To Nav or not to Nav

[SmutsGTI]

Interesting article and after getting a tomtom, one that i agree with

http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain....0the%20sat-nag

[The_Hawk]

It's a very good arguement against "extras" in general when it comes to resale value. BUT, and it's a big BUT. You buy the extra's for yourself, NOT for the resale value. Who cares if it doesn't add a cent to the resale if for the years you have owned the car you didn't have to plug things in, or have the *BRAKE INTO ME* sign on the windscreen (by which I mean either the unit it self or the suction cup mark it left).

The alternative might be a nice aftermarket DVD/HDD/SAT NAV system from Kenwood, Pioneer or one of many others, most of which probably cost near the factory unit anyway, albeit with more functions.

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while since I looked around, but I'm suprised the likes of Tom Tom or Navman haven't partnered with a company to provide a XXX model build into a double din DVD player

Even more suprising is that they haven't made their own, after all you would think that since you have already paid for the software and the screen the DVD player would be cheap as. (look at how much a portable DVD player costs and they have to pay for the screen too!)

All else aside, the benifit of a built in system over a portable one is great, but the price premium you pay for it is amazing. I have a Navman, the second one I have owned and the new model is much improved over the old. At a shade under $300 it was a bargain and for basically the cost of new maps for other systems I can replace it with a shiny new on in two years time which will [hopefully] be bigger better and faster than the current one.

[jb747]

Very much 'horses for courses. I own three in dash sat nav systems (my family can't navigate down the driveway). Two Eclipse AVN6000s and an RNS510. The Eclipse won't add a cent to the value of the cars (a Hilux and a RAV) simply because they won't be installed when the car is sold. Both have already had previous lives in other vehicles. Navigation-wise, they work quite well, but, they also provide a very healthy upgrade to the pretty ho hum sound systems that were installed from the factory, and in the Hilux, the reversing camera is invaluable.

The RNS, now that I've had it for a short while, works very well, as well as integrating beautifully with the car's dash. The idea of an add on stuck to the windscreen offends my idea of a tidy car....

Whilst the cost of the nav systems is quite substantial, given that they simultaneously upgrade your sound, let you play DVDs (not that I ever have), probably give you iPod and camera integration, and even let you navigate; I'm very much a fan. But, as for adding to your resale....not at all, though they may make it easier to sell, which can be just as important.

[ozgriff]

I think that was half the point. With Navigation units becoming better and better, the old system was basically an embarrassment and really hindered the sale of an otherwise great car.

In 5 years the current crop of OEM units will look quite dated - and the maps will be well out of sync. They, the hardware and maps, would need to be updated to make the car more attractive.

In saying this, I really like the look of the OEM VW GPS systems, but use a 'portable'.

[jb747]

In 5 years the current crop of OEM units will look quite dated - and the maps will be well out of sync. They, the hardware and maps, would need to be updated to make the car more attractive.

I think it depends just how up to date the system is when introduced. The AVN 6000 is basically identical to the Toyota OEM system introduced in 2003, and it is standing the test of time pretty well. And you can't blame the hardware for map issues. I've had three different versions of the maps with the Eclipse units, and features have appeared as I've done the updates.

[GTom]

The biggest draw backs, currently, with any GPS unit is the cost of updating maps. I normally change Atlas' every 2 years, with GPS a map update costs in the hundreds of dollars realm. It is just too much.

Mind you I do agree 100% that it does make life a bit easier with any GPS unit.

[SmutsGTI]

GTOM and ozgriff they were my thoughts exactly. I don't buy leather seats or sunroofs for resale value its for my use. On the Nav subject my wifes 06 Trendline NAV looks very ordinary now when compared to even the aftermarket units released in 07. Not to mention $250+ a year for an upgrade.

Take a look at the NAV out of an 06 Landrover Discovery HSE it is an absolute laugh for 90k + car and a 4.5k option back in the day.

[Logzy]

The quality o fthe maps is where both aftermarket and EOM units get let down.
Sensis Whereis is terrible but then again what can we expect, it is owned by Telstra.

"After 400 meters drive straight on."

WTF do i need to be told that for.

[gerhard]

Am I the only person who thinks these Nav units are a wank?

