So I'm on the cusp of my TSX purchase (currently making offers). Over the past few weeks I've gone from being sure I didn't need navigation to deciding to spring for it. I've heard all the arguments for portable navigation, and agree with most of them, but the large screen, voice control, and other features make the integrated unit appealing.

However, I think the one thing that may make the integrated unit obsolete fairly soon (and thus the strongest of the pro-portable arguments) is the lack of real-time traffic.

That said, how possible do you think it will be in the future to upgrade/update/hack/replace the unit to include features such as this one?

 

At least at the present time, OEM nav systems seem pretty tough to hack. I've seen similar problems on another board for a GM vehicle I frequent (they won't accept address inputs when moving, and no one could hack it successfully after three years).

I think we're right on the edge of huge improvements in OEM and other integrated systems, so there's no avoiding rapid obsolescence in an expensive factory installed system. And the manufacturers have no incentive to make the systems easily modified unless they can make more money.

For me the ability to overlay weather on top of the street map (like I think the 09 has) would be awesome, but doesn't make it worth trading up.

I just entered my 50's and the large screen is well worth it. Two of my buddies have Garmin systems on their BMW bikes, and one of them has to wear a pair or reading glasses down low in his helmet to read the small screen.