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Why all sat nav systems are not created equal
By Stephen Corby · 21 Nov 2018
In theory, satellite navigation is the best thing to happen to human relationships since the invention of deodorant. Those of us old enough to remember the days of big maps that even a black belt in origami couldn't fold properly, and raging arguments over the orienteering skills of men vs women, know full well just how lucky couples are today to have a bland-voiced guidance counsellor in the car.It's no exaggeration to say that there are probably children who only exist today, or only have their parents still living together, because of the advent of satellite navigation.Unfortunately, as anyone who has driven a few different brands of car will tell you, all sat navs are not created equal, and if you find yourself stuck with a bad one, you might find yourself rediscovering the nav-rage of being sent around the bend by bad directions.Personally, I've tried a few in-car systems - including those from industry giants Mazda and Toyota - that were so infuriating, and incoherent, that I would have been better off throwing bread crumbs out the window, or trailing a piece of string to find my way home.These companies are experts at making cars, not navigation systems, so they just don't put the effort in that stand-alone GPS makers do.So we decided to find out why some units are better than others, and why sometimes even using your phone's map app is better than using the expensive in-car system.We were lucky enough to find an industry Deep Throat, who works for one of the companies that builds navigation systems and understands the technology, but didn't want to be identified, because their business also provides map data and software to some car companies, who they'd prefer not to offend.DT says the essential problem with car-company systems it that they just don't care. "Satellite navigation is just another tick-a-box for them. Have we got Bluetooth? Check. A stereo? Check. Sat nav? Check. These companies are experts at making cars, not navigation systems, so they just don't put the effort in that stand-alone GPS makers do," he/she explained."From our experience working with car companies, the big challenge they face is that the dash and the hardware in a new car has usually been planned five or seven years ago, and then they need to support that system for the next five or seven years, so by the time you buy a car the sat nav in it can be almost redundant."Like anything, you've got processing power, CPUs that are the brains behind the navigation, those things change, rapidly, and with things like phones and stand-alone GPS units we can improve those every time we manufacture a new one."Every year we get to reassess what's making up the guts of the product, and a car company doesn't have that luxury."DT is often frustrated by how uninformed the people they deal with at car companies are - often it's the person in charge of 'in-car entertainment' rather than a navigation expert - and how unconcerned they are with being up to date."Honestly, I drove a Volvo recently, a new car, that didn't even do spoken street names, and we've had meetings where the car people go ‘wow, can sat nav do that now?'" DT exclaims.Apparently, when your car's system takes you on some absurdly long-winded route that makes no sense, and then home again a completely different way, or just fails altogether, it's either the fault of the mapping data - which is often not up to date - a lost connection with the satellite, or the "navigation engine, which isn't very good at choosing a route."It is this essential piece of software that requires serious investment to stay up to date with best practice.It's possible, of course, that your navigation system is taking you on back roads to avoid traffic, but only the very smartest in-car units are capable of doing that, or doing it well.The very best after-market systems - from companies like TomTom, Navman and Garmin - not only connect to live traffic information to help guide you around jams, but have algorithms based on what you might call local knowledge, so they'll know not to take you down Parramatta Road in Sydney, for example, ever, during daylight hours.Apple CarPlay is a trend we're seeing, because for a car manufacture it's a cheap way to go.As for your mobile phone, DT says it's important to remember that, much like a car, being a navigation device is not its core function."I think if I'm walking in the city, I'll look on my phone, because that's where phones come from in navigation terms, from pedestrian mode - getting people around places on foot - rather than car mode, which isn't what they do best," DT explains."That's why a lot of stand-alone systems now will guide you to the street address, then hand off to an app on the phone that will take you direct to the door of where you're going."You have to remember that Samsung isn't building its own maps, its own direction-algorithms; the phone companies are getting their navigation engines from somewhere else."Despite the perceived flaws of phone navigation, however, DT believes it will increasingly play a larger part in the way we move around in cars, as systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - which allow you to run your phone's apps, including navigation, through the head unit -  find their way into the dashboards of new cars."Apple CarPlay is a trend we're seeing, because for a car manufacture it's a cheap way to go, they don't have to buy a lot of licences, the user just brings the navigation with them into the car - I think it will go that way increasingly," DT says.Hyundai Australia is one company already cleverly heading in that direction, offering cheaper, base models of most of its range with CarPlay/Android Auto, but no in-built nav."We are working towards having in-built nav and CarPlay/Android Auto in some vehicles," Hyundai Australia spokesman Bill Thomas explained."Arguably, in-built nav is superior, at least currently, because it is not reliant on a phone signal/data, but uses satellite positioning linked to a map that is always locked and loaded and ready to go in the car."However, CarPlay/AA is extremely effective, too, in that it allows you to access your own phone's ‘Ecosystem' via your car and use phone-based nav when needed."Taking the system in your new car for a test run could be just as important as the test drive itself.Mazda Australia, meanwhile, has recently changed from using TomTom branded navigation systems in its cars to a bespoke sat nav, developed specifically for the company, as part of 'MZD Connect.'The company claims its system, which uses maps sourced from a local supplier, is superior to any purpose-built, aftermarket navigation system."We'd be surprised if someone decided to remove the MZD Connect system and replace it with an aftermarket option as it has been designed specifically for Mazda," a spokesman said."In addition, the MZD Connect system has been widely praised by media and our customers – including the quality of the sat nav - thanks to its features and ease of use."What's clear, however, is that if you tend to use your sat nav a lot to get around, taking the system in your new car for a test run could be just as important as the test drive itself.
