I can't decide between the RL and GS300. However, I am looking to make a deciion based on my favorite and most useful features. which are the bluetooth with my Blackberry 7100G and the Navigation system.

Has anyone used both of the features in the Lexus and Acura? If so, which car would you choose? What are the advantages of each model?

Please let me know. Thanks.

 

1) Lexus navigation system does not include traffic, but the RL's does.
2) Lexus must be in park before you can enter an address for directions, the the RL's navigation system lets you do it while the car is moving.

On a side note, the RL's audio system plays MP3's from a CD as standard equipment, while none of the Lexus' audio systems have that feature.

 

jhr3uva90 makes both excellent points. Keep in mind that the navtraffic is known to have issues.

OTOH, the Acura nav is superior to the GS300 nav. If you play with both of them for a couple hours each, you will find that the Acura nav is MUCH better.

The acura bluetooth is also better than in the lexus. You can't use the phonebook feature while driving in the lexus. In the acura you can. But, with lexus you are not limited to 50 contacts like in the acura and you can transfer the phonebook from your phone to the lexus automatically (assuming your phone supports that).

 

Those are good points. How well NavTraffic works depends on where you live, and it functions only in 20 cities.

Does anyone know how well voice commands work in the Lexus GS?

 

If I am not mistaken the GS shares the same nav with the 06' RX330. If this is the case, then it is crap compared to the Acura system. We have an RX330 and it is nowhere near the capability of the Acura system.

 

I test drove the gs300 a few weeks ago and personally it doesnt really excite me. it seems a tad slower than the RL and but it seems really smooth on the road, a bit more smoother than the RL. the salesman showed off the voice command to us and it picked up everything i say precisely, unlike the RL and no, you cant use the touch screen of the navi while the car is in motion. but one good feature gs has is that you can watch dvd video when the car is parked. but overall, i will pick the RL over gs300.

 

I sold my RL to buy the IS350. But, between the RL and the GS300 - I would go RL without a doubt.

 

so the RL voice command was not as good as the Lexus then?

Is'nt there some kind of monthly fee the real-time traffic navigation? How do they charge for that?

 

It would be nice if some car magazine would do an in-depth evaluation of the TECHNOLOGY in the two cars in addition to just talking about acceleration times. There are many factors that need to be measured, like ambient noise inside the car, noise outside the car, how many voice commands are available, etc. It is hard to tell if one car's voice-command system is more effective than the other without that type of evaluation.

NavTraffic is free for a year, then you pay XM a monthly fee. Again, the effectiveness and practicality of NavTraffic depends on where you live.

 

$4/month if you keep XM. So a total of $17/month. Or $10 a month if you don't keep XM.

 

Do most people agree that the lexus voice command function is more accurate than acura?

 

I don't.... once you get the hang of the commands it's fast and intuitive in the Acura, and you don't have to put the damn thing in park just to find a gas station.

I've got 3 friends who have Lexus with navi, and each of them feels that the RL nav system is GREATLY superior to the Lexus system. And it completely blows any of the German systems out of the water.

If navi is your deciding factor, the RL wins hands down.

 

They seemed the same to me. Both had their mistakes. I totally think the RL nav system is better overall though. The GS was also the car I was contimplating when I bought the RL.

 

Ihave the 2004 tl now and you have to turn off the heat or AC to get the voice commands to work with Bluetooth. I hate that. Is it any better in the rl?

 

It really depends on personal preference when it comes to Tech stuff. I liked the RL's navigation more than the Lexus. The nav traffic doesn't amount to beans with me since it's not supported in my city. But I liked the Lexus smart access system and push button start more than the RL's keyless access. What else? As someone else mentioned, the GS has DVD video in park and has ventilated/heated seats. Hmm...so why did I go with the RL? I decided to go with the RL based on tech AND overall performance. Now if the GS350AWD had been out, I don't think I would have made the same choice.

 

I've never had a problem.

 

Why would you choose the gs350 over the rl?

 

I can't agree more. I love nav, and I use it enough that I won't get a car without it. The Lexus nav is good, its a hell of a lot better than the germans, but nothing comes close to the honda/acura nav.

 

I'm guessing you're referring to my post. Anyhow, Lexus decided to rush the new GS out to market with the 300 and 430. Meanwhile, when Lexus of Japan was finally launched, they got the GS350, which is the same V6 engine found in the IS350 that produces 300+ hp. It's speculated right now that Lexus of North America will be updating to the 350 in a year or two. Kind of like what BMW does for its model year refreshers. Again, back when I was originally shopping, I felt the GS300 was too underpowered. If they had the GS350, that would have hit the spot.

 

I've had a 2004 TL and now a 2005 RL and not had the problem you describe.

 

My issue with having to turn off the heat to get the Bluetooth voice command to work may have something to do with my 7100g BlackBerry from cingilar. I must be the only one. Have noticed when I talk really loud the voice works but it gets irritating.