Those with factory navigation

[Elganja]

The integration of the OEM nav is where it shines over the portable one imho.

But, both the OEM and portable nav's have their pos and neg qualities.

I for one love my OEM nav and will never own another car without it

 

[rh71]

just wondering with the portable unit users here.. how many have real time traffic? Is it free or not?

what about OEM navi users?

 

[bruceb]

Most of the high end Garmins and other brands can get the real time traffic, but it is usually fee based (not sure how much). As to in car or portable GPS units, the in car look nice and sometimes are more integrated with other controls as mentioned and would be able to speak thru the car's speaker system. That said, if you like the user interface of the factory unit they are ok. But software updates for them can be costly, as they can also be for portable units. With a portable, you can use it any car, if needed. Just don't leave it or the mount on the window when parked, especially in places like the Bronx, Newark, Paterson to name a few of the high crime areas in NY / NJ or you will find a broken into car.

 

[Funyuns101]

Originally posted by: rh71
just wondering with the portable unit users here.. how many have real time traffic? Is it free or not?

what about OEM navi users?

my $99 Navigon has free traffic info (lifetime). It works just fine and I can use it any car I want. It's hard to justify spending an extra $1000-2000 on a built-in Sat/Nav.
Then again, my car is 12 years old and obviously didn't offer such luxuries.
Regardless, I don't think I'm going to shell out that much extra on my next car.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Built-in is not worth it. Portable units are universally less expensive and are 100% as functional. Plus, in 5 years you can easily upgrade your portable unit to the newest and best available, but with a built-in unit you're stuck with it perpetually.

ZV

That and also go to the parts section of a dealer and ask what the price of the Nav is. Just the part, no labor.

I thought about buying a used OEM Nav unit for my CTS and install it myself. They go for more then double what a real aftermarket ones does, and that is for a used one with no warranty. Let alone what it cost to buy the update maps and such.

 

[KDKPSJ]

Originally posted by: sdifox

ok I'll go tell my wife you said her E350 4Matic looks ghetto with a portable GPS sitting over the centre of the dash with the mat.

You are lucky you don't live in Toronto or she will run you down.

Wow! That is REALLY GHETTO, IMO! :Q E with GPS sitting on the dash? I thought my boss' C300 (new one) & my 06 325i with GPS sitting on the dash looked ghetto, outdated and cheap (read: non-luxury).

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
OEMs looks way better on the dash.
OEMs can't be jacked. Nor do you have to take out the damn thing every time u get out the car, or put it on when you get into the car.
OEMs has integrated functions such as using the NAV screen to display AC, vehicle health/diagnostics, and music info.
OEMs nav have way stronger satellite signal as its antenna is housed in a sharkfin on the exterior of the vehicle.

Did I mention portable GPS looks ugly and ghetto as hell? Most mount points are not safe and are within the vicinity of the airbag shall they explode, which will fly that thing into your head.

The only thing a portable GPS have over an OEM GPS is price. There shouldn't be even be a comparison, it is like comparing a Civic to a Mercedes, both will serve the intended purpose of the product, but someone is willing to pay more for the extras. There is simply no point to compare them, different level of products intended for different market segments. People buying $200 portables are not gonna buy $2000 OEM navs.

You don;t know much about cars do you?

1. They get stolen all the time. Go to eBay/Craigslist/etc... and look at the price of a used one. Why steal a car when you can get as much money for one small peice.

2. And signal? I have used several stand alones and never had a signal problem. So what are you basing that off of? the ads to upsell people to oem nav?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: everydae

Originally posted by: sdifox

ok I'll go tell my wife you said her E350 4Matic looks ghetto with a portable GPS sitting over the centre of the dash with the mat.

You are lucky you don't live in Toronto or she will run you down.

Wow! That is REALLY GHETTO, IMO! :Q E with GPS sitting on the dash? I thought my boss' C300 (new one) & my 06 325i with GPS sitting on the dash looked ghetto, outdated and cheap (read: non-luxury).

I don't really care about what other people think And yes, I am cheap, that is why it's an 06 off lease. I could never (allow myself to) afford to buy a new Benz. She has no problems with it anyway.

Let me put it another way, 2002 Protegé 5 (our first car) with no gps or 2006 E350 4Matic with GPS sitting on dash?

