2009 Honda Civic Navi

[CDNinKS]

Have just put a down payment on a Civic Navi. Asked these questions of the sales staff, but of course the answer was less than convincing

Can anyone who owns one of these cars with the Navi option answer the following?

Does the GPS only have Thailand maps?

What about Malaysia/Singapore maps?

If there are only Thailand maps, can you download/purchase other countries?

Is the GPS Garmin based?

Is there any yearly fee to pay for maps/license?

Are there any other issues with this Navi option?

Would you buy it again?

Thanks

[thaicbr]

I suggest you contact Honda customer service via e-mail and ask the same questions. I do not believe that it is a Garmin system.

Allan

[CDNinKS]

Thanks for that, but more looking for a "real world" assessment from an owner.

[braverrouge]

Have just put a down payment on a Civic Navi. Asked these questions of the sales staff, but of course the answer was less than convincing

Can anyone who owns one of these cars with the Navi option answer the following?

Does the GPS only have Thailand maps?

What about Malaysia/Singapore maps?

If there are only Thailand maps, can you download/purchase other countries?

Is the GPS Garmin based?

Is there any yearly fee to pay for maps/license?

Are there any other issues with this Navi option?

Would you buy it again?

Thanks

I happen to drive the CIVIC Navi and here are some answers to your question;

Does the GPS only have Thailand maps? - Yes

What about Malaysia/Singapore maps? - No and I don't think you really want to drive all the way to Malay or Sing, It's a long trip

If there are only Thailand maps, can you download/purchase other countries? - I'm not very sure about this part. I'd checked the users manual and was checking the "device", where possible, and couldn't find anything how/where to upload a new map

Is the GPS Garmin based? - Yes

Is there any yearly fee to pay for maps/license? - No, it's free

Are there any other issues with this Navi option? - As a "Farang" the Navi is useless for you, unless you can write Thai. The pre-installed software allouds you to key in names, locations etc. in English but the map itself is supporting Thai only .

I've getting around this problem b'coz I do write some Thai and in very worse case I still have my wife and my daughter who's doing that part for me

[CDNinKS]

Thanks braverrouge, that was exactly the type of info I was looking for.

I work in Southern Thailand so going to Singapore is a 8-10 hour drive compared to 20 hours to Chiang Mai and the Malaysian border is only an hour away.

The test drive I did with the Navi was pretty short, but the sales girl switched it to English and it gave turn by turn in English as well.

I was surfing the US website and they offer "new" maps......$149.00 USD. So I guess after a couple years they may have an updated version for Thailand available and at that time you would have to pay for it. After seeing that on the US site, I would assume you may have to buy a Singapore/Malaysia DVD for those maps.

Are you happy with the car generally? Would you buy it again?

Thanks for your help,

Cheers

[TopDogger]

So you can switch the maps to English?

[CDNinKS]

Well as I say, the test drive was short, but without me asking, the sales girl who was in the front passenger seat changed it and I noticed that the menu was in English. I then asked her if it had voice directions and she inputed a destination and it started giving turn by turn in English. I was driving so am not sure if the map actually showed place/street names in Thai or English.

[braverrouge]

Well as I say, the test drive was short, but without me asking, the sales girl who was in the front passenger seat changed it and I noticed that the menu was in English. I then asked her if it had voice directions and she inputed a destination and it started giving turn by turn in English. I was driving so am not sure if the map actually showed place/street names in Thai or English.

Yup, the functions can be all set into English incl. the lovely voice but ........ you still need to able to write Thai to fully use the Navi.

If you want to got to Sukumvit Soi 31 you must input your destination in Thai

The names, streets are mostly shown in Thai as well.

However, the Civic it self is a good powerfull car. I've been driving it around 2 month and can't really complain.

The only pain are the Goodyear tyres they gave me (very noisy) ... I personally would prefer Bridgestone Turanza tyres.

[TopDogger]

Surely if its Garmin based you can change the map to an English language one?

[Gary A]

Surely if its Garmin based you can change the map to an English language one?

I have a Garmin Nuvi 750. It is NOT an in dash unit but they should work the same way. The map CD from ESRI offers the map in Thai or English on the same CD. You can install whichever one you want.

[braverrouge]

Surely if its Garmin based you can change the map to an English language one?

I have a Garmin Nuvi 750. It is NOT an in dash unit but they should work the same way. The map CD from ESRI offers the map in Thai or English on the same CD. You can install whichever one you want.

I'm not sure whether this will work on Hondas Navigator.

Overall I'm not really keen to try it either as it would have an effect on Hondas warranty.

[TopDogger]

Surely if its Garmin based you can change the map to an English language one?

I have a Garmin Nuvi 750. It is NOT an in dash unit but they should work the same way. The map CD from ESRI offers the map in Thai or English on the same CD. You can install whichever one you want.

