[mccarlin]

here is the JD power and ppl vote on best navigation systems in cars or trucks

Lexus #2 GS model
Acura RL #1
http://carpoint.msn.com/jump/windowshopping/jgwin_4019408.asp

ONYX 01



[This message has been edited by mccarlin (edited December 05, 2000).]

 

[antonio]

I still can't figure out why people need nav.

One of the most worthless options, IMHO. Just buy a dang map, or maybe ppl can't read one.

 

[gsnav]

That's what most people think when they don't have one. Before we got one, i thought of it only as a toy. But since i got my GS400 w/ Nav, it is actually useful when you need it. But when you are in need to find a place, instead of stopping at a gas station, you could be on your way! So i wouldn't comment until you have one in your car.

I ordered the new Acura MDX and got the navigation. It a $2000 option, but think about it, you already pay like 40000 for a car, what is 2000 more?

[email protected]

 

[brad]

My nav kicks ass.

 

[antonio]

Let's see...$2000 more to me. Save the toy, I'll take any of the following: Marshall or Mesa Halfstack for my bad asp ESP, kick asp stereo gear, either for home or car, big screen tv, etc......

I could put 2 grand to a lot better use than a tiny monitor that might know it's way to New York.

 

[CY]

Actually..I second gsnav's opinion. I also have a Nav in my GS400 and although I hardly get lost within Los Angeles its absolutely useful for finding new locations I have never been to. It's been a lifesaver when I was late to a meeting or when I needed to find an ATM or gas station in a new unfamiliar area (Yes.. it can find you the closest Mobil gas station or Bank of America....). In addition, I use the GS400 on long road trips and the Nav is absolutely wonderful when I am not familiar with a city i've never been to... It's not really just the ability to find addresses that makes the Nav so nice, it's the ability for the Nav to find the closest restaurant, park, gas station, dealership, museum, hotel, bank, etc.... Sorry about the long message but hope this helps explain the nav.

-Chris Y.

 

[brad]

You're shortselling something you have no intimate experience with and you're forgetting you will recoup most of this expense through resale. Try that with other more depreciable toys. I'm telling you you don't know what you're missing.

Originally posted by MikeLS:
Let's see...$2000 more to me. Save the toy, I'll take any of the following: Marshall or Mesa Halfstack for my bad asp ESP, kick asp stereo gear, either for home or car, big screen tv, etc......


I could put 2 grand to a lot better use than a tiny monitor that might know it's way to New York.

 

[Timothy Coln]

I think if you live in a place where the population for the state is 1 million, then I dont really think a nav system is necessary, but when you get to the crowded states, a nav would be very beneficial. Yeah try San Fran or LA or even New York with a map!!! hahahaah I dont want to go up and down a street find some small little store when it would just beep in my car when I am at the location

 

[yamaot]

Let me put it this way - no body i know that own a navigation system regrad their 2K decision (i mean the "factory" nav.).

Living in Los Angeles for 4 years, i know pretty much all the street 50 mile radius. But all i can remember are the big roads, don't forget there are always small streets you are not fimilar with.

Finding a location in Los Angeles is difficult. The road here are not straight north/south/east/west, they curves, merge with other road and seperate at a few miles down. one road might be cut off that you are not awared of and you are spending 10-20 minute to learn that while the navigation will tell you exactly what's going on.

Have you ever try to find a location on a fimilar road? # is 12345.....hmmmm.....lets see......5 is odd #, looking, looking, looking, finally there is a building has the # appear in the front (70% of time they don't). So 5 is on the left hand side. ok, now we are at 10123.....2000 down the road we will be there. 10223...10323.....10423......10523.......11000......2000.....2100....2200.....wait a minute, the # just reset itself. Pull over, look up the map, you figure out the place you are looking for is in the other side of town on the street that has the same name as this one.

This kind of situation happens alot in Los
Angeles as the #ing system is so screw up.

saying that much, it boil down to this - Navigation is no waste of money, but a very useful and fun tool to have.

 

[antonio]

Oh, thanks. I wasn't aware that the roads curve.

Ok guys, all I'm sayin' is that for ME the nav is a waste. I'll admit if you have a job that requires a lot of travel etc, it may be pretty handy. For 90% of average drivers, I think it's probably useless. Now if they offered a DVD based monitor for movies, that's a diff story. Whole nuther meaning to drive in movies.

[This message has been edited by MikeLS (edited December 05, 2000).]

 

[yamaot]

what i mean by road are curved is that it change direction gradually with out your notice. In other City (Plano Tx for example) no matter how a street curves, it still stay in it's general direction. A N/S road will always be N/S, a E/W road will always travel left and right on the map.

In Los Angeles, there are countless road that start as a North/South road and end up to become a East/West road. Won't that screw up your oriantation?

Furthermore, sometimes two suppost to be parallel roads accross each other. So at you part of town the street A is north of Street B, if you go East for 10 miles, they accross at certain point, so street B is north of street A now. If you are not fimilar with the area, you try to get to street A, when you see street B you go north cause you think it should be up there while it's actually at south. So you drive for 20 minutes to figure out something is wrong and ask a gas station for directions.

I am not arguing with you, i agree with you 80% of time you won't need to use GPS, but it's that 20% that make this toy so valuable.

[This message has been edited by yamaot (edited December 05, 2000).]

 

[chiawei]

One thing that I really hated about my IS is the lack of Navigation System.

The TL that my wife had has the Navigation system. It is so useful to find new addresses. SF is a messy place to drive without direction. I do not have to stop in middle of traffic and fumbling through tons of maps.

I am kind of disspointed that IS did not offer the pop-up Navi as those on Altezza.

 

[chiawei]

One thing that I really hated about my IS is the lack of Navigation System.

The TL that my wife had has the Navigation system. It is so useful to find new addresses. SF is a messy place to drive without direction. I do not have to stop in middle of traffic and fumbling through tons of maps.

I am kind of disspointed that IS did not offer the pop-up Navi as those on Altezza.

 

[Danny's 3.2TL]

When I got my TL (no navi cuz i thought 2grand was way expensive), they didnt have silver on the lot, so the acura dealership gave me a loaner TL WITH the navigation. As I drove it around for a week, I found it to be extremely useful. Like what I think Yamaot was saying, when I had to go pick up a friend somewhere ive never been, adn the highways started splitting, the navi voice would tell me slight curve ahead, stay in left lane or something like that. I was shocked by its accuracy. I regret NOT getting the Navi, but o well. 2K is a lot, but dont get a spoiler, dont get a moonroof visor, and other crap, and youll be able cut down on some and buy a navi.