free sat nav

[physio]

I read this morning that BMW are fitting sat nav in all uk cars free from  1st sept
wonder if this will make VW  do the same on the golf and cars above

[fredgroves]

Well, depending on what you read, they've already done it on the GTI/GTD only recently...

However, I honestly don't think there's much pressure from BMW on VAG - there are lots of reasons why you might want to choose a BMW, yet for some reason, people don't.

I'd guess personally that the reason is that (rightly or wrongly) they have a reputation of charging you for every item as an "extra", even things that you'd not really think of as "extras" at all - like rear headrests or split rear seats.

[MAW73]

I read this morning that BMW are fitting sat nav in all uk cars free from  1st sept
wonder if this will make VW  do the same on the golf and cars above

This will be in tandem with a price increase of circa £500 also. Great marketing though!   

[J400uk]

It was the same a few years ago with DAB. BMW announced they were making it standard then other manufacturers followed, now its become something you take for granted on a new car.

I would be very surprised if the GTD/ GTI/ R don't get Sat Nav standard at some point soon, but I don't think all models will. Its only the higher end VWs which can be considered rivals to the smaller BMWs.

Also worth noting that Audi have been including the Nav/ GPS hardware on all models for past couple of years but require an SD card and dealer activation (£500 - ish) to enable. That seems the most sensible approach IMO.

[am1w]

I read this morning that BMW are fitting sat nav in all uk cars free from  1st sept
wonder if this will make VW  do the same on the golf and cars above

This will be in tandem with a price increase of circa £500 also. Great marketing though!   

BMW are the master marketeers. BMW Pro Nav/iDrive is in a league of its own.

[fredgroves]

I quite agree that their top level Nav is superb and idrive is too.

I fail to understand how this level of technology (which in technology terms is hardly cutting edge) fails to be a costed option from other car manufacturers...

In fact, I fail to understand how the various manufacturers don't simply harvest the best gimmicks from each other - I mean clearly things like engine or chasis design are something you can't copy, but the little things like curry hooks or puddle lights or whatever are things surely to god they all could do for little money and great applaud?

The car industry is a very strange beast.