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Navigation systems in cars

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Originally posted by: m2kewl
just wait until you get lost...all i can say is,

Acura navi >> *
Click to expand...

Confirmed. The Honda/Acura system, which I believe is made by Alpine, is hands down the best factory system available.

Originally posted by: Baked
Something you could've done for free by going to google maps.
Click to expand...

Not while sitting in traffic 😛
 
I have one. I use it only when I am in unfamiliar areas and that isn't very often.

It's more for show, but I'd probably get one again. It will help resale value. I guess it's bit like a jacuzzi in the master bedroom. They don't get used often, but it helps resale.
 
Originally posted by: Cal166
Originally posted by: daniel1113
Originally posted by: m2kewl
just wait until you get lost...all i can say is,

Acura navi >> *
Click to expand...

Confirmed. The Honda/Acura system, which I believe is made by Alpine, is hands down the best factory system available.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

That's what i've heard. I plan on getting that for my MDX.
 
its like a real time video game map. so yea of course its useful, for finding the closest bank or fast food joint, rerouting on the fly... going from destination to destination with the shortest route..navigating easily in areas u are new to....
 
The one feature I would want more than anything in a car is a Nav. My friend has one in his RX-8 and it's oh so useful. It'd be even more useful when I go back to MD and wouldn't be familiar with the streets.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Vic
I say "wow cool" factor, but that's because I have way-above-average spatial orientation abilities. I scarcely need maps, even to find my way around a city I've never been in before, much less nav.
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It's kind of hard to do that if all you have is a street address and you have no idea where that street is.

Navigation is useful if you drive in unfamiliar areas a lot, not so useful if you mostly just drive back and forth to work. So far I haven't had enough occassions where I wanted one to justify spending more than $50 on it.
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I used to be an outside sales rep driving more than 50k miles per year for business, plus flying to every major city on the west coast, renting a car and driving there for business. As long as I have an understanding of how the city is laid out and how its street system is organized, I can find my way right there, right to the address. Went through a number of AAA maps (very good and free with membership) but never used a nav back then. No problems. Half the time I don't even need a map, although I do have an interest in maps and enjoy studying them.
I don't know. It's a gift. Like I have a built-in compass. Plus I can almost instantly orient myself on any map. And if I've been to a place just once in my life, I can easily find my way back even years later. I used to piss off my dad (who hated to admit when he got lost even though he did so often) by giving him accurate directions when I was only 7 years old.

But yeah, I agree with you that most people don't need nav, even those who get lost easily. They just drive back and forth to work and rarely leave their hometown. You'd think they'd know how to do that. But still, I've been in friends' cars who have nav, and they'll program it even going to major landmarks or places they know well... 😕
 
Originally posted by: Midlander
I have one. I use it only when I am in unfamiliar areas and that isn't very often.

It's more for show, but I'd probably get one again. It will help resale value. I guess it's bit like a jacuzzi in the master bedroom. They don't get used often, but it helps resale.
Click to expand...

But does it really help resale value?
I checked KBB and having NAV only nets you an extra $600-$800.
It costs an extra $2k when new.

I have it for both reason. It's awesome not having to ever worry about getting lost.
Plus you'll venture and discover new places you've never known before.
 
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Vic
I say "wow cool" factor, but that's because I have way-above-average spatial orientation abilities. I scarcely need maps, even to find my way around a city I've never been in before, much less nav.
Click to expand...
It's kind of hard to do that if all you have is a street address and you have no idea where that street is.

Navigation is useful if you drive in unfamiliar areas a lot, not so useful if you mostly just drive back and forth to work. So far I haven't had enough occassions where I wanted one to justify spending more than $50 on it.
Click to expand...
I used to be an outside sales rep driving more than 50k miles per year for business, plus flying to every major city on the west coast, renting a car and driving there for business. As long as I have an understanding of how the city is laid out and how its street system is organized, I can find my way right there, right to the address. Went through a number of AAA maps (very good and free with membership) but never used a nav back then. No problems. Half the time I don't even need a map, although I do have an interest in maps and enjoy studying them.
I don't know. It's a gift. Like I have a built-in compass. Plus I can almost instantly orient myself on any map. And if I've been to a place just once in my life, I can easily find my way back even years later. I used to piss off my dad (who hated to admit when he got lost even though he did so often) by giving him accurate directions when I was only 7 years old.

But yeah, I agree with you that most people don't need nav, even those who get lost easily. They just drive back and forth to work and rarely leave their hometown. You'd think they'd know how to do that. But still, I've been in friends' cars who have nav, and they'll program it even going to major landmarks or places they know well... 😕
Click to expand...


for those less gifted with natural navigation abilities gps nav gives one a better sense of location relative to surroundings..gives u a sense of location and distance which can be helpful.
 
Originally posted by: pontifex
Tom Tom

those commercials are so annoying...
i wonder how well it works. i could use soemthing like that. i am horrible with directions
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I have a TomTom go 300 and I am very happy I got it. It is definitely useful, the best way is for getting you to somewhere you don't know. When I was travelling over the holidays it single handedly helped me finish my shopping because I was at my bro's house and had to travel to 3-4 different places in an unfamiliar area. Using the POIs to find say "Colombia Mall" and then going to "Anne Arundel Mills" and such was a lot easier and more felxible than planning it all out before I went.

The maps for GPS devices vary dependaing on your area. TomTom use tele atlas which I have found to be very good in my area, no problems whatsoever.
 
I use my handheld GPS reciever for nagivation. Works just as well as any car specific unit, except the screen is small and hard to see at some angles. I used to get lost all the time but not anymore.

Why don't those big car units have little keyboards?
 
I can't imagine a navigation system in a vehicle used to go places would be useful. GEEZ!

I love my TSX's navigation. Best money I've spent. I wish it was more advanced though and included the new XM Weather and Traffic overlays.
 
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