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Is it illegal to smoke in your car?
By Emma Size · 13 Nov 2018
No, it's not illegal to drive and smoke, but it is illegal to smoke in a car with minors present.
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Is it illegal to drive in thongs (flip-fops)?
By Iain Kelly · 13 Nov 2018
Driving around with loose-fitting footwear on, like thongs (or flip-flops for our American friends), is not actually against any Australian road rules we can find.
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Is it illegal to drive barefoot or without shoes?
By Iain Kelly · 13 Nov 2018
The easy answer here is no, it is not illegal to drive barefoot. However, as per many road rules in Australia a policeman can still fine you if they believe you are not in full control.
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Tips for teaching your kids how to drive
By Vani Naidoo · 02 Nov 2018
My cousin taught me to drive when I was 12. In a gnarly beast of a 4WD that had survived the odd tussle with a cow or three. At two years older, he was an accomplished hand, and shared his knowledge in liberal fashion as we trundled around my grandparents’ farm.With feet that could just about reach the clutch pedal, my progress for the first few kilometres was lurching at best, but once I got the hang of it and how the steering mounted gear lever worked, it was happy days.My father, to his credit, hardly blinked when I talked up my new skills. He promptly took me out to teach me how to brake suddenly, what to do when you skid, and how to reverse like the wind out of the path of a charging animal. Even in Africa there are rules.I will never forget the exhilaration that comes with that first taste of driving. That sense of freedom and that little touch of the devil. It is the latter that makes me most anxious when I think about teaching my girls to drive. Thankfully for me that day is still in the distant future, for you though it may have arrived before you were ready.For many parents who have started, or are just about to start teaching their teen to drive, the challenge is one filled with mixed emotions. Not only do you have to become comfortable with the idea that your child is actually old enough to learn to drive, there is also the fear for their safety, for that of other road users and perhaps even your new car.Here are some things to consider to help make the experience more enjoyable.Just because your teen has reached the legal age to get their learner’s permit and expressed a desire to do so, it doesn’t mean they are ready. The minimum driving age in Australia ranges from 15 years and 9 months to 18 years, but two years can make a lot of difference when it comes to maturity.Assess how your charge reacts in pressure situations, whether he or she can think quickly on their feet and whether they are emotionally ready to be in charge of a 1500kg metal box at speed. So you’ve talked to your teen about the process of learning to drive and the responsibilities involved and they are champing at the bit to get started? Before you get down to the actual learning, take a minute to refresh your knowledge on the road rules. Check that your car insurance is current and covers your teenager while he or she is learning.You may have been driving for 25 years, but things can change and the last thing we need on the roads are young drivers who don’t know the rules.It is also a good idea to check that your car insurance is current and covers your teenager while he or she is learning.Actually not so fast. It may be hard to believe, but before their first lesson many teenagers have not even sat in the driver’s seat of a car and would be hard pressed to point out the brake from the accelerator.Before the first lesson, help your charge familiarise themselves with the car. Point out the lights, wipers and indicators, how the gear selector works even how to start the car correctly. Talk about adjusting the seat and mirrors, checking blind spots and basic car maintenance, including checking the tyres and water and filling fuel. Driving and motoring safety experts suggest that going-to-be drivers have at least three lessons with a driving instructor before they go on the road with a supervising adult. Lessons with a professional will give them the basics and offer you some comfort when you are in the passenger seat. Of course some parents don’t have time to do the required 120 hours of supervised driving so professionals can help here too. It is also a good idea to book a few lessons, at least one, before your child has