I'm not sure whether this will work on Hondas Navigator.

Overall I'm not really keen to try it either as it would have an effect on Hondas warranty.

Are you sure, I think one of the offical accesories is a SD card thing for it? Mebbe worth checkin it out if u can get it changed..

[braverrouge]

Surely if its Garmin based you can change the map to an English language one?

I have a Garmin Nuvi 750. It is NOT an in dash unit but they should work the same way. The map CD from ESRI offers the map in Thai or English on the same CD. You can install whichever one you want.

I'm not sure whether this will work on Hondas Navigator.

Overall I'm not really keen to try it either as it would have an effect on Hondas warranty.

Are you sure, I think one of the offical accesories is a SD card thing for it? Mebbe worth checkin it out if u can get it changed..

Just checked, no SD card input on the device Honda installed into the car.

I assume that they want you to visit them for every update and also charge you for that.

[CDNinKS]

According to a UTUBE video that I found, there is another DVD access door below the DVD slot. This is where the map DVD is located. It appears that when a new version is available you open this door and change the DVD out.

I was wondering if with this system, could a person get a DVD from say Singapore or Malaysia that has Thailand maps in English, or order an English version from Honda here in Thailand.

[braverrouge]

According to a UTUBE video that I found, there is another DVD access door below the DVD slot. This is where the map DVD is located. It appears that when a new version is available you open this door and change the DVD out.

I was wondering if with this system, could a person get a DVD from say Singapore or Malaysia that has Thailand maps in English, or order an English version from Honda here in Thailand.

There's no such door in the device that Honda Thailand is giving you. I've checked every single gap at the DVD player for any hidden input slots but nothing.

I assume that you can get an update from the Honda dealer only.

I've also checked the Sing and Malay models, in hope that you could update the software there, and found that they don't have the same GPS system (but their specs. are much better than Thailands).

[CDNinKS]

Ok, well admittedly the Utube video was from America. Too bad that it is a different unit here.

[CDNinKS]

On another note, now the dealer is telling me that I will not be able to get the car until mid April. This is in Songkhla.

Is this normal? What about Bangkok? If you walk into a showroom there, can you drive out with the car the same day?

[braverrouge]

On another note, now the dealer is telling me that I will not be able to get the car until mid April. This is in Songkhla.

Is this normal? What about Bangkok? If you walk into a showroom there, can you drive out with the car the same day?

Let's take it that way, in most cases it will take the dealer around 4 weeks to come up with the car.

If the salesman/women is well connected, then it can take just a few days.

My salesgirl (who was very cute) had good connections and pulled the car I wanted from another dealer who happen to have the car there but their customer did either cancelled the order or the installement was rejected by the finances.

The other way around if the salesman/women is a "newcomer" without good connections it can take up to 3 month.

To answer to your other question, the percentage to drive out with new car on the same day is 1:10000 even if you walkin with millions of THB in cash.

The dealers usually don't stock cars, specially those upcountry.

I'd spend lot's of time checking out different Honda dealers in Rayong, Chonburi and Bangkok before deciding where to buy my car.

Besides of all the freebies. I'd put timing on the top of my list.

In addition the salesgirl was able to sale off my old Cefiro at the same day and at a very high price.

ooh, I forgot to mention, I waited only 05 days

[braverrouge]

By the way, are you planning to buy the car in cash or through a finance ?

In anycase they usually should have given you kind of receipt/contract agreement that should consist of the following:

- Downpayment amount

- Car type, model

- Delivery date (usually it states not later than XXX)

- Freebies

- Additional payment upon receipt of car

I can't 100% recall what that receipt said but I think that there was something mentioned about delivery time or delayed delivery.

You may check that part up again.

If you find that the dealer did "brake" the contract bey delayed delivery, I would suggest you to claim back your down payment and buy from another dealer.

I also believe that they were "bullshitting" you and didn't gave you any freebies.

If they did, then you can consider yourself as lucky

[CDNinKS]

Thanks for all the input. I (GF) called a couple dealers in BKK and was told that the delivery time we have quoted is very reasonable, so will stick with the original dealer.

They did include some "freebies". Reverse sensors, window tint and a couple other small items. Tried for free insurance but was told that was only offered on the Accord and CRV.

Although this is the "E" model, I am getting a price quote to get the 17 inch wheels from the EL.

[CDNinKS]

Been quoted 23,000 B to exchange the 16 inch wheels for the 17 inch. That does not include tires. Have a tire shop that will exchange the 16 inch tires for 17 in for another 10,000. So total of 33,000. Not cheap, but still is about 100,000 less than the EL model.

[braverrouge]

Been quoted 23,000 B to exchange the 16 inch wheels for the 17 inch. That does not include tires. Have a tire shop that will exchange the 16 inch tires for 17 in for another 10,000. So total of 33,000. Not cheap, but still is about 100,000 less than the EL model.