I've driven all over Australia and Europe in my many years, all without a Navigation unit, but using the A-Z or relevant printed maps.

Are people unable to find their way to work any longer??

[GTom]

Am I the only person who thinks these Nav units are a wank?

I've driven all over Australia and Europe in my many years, all without a Navigation unit, but using the A-Z or relevant printed maps.

Are people unable to find their way to work any longer??

I wouldn't go as far as saying they are a wank. Depending on how often you drive and where you drive (non familiar places) GPS is great it calculates your route within a matter of seconds and then gives you step by step directions.

For everyday use (unless your a cabby) they don't really come in handy... Who doesn't know direction to and from work or the shops.....

I think GPS will be golden once they start to transmit live traffic data i.e current average speeds, road blocks, accidents etc. but that's probably 2-3 years away (they are starting up a trial in VIC)

[The_Hawk]

Am I the only person who thinks these Nav units are a wank?

I've driven all over Australia and Europe in my many years, all without a Navigation unit, but using the A-Z or relevant printed maps.

Are people unable to find their way to work any longer??

As GTom said, it's not for work and back but for when you go other places. I used to go online and print out a where is directions list for new places then have the street directory in the car for when I took a wrong turn and got lost.

Now I just jump in the car with the GPS and she's apples It can go months and not be used, but can then be in the car for a whole weekend. Even if I'm going somewhere I know how to get to, but isn't somewhere I often go I will take the GPS just in case I end up lost. Call it the street directory of the 21st century

[1303Steve]

Hi

I thought that they were a wank until I rented a car in Scotland with one fitted. It made the whole trip even more fantastic. We bought a historic castle pass and every day punched a few in along our route to see where the GPS would take us. We then travelled to Ireland where we couldn't get a car with GPS and it was pain even though we had really good maps, don't get me started on asking an Irishman for directions.

I have a Garmin 760 and I love it, I use it for work. One of the best features is the alerts for school zones, speed cameras and read light cameras, not that I run red lights, but I want to keep my licence, I find this a valuable tool.

It will still send you down some silly routes but if you have a basic understanding of where suburbs are its great.

Steve

[Maverick]

I think GPS will be golden once they start to transmit live traffic data i.e current average speeds, road blocks, accidents etc. but that's probably 2-3 years away (they are starting up a trial in VIC)

Melbourne is live now, Sydney is next and Brisbane later this year.

The best thing is that this fully integrates into the RNS510. To me the RNS510 is well worth the $3000, I get a touch screen (next years model will be able to control the AC system etc through them as well), hard drive for 20gb of MP3s, full bluetooth integration (separate bluetooth module), full MFD integration, proper integration into the car so even when I go underground the system knows EXACTLY where I am and even when it's waiting for a lock when you come out it can still direct you.

Other systems that don't offer the features of the RNS510 may not be worth it but for me even without being a heavy GPS user it saves me a lot of time, I don't have to carry a road directory in the car nor pull over to use (or try and read it whilst driving), I can try alternative routes easy without it turning into one of my short cuts, if there is an accident ahead I can easily route around it. It's always on, I just hit the map button and it's there, unlike portable units you have to turn on, the portable units are a theft target whereas the oem ones are not.

Next I'll be adding in the usb module so I can add even more music online, the reverse camera is coming up as well.

People can feel free to stuff around with aftermarket nav units, aftermarket bluetooth, aftermarket stereos that don't integrate and look messy but for me I paid this much for a car that has everything integrated and doesn't look like a dogs breakfast. The lines of the car and the dash layout to me are great, I'm not going to ruin them with aftermarket brackets, power cords, suction cap marks, small screens and having to turn down the stereo to hear instructions or receive phone calls.

[GTom]

Melbourne is live now, Sydney is next and Brisbane later this year.

Thought it was still trial basis. Ah well.... Is it on a subscription basis?

[Maverick]

Thought it was still trial basis. Ah well.... Is it on a subscription basis?

Yes but the useless people running it haven't got back me despite numerous requests on pricing. I can only assume they don't want to sell the service. I'm of the opinion that this should be run by the government and a free service as the government will recoup the cost by keeping congestion down and being able to send traffic by different routes if required.