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Isx50 Nav

2K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  Knightshade 
#1 ·
Hey all,

I'm going to pick up a is350 from a dealership soon and was wondering is the nav really worth the extra cash in your opinion? I mean, from what I know, there are a lot of capable after market nav units out and I don't know which would be better.

Kris
 
#3 ·
The maps will be about the same, the rest of the feature set is vastly different.


If you -need- to play videos on your dash then get the nav with ML. Otherwise it's massively not worth it.


Aftermarket systems will let you:

Get realtime traffic data

Get realtime movie/gas/weather info

Update maps for $75/year instead of $300

Fully use the device while the car is in motion (unlike the OEM that cripples itself while driving unless you hack it)

Play audiobooks, view pics, etc from flash memory in the unit

Move the unit to a rental car if traveling (or your wifes car if you have more than 1 vehicle you take trips with)

Save $2000-3000 on buying aftermarket instead of OEM

Improve the resale value of the car (nav is bad for resale)

Get a new unit with even MORE features the OEM can't do in a couple of years, again for thousands less

Custom update the map info using your desktop PC with custom routes, custom points of interest and destinations, etc...



You do lose the backup camera... but a few aftermarket nav units can do that too if you really feel like adding the feature, you'll just have to install the camera yourself. All the other OEM features (handfree bluetooth calling, phonebook integration, turn-by-turn directions, etc...) are available in the aftermarket for a lot cheaper, plus all the extra features the OEM can't do.


I mean no disresepect to the folks who paid thousands for their nav... and honestly if you bought an 06 or something the aftermarket choices weren't nearly as good as they are now (or as affordable) either... but nowadays it doesn't seem worth the cost and all the lost features to me though.

Do be sure and get a unit that'll fit in your console or glovebox (unless you plan to just take it with you) so you can keep it out of sight if parking in a questionable part of town... I highly recommend the Nuvis from Garmin (and I don't work for em :p) and I highly recommend the Garmin friction mount, which fits perfectly in the flat area of the dash right above the center stack and avoids having to perma-mount anything at all.
 
#4 ·
The OEM nav is very nice, has one of the bext interfaces around, and that 7" cannot be compared to the 3-4 inches of an afermarket unit.

The reasons I bought my IS350 with Nav are (in that order):
- Bluetooth integration
- Navigation capabilities
- The look of it

But you have to decide if these are good enough reasons to cough up $2,000.


My wife has an aftermarket Gamin unit; she has the wide version (4.3" screen) which makes a big difference. It has most of the features of my Lexus nav, and there is even a version that acts as a BlueTooth speakerphone - though that costs $700.
 
#5 ·
Bluetooth Garmin units can be had in the 300-400 range now if you know where to shop...Here's one with the 4.3" widescreen, bluetooth, plays audiobooks and mp3s, and live traffic data-
Amazon.com: Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator: Electronics

$379 shipped...and that's not even on sale... those were $299 in the black friday-through-xmas season.


And you can get nav with a 7" screen in the aftermarket too if you want (though it might be a little weird having that big a screen sitting on the dash)... Here's one-
Garmin 0100040020 StreetPilot 7500 Large Screen GPS System - FotoConnection.com

7" display, $899, again not on sale... and can also get realtime traffic a couple different ways.


So really, what you're left with is the look of it... so if you want the couple-thousand savings plus the extra features you'll have to be content with sitting on top of the center stack (or one of the couple other places folks have mouted the aftermarket units).
 
#6 ·
Thanks for the input guys. From what you're saying I figure I'll end up getting the Lexus nav since I don't luck clutter or anything just sitting around on the dash. I'm concerned with the updating discs thought, sounds a bit pricey.
 
#7 ·
Lexus gets $300 for a new map disc (possibly a little cheaper on ebay), that's annual... Garmin gets $75 annually.

To actually update it up just need to change the disc for the OEM unit (though the dealer will try to charge you an hour of labor it takes about 5 minutes and you can easily do it yourself)... to update a Garmin you put the DVD in your PC and just plug the GPS in for a few minutes.

If you live someplace they don't build stuff or change roads much you probably don't need to do it annually, if you live someplace with a decent amount of development it's worth doing.

But honestly, if one less item on your dash is worth $2000-3000 more money and less functionality to you then costing an extra $225 a year is probably worth it to you too...
 
#8 ·
Thanks for the replies guys. I ended up getting one with an OEM nav, not because I needed a clear dash that I had to cough up the 2k but that the only car I wanted had one. As for the updating discs, I'm not all too worried. I honestly don't feel the need to update it every year ,even though my area is growing at a pretty quick pace.
 
#10 ·
And yet it's a pretty widely known fact-

In-car navigation takes a new turn amid resale woes - USATODAY.com

"Built-in navigation systems increase the depreciation of a car or truck, a startling fact that has some car companies rethinking their approach to the $2,000 factory-installed systems."

Even Lexus knows their stuff is insanely overpriced compared to aftermarket and plans to offer cheaper systems soon-


"Toyota (TM) plans to announce later this year that it will offer lower-price, "entry-level navigation on some models," says Paul Williamsen, product education specialist who oversees training of dealership employees and recently was named manager of what Toyota calls Lexus College.

"We're sensitive to the issue" of navigation depreciation "and hope to reduce the gap between what a buyer pays new and what it's worth used."
 
#12 ·
if you get OEM Nav, you never need to compromise the look of the interior to get aftermarket stuffs.
 
#13 ·
I just got the post card to update my 2006 nav systems in my is 350 and ls430 for $265 each plus labor!!!!! this is worse than the $169 oil change, anywhere to get these disks for less?? Obviously these are made by someone other than lexus, Pioneer maybe? they make my cd changers and their cartridges work great.
 
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