Hi folks,

Just received an email regarding this update for the Maps. Its $185 with free 2-day shipping until Jan 31, 2010. Has anyone gotten this update and consider it worthwhile. Please let us know.

Thanks,
jakas

 

I got the same email. How generous of them. What's it cost to mail a CD? 98 cents? $185 is freakin' unreasonable. I can buy a whole new portable GPS for that price.

 

I agree $185 is really unreasonable .. I have an Infiniti G35 and they lowered the map update price on that to $135 which I might consider. I wish Acura did the same thing too considering how most of the portable GPS systems are already at around $150 or less.

 

$150? More like $100 for entry level name brand devices. $185 is ridiculous.

 

Free is even better, time to go hunt down an ISO.

 

They are copy protected now. Has not been one out there for a while.

 

Yes I purchased this and IMHO is was definitely worth it. First, the mapped areas are greatly increased over the 2008 disc. In our particular case, this was more than a theoretical advantage as an area we frequently travel to is now covered. Second, the POI database is much more accurate and is acutally useful now.

 

I think everyone will have their own idea of what is worth it. As we've said above, we could buy a brand new portable GPS every year for the price of Acura's navi updates. Wanna help us fill out some numbers?

Version 4.55 had 4.9M POIs
Version 4.63 had 5.5M POIs
Version 4.73 had 5.9M POIs

How many POIs does 4.81 have? (just select main menu --> places --> name, then look in the upper right hand corner.)

Mike

 

I'll check once my nav system is repaired. It has now been replaced twice but has crashed again, just a short 3 weeks after it was last replaced.

In considering the database, there is more than just the number of POIs. Navtech is constantly refining the database and making it more accurate. My recolletion is that when I did check the number of POIs, the number wasn't so much greater, but my subjective experience is that the accuracy is.

 

Does XM weather require a separate receiver, or can any car with an XM traffic receiver get it, provided they buy the subscription. Wondering if the 4.81 gives you XM weather menu options and such.

 

Requires a newer receiver.

 

And he answer is:

4.81 = 6.26M POI's

 

Has anyone heard of Google Maps?

It's free (on BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, etc. devices).

How many POI's does Google Maps have?

 

This is just one of those areas where personal preferences differ and those preferences are based on more than just cold statistical numbers. For you and many others, the google map app is satisfying. For me and many others, an OEM solution is the answer. Any for many others, portable GPS solutions are the way to go. The good thing here is that we are right.

 

Just ordered the update. Should get it in two days. I want to see how better the POI's are. Someone said it is now usable for searching a chain store or restaurant. We'll see.....

 

My subjective experience is that Navteq seems to have scrubbed the entire database in addition to adding additional POI's. It is now actually useful. I'm interested to see if your experience is the same.

 

Is there any update to the Navi operating software? The DVD just updates the database, how about the operating software itself. My Droid picks up requests for addresses much faster than the Acura Navi

 

I've got a 2007 RDX, and hated the nav system from day one. My TomTom has always been able to find the nearest Starbucks, or nearest anything else, with no problems. Can't say that about the Acura nav system. It still thinks the nearest Starbucks is in NY state. And I'm in Houston.

Even the Honda salesman admitted that the Honda nav system is weak on this point.

Just picked up a Suzuki Grand Vitara, which comes with a Garmin nav system. It's even better than the TomTom.

And the V6 convinces me that Acura needs to put the V6 out of the TSX in the next RDX.

And the Grand Vitara is a heck of a lot cheaper than the RDX.

Still love the Acura and will keep it for a long time, but the Suzuki is starting to spoil me.

Suzuki needs to take a line from the old Ford commercial, "Have you driven a Suzuki lately?"

 

The latest Navteq MAp Update 4.81 largely cures the poor POI problem. It costs about $185 and there is a lot of dicussion as to whether that is worth it or not. I got it and finally after two years, I am now satisfied with the system. So to me it was worth it.

 

I just went to look for this after hearing that the POIs are greatly updated and found that it is now $149 on the navteq site until June 30th, 2010. (Sympathies to those who already updated for the $185 price.)

My main gripe about updating (other than the price, compared to a brand new GPS unit or using Google Maps on my smartphone) has been that the male voice (which I use and find more soothing than the female voice on my 2007 Nav) has been eliminated. :-(

BTW, I already have the new camera software after visiting my dealer and getting the nav system updated based on a technical bulletin. It comes on a lot faster when shifting into reverse after starting the car and the color is much better - but you can get that for free from a dealer without having to update your DVD.