 

[KDKPSJ]

Ah.. it's lease, then understandable If I were to buy such expensive/luxury vehicle, I'd spend few grand more and get the Nav without thinking twice.

 

[LTC8K6]

I got a Garmin Nuvi for Christmas and it's great, btw. It's very easy to use, and it works well.

It has already unerringly led me to several new places.

It has a few errors in the maps, but that's really no problem once you adjust.

In general it's a very nice thing to have with you.

Even if you do not use the features, just being able to see where you are exactly is great.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: everydae
Ah.. it's lease, then understandable If I were to buy such expensive/luxury vehicle, I'd spend few grand more and get the Nav without thinking twice.

Off lease. as in Used. I was going to get one with nav but that one got sold literally while I was on the phone with the dealership. I like the E, nav is just something nice to have.

I don't go to places I don't know much. And I tend to print out maps when I do so nav is not my thing anyway.


PS The car cost US$23k...after everything (import duty, MB Canada rape, fees, taxes, crappy exchange) it came to about C$37k...

 

[jtvang125]

I know this is a discussion about OEM and portable navs but I'd like to chime in with another option, aftermarket indash units. I have the kenwood dnx-8120. It plays dvds, divx, mp3 on disc or through usb, builtin bluetooth, and Garmin based nav all in one unit. And depending on the car, there are dash kits out there that can make the install look almost factory. Only downside is it's not portable.

 

[BassBomb]

In Canada IMO when buying it brand new, not worth it.. since the cost is usually a 3-4k package (yes of course with other stuff too)

My dad wanted nav for his ES350 but at the time all the packaages had to be purchased to get it which would add something like 6k to the price which was just insane.

Up here not almost every car can come with nav like you guys have... I guess you guys really like nav :laugh:

I have nav on my Accord but for the most part I leave it off unless I am going somewhere new or need a detour because of traffic

 

[zoiks]

I like in dash units. I had to modify my Mazda6 dash to house a double-din GPS unit that plays mp3's. Probably the best thing I did to the car since it also has a rear view camera and bluetooth. Though I don't think I could fish out the 2-3k needed to for a GPS upgrade on a car. Portable ones work too but they usually have smaller screens.

 

[Aikouka]

I have a unit built into my Nissan Altima and it's really either way.

+ The unit fits in with the dash so it isn't sticking out like a sore thumb (aesthetics).
+ Possibly less chance to be stolen (never really proven, but one can assume that something requiring less time to take = something easier to steal)
+ Integrated into car's steering controls
+ Integrated into car's ignition (no worrying about AC adapters)

- Not portable (you have to go to your car to set up a destination before hand)
- Poor software. The thing ever so often has an odd problem with recentering the map. Because of this, the GPS will sometimes put me on side streets and I get "Recalculating..." and then it finally realizes I'm not where it says I am, it puts me back. In my opinion, this is a major software flaw that causes it to change the directions. If you're not careful (and are unlucky), this bug could screw up your guidance and cause you to miss turns.
- A bit costly. This can really depend on what the "Technology Package" comes with. For me, it came with a rear-view camera, homelink, satellite radio and something else I believe.

EDIT:

To help describe my software flaw more (to anyone thinking about buying a Nissan or Infiniti with GPS built-in), the software has your car pointing straight up on the screen, but the road you're currently on is diagonal on the screen. So the icon representing your car visually goes up one notch on the screen and then moves over one notch to get back onto the road. The issue comes up when there's a road close to the one that you're on. If your car's icon ends up on this side road, the GPS will think you are on the side road and it will recalculate for that new route.

 

[Arkaign]

If you're not keeping your car for more than a few years, built-in Navi is worth thinking about if you really want it. I had Navi on my old E39 M5, and it was atrociously, stunningly bad (compared to cheap add-ins available these days). Add-ins look tacky and stupid though, so w/e.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
...

EDIT:

To help describe my software flaw more (to anyone thinking about buying a Nissan or Infiniti with GPS built-in), the software has your car pointing straight up on the screen, but the road you're currently on is diagonal on the screen. So the icon representing your car visually goes up one notch on the screen and then moves over one notch to get back onto the road. The issue comes up when there's a road close to the one that you're on. If your car's icon ends up on this side road, the GPS will think you are on the side road and it will recalculate for that new route.

