Navi is a beautiful thing...I would definitely get it just for the touch screen which is a very convenient option... Everyone who buys a 4G will be missing this feature.

And oh yeah, take this from me, as a person who likes to argue with the navigation, don't, you'll lose I've ended up in some areas where rolling down a window and asking for directions was not an option

 

I'm on my 2nd 3rd gen TL. The first was an 04 without nav: the second is an 08 with Nav. All I can say is get the Nav. The TL is a whole different driving experience with it.

 

I will agree with you, I like the TL with NAV. Because it brings the beauty to Dashboard, and all voice commands are comfortable. If you want to play some particular track on some CD you can just say PLAY DISC3 TRACK 5.

But I am not impressive with Navigation system, because it is not showing me any shortest route. It has shown me 80 miles more than TomTom, for the gas prices what we have now, we must consider shortest distance. I think I posted this in wrong thread, my topic is inefficiency of Nav not the one with Nav or without Nav.

 

+1

I use VZ Navigator for GPS. $10 a month, works great, constantly updated and I can take it with me when I travel. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have the screen (and the possible mods) but I get by just fine without it.

 

Yes, it's worth it. THe Acura nav system is very good. It works well onthe RL. Our 00 TL doesnt have it and I wish it did.

 

Give it a few years, and the navigation will become standard on every luxury car, especially the moment they will implement commercials to promote products while providing you with free services for the navigation...

They are actually working on this program... Let's say Macys is having a huge sale, if you are near it within 5 miles, and ad will pop up on your navi with special offers. This will be a voluntary service, but it's coming to a theater near you soon....

 

to the OP.....YES!!!!! when i walked into acura i was like ehhhh i dunno if i really wanna spend the extra 2k....but after about a year....those few times u woulda loved to have it and you didnt u kinda regret not getting it.....instead i installed a pioneer avic-z3 i dont think the acura navi is as good but its better than nothing....or going aftermarket (if ur looking for the total stock look)

 

Yep, Avic-Z3 is an awesome product, I had the Z-1, before it was ripped out of my TL... 2grand head unit with zero security for it

 

yea mine is the z1 but i have a z3 hard drive in there....same thing if u ask me. bigger navi map is the only difference.

 

I have a very nice Garmin unit that I used when I had my Honda Accord. I agree with all the previous stated benefits of the portable systems including more POI, up to date software, able to use it in any car even on vacation. (p.s. I took mine to FL in Jan and used it in the rental car)

That said, I wanted a factory Navi in my new car so I got the TL-S. I don't regret it for one minute. The problem I had with the garmin is that I never had it in the car and plugged in when I needed it. The factory system is always on and knows where it is without rebooting.

Example: I live on Long Island and work in WHite Plains. Every morning I take the Throgs Neck bridge onto 95 north. Imagine my suprise the other day when I crossed the bridge and found 95 totally closed. Everyone was redirected to the cross bronx (which I don't know very well). I just pushed the button for work and got there no problem and on time!!!

 

^ that's the beauty of a Navi... Peace of mind anytime.

I wanted again to throw in $5k of audio/video mods, but then I halted myself, as my last two cars were stolen... So I decided to go with stock, they can't steal stock, I mean they can, but that's little resale value. I miss my NBP 2G

 

I'm the same way.

think of it like this,better to have it and not need it,than need it and not have it

 

YES, i cant live without it. Look man, my wife had a 2nd Gen TL 99, great car still in good condition, needed some paint work but for the most part still a great car. Well she traded in my SUV for a 2006 TL w/Nav. Once i drove it i fell in love. I got stuck driving the 2nd Gen TL, about a month later i went back to the dealer and purchase a 2005 TL w/Nav. You will love it man trust me.

 

I have a love/hate relationship with the Nav system.

I like the tight integration, but the thing gives me fits sometimes-

1. I couldn't find "Mount Vernon" (George Washington's house). It wanted MT Vernon, and nothing else.

2. Street addresses are hit and miss. Often times, the numbers don't go as high as you need. These are old established neighborhoods, too.

3. If the place or road is newer than 4 years old, forget it. Yes, I have the '08 update.

4. "Find nearest" is hit and miss, particularly with Hotels. The selection is grossly limited.

The upcoming turns function is nice, and the detour function has saved me many a traffic-jam on road trips. I got stuck on I-95 in Jacksonville, FL over a year ago, and just decided to jump off the interstate rather than sit in traffic. Hit the detour button, it took me through a quite-empty downtown, and right back on to 95 past the pileup. That was very nice.

Overall, I got such a great deal on the car ('06 bought at closeout time in Oct '06) that I can't complain- I came in a few thousand below the non-Navi sticker. I sure wish it worked better, though. These days, I find myself using Google Maps on my Touch as a backup.

 

At 1k it's probably worth it for most, but not for much more than a grand. It's only a 2k option new, so it certainly isn't worth an extra 2-3k on an '04-'06.

I don't have it personally and have no regrets. I have a company car and usually only drive my TL in familiar areas. I do admit it looks cool, but I can find other things to spend the extra money on. I'll probably buy a Garmin soon. Portable is the way to go with multiple cars.

 

The OP looks like a one post wonder and this topic has been covered many times before.

/thread

 

better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Navi all the way.

 

If you can afford $2k, get the navi even though it does not have the best functionality or the newest database. The navi is quite intuitive and it makes the center stack look great! A conversation and show off piece if your friends or older relatives have never been in a car with a built-in navi.

 

^ werd

 

Funny, I NEVER use the touchscreen. I don't like getting fingerprint smudges on the screen.

 

If I could of gone back in time when I first purchased my TL I would of definately picked up one with navi. I am in the process of putting the oem navi in my car and its a pain in the ass trying to get all these parts for it. I say definately get one with it. Hell if anything you aren't loosing anything by getting it.