RNS510 cost-justified?

[Dubya]

What do owners of the RNS510 believe justifies its cost?

I may need to accept a car with RNS510 installed but will see if I can avoid it and have it swapped for an RCD510 if it is as overpriced as it appears to me to be.

On the other hand, I have never used SatNav in a car and so I am interested to hear the benefits of SatNav generally as well as how the $2,000+ price premium of the RNS510 over a premium portable device might be justified.

So I'd be grateful to those who might be able to share their experiences (such as when SatNav can be invaluable) and any other thoughts.

(I've read of the 30Gb HDD and DVD playback capability but on the downside I have also read that the RNS510 does not identify school zones and "safety" cameras.

I also know it is a "personal choice" and "options are optional" however what I am seeking is insights and experiences of people who have the device on board or the reasons people have decided to not check that box.)

Thanks in anticipation.

[FJ Steve]

Have you seen this report? Volkswagen RNS510 Review - Car Entertainment

The cost factor of the RNS can be a hurdle. However, the fact that it then integrates into the full info/audio system of the vehicle, some see as being worthy of the cost. Maps are not as quickly updated as say Garmin or TomTom...but then again, you don't have an object (possibly) restricting your view while attached to the windscreen.

The unit has a 30G HD...but only about 20G is available for music storage. Playing of DVD's while in motion is illegal, therefore, unless you spend a lot of time in the car waiting for someone...it's a feature that does not rate highly for me.

I'd rather have full integration with the vehicle (RNS510) than not.

If the vehicle they are offering has RNS installed...;how much extra are they asking you to pay, for the privilege. Personally, I'd have the RNS. I'd also be looking to get a discount on the $2.5k+ premium they will ask you for.

FWIW...your dilemma is now understood...when compared to your previous thread.

[Dubya]

Have you seen this report? Volkswagen RNS510 Review - Car Entertainment

Thanks, I'll check it out.

... the fact that it then integrates into the full info/audio system of the vehicle, some see as being worthy of the cost.

Apart from the 30Gb HDD, is the info/audio integration of the RNS510 greater than with the RCD510?

[FJ Steve]

The RNS will show nav directions through the MFD. RVC/Sensors will work the same way on either unit.

Check Mavericks site my-gti.com

he has some excellent information there which will provide you with more info. http://www.my-gti.com/719/difference...nd-the-rns-510

[VeedubTSI]

That's a pretty cool link with the comparisons of all the units together FJ Steve.
We got the RNS510 installed in our car and I find it very easy to use and very capable of all multimedia requirements. I think its a very good unit and you will enjoy it Dubya if you really want all the bells and whistles. The 30gb is only registered as 18.60gb after the maps are installed.
You could always install the RNS510 aftermarket. I heard you can buy units for up to $1k cheaper off ebay but I think getting it all intergrated especially if you want reverse cameras/bt and other stuff its best to have it installed.

[rs73]

20gb for music...

what if you get the dealer to install mdi cable for less, does this allow us to you add an external usb hdd for 20gb or even more? is that possible - thus gaining the same amount of music storage for a lot less?

it may not play dvd but i had a tv tuner/dvd changer in the old car, ended up never watch it - they are too much distraction while on the move and could be fatal...

[VeedubTSI]

I think is the is compatibility list Volkswagen Media Device Interface (MDI) Firmware Upgrade 0111 KW22-2010 | my-gti.com. I tried a 4fb Sandisk blade and it didn't work, couldn't bothered working out was wrong so I ended up using the SD slot with a 4gb SD card for my music instead. I find the SD card for music is really handy.

[tinto]

I have one... Makes the car complete.
Integration is seamless and it keeps the dash clear.

I use the nav once or twice a week. The new maps are an improvement in terms of stability and poi.

I haven't dug too deep in the features, but certainly no regrets on ticking the box.
The price is a meaty premium, but I'd take it over a windscreen mounted device anyday.

[Rob Burns]

What do owners of the RNS510 believe justifies its cost?

I may need to accept a car with RNS510 installed but will see if I can avoid it and have it swapped for an RCD510 if it is as overpriced as it appears to me to be.

