways than speeding.
I can't remember how many time I have cursed people for suddenly braking and switching lanes dangerously to get on the flyover from the wrong lane, or suddenly stopping and reversing on the highway because they missed a turn

GPS provides the peace of mind that my turn is coming up in X meters and I can safely enjoy the drive until it arrives. For the sake of my safety and that of other road users, I would gladly do the "target oriented" driving.

[vamsi.kona]

I would say, I had more adventures with GPS Maps right from Nokia maps to Google Maps. With maps, I generally take more risks going in alternate routes knowing fully well that google maps would find a way to get me back on track to my destination. When I toured entire South India alone in my car, maps was my trusted source as I didn't know Malayalam or Kannada. I could manage Tamil to ask directions.

As for getting distracted, I generally don't look at the maps at all unless it asks me to take a deviation, especially at circles which have multiple exits, to just get a visible cue of which turn to take. So in fact GPS increased my pleasure while driving because I am assured that I will somehow reach my destination. There are times when maps, especially in nokia maps, took me on wild rides, especially in Kerala.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Vibhav-Van

The Google maps algorithm does have a sense of adventure sometimes, especially while suggesting alternative routes..

Google's navigational algo, at least in India, doesn't factor in the type of vehicle. It assumes that if a motorcycle can go in that road, so can cars. The dedicated PN devices like Garmin uses a certain width of the road as minimum mandatory part in its calculation.
I tried both near ECR where I wanted to reach the OMR ( for those not familiar with Chennai, East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road are parallel roads running close to the Coast). Google suggested a road barely 900 meters away whereas Garmin insisted that it is 3km away. I fell for the Google and went all the way to a halt near a very narrow unpaved side road.

[adnaps]

I use Sat Nav as a decision support system. Look at the system but use my judgement. Ask people if required and never follow the system blindly.

As most folks on this forum, I think Satnav is essential for adventure and like any other tool , has to be used with care and good judgement.

[Jeroen]

I have been using TomTom & Garmin navigation devices from their very early inception. I started with the very simple Garmin Etrex, which did not even have a map!

These days we have two TomTom devices for all of my cars and one for my wife’s car. All with Traffic information, speed camera warnings etc. (and of course I have a Garmin for touring on my bicycle too!)

I am still using my TomTom over any build in navigation system. I have yet to come across anything that is this good and convenient.

Roughly speaking there are two different kind of uses for me. The most obvious one is just navigating to wherever you want to. Even if it is a location I have driven to a hundred times (e.g. the kids homes, office etc) I still use the TomTom, because of the Traffic information. Which works extremely well here in Europe. It will even warn you if there are heavy thunderstorms up ahead with lots of downpour.

The other use is to go on (rally) tours. Usually with one of my classic tours. Which always means studying the relevant map in detail and programming the exact route into the TomTom. Which also means I carry maps of sufficient resolution to find any road that is accessible with a car. (1;50.000 scale or better). These route will consist of many pre-defined points to get to the final destination. So it takes a bit more work than just entering the destination.

It makes driving these tours a lot easier and safer, especially if I am just by myself. Well, even if my wife is with me, I still have to do the navigation as my wife simply refuses to navigate no matter what.

Just because my TomTom tells me to go somewhere, doesn’t necessarily mean I follow each and every command. If I happen to see something that might look interesting, just turn into it. The TomTom will adjust accordingly. In 2D mode it really helps create situational awareness too.

So for me, a navigation device just adds to my ability to find my way and enjoyment of a tour.

Just a few weeks ago we were on our annual Alfa Romeo Spider trip in France. Here you see me, with my good friend Niek pouring over the maps figuring out where to go. TomTom at the ready to get a good route, based on what we see on the paper map!



Many car clubs have started providing their members with GPX route files, prior to a tour, just to compliment the written route description.

Jeroen

[vredesbyrd]

As much as I would like to whip out a 4-foot wide map and slap it on the bonnet to look for directions, just like the 80's, GPS sure would save time and effort. Only if younger working professionals were treated like humans and given personal time, I'd love to spend time, be slow and would go old school explorer mode.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by vredesbyrd

As much as I would like to whip out a 4-foot wide map and slap it on the bonnet to look for directions, just like the 80's, GPS sure would save time and effort. Only if younger working professionals were treated like humans and given personal time, I'd love to spend time, be slow and would go old school explorer mode.

You are confusing going somewhere and being on the road. When you are are going somewhere you want to get to a destination. The destination is the purpose of the trip. (e.g. going to work, home, visiting friends, shopping, doctor). If the destination is the purpose of a trip, might as well get there as fast and efficiently as possible. GPS is a great tool.

Being on the road is very different. The destination is not the purpose, but the journey itself, wherever that might take you.

Most of us spend most of our times in cars going to a destination. Some of us, spend some time just being on the road. The driving is the purpose, enjoying the scenery. A destination is irrelevant, you go with the flow. Being out on the road towards a destination and exploring in most cases doesn’t work well. If you need to reach a certain destination, for whatever purpose the exploring will always take second place. At best you get to wander a bit before continuing to your destination.

Not sure why you think old guys like me have more personal time than young folks. Throughout my life I have always maintained that you should find ways to do the things that matter to you. The things that are important, relevant, enjoyable and so on. No matter how busy a job you have, no matter how hectic your life is, always try to find a few moments now and then to enjoy what matters to you.

In my case, one of the things I enjoy is driving around with no particular destination. I have been able to do that throughout my life. Not as often as I would like, but as often as I could/can.

Of course, if I really want to enjoy myself I would not even rely on GPS and maps alone, but would break out my trusted ol’ sextant!



Talk about navigating slowly! People focus to much on getting somewhere (destination), work/career wise, family. Wandering, be it in mind only, or actually wandering (taking a random walk, by bike, by car) does one good, I believe. Spiritually and physically. Excellent way to relax and recharge and get to some of those destinations even quicker!

Jeroen

[amitayu]

Auto Transmission takes away more fun of driving than GPS navigation.
Everyone thinks of GPS and exploring a new route. GPS works wonders to avoid congestion in city traffic, helping you choose one of the multiple routes you already know.
Is being stuck in traffic an adventure for anyone?

[anb]

Voted Never. GPS makes driving more fun with Estimated Time of Arrival. I try to reduce the estimated time of arrival and it makes even a boring drive a little adventurous