Technical Post code with my sat nav

[les1466]

Hi everyone, i'm new to this forum so please excuse me if this question has been asked but I did look everywhere first, without joy, before posting.

I bought a 04 2.4 Stilo Abarth 2 weeks ago... I absolutely love it!!
Anyway, I have a few gripes, like everyone I guess...
Firstly the Sat Nav... Is there an upgrade,bios update or new cd rom that will allow me to put post/zip codes in instead of names of streets???
It seems really backwards for an awesome car packed with features that it has.
Also I dont think it is accurate at all.... Firstly the woman talks, eg. after half a mile take you next right - Then 30 yards later it says, "turn right"!! I dont think she has any perception of what distance is... Typical woman eh??
Ive also tried calculating route that I know well to see if it works and dont think its that clever... Is my unit faulty or is that how they are?

Cheers

Les

 

[Stu DemonD]

No postcode option!

Also, what firmware are you running on the unit? It should tell you when you boot it up!

 

[les1466]

No way, that sucks!!
I thought every sat nav has post code functions, it just mine was out of date. Surely Fiat, or the company that makes them would recognise this and do an update???

My version is 9.7 I think.

Cheers

Les

 

[Argonought]

I've always found the Postcode option pretty naff anyway in all popular versions of GPS software - nearly always prefer the address option.

Does tends to work a lot better in mainland Europe though.

 

[volxstu]

I've always found the Postcode option pretty naff anyway in all popular versions of GPS software - nearly always prefer the address option.

Does tends to work a lot better in mainland Europe though.

I had one of the older Tomtoms and that was great for post codes and was extremely accurate, updated it and now its crap how can they update the software and make it a whole lot worse.

I prefered my tom tom not recognising new roads.

 

[Davren]

No postcode option

My CN+ with 9.8 software and 2008/2009 map discs can use postcodes but I think it's only for Greater London and it's incredibly slow to input them. Select the first character of a postcode and then it locks up for about 5 minutes before you can select the next character, then another 5 minutes and so on. Much quicker to select Town - Road - Junction.

Dave.

 

[les1466]

Yes the guy that I bought the Stilo off said that allows post codes for the London area but not outside... How odd. Did the company that made the sat nav think people outside London dont have post codes????

So... Does anyone know of a way around this as I really do need a sat nav for my job, and really preffer to use post codes as it far more accurate, even if it does take me a slightly longer way, it will still get me to the correct place... And I dont want to use another sat nav as I think the Stilo one looks impressive in the dashboard.

Oh while I'm on this... Yesterday I noticed that my main sat nav section in the car (the silver surround bit) had popped out about an inch. Firstly I **** myself as I thought someone had been in the car trying to nick it, but I doubt it as the car was locked and I would of heard the alarm. I pushed the unit back in but can still pull out, not very easily, but it will if pulled. Is there any clips or locking devive that should hold it in place (which I would hope there is), if so, do I have to do something to make them grip the unit?

Cheers

Les

 

[Argonought]

So... Does anyone know of a way around this as I really do need a sat nav for my job, and really preffer to use post codes as it far more accurate, even if it does take me a slightly longer way, it will still get me to the correct place... And I dont want to use another sat nav as I think the Stilo one looks impressive in the dashboard.

Hmmm.... that's news to me

Even full postcodes wont take you to a house and as for the part postcodes used by GPS systems - consider yourself lucky if you get within a mile of your destination.

Town & street address on the other hand will take you pretty much to the front door

 

[les1466]

Mate, the thing is with post codes is that they are street specific, anywhere in the UK... Where as there may be many streets with the same name in the same city. ie. Just say I was visiting somewhere in London and wanted to go to, say, "Church St", and didnt know the district of London that it was in - what do you reckon my chances are of finding it without having to ring the place I was going? ... Pretty hard mate. Thats why the post office rely on post codes 90% of the time. Infact write a letter with the number of a place and put the post code underneath... It will get there without even having to put the address.
I'm not argueing with you its just fact.

I actually found another really annoying thing about the sat nav today... I was going to a road called "Torbay Rd" in Chorlton. I set the place, it found Chorlton, then I searched for the street. It came up with "2" streets, and neither was the one I wanted. I had to ring the person I was visiting for directions. It was only when I was in the area that I noticed the sat nav calling the area, "Chorlton Cum Hardy". Yes that is the full name, not something that Stan Laurel did to Oliver Hardy!!
How the **** was I supposed to know that???? And thats what the sat nav required. I asked the person I was visiting about the name, she said she hadnt heard it called that for years!!
Anyway, that exactly proves my point of why "I", not everyone, would preffer my sat nav to have a postcode function.

Aside from the sat nav being a bit lame I absolutely love my Stilo Abarth... I just it was a bit less thirsty on the juice!!

Oh another quick question for all you seasoned Stilo Abarth users with selecspeed. Do you find the car is more economical when using the paddles or stick to shift gear rather than in auto mode?
I personally just keep the car in auto and just use the paddles if I want to shift up gears faster if required, or to drop down for fast over taking. I really dont see the point of using the manual gear selecters on their own... It doesnt really serve any purpose unless you want to show off a bit. I think its far more comfy, whilst still going like the clappers in auto, than work out its the right time to change gear... Sorry I guess i'm just lazy... But if you have always drove your Stilo with the paddles/stick, just try driving in auto for a few days... Trust me you wont go back!.

Cheers

Les

 

[Argonought]

Les, you should read my posts more carefully as it seems clear to me you're not that familiar with car GPS systems.

Lets give you an example of my Postcode which is BH12 3HB and you're correct that if I also gave you my house name then you'd be able to find me.

The problem is this that on all GPS mapping software I've ever used this translates to BH12 3 and I assure you it will take a lot more than just a house number to find me with just that much of the postcode!

Try reading the previous posts again and you'll find they make a lot more sense

 

[Stu DemonD]

Looking back at it, the SatNav system in the Stilo is pretty dire - more so now that I use a standalone Garmin, which rocks.

Oh, and I also used to drive the selespeed in MANUAL mode most of the time; AUTO was not for me, even though I started off that way. It may work for you, but not for everybody, who surely develop their own style. So as for your comment, I would go back

As for London postcodes, I think that has been the case for ages on the unit; I just never went to London

 

[ben]

I'd expect it to take postcode, then give you a list of roads with that postcode, then street number .....

I've sure the old tom tom did that - but that was 4 years ago, so my memory might be not quite right

 

[Stu DemonD]

I'd expect it to take postcode, then give you a list of roads with that postcode, then street number .....

You would expect it, but it doesn't! Unless you live in London, then it takes around 5 minutes to find the next letter.