If you got a new car would you get it with Nav?

[ballmode]

Alot of new cars are having these options to get nav. Seems ipod hook ups are becoming a standard and they are moving to selling touchscreen navigation systems are 1000-3000 dollar packages.

If you had the money to add this feature would you?

 

[Reliant]

Yes. Larger screen and ease of use.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

No

Rarely use it and expensive map updates.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

After having two cars with it, never buying anything without one every again.

 

[MotF Bane]

Absolutely.

I've never found one that can match a Garmin, but the integrated system is much nicer than having a dedicated unit, and many times it comes with some other perks (i.e. the Infiniti system adds a music hard drive, etc.)

 

[yh125d]

I wouldn't pay even $100 extra for nav (unless it included something else as well, like improved stereo).

 

[Ferzerp]

It's so cheap for them to add in now that often they aren't stupid multi-thousand dollar upgrades anymore. Mine was part of a larger stereo/speaker upgrade package that I wanted.

 

[Vic Vega]

...

 

[KentState]

I did on my last two cars and will on all future vehicles. Used a Garmin since the original Street Pilot color model, but I like the simplicity, integration and convenience. On the V, it was standard.

 

[Imp]

Na, I'd be too cheap. I'm too cheap to get power locks...

 

[Jumpem]

Absolutely not. A five inch Garmin is $200, portable, and likely better quality.

 

[GoatMonkey]

I love navigation and heated seats. Two features that I didn't care about until I had them. Navigation is great when you are stuck in traffic on surface streets and don't know the area very well. You can bring up the nav and find a way out pretty quick. It's much tougher with a phone while driving. The built in nav, all it does is nav, there is nothing else to open and the screen is big and right in front of you.

 

[Safeway]

Nav or nothing. I will never own a car without navigation.

 

[nitrous9200]

If it was cheap enough. It's ridiculous to pay hundreds of dollars for the privilege of having a built in nav and then map updates that cost as much as a handheld unit with free lifetime updates.
The built in ones are nice because the screen is so much larger, no stupid suction cup and 12v plug to worry about and integration with the car's other systems, but most of them aren't worth quite as much as the manufacturers are asking.

 

[ultimatebob]

Ever try using the nav system on a 10 year old car? The maps are outdated to the point of being almost useless, and the interface feels like something out of the DOS era of computing.

The integrated nav system on any new car will be the same way 10 years from now.

 

[Safeway]

I think an aftermarket GPS looks tacky. I'd rather have the technology package which normally adds not only GPS, but other perks as well. Better Bluetooth functionality. Better phone integration. Better app integration. Better A/C controls. Better statistical information and ECU feedback. Loads more.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

No. I got my phone for navigation instead. But sometimes the Nav system adds better user interface of controlling your sound in the car.

 

[T2urtle]

I would only get the option if the car has a setup for me not being able to install a aftermarket one.

Like the new g37, the 04+ TL/ TSX, 05+ LGT. didn't have a easy option to do so. My 05 g35 does have the option to install an aftermarket but i got the OEM. I wish i didn't get the OEM. I use my phone more, my OEM as a backup because signal is stronger.

 

[Sid59]

I love navigation and heated seats. Two features that I didn't care about until I had them. Navigation is great when you are stuck in traffic on surface streets and don't know the area very well. You can bring up the nav and find a way out pretty quick. It's much tougher with a phone while driving. The built in nav, all it does is nav, there is nothing else to open and the screen is big and right in front of you.

I love my heated seats more than anything in my car. Heated seats after a nice, strenuous lower back workout feels wonderful.

 

[pcgeek11]

No. I dislike them. I would rather use a map.

 

[Jeff7]

My Garmin comes with lifetime updates, and I don't need to replace the center console of my car if I want something different. (Assuming it's even possible to do that, which it probably isn't.)


And I :wub: the Daria voice pack I bought for the Garmin GPS.


Some engineering trade magazines I read have said that it would be good to have the center console have some kind of standards for modularity, because things like smart phones, MP3 players, and GPS navigation systems are changing so rapidly. Instead of integrating the technology and making it a static component and a potential future liability, let the customers add their own devices (which would have to adhere to certain standards). Imagine if your car had the equivalent of a Sansa e130 integrated into it. 512 glorious megabytes of storage and an antiquated interface, all irreplaceably integrated into your car. But you can add a larger SD card to it, except that every time you turn it on it takes 2 minutes to index the card's contents. And you can't upgrade it until you get a new car.

 

[Raizinman]

Many advantages of getting it from the factory built into your car.

1) Resale is higher for cars with NAV

2) The car is built around the NAV system
a. The music quiets when the NAV is speaking
b. Larger screens can be used in a car
c. No worry about someone stealing your GPS out of your car

3) Vehicle warranty (3 years 36K miles) is normally longer than that of a Garmin or other GPS manufacturer. With an extended warranty is could be much longer.

4) The Car GPS is positioned so that you can easily see it. Trying to stick up a 5 or 6 inch GPS on your windshield or dash will block your view or block important instrument gauges.

5)Many factory GPS units can also be used as a video screen for movies and/or TV watching. You can purchase a special cable to use your phone or a portable DVD player. These can be found on Ebay. Yes, it’s not legal to have a TV playing in view of the driver, but I’m assuming that you will only watch TV when parked.

 

[Demo24]

While its not a huge deal if it was part of a larger upgrade sure. Mostly I prefer it over one less thing to find a place for and plug in. While my phone works fine for it, gps does really hurt battery life. Also being built in its much çleaner and easier to see.

 

[shortylickens]

Nope. Would prefer my phone.

I know people say the larger screen is better and while I agree with that part, the other problems outweigh that minor convenience. Biggest issue is trying to update maps. Its always a complicated mess and can be expensive depending on the model and software.

Phone software gets updated frequently and usually improved performance and adds features. Its either free if you use Android and gMaps, or dirt cheap if you use a good 3rd party app.
Maps are updated constantly and for free.
With 16 and 32GB microSD cards and the ability to now use maps offline, the cellular coverage thing is not an issue. As for power, just use a ligher cable. If you really need to hear the audio come from your cars speakers, my audio system has a line in plug, which has actually been the most useful feature of it so far.

(Pioneer 700BT by the way).

 

[Doppel]

Ever try using the nav system on a 10 year old car? The maps are outdated to the point of being almost useless, and the interface feels like something out of the DOS era of computing.

The integrated nav system on any new car will be the same way 10 years from now.

This is why I say no. I don't want my car's POS old nav system to remind me how old it is when $100 buys something newer and better.

I haven't seen it but am surprised that somebody like Garmin hasn't partnered up with some car brands and said if you build a dock in the dashboard, we'll promise to release future GPS units that fit it perfectly. In this manner you get in dash nav that can be easily upgraded.

1) Resale is higher for cars with NAV

That isn't an advantage; the initial cost the NAV is more than it increases resale by.