New member, navigation that was included in this car to be very frustrating

[shawne1960]

Hi everyone, I just got my new TDI on 1/13/12. So far I have found the navigation that was included in this car to be very frustrating. There are just limited categories to search in POIs and in search of POIs, the system has not found one of the restaurants, etc that I have searched for. It feels like it needs a software update or maybe I will just use my Tom Tom. It seems like such a waste not to be able to use it.

Okay, the radio display is just downright ugly, why aren't there some attractive screens or more useful interface showing what song you are listening to on iPhone.

[old bear]

On my '12 it works very well....WAY ahead of the system in the .08 Toyota I used to have.

[GetMore]

Skip the categories, if you know the name of your destination. It takes longer to search, but if they are in there it should find them.
Unfortunately, the data usually is only included if the company (i.e.: restaurant) pays to have it included.

[amstel78]

I too wasn't crazy about the RNS315 but after having used it for about a week, am starting to like it. Granted, I haven't had the opportunity to play with its big brother, the RNS510, but the 315 does feel fast and I like the center knob that can be used to scroll or select menu items. The unit itself seems to calculate routes faster than what came built into my 2008 Expedition Limited or the factory unit in my 2005 E46 M3. It's leaps faster than the crappy Tom Tom 2535 Live that I also use for traffic.

Perhaps one day I'll upgrade to the RNS510, but the fact that I'll have to install the 9w7 BT module from scratch is a bit of a turn off. Anyway, I think once you play with the 315 a bit more you'll grow to appreciate it.

[superheat216]

I have had my 2012 Passat tdi sel for about a month now and have a very consistent and annoying problem with the nav unit. Regardles how I program the route options the drive time calc is always much too long. A 20mi trip shows 20min more than it should and a 300mi trip shows 4hrs longer than it should. Finally got a dealer to confirm the prob by comparing my handheld Garmin (that I now use) to the RNS510. Dealer checked unit on the lot and it was found to have the same error! Anyone else having this prob?

[chittychittybangbang]

I have an RNS510 and have found it to be VERY exact at calculating ETA. Like within 3-4 minutes over a 2.5 hour highway drive, no traffic.

Must be some setting, perhaps a route option like shortest route or avoid freeways or something?

[Aseras]

It really depends on the traffic setting. If I set mine to heavy and it's always vastly overestimated travel times. Setting it to medium or light and it's closer to the the real thing.

[superheat216]

Have used every route option as well as every traffic density, always with same result. Found two dealers to program vehicles on their lot to my address and I programed mine to theirs, both new RNS510's show 60-80% longer trip times than Garmin. I have used the garmin for years and it is on to the minute. Traded a 2011 TDI Sport wagon that had a perfectly functional nav system.
Service tech documented problem and contacted tech support at VW, they said this is first report of this prob-look for more!

[Zofmui]

I have a 2011 Sportwagen. The GPS worked better and was more accurate than prior to the upgrade this year. Now roads are not accurate, the road my apartment on doesn't exist and it has a weak POI. Plus it cost me over 100$ to downgrade the quality. VW might be better if it partnered with a better group such as Magellan, Garmin or someone to provide mapping and the other services instead of the one they use now. Not to mention poor customer service on their part.