 

The 2009 is about 2 seconds slower to 60 than an RDX, and the 2010 has the same V6. Why would you want that?

(brizey is still amazed that people would rather have an V6 even if the performance is inferior).

 

just to play devils advocate. v-6 lower cost. no added maintnance cost for a turbo no need for 91 octane so save 40c a gallon

 

The dealer installed this version into my 2009 RDX due to navigation issues. Here in Houston it is a major change. The roads change here daily. I would not have bought it. I was told to buy a new one every two years.

 

I finally upgraded from my 2007 maps due to the 'discounted' price. I was getting tired of roads not being their or new POI's not available. I probably won't upgrade for another few years unless the price changes to sub $100

 

If you log onto myacura or go to the Acura navi website they are giving 20% off the price. I think it is $145. Still expensive.

 

Do you have the maps for European?!

 

Any Canadian RDX owners out there get a hold of this new DVD yet?

Some naive questions for a 2009 RDX Tech owner with 4.73 software:
- Will the US RDX navi update (single DVD) work in a Canadian RDX?
- If I purchase the US update, can I still use the version 4.73 Canada + Northern USA DVD? (Or does the 4.81 DVD update the car's firmware in a non-backwards-compatible manner at the same time?)

Just wondering if I had to purchase the $249 (no special price) two-DVD set from Navteq...or if I could save myself $100 on what seems like a high-priced map update a year later (to get a useful POI database) and get one DVD...thanks in advance!

 

We've received something in the mail. Now, they've lowered it to $149 until June 30. Hmmm... For those in the know, do they've included something like XM weather menu options?

 

Guess, you really have no choice at all but to get the new receiver...

 

We just bought a 2007 today and it has version 4.55. It sounds like an update is needed.

 

Given how crappy the POI database still is, I'd be hard pressed to say that an update is 'needed', especially at $185. Garmin just introduced their lifetime upgrade agreement for $119 ($99 at Costco) - making the price for our udpates look even that much more ridiculously priced.

You might want to just go to your dealer and get them to update the firmware to capture the DST and backup camera fixes - as those updates should be free.

Mike

 

Is there a way to check to see what firmware I have? I didn't buy it at an Acura dealer and there isn't one within 100 miles of me.

 

I'm not sure how to check the version - but if you only have v4.55 of the nav disk, it's a pretty safe bet that you're still running the firmware that came with that version. One thing you can check is the clock settings menu to see if you have a choice for what DST dates are used. If you don't have a choice, it's a downlevel version I believe.

Mike

 

Go to SETUP > More > System Information. The 'Database Version' tells you what version you have.

 

Thanks. My version is 1.59.01. What's the newest version?

 

Well, I've got the 2008 DVD so it's 4.64 and 1.66. What catnippits suggested before is that if you've got the original 2007 DVD (version 4.55) and you don't feel like buying an updated disk, Acura has a service bulletin to install a (free) minor update to that version in order to fix a few things like daylight savings time. I'm pretty sure you can check if this update has been applied simply by going into the clock settings and looking under the DST option.

 

I'm pissed off that my dealership has never bothered to do this. Especially when I've spent quite a bit of money with them over the past 2 years. Something like that should be done automatically when you service your vehicle.

Anyway, to the people that have bought the latest disc. Does this update the system to match what's in the 2010 RDX? I got a loaner a few days ago and really liked the weather notification and menu system. Would it be possible to expect that in the 2011 disc?

 

Also, after reading this thread it sounds like every nav disc update contains the previous firmware updates. So if you purchase ta new one it should fix the backup camera and fix the dst?

I'm planning to upgrade but I just want to be sure.

 

Sort of glad I didn't get the tech package for the RDX for this reason. . .although I'll HAVE to admit, in my TSX, the tech is addictive. . .torn, but alas, I'll have the sticky cup marks of my Navigon in my RDX for awhile :-/

 

Yes....I bought a later one and that's how I got the updates.

While I don't have the actual LATEST disk, your answer is 'No'. Other than fixes, like DST, etc., I haven't found any new features since I bought my RDX in '06. We can't even read MP3 DVDs like the MDX, even though the systems are supposedly the same. In fact, I'm still struggling with many of the same software bugs that I found when I bought the car. What really annoys me is that Acura doesn't have any way for you to report bugs/issues like with other software manufacturers - except by going to your dealer, which in my experience has been pointless.

Mike