On the other hand, I have never used SatNav in a car and so I am interested to hear the benefits of SatNav generally as well as how the $2,000+ price premium of the RNS510 over a premium portable device might be justified.

So I'd be grateful to those who might be able to share their experiences (such as when SatNav can be invaluable) and any other thoughts.

(I've read of the 30Gb HDD and DVD playback capability but on the downside I have also read that the RNS510 does not identify school zones and "safety" cameras.

I also know it is a "personal choice" and "options are optional" however what I am seeking is insights and experiences of people who have the device on board or the reasons people have decided to not check that box.)

Thanks in anticipation.

You'll be suck with an ugly antenna on your roof that does nothing and the dealer will be stuck with an RNS they can't sell (might be able to squeeze it into a demo or used car I guess but they'll never make the difference up). Looks like a lose/lose situation to me.

[rs73]

swap it with my RCD510 ? lol

[Rob Burns]

I'm not sure the dealer can legally do that. Aren't there laws about selling a previously installed product in a new car? The added cost of an antenna is not a huge issue I imagine.

[STV4SYT]

Given the lack of R's on their way into the country at the moment unsold its unlikely any dealer will remove an option to sell the car as there are people willing to take it as is. Not until that car has been sitting on the forecourt unsold for a while would any dealer (IMO) even consider doing such a thing.

I think what you should be concerning yourself with is do you want the R sooner with satnav or can you wait for one to the spec that you want to be built.

Just for the record i have seen stock lists for a couple of dealers recently and its pretty much a a case of not being able to be fussy with spec if you want a car relatively soon.

[Dubya]

Actually considering a GTI . . . however this is true about beggars not being choosers if you want a car without much delay.

In the earlier thread re swapping out an RNS510 for an RCD510 (which unit I would prefer for cost reasons) Coreying suggested that the RNS510 was a lot more than just a SatNav . . . but above SatNav and what is offered by the RCD510, what does the RNS510 offer?

[pologti18t]

Actually considering a GTI . . . however this is true about beggars not being choosers if you want a car without much delay.

I popped into Barloworld on the weekend and they had a nice selection of manual GTI. Strangely they were all manual and all had sunroofs (no sat nav).

[Corey_R]

Lets make this easy.... I'll start the list, other people can copy this list and add to to it....

Things the RNS-510 has over the RCD-510

• Sat Nav (duh!)
• The screen has 4 times the resolution
• DVD drive/playback
• 30GB HDD
• 18.6GB available for music storage
• Music browsing is quicker/smoother via HDD than SD slot and MDI.
• Allows Voice Control of cars features (does this need to be mated with a Bluetooth kit?)

Aftermarket:

• Can be mated with a TV tuner aftermarket
• The HDD can be replaced with up to a 100GB "Automotive" HDD allowing about 83GB of storage for music playback.

Things the RNS-510 has over portable Sat-Navs

• Integrated elegant solution
• The integration extends to the MFD where Navigation Instructions, directions etc appear.
• Even when navigation isn't enabled, the MFD has a "compass" and "street you're travelling on" display which can be selected.
• MFD is more in line of sight than any "safe" mounting of portable GPS.
  GPS dropouts (when in a tunnel etc) are a non-issue as the RNS-510 uses the car's speed and direction information to continue the navigation (very helpful if you don't know which exit to take in "distributor tunnels").
• No obstruction of vision on windscreen
• No messy wiring up the dash from the cigarette socket
• No need to retrieve from storage and mount it and plug it all in each time you get in the car, nor put it away each time you get out of the car
• No "suction cap" marks on windscreen causing thieves to target your car for "smash and grabs"
• Combined with bluetooth, it has address book entry and voice dialing etc

Things Portable Sat Nav has over RNS-510

• Cheaper
• Maps are updated more frequently and have better coverage and features (speed cameras, speed zones etc - although this is something they have over all car manufacturers... I smell a conspiracy here )
• You can take it with you when walking around (though, do people actually do this?) or getting into someone elses car.

Feel free to "Reply With Quote", then remove the Quote tags and add to the list everyone