WHat do you guys think? I have a 2005 Acura TSX w/ Navi and have yet to buy an updated DVD. Is it really worth the $185?

 

I'm wondering this too. I have an '04 and am pondering an upgrade. Alot of it has to do w/ that I live in a new neighborhood and would like the updated version to have my address (disc that came w/ my '04 obviously does not).

Better yet, someone w/ an '08 want to plug my address in for me and see if it shows?

 

I'd hold off on the disc purchase. I just purchased one for my '04 and it doesn't even have a housing tract that was built here in 2005. For some reason Acura seems to be focusing only on updating the POIs and not the maps. YMMV. You can always go to Acura Navi and see if the listed changes make it worthwhile. Actually I can't figure out the methodology for when they update coverage. Acura claims they use data from NavTeq but going to NavTeq's site shows the subdivision. In addition, when I lived in brand new apartments in Irvine the internal access roads WERE shown. Apparently there really is no clear answer here.

 

Good to know. Maybe I'll hold out a little longer.

 

I have been thinking about getting a new nav dvd too. My 06 apparently doesn't know about the billion dollar Big Dig that happened in Boston so it makes finding things in the city pretty tough some times. Anyone in the Boston area with anything newer then an 06 know if their nav knows about the tunnel??

 

I called the Alpine office who makes the Navi system and they told me the new 2008 DVD will be release in a few weeks.

 

I ordered the 2007 disc last xmas when it was on-sale for $150

 

I've had the same question each time I've replaced the DVD -- is it worth it? Living in Austin Texas we've seen a lot of growth over the last 5 years I've owned my car. Last purchased in 11/07, the database is dated from 6/07, but there are are a number of changes in overpasses, exits and business opening/closes that were a year or two out of date. Same held true with the previous purchase in 12/06. In my experience then, there seems to be a lag of a year or two on the data. (Driving a loaner '09 TSX its navi was also missing some "recent" changes.) Working with some of the gov't agencies that rely on current GIS info (police, EMS) I know they deal with the constant challenge of updating and maintaining data on streets location and names. I don't know how these get aggregated and shared with whatever database provides Alpine is using.

One benefit has been with each new DVD there has been software updates. I saw the biggest change with my first purchase but there were subtle changes in my last. One example was the home screen changed from the menu to the map in the first.

I look at this as a cost of proper operation, you replace worn/old hardware you do the same with software. One thing that is apparent after the 09 TSX loaner is the relative slowness of my 04 processor.

 

Do you have the white navi or orange navi disk? And are you updating from an '07 as your initial dvd? I'm going to miss not having the option of choosing my navi voice when I upgrade from my '06 dvd!

 

i was just having this discussion with my bro-in-law. we decided to hold off til 2010. just feel like it's not necessary right now.

 

I have the new nav disc. I have not noticed much of a difference. I will say that you can find the disc for free if you search in the right places. Just have to look.

 

If you are really searching for an update, just check out Ebay and get last years update for $50 instead of $180 for this year's.