Yup, 17" wheels & tires aren't cheap at all.

My advise to you is to use "Bridgestone Turanza" tires.

I'd been using these tires on my old Cefiro and must say that those are the most comfortable tires you can buy.

All the "executive" cars are using Turanza.

I'd also made some researches on most common problems with the Civic and how to fix them:

Problem: Smelly A/C

Can happen after 2-3,000 kms (it didn't happen to my car yet)

Cause of problem: Installed airflow filter was stocked too long at the factory and my has caught some smell from the store room ???

How to solve: Exchange airflow filter (Free at Honda dealer - Falls under car warranty criteria)

Problem: Noisy brakes

Can happen after a 2-3,000 kms, depends on the brake pads age (I just got the change out)

Cause of problem: Moister and/or low quality brake pads from the factory

How to solve: Change to new ones (Free at Honda dealer - Falls under car warranty criteria)

Problem: Car is pulling left

Mostly detected shortly after after leaving the showroom (Didn't happen to me but heard of others)

Cause of problem: Lack of factory QA/QC

How to solve: Wheel allignement (Free at Honda dealer - Falls under car warranty criteria)

Problem: Engine shaking (light vibration) when A/C is switching on

Usually happens within 1-2,000 kms

Cause of problem: A/C unit is taking to much electricity resources / Factory installed battery is 35A only

How to solve: Change the battery to 45A (THB 1,500 - 2,500 depending on brand)

[CDNinKS]

Thanks for the info.....will check out the Bridgestones for sure.

[CDNinKS]

Took delivery on April 10. The total cost to upgrade from 16 inch to 17 inch wheels and tires turned out to be about 30,000 Baht. Was worth it in my opinion, really makes the car look totally different. I went for Yokohama tires over the Bridgestone on a few recommendations, seem very good so far.

The GPS is in fact as Braverrouge quoted. All menus, voice, etc are in English, however the street, town names are all in Thai. Not really a problem for me as my GF can translate as needed. I am still trying to find out how to update the software however. There must be a card slot somewhere as if you look thru the GPS files, you find that HONDA has loaded all the Honda dealers locations on a separate card. As this is Garmin based there must be a way to load the English version of the Thai maps from Garmin.

I will keep working on finding how to do this as I want the Malaysian and Singapore maps as well.

[TopDogger]

My guess is its something to do with this?

SD-Card Navi ECU (half way down the page).

http://www.ohomylife.com/auto/modify-honda-civic.php

[yabaaaa]

Have just put a down payment on a Civic Navi. Asked these questions of the sales staff, but of course the answer was less than convincing

Can anyone who owns one of these cars with the Navi option answer the following?

Does the GPS only have Thailand maps?

What about Malaysia/Singapore maps?

If there are only Thailand maps, can you download/purchase other countries?

Is the GPS Garmin based?

Is there any yearly fee to pay for maps/license?

Are there any other issues with this Navi option?

Would you buy it again?

Thanks

Talking of sat nav there cant believe how expensive it is about 13800 baht for a Garmin nuvi 200 w. Im bringing two over when i come soon one for my buddy, price in the UK 3800 baht he will put the maps in Enlgish and Thai for us both.

[CDNinKS]

My guess is its something to do with this?

SD-Card Navi ECU (half way down the page).

http://www.ohomylife.com/auto/modify-honda-civic.php

Thanks for that TopDogger........that unit is in the trunk (or boot, for you Englishmen )........ will see what I can find there.

[CDNinKS]

Ok, the unit in the trunk has a silver sticker on the side which I assume is a seal. Well that didn't stop me, I peeled it off and that allows you to open the little door. Inside is an SD card. In the onscreen menu you can find that the unit has 2 maps loaded, the Thailand map and a HONDA map. I am now wondering if the SD card is that HONDA map. The menu also allows you to enable or disable either of the maps. The Garmin website will sell you an Southeast Asia card (english) for about $150.00.

My guess is that you will be able to replace the SD card with the one from Garmin and then the unit will be entirely in Thai........any takers on that?

On a side note, have just returned from some extensive touring of the country and can report that it is quite easy to get 40 MPG (Imperial gallon) on the hiway (120km/h).........pretty good by me.

[JohnGotti]

The Navi upgrade on the Civic is around 60k baht... Hmm... I wonder if external Navigation would be a better option.

[CDNinKS]

The Navi upgrade on the Civic is around 60k baht... Hmm... I wonder if external Navigation would be a better option.

Yes, or you could have a "2 DIN" GPS/DVD unit installed at an aftermarket shop.......not sure what the price of that would be......I considered that myself, but felt I wanted a "factory" installation and ate the cost.