Sat Nav Leon Mk3 2016 - Speed cameras and Maximum Speed

[tomas.hs]

Hi All,

I’ve seen similar posts in the forum and also around the Internet in general but the answer is not fully clear…

I am going to buy a car and after reading loads of reviews I’ve decided to go for a Seat Leon (driving test pending…). The one in particular is a 1.2 TSI SE (110PS) 5dr Hatchback Mk3 from 2016 (1 year old, used car from main dealer).

I will get it with Sat Nav and it is not fully clear to me if it comes with the folliwng features, which I consider quite important:

(i) Speed Cameras warnings
- Does the Sat Nav have database (I do not talk about speed cameras identification) so it warns you when you are approaching one?
- If so, does it do it when it is running in the background, i.e. when no destination is set?

(ii) Maximum road speed
- Does the Sat Nav display the maximum speed of the road where you are driving?
- If so, does it do it when it is running in the background, i.e. when no destination is set?

The dealer told me it displays the road maximum speed (don’t know if also in ‘background mode’), but it does not warn you about speed cameras. Is this right? It wouldn't be the first time that a car seller doesn’t know what he is selling…

I’ve seen that some people asked in the past about creating personal POI for the speed cameras, i.e. download the POI library for the speed cameras and upload it to the system. Some people said this was not possible, but I’ve seen some recent videos in internet which makes me understand this is possible. Maybe because the system has a different software which allows this?

Has anybody come across with this and achieved to get warnings for speed cameras? If so, how does it work?

Apart from this, anything special to know about the car?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dr.Dash]

Welcome to the forum.

As a younger driver I'm guessing you're keen to avoid any points and the insurance/loss of licence implications... very wise.

i) There are no speed camera warnings in the satnav database, so no it doesn't give you any warning.

ii) Speed limits are shown on the Satnav main screen. However, these simply come from the nav database. The limits, and where they apply, seem to change so frequently that I wouldn't rely on it in any way.

As ever, good observation and situational awareness are your best bet to avoid points.

If you really want those features it would be much simpler to use a second stand alone satnav. TomTom/Garmin etc, they aren't expensive and often come with free updates. You can configure many to give you aural warnings of cameras and limits so there's no need to have it visible, which is just one more distraction when you should have your eyes outside. HTH

 

[tomas.hs]

Hi Dr.Dash,

Thanks for your reply.

I currently drive a Dynamic TomTom Clio and it features both speed cameras alerta and speed limits and find it very useful to have it integrated. It is neat, no cables, and it goes on as soon as you start the car.

I understand that the database can become obsolete, same as in a standalone sat nav, but you should be able always to update it (in both cases).

It is still not clear to me if the speed limits are displayed if you are not actively usimg the sat nav, i.e. if you dont enter a deatinaion, and the same for uploading speed cameras databases as POIs...

 

[Dr.Dash]

... but you should be able always to update it (in both cases).

It is still not clear to me if the speed limits are displayed if you are not actively using the sat nav, i.e. if you dont enter a deatinaion, and the same for uploading speed cameras databases as POIs...

Whilst the inbuilt satnav database can be updated it's expensive (£70 a time iirc), and the frequency of updates means it's still not reliable enough. It would still be easier and cheaper to hardwire a stand alone satnav, no wires visible and turns on with the ignition circuit.

The limits are shown on the centre nav display when no route is selected, assuming the database has a limit for the piece of road you're on, there are significant gaps.

If the car is a 2016 SE then it may have CarPlay enabled (or can be activated for a fee), so using one of the other maps via your phone may be an easier way to display the info you want. Adding camera locations as POIs is a non starter, many have said they can do it, never seen a working example yet.

 

[Walpurgis]

If you are happy to run a smartphone at the same time as your built-in satnav, TomTom have a free Android app that warns of speed cameras and shows the current speed limit as well your own speed. (I'm not sure if there an IoS version.)

Like all such apps it is not 100% reliable, but the database seems quite recent. One annoying (and potentially dangerous) aspect of this app is that it asks you to confirm whether a speed camera was present by pressing a button on the phone's screen after each time you pass one. But you can ignore this request.

I think that the reason that TomTom does not charge for the app is that it uses the feedback to build up the camera database for its own satnavs.

Downloading and uploading data to and from the app will, of course, use some of your phone's data allowance - but probably not much.

I think that one reason that speed camera warnings are not included in built-in car satnavs is that such warnings are illegal in some countries - such as France.

 

[R4CK5]

If you are happy to run a smartphone at the same time as your built-in satnav, TomTom have a free Android app that warns of speed cameras and shows the current speed limit as well your own speed. (I'm not sure if there an IoS version.)

Like all such apps it is not 100% reliable, but the database seems quite recent. One annoying (and potentially dangerous) aspect of this app is that it asks you to confirm whether a speed camera was present by pressing a button on the phone's screen after each time you pass one. But you can ignore this request.

I think that the reason that TomTom does not charge for the app is that it uses the feedback to build up the camera database for its own satnavs.

Downloading and uploading data to and from the app will, of course, use some of your phone's data allowance - but probably not much.

I think that one reason that speed camera warnings are not included in built-in car satnavs is that such warnings are illegal in some countries - such as France.

You also have to manually select the app as well I belive. It auto runs when Bluetooth is linked but you gave to physically open it I thought??? Also uses a lot of battery and runs even when you're out of the car.