That is important info since I would like to get a G37 Sedan.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
In Canada IMO when buying it brand new, not worth it.. since the cost is usually a 3-4k package (yes of course with other stuff too)

My dad wanted nav for his ES350 but at the time all the packaages had to be purchased to get it which would add something like 6k to the price which was just insane.

Up here not almost every car can come with nav like you guys have... I guess you guys really like nav :laugh:

I have nav on my Accord but for the most part I leave it off unless I am going somewhere new or need a detour because of traffic

In the US I think it is illegal for them to bundle it up locking you in. They have to offer individual items.

 

[vi edit]

A quality "portable" can be moved to a spouses car if needed and taken on vacations with you and put in a rental car.

The cost, updates, features, and convenience greatly outweigh the "integrated" look of OEM units to me.

Hell even looking at the in dash units on some of the Honda vehicles from 3 years ago just looks absolutely dated in it's mapping.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: BassBomb
In Canada IMO when buying it brand new, not worth it.. since the cost is usually a 3-4k package (yes of course with other stuff too)

My dad wanted nav for his ES350 but at the time all the packaages had to be purchased to get it which would add something like 6k to the price which was just insane.

Up here not almost every car can come with nav like you guys have... I guess you guys really like nav :laugh:

I have nav on my Accord but for the most part I leave it off unless I am going somewheres new or need a detour because of traffic

In the US I think it is illegal for them to bundle it up locking you in. They have to offer individual items.

Well to be fair there were two packages for ES350 in 2007
One with rear airbags nicer steeringwheel, rotating headlights and some other little thiings for approx 3k (We got it added for free though)
Then there is a second package including the first, and adding nicer sound system, navigation, wheels and maybe some other things for 6k

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: BassBomb
In Canada IMO when buying it brand new, not worth it.. since the cost is usually a 3-4k package (yes of course with other stuff too)

My dad wanted nav for his ES350 but at the time all the packaages had to be purchased to get it which would add something like 6k to the price which was just insane.

Up here not almost every car can come with nav like you guys have... I guess you guys really like nav :laugh:

I have nav on my Accord but for the most part I leave it off unless I am going somewheres new or need a detour because of traffic

In the US I think it is illegal for them to bundle it up locking you in. They have to offer individual items.

Well to be fair there were two packages for ES350 in 2007
One with rear airbags nicer steeringwheel, rotating headlights and some other little thiings for approx 3k (We got it added for free though)
Then there is a second package including the first, and adding nicer sound system, navigation, wheels and maybe some other things for 6k

Still in packages though. I think in USA you can pick individual items. Obviously there are some dependancies, like needing the LCD part when you order the GPS module

 

[JDub02]

When I bought my Mazda6, the only option I didn't get was Nav because the package was ~$2k. That would have gotten me an approx 6" screen that pops out of the dash that looks nice, but I couldn't justify the cost. Bought a $150 Garmin with a 4+" screen that works just as well. Been happy with the choice.

My only regret was that I found an aftermarket interface that would allow me to display video from my iPod onto that screen. Not exactly useful, but very cool nonetheless.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: sdifox
In the US I think it is illegal for them to bundle it up locking you in. They have to offer individual items.

Nope, it is perfectly legal to bundle options in cars. As a matter of fact, in the US Honda doesn't even offer individual options (aside from dealer-installed parts), they sell strictly by trim level. Toyota also only has option packages (again, aside from dealer-installed parts).

ZV

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: sdifox
In the US I think it is illegal for them to bundle it up locking you in. They have to offer individual items.

Nope, it is perfectly legal to bundle options in cars. As a matter of fact, in the US Honda doesn't even offer individual options (aside from dealer-installed parts), they sell strictly by trim level. Toyota also only has option packages (again, aside from dealer-installed parts).

ZV

Interesting... Did not know that... Since I always see this big sheet of options I assumed it was true for all makers. Mea Culpa. I know they can bundle them into packages (trim level), but I thought they also had to offer individual items.

Never priced a Honda in the USA...

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: RKS
That is important info since I would like to get a G37 Sedan.

I'm not sure if they've changed or fixed the software at all... my car's a 2007 and uses a DVD rather than a HDD (the Infiniti models use a HDD-based nav software), but I'm fairly certain they're the same as they both use the same upgrade discs (but that's not 100% sound judgment ). I wish I could figure out a good test to cause the nav to screw up, but I haven't really figured one out. It might be good to mention to a dealer that you've heard of the issue and would like to try out the car.