RNS510 cost-justified?

[Ryan_R]

I don't think anyone here has ended up with a dodgy unit. Check the sellers eBay rating and as long as its 99% or greater you should be fine.

[MrGTIandRfan]

I'm more concerned with the fact that it could be a stolen unit as per Guy's post.

[chylld]

I'm more concerned with the fact that it could be a stolen unit as per Guy's post.

then you should get a cheap dig_options unit putting one in my R, should receive it this week and will do a full-writeup on what is apparently the best of the cheapies

[starionx]

Since the new golfs (well at least the my12 gti) have the MDI as standard equipment, and the MFD has its own display in between the intrument cluster, is $2,500 a justifiable cost for a slightly better audio system that has a vastly (compared to portables) inferior satnav system?

I understand the RNS-510 is a 'neat' all-in-one package, but for that sort of money, I can buy a portable satnav with all the bells and whistles with a 5" screen, a stage 1 APR ecu epgrade, lots of USB thumb drives & sdhc cards for the music, tinted windows all around and still have money left over. The only thing that would be missing is being able to watch DVDs (but why would I want to watch something on a 6" screen when I can watch it at home on a 55" screen ).

Somebody explain this to me?

[Ryan_R]

Get a PND then. All those who purchased the RNS510 purchased it for ~$1000 on eBay and/or posted their reasoning in this thread.


There are times when I have to wait for a while in the car and having a TopGear DVD handy makes the wait more bearable

[chylld]

no need to get a PND - get the ebay satnav unit runs igo primo 9 and is pretty much all you want in a satnav (including speed camera warnings). $560 shipped and you can install it in around 15 minutes, no vagcom coding necessary. also plays DVDs whether you are moving or stopped

most people who purchase it as a fitted option simply don't know better, and i don't blame them. the rest who fit them afterwards just have cash to burn i guess

[AdamD]

...is $2,500 a justifiable cost for a slightly better audio system that has a vastly (compared to portables) inferior satnav system?

The RNS-510 isn't a better audio system than the RCD-510 - not that I'm aware of anyway. The audio upgrade is the Dynaudio package. It does have a hdd though - not sure if that constitutes a better audio system.

If there's one thing this thread should explain to everyone, it's that each individual justifies a purchase differently. What's of value to me may not be to you, and vice versa.

[starionx]

There are times when I have to wait for a while in the car and having a TopGear DVD handy makes the wait more bearable

That's what Tablets (or god forbid) Ipads are for.

The RNS-510 isn't a better audio system than the RCD-510 - not that I'm aware of anyway. The audio upgrade is the Dynaudio package. It does have a hdd though - not sure if that constitutes a better audio system.

I was alluding to the HDD. Whether that's better than SDHC cards/USB drives is debatable.

[Ryan_R]

Trying not to get a tablet until I absolutely need one (i.e. it does stuff that I can't do on my Win PC or Android phone).

Maybe the upcoming Windows 8 tablets will change my mind.

/ot

[Syd118TSI]

The integration with MFD, Bluetooth, Climate control etc is brilliant.

The latest firmware updates have improved the navigation and the load time for the maps. All in all it's lovely. The factory price is excessive, but the DIY route is well worth it in my opinion.. especially on earlier models when you're also adding the bluetooth functionality.

[chylld]

The integration with MFD, Bluetooth, Climate control etc is brilliant.

The latest firmware updates have improved the navigation and the load time for the maps. All in all it's lovely. The factory price is excessive, but the DIY route is well worth it in my opinion.. especially on earlier models when you're also adding the bluetooth functionality.

my ebay unit also integrates with mfd, climate control and steering wheel controls... comes with its own bluetooth too, which was a must for me since i assumed my car came with bluetooth when in fact it didn't (thought it was MY12 but was only MY11.5)

[masev]

no need to get a PND - get the ebay satnav unit runs igo primo 9 and is pretty much all you want in a satnav (including speed camera warnings). $560 shipped and you can install it in around 15 minutes, no vagcom coding necessary. also plays DVDs whether you are moving or stopped

most people who purchase it as a fitted option simply don't know better, and i don't blame them. the rest who fit them afterwards just have cash to burn i guess

Hi Chylld

Which option did you go for? External BT Mic, 2 USB's or 4GB SD, HD Digital Panel? Going by the pictures, it looks as though the mic is inbuilt anyway??

Sounds like it does all the RNS510 does but at half the price and no coding required to enable things.

Can you fault the product at all? Is it really THAT great for the money???

Cheers

[chylld]

Hi Chylld

Which option did you go for? External BT Mic, 2 USB's or 4GB SD, HD Digital Panel? Going by the pictures, it looks as though the mic is inbuilt anyway??

Sounds like it does all the RNS510 does but at half the price and no coding required to enable things.

Can you fault the product at all? Is it really THAT great for the money???

Cheers

I have an ongoing review of sorts here (diff forum)

Specs pretty much as you say, although it takes SDHC so 8/16GB/whatever. Also I wouldn't call an 800x480 panel "HD"

There is a mic built-in so I never bothered with the external mic. There's also a reversing camera included but parking sensors (and my eyes) are enough for me so never bothered with that either

I can fault the product - the menu system is a bit clunky and cheesy, but I never see it since I have it on shuffle on my iPod all the time anyway. So the only thing I really see on screen is the iGo satnav software which looks awesome

All the basic stuff works (MFD/parking sensor/climate control integration) except for radio... FM reception isn't great for some reason (even though it plugs into the car's antenna)

At $560 it's a bloody steal. Actually thinking of selling my RCD510 since if this one goes kaput I'll just buy another one.

[Syd118TSI]

my ebay unit also integrates with mfd, climate control and steering wheel controls... comes with its own bluetooth too, which was a must for me since i assumed my car came with bluetooth when in fact it didn't (thought it was MY12 but was only MY11.5)

Not to rain on your parade, but the interface on the RNS510 is much nicer than on your ebay unit. The way in which the bluetooth integrates with the MFD is seamless, with names, numbers phone book etc all appearing on the MFD and on the head unit itself. As you've noted yourself you haven't figured out if or how your unit can pull down your phone book from your device. The audio is crystal clear in the car through the VW microphone mounted in the light cluster.

With navigation the street names, direction etc will always appear under the navigation screen on the MFD and when actually using the nav it will advise how long and which direction the next turn is, as well as distance to destination etc. These are what makes the OEM unit so nice in my opinion. Plus the graphics when the climate control is changed etc all are a lot nicer. The startup times for the maps are very good, as well as the time to lock onto the signal (this is using a newer firmware).

The map software isn't as customisable as iGo etc but you can load on speed cameras and other points of interest quite easily. It's intuitive to use and is integrated making changing radio station or the like easy without having to leave the navigation screen. As you've noted yourself you have problems with the reception on your ebay unit, something that the RNS510 has no troubles with. It's very easy to update the RNS510 so that you can play DVDs whilst on the move.

You might be happy with your decision, but for $400 odd dollars more you'd have a superior unit with superior intengration, better thought out better looking menus with vastly superior ongoing support from the manufacturer by the way of continual firmware updates. May be a little more complicated to install, but well and truly worth it.

I also have the shoe on the other foot experience from an Eonon D5101 in the Polo, for what it cost it does a great job. It's the equivalent of your unit with integrated bluetooth, the ability to put whatever map software you want on there running on a Windows CE platform. I use the streaming bluetooth audio all the time, as well as the phone functions. It has the ability to pull down all my contacts from my phone so I'm sure you'll figure out how to do it on yours also.

[Ideo]

Justification is a funny business.