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

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amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,324
219
106
NO. NONONONONO.

I thought a LOT about this, and what I want is a car that
1) Has a basic radio that can be swapped out easily for something else.
2) Is as non-electric as possible.

One of the reasons I like my RX-8 is that everything is contained. Only electrical is the power windows and radio.

If it were up to me, I'd have power windows and a slot to put your own damned radio in. Hell, I don't even use the AC. That can go too.
 

IcePickFreak

Platinum Member
Jul 12, 2007
2,428
9
81
That G8 setup is SO COOL!

I've been wanting a G8 GT white or red... am I crazy?
Looking for at least 24-25 mpg highway, possible?

Should be able to get that easily driving modestly. Did a road trip with a buddy to Minneapolis a few months ago that was about 380 miles. On the way back I remembered to reset the trip computer, I averaged 72mph awe and still got 25mpg.

That's with a tune anyway, my MPG got a little better afterwards - GM likes to run everything pig-rich from the factory. Oh and the other thread just reminded me, I have the AFM shut off in the tune as well. It would of got me marginally better, but the roads aren't flat enough to really get too much of an advantage so it constantly kicking in and out was more annoying than anything. Sooner or later I'd like to just cam it with a normal cam and ditch the AFM lifters.

Absolutely superb! I can't believe more cars don't have this, it's really blowing my mind if I think about it. I see tons of people even with new cars and that crap hanging from the windshield.Haha, maybe

I just use a Tetrax X-way mount on one of my vents.. is about where the vents are in that pic I posted. I just have the useless shelf up there though, they binned the "atari" gauges after 08. Like I said I wouldn't mind that GPS trim with a dedicated Garmin, but end up spending any cash for the car on performance stuff instead and just stick for the phone the little I end up using GPS.
 
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Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
23
81
Depends on the type of car and how easy it'd be to put in an aftermarket navigation unit.

I had a double-din navigation unit put in my current car when I had the stereo redone..


The stock navigation unit on the G35s looks like ass cause it pops up.
 

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
91
No. If I am going to spend $2000 on a 'nav' I will spend that on a brand-new audio system for my car that includes NAV. If you get a good, integrated aftermarket unit, it will work great (steering-wheel controls still work, etc).

That said, not all cars have a nice 'double din' spot for a aftermarket. If they do, its a no-brainer. Car NAVs usually suck pretty bad, and I like to get higher-end equipment and pick my exact features instead of use what the car mftr provides.

I am putting my money to my mouth, so to speak, and doing exactly that in a few months on the 'Rex. Quality component speakers, discrete sub, and higher-end NAV/DVD unit. Blows the crap out of pretty much any stock stereo, for not a lot more than many NAV upgrades.
 

KentState

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2001
8,397
393
126
No. If I am going to spend $2000 on a 'nav' I will spend that on a brand-new audio system for my car that includes NAV. If you get a good, integrated aftermarket unit, it will work great (steering-wheel controls still work, etc).

That said, not all cars have a nice 'double din' spot for a aftermarket. If they do, its a no-brainer. Car NAVs usually suck pretty bad, and I like to get higher-end equipment and pick my exact features instead of use what the car mftr provides.

I am putting my money to my mouth, so to speak, and doing exactly that in a few months on the 'Rex. Quality component speakers, discrete sub, and higher-end NAV/DVD unit. Blows the crap out of pretty much any stock stereo, for not a lot more than many NAV upgrades.

I went aftermarket for many years. The last time was on the '10 Vette and it was only marginally better in the end than factory. Even with one of the best nav units, I would have rather just stayed stock and dealt with the 1 or 2 limitations.
 

thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
7,426
2
81
We were car shopping this weekend, and it was standard on the models we were looking at, so yes, even though neither of us care about it.
 

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
91
I went aftermarket for many years. The last time was on the '10 Vette and it was only marginally better in the end than factory. Even with one of the best nav units, I would have rather just stayed stock and dealt with the 1 or 2 limitations.

Not in "rex. The OEM speakers and head unit are atrocious. I doubt many factory setups are close to a good custom build. Quality speakers, a good amp, and a high-quality head unit are tough to get in almost any car. When you get stuff like a 'Bose' system, its often worse because you cannot even use any components in another build...
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,856
1,048
126
cheap car, doesn't matter... expensive car - it would be so tacky to have a windshield or dash mount aftermarket NAV on it.

I've used aftermarket NAVs and taking it out and putting it away is a job in itself... get the stand, pop it into the mount, plug in the power. Sometimes the suction fails too. And you get to undo it 20 minutes later. Christ.
 

ballmode

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
0
my wrx has a horrible audio system, i've upgraded the speakers and head unit but I need a sub/amp but i'm honestly done spending money into this car.
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
yes, will never have a car without nav again. i have my phone GPS for those rare situations where an up-to-date map is absolutely essential.