their driving testIt would be crazy to guide a learner driver out onto the freeway during their first lesson. Start with an empty carpark or big open space where your student can learn how the car works. Practise turning the car around, reversing, braking and parking. If they are learning on a manual car, get them to open the window so they can easily hear the change in revs. When your teen gets used to the feel of the car, progress to quiet suburban streets or perhaps an industrial estate on a Sunday before eventually venturing out to locations with more traffic. As your learner driver becomes more confident be sure to expose them to a range of different driving conditions including peak hour, motorway merging and overtaking, school zones, wet weather and driving at night.It is hard to give up control of your car to someone who has so little knowledge of driving. Screaming at your kid, clutching the door handles like your life depends on it, or forcefully pressing an imaginary brake will not give that young person any confidence, and will probably scare them senseless.So, offer clear instructions. Instead of saying, 'Turn, turn!' or 'You're going too fast, we are going to die!', try statements like, 'Please turn left just after the traffic lights', and 'Drop your speed by 20km/h'.Praise good performance and judgement.Give them plenty of time to respond and try to speak in a calm clear voice. Also try to include the 'why' so, 'Please start to slow down as we are approaching a red light'.Remember that your teen will be so busy just concentrating on the dynamics of moving the car that they won’t be looking out for dangers. It is up to you to remain vigilant and bring them to their attention. Praise good performance and judgement.The time your teen spends with you in the car impacts on the sort of driver they will be. You want to make every lesson count. Plan the route ahead before you get in the car and discuss it with your teen. Also recap the skills they have learnt to date and talk about what you will practice in that lesson.As they become more accomplished, mix up the routes, change it up so they have a better representation of real-life issues. It seems laborious but it will be totally worth it.Teenagers are often eager to just go ahead and live an experience rather than talking about it, which means  your safety talks may fall on deaf ears. Remind them that they are sharing the road with other drivers that may not be paying attention. Therefore it is important that they indicate or start braking ahead of time to remind these drivers that they are there.As a parent, one of the main things you want to gain from these lessons is to ensure that your child is safe on the roads and not endangering the lives of others. Of course it is unrealistic to think that some of your teen’s driving habits won’t change when they have friends in the back seat and you are ensconced on the couch, so it’s important to practice safe driving habits when they are learning. Switching mobiles phones off and keeping them out of sight, no drinking, always buckling up, keeping to the speed limit and checking blind spots is a good place to start.You may think you are quite a good driver and you may very well be, but years of driving often sees us falling into bad habits. Like not keeping two hands on the wheel or being impatient or running through a traffic light when it is starting to blush. Your learner driver is taking note and you don’t want those habits to become their norm.Learning to drive is such a liberating skill to have and that feeling when you have your licence in your hand is difficult to replicate. But driving is also a skill that needs learning and next to a good education, a kind heart and generosity of spirit, is one of the best gifts you can give your child. Take a minute, too, to enjoy it. After all, how else can you get a teenager to engage with you for more than two minutes at a time?
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How to choose the right dog car seat for your car
By Tim Robson · 02 Nov 2018
Our four-legged furry friends are a big part of our lives, and more and more people are taking their dogs along with them on family days out and other adventures.
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Parking laws you should know
By Andrew Chesterton · 29 Oct 2018
There is only one way to truly guarantee getting out of paying a parking fine, and it doesn't involve concocting an awesome excuse
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Car transmissions: CVT, DSG, AMT, dual-clutch, DCT or tiptronic?
