Get the factory Navi!!!
Acura had the easiest to use Navi on the planet.

 

Have Garmin 660's (Bluetooth) in the BMW & Expedition along with a 750 (no Bluetooth) in the TL. All work very well.

Like the ability to set-up multi stops on the 750 & have it figure out the best route to take. Have the wire tucked in and a comfortable position for the unit above the factory radio/air display.

The 3 Garmins cost about $800 & 3 factory Navs would have cost over $6,000.

 

you won't regret getting the stock navi. but you can get a $120 tom tom. and use the extra money to get some 19 inch rims. true the navi on the TL is the best stock, but i barely use it.

 

its not acura that screws us on the price of update discs, its alpine or navtec.....

 

Factory Navi FTW.

 

Any pics on how you have this mounted? I saw some pics here from someone with a Tom Tom but, their mounting base / hardware is different.

 

Garmin uses Navtec as well and their new map set is going for about $65 if you shop around. What does Acura want? Anyone know what Honda wants for map updates?

 

Oh and Circuit City has 2008 maps (last years) for $50 if anyone cares. This is NOT the current version which is just coming out.

 

Will do one in the morning.

 

I'd say get the navi just cause it looks better. With that being said, I think following a bird flying through the sky or just guessing as to exits is more accurate than the TL's nav. I've been sorely disappointed with the navi. It can't compare to Verizon's Navigator.

 

If you go to acuranavi.com or hondanavi.com you can see what they want. $185+ tax and shipping for the latest update (which is unavailable and has been for several weeks now, they're "sold out" apparently...). It is ridiculously overcharged IMO and the fact that they have been sold out for this long is ridiculous too...how long does it take to burn more DVD discs? I asked my Acura dealer if they could get one and they told me they go through that same site themselves. Alpine are really lazy I guess...

 

Do these maps work in our navi?
This makes my point about getting ripped off for ~$180 by Acura. For $65 I might update every year.

 

No they do not. But, I agree with you. Sounds like Acura / Honda or maybe Alpine is really putting the screws to Acura Navi owners. Only thing I can maybe sort of buy is that Garmin buys a lot more licenses so gets a discount.

 

Garmin 750 - no bluetooth

Arkon GN047 Removable Swivel Air Vent Mount for Garmin Nuvi

This is the bracket I use instead of the suction cup that comes with the unit. The factory suction cup can be used to stick it to the face of the radio upper panel. I did that for a while but wanted to change my line of sight for it by raising it up.

Got the bracket from Amazon for about $5.00.

 

I have a Magellan Maestro 4250 in my TL, mounted on the left side of the central vent, using a ProClip vent mount, but it's not wired yet. I want to hardwire it to the fuse box and run the wires behind the radio to exit through the vent. Is it what you have done?

 

No, its powered through the plug on the console with the wire under the shiny strip.

 

Thanks for the pic and information. It looks much better then the windsheild mount. Nice color combo you picked on your TL BTW.

 

Just want to give one more opinion on this subject, If you don't want to dish out the money for integrated navi, why get the TL, that's the luxury of it. Get yourself an accord and save yourself even more money. The only thing you are missing is the HID's

 

In my case I don't consider the TL a luxury car but it looks nicer then the Accord. Its hard to get my mind around a 'luxury car' that costs less then a lot of full size pickup trucks. In some ways the TL is a bit like the Hummer to me.

The Hummer is a $30,000 pick up truck with a $20,000 Halloween costume on it.

The TL is an Accord with a much cheaper Halloween costume. Did you know that the exact fit trunk cargo mats that go around all the curves & over the bumps for the Accord 4 door & the TL/TL-S are exactly the same.

 

TL and Accord share the same chassis.... just different front and rear fenders for the lights, along with bumper, hood and trunk.

 

No, that is not true. They share alot of components and ride on the same wheelbase but the floorpan is actually different. The front subframe is different (hydroformed AL on the TL). The interior is entirely different for the plastic, trim, seats,...

There are many differences, but most of the major components are sourced or derived from the Accord.

 

Guys... Thanks! Great information.

Another question though... How is the XM Nav Traffic? Does anyone have any experience between the three... (1) XM Nav Traffic (2) FM Traffic (3) MSN Direct Traffic?

How is the TL Nav in comparison to the other two services?

Here are some links to the MSN Direct Traffic on a Garmin 780...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10222431@N07/2267325108/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10222431@N07/2266535375/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10222431@N07/2267325200/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10222431@N07/2267323866/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10222431@N07/2267324048/

You can also see the nice features like Movie Times, Gas Prices, Weather, and you can also use maps.live.com to send a destination to the Garmin 780.

I like the integrated Navi in the TL but I feel I may lose some features. But, I will certainly gain more.

 

Here's one nice little "feature" you might not be aware of with the factory Nav.

Let's say is summer time, a typical hot day, and you and the wife are coming back from a trip south, heading north on I-95 around 4:00pm in late August. You are using your A/C in the AUTO mode (as you should). The Nav system knows where you are, what direction you're traveling, the time of day, and the inside and outside temperatures. Since the sun will be on the port (left) side of the car, the Nav directs the HVAC system to flow a little more cool air to the driver's side. This occurs automatically and really helps to maintain a comfortable cabin.

 

Is everyone forgetting the awful POI on the factory Navi? You can be sitting in the parking lot of a store that has been around for decades and the Navi won't find it. But it has no problem finding similar stores. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY.

 

I have a portable unit that I bought when I had my d2004 Accord. It was good for long trips, but I never had it in the car when I needed it. I traded the Accord for the TL-S partially because of the factory Navi.

I love it. I find I use it frequently even when I know where I am going. Google maps are great, but they are no substitue for a Navi. I like knowing how far till my next turn, saves the worry of constantly looking for a exit or thinking that you passed it.

I also have the bluetooth linked to my cellphone. The other day a bunch of us were meeting at a local restaurant. I knew where it was, but I wanted to call. I did a quick search at a red light, the restaurant came up, I pushed the call button and was connected. Told them 8 of us would be there is 10 mins. When I hung up, I though "I Love this car"

P.S. for POI I just got an iPhone. The Mapping feature and points of interest on that is much better but it is not easy to use while driving.

I recommend getting the factory Navi.