I haven't had any problems with the ~2007 maps in my civic.
 

PhoKingGuy

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 2007
4,689
0
76
Part of the reason people think that OEM navs suck is that most of them do. The toyota/honda one is atrociously bad, it looks like its some HS comp sci kids project from the early 90's.

Try a quality engineered/programmed system and then say that the stupid garmin is better.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,967
19
81
A lot of the premium navs are customizable and upgradable. Map cost factors in to all NAV units.

The target audience is always the weakest link. They need visibility and simplicity.

My M3 has a very customizable NAV unit even down to the voices it speaks to you in...however it requires third party reprogramming.

The bonus is it looks like it fits in the dash rather than added on. Some cars with simple flat center consoles can take after-market NAV and it looks factory...my car doesn't.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
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?

No, unless the retrofit required a new dash (e90 bmw etc). I've retrofitted OEM MKIV nav into my m3, cost far less than if I bought one with it.

Agreed on aftermarket nav units looking like crap and same goes for little garmin stick on deals.
 
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Imdmn04

Platinum Member
Jan 28, 2002
2,566
6
81
Always, it is a requirement for any vehicle I purchase. OEM nav equipment is usually integrated with the vehicle CAN bus, it can still guess by "dead recokoning" if you are in a tunnel or somewhere with no GPS signal using wheel speed/angle from the vehicle bus. It will also dim the screen if the ambient light sensor of your car detects low lighting, the system will basically be synchronized with the vehicle lighting system.

Plus, I don't want a portable unit that I have to put in/take off the wind shield every trip. If I don't take it off, I would be afraid that someone would smash my window for it. Also, during the times when you don't have it on your windscreen, like if you figured you will be driving a known route at the beginning of the trip, but then there is some detours, I don't want to have to pull aside and put the damn thing in. I want to be able to look at a GPS map without having to worry about getting it jacked when I turn off the car.
 

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
17
81
Seems like a waste of money to me now. Had it on an 05 tsx I bought new and at the time it was a decent value since it was also the only way to get a LCD display for XM radio etc. That and GPS was more expensive then. Cost me basically $1000 over the negotiated cost of the non nav car. When I bought my current car ,a 2010 Audi a4 they wanted $2000 for it and it just didn't add much. All the new cars have LCD display as it is and my Android phone is a much easier to use GPS. Ive used my friends nav systems in brand new benzes and Lexus or BMW and just entering destinations is such a pain compared to voice command just a restaurant name in Google navigation.


I think for me its not so much I can't afford it just that it seems horribly overpriced and worse than most cellphones. Sure its nice that it lowers volume etc but I suppose I just don't use GPS enough for that to make it feel much more worth it.
 

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
17
81
You might be able to get away with it if you're contained within a region, but none of the carriers have good coverage throughout the country. There are a few bizarre holes for Verizon in San Antonio for example. It was actually Verizon and San Antonio that prompted me to not rely on phone GPS anymore.

I think though in that rare case you buy a self contained Garmin not get it integrated into your car right?
 

KMc

Golden Member
Jan 26, 2007
1,153
0
76
I much prefer a nav unit that i can switch from car to car, and it always works the same. I also like to take mine when I travel so I have it in my rental. As far as ipod integration, the one that came with with my Audi sucked so I ended up wiring in my own aux port to the factory radio - a far more simpler solution that even works better.
 

JTsyo

Lifer
Nov 18, 2007
11,774
919
126
Absolutely not. A five inch Garmin is $200, portable, and likely better quality.

I have the Nav in the Escape and the new maps DVD cost $200. It's such a rip off. Problem is the Nav is usually in a package that you want to get.
 

Ferzerp

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,438
107
106
I think though in that rare case you buy a self contained Garmin not get it integrated into your car right?

You'd need to, as typically, you're in rentals (it's what I do).

Ask me about all low end cars and I'll tell you how much each of they suck!
 

A5

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2000
4,902
5
81
My wife's next car will have one (she has a terrible sense of direction and never takes a stand-alone and doesn't have a smartphone), but I don't know if I would get it in my next car or not. Depends on the quality of the systems by then - if they're all like Audi MMI, then I probably will.
 

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
Yes. My wife's IS250 and my G37 both have stock GPS's. The integration with the GPS in my G37 with the rest of the system is phenomenal.
 

Ferzerp

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,438
107
106
I suspect you won't have a choice before too long. More and more cars come with this standard now.

edit: Think if you asked 10 years ago "Will your next car have stability control?" vs. now.
 
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