By Iain Kelly · 29 Oct 2018
If your car didn't have a transmission then it wouldn't move, but what is the difference between a manual transmission, an auto transmission, a gearbox, a dual-clutch transmission, a CVT transmission, a DCT transmission, a tiptronic transmission, a PDK transmission, a DSG transmission, an SMG transmission, an E-CVT transmission, or an AMT transmission? In some cases, not much!There are two basic types of car transmission – manual and automatic. They both make up a key part of the system known as the drivetrain by joining the back of the engine to the differential via a prop shaft. They pass the engine's power to the driving wheels via the diff. But how does a transmission work? A manual transmission uses a clutch to engage drive to the gearbox or transmission, like a switch. The manual is made up of spinning gears, which the driver can select (known as shifting gears) to keep the car accelerating, and these were the primary type of transmission used in cars from the automobile's inception until the 1990s.An automatic, or auto, basically uses fluid to shift its own gears based on engine RPM and how much throttle you're using. These started to become common in the 1950s, but really overtook manuals around 15 years ago.AMT transmissions, refers to an Automatic Manual Transmission and is the semi-official name for tiptronic-type transmissions. These are basically an automatic you can shift manually, either via the gear-shifter or by steering wheel paddles.In the last 20 years car makers started using automatic transmissions which used dual clutches inside them for much faster, smoother gear shits. These are commonly known as dual-clutch transmissions, and you may have heard of them referred to as DCT (BMW), DSG (Volkswagen, Audi), or PDK (Porsche).Dual-clutch transmissions have caused a lot of controversy as they have replaced manual transmissions in driver-oriented performance cars thanks to their lightning-fast changes. This angered traditional car enthusiasts who see them as removing a vital part of the driving experience, and they had significant reliability problems in their early iterations.All transmissions need to be looked after and a transmission service will have to be done on any type of transmission. With manuals, this is normally changing the fluid and sometimes removing the transmission to change the clutch. Automatics can have more transmission problems, particularly if they are overheated or run low on oil.Transmission repair costs depend on the car they're fitted to but modern dual-clutch automatics are normally the most expensive type of transmission to repair, with dual-clutch transmission rebuild costs running up to $15,000.Proper sequential transmissions are really only used in race cars as they are not able to handle the rigours of regular driving over hundreds of thousands of miles. BMW released a transmission called SMG which was a clutchless manual sequential, though it struggled with reliability and feel, and was replaced with the dual-clutch DCT later.There really is no best transmission or worst transmissions in general, as it depends on the car they're fitted to. However, the Porsche PDK is the best dual-clutch transmission I've driven and the BMW E46 M3 CS is the best manual I've driven.
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What is emergency brake assist or EBA?
By Iain Kelly · 29 Oct 2018
Have you ever been happily tootling down the road when something has gone very wrong, very suddenly?
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Is it illegal to overtake more than one car?
By Emma Size · 29 Oct 2018
No, there is no specific legislation that outlaws overtaking more than one car at a time, but there are other road rules (not to mention common sense) that suggest it's a bad idea. Whether you're in a serious rush or just stuck behind a group of Sunday drivers, you sometimes want to pull a The Fast and the Furious-style manoeuvre and zip past a queue of slow-moving cars in one fell swoop. But while there aren't any specific laws prohibiting the move, overtaking more than one car at a time can be hard to pull off without breaking other road rules.Read on for some related laws and guidance around overtaking that are worth knowing about. The ACT government's extensive traffic infringement document says you're looking at a $279 fine and two demerit points if you overtake a vehicle when it's unsafe, or overtake a vehicle too closely. While this rule doesn't strictly apply to overtaking more than one car, there's definitely potential for it to be applied to someone overtaking multiple cars in one manoeuvre.A similar rule applies in Queensland; according to the QLD state government's demerit points schedule, you're looking at two demerit points and a $182 fine for overtaking when it's unsafe to do so. And again in Western Australia, failing to overtake at a safe distance can leave you with a whopping $400 fine and a penalty of four demerit points. While we couldn't find any information about overtaking more than one car in South Australia, SA's MyLicence website has a section on overtaking. This educational section reiterates the importance of being able to see oncoming traffic when you overtake - which could definitely be hindered if you make a decision to overtake multiple cars at once.All in all, wherever you are in Australia - on a main road or in the country - you'd be advised to exercise caution whenever overtaking, especially if you're hoping to overtake more than one car at a time. Perhaps most importantly, speeding is speeding, no matter the circumstances. So if you find yourself exceeding the posted limited in an effort to pass more than one car, you're risking a heavy fine. You should always consult your insurance agreement for specific advice, but as a general guide, getting into a collision while trying to overtake more than one car could affect your insurance coverage if it's deemed a risky or unsafe manoeuvre. Any indication that you've been driving carelessly and were at fault in an accident could jeopardise your coverage. This article is not intended as legal advice. You should check with your local road authority to verify any rules you're unsure of.
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