Plan your route, avoid speed traps and stay green
Lowell Conn
Sun
In early July, I accused Pioneer Electronics of withholding good American inventory from Canadian buyers. The company issued a brisk statement to the contrary — and I do admit it probably knows its inventory better than I do. So, let bygones be bygones as we join hands and sing Kumbaya to Pioneer’s new AVIC Linc Advanced Multimedia On-Dash Navigation System. Featuring the F500BT GPS and the ND-G500 4-Channel Gateway amplifier to integrate into the car stereo, this portable device sports an array of AVIC in-dash staples including voice recognition, Bluetooth, an MSN Direct tuner and satellite radio capability. It also features SD Card and USB slots to play an array of multimedia formats as well as iPod control with the sold-separately CD-UI200VM iPod Audio/Video Direct Cable. The company’s AVIC FEEDS software runs on home PCs and features a point of interest creator, picture editor and other utilities, rounding out an impressive package that I can definitely proclaim to be available in Canada. $700; visit www.pioneerelectronics.ca.
– SPEED-TRAP INTELLIGENCE
Phantom Alert’s M.A.D. Database of more than 15,000 speed trap, photo radar, red light and speed camera locations across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Africa would be a very reasonable investment for those committed to breaking traffic laws.
The site maintains this ongoing list of speed traps for regular uploading to compatible Garmin, Magellan and TomTom GPS devices. The service is not endorsed by these manufacturers, but it makes use of the ability within these devices to update points of interest so that the GPS interface alerts drivers when they are approaching a flagged area. Bear in mind that the Canadian data is still in its infancy and interested consumers should search the company’s online registry to make sure there is enough data in your area to make it worthwhile.
Maps are constantly updated, however, by regular site visitors — one hopes the volume of Canadian information will rise when this paragraph hits the streets. $10 to $100 (subscription service); visit www.phantomalert.com.
– REDUCE YOUR FOOTPRINT
While the PLX Kiwi is not the first vehicle diagnostic system featured in these pages, it may be the first one designed to specifically show consumers how to drive more efficiently. Plugging into the vehicle’s OBDII port, this device provides ongoing information regarding gas consumption and trip details as well as an engine scan tool, which can diagnose the cause of any warning light or engine trouble.
But most effective for today’s environment of expensive fuel, the device has a built-in efficiency trainer that tests smoothness, drag, acceleration and deceleration.
According to PLX’s CEO, the environmental upside is a reduction in your carbon dioxide signature by up to two tons per year, which is a good green compromise for those of us still inclined to crank the home air conditioning up to penguin levels. (Sorry, Mr. Suzuki!) $300; visit www.plxkiwi.com.
© The Vancouver Sun 2008
