Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

[Rich96c4ce]

Originally Posted by bonanza34g

I'm curious what other people's opinion are of the usefulness of using their cell phone via the car audio system......... but it just doesn't feel like it is ready for prime time yet.

1. If you drive in New Jersey you can new get a primary ticket for handheld cell phone use. The police can stop you if they see you handling a cell phone while driving. Thus, the car bluetooth approach is the only way to go. So upload your phone book asap.

2. If you live elsewhere, do it anyway because you will be a safer driver for not using a handheld phone. You will not be as distracted and pay more attention to not being in a crash because of inattention. The life and car may be your own!.

3. Some states have secondary laws that permit police to issue cell phone use tickets after they have stopped you for a primary offense such as speeding. So even if you speed, the Bluetooth approach will make you ticket cost less.

There are probably many more good reasons. That is why most manufacturers are going to Bluetooth or Sync in their vehicles. It is to save use the cost and tragedy of being in a crash.

[Joekc]

Part of your satisfaction is going to depend on the phone you use and how well it implements BT and its phone directory. I'm reasonably happy with BT on my 2008.

However, I'm not happy about having to dig deep into menus to change back to my phone after my wife has driven the car and vice versa. If the system is so smart, why can't it figure out which phone is in the car? And if both phones are in the car, why can't it present you with a choice of which to use? So my pleasure with BT is tempered by this silly limitation.

[Rich96c4ce]

Originally Posted by Joekc

Part of your satisfaction is going to depend on the phone you use and how well it implements BT and its phone directory. I'm reasonably happy with BT on my 2008.

However, I'm not happy about having to dig deep into menus to change back to my phone after my wife has driven the car and vice versa. If the system is so smart, why can't it figure out which phone is in the car? And if both phones are in the car, why can't it present you with a choice of which to use? So my pleasure with BT is tempered by this silly limitation.

Ditto!