What are the Navigation's advantages over non_nav?

I know you can go find addresses and see the map, but what other benefits does the Nav offer for the TL?

 

Your glove box won't be stuffed with maps and old mapquest papers. It also dispenses Zaino.

 

the NAV also comes with Voice Recognition which is very handy because you dont have to take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. the TL has over 200 voice commands including commands for the radio, climate control, CD/DVD Audio, etc.

 

The non Navi dash looks like crap........................

 

the nav version also comes with the sun light detection feature which will adjust the a/c depending on where the sun is shining.

 

Having a Navi is just so much cooler than not having one. :P

 

Top 10 Reasons To Get Nav:

1. The dash looks terrible without it. The entire dash was designed around the nav and the standalone radio is just an eyesore.

2. The climate controls are spread out in a "U" shape around the nav. The reason for this is that you can use voice command to change temperature and stuff, so the location of these buttons isn't as critical when you're not using voice. Without the nav, it's not a very good arrangement....have to reach across the display to hit important buttons like recirc and defrost.

3. Voice commands. Say "CD disc 4 track 12" and you're there without lifitng a finger. Say "find movie theater" and it'll show you the nearest theaters to your current location. Say "temperature 70 degrees fan speed 8" and you're nice and comfy. There are hundreds of these types of commands that help you keep your eyes and hands on the road.

4. Mapping. Even if it's only 6 times a year you venture far from home, no more need for Mapquest or calling for directions. Around home, you'll discover many shortcuts you never knew existed. I too felt I'd never need the nav (got it because it looked so ugly without it) and now I want one for my other car too. It's indespensible.

5. Yellow Pages. With thousands of businesses in its database, you can simply punch a few keystrokes on the touchscreen and find the nearest auto shop and on the screen you'll get the phone number too.

6. Integration. With a Bluetooth phone, you can use only your voice to find the nearest Holiday Inn, dial the number, make a reservation, and get driving directions. No buttons to press, no pen to jot down info.....just use your voice and you'll be in the hotel room in minutes safely and conveniently.

7. XM Radio. The large LCD display makes navigating the XM band much easier with full artist/song titles.

8. Audio controls. Bass/treble/subwoofer/balance/fade is all easy to see one one screen on the large LCD.

9. Upgrades. Not confirmed, but it's assumed that the real-time traffic re-routing found on the 2005 RL will be made available on the TL. Imagine driving to work and being advised by your car to 'get off at the next exit' because it knows that there's an accident ahead. It'll map multiple routes for you to consider too.

10. Resale. For looks and functionality, it's a big selling point when you're ready to sell the car.

Above all else, test drive 2 TL's. One with nav and one without. Get yourself lost and then ask the nav to get you back to the dealership. You'll be amazed.

BJ

 

heh nice

 

the nav is one of the big selling points for the car in my opinion. for the extra 2K(give or take) its a great deal. comparing a comparably equiped car from the competition the acura with the nav is by far the better value.

 

I purchased a TL without the NAV and I am very happy. Some days I wish I would have gotten the NAV but at the end of the day I'm more interested in the driving experience than the voice controls. I never had any interest in the actual navigation piece at all i.e., the maps. Really, how often do you think you will use that? The voice controls are the best piece, but I"m a gadget guy and personally like hitting buttons when I'm in the car. Don't get me wrong, I think the NAV has some really cool features, but check back in a year or so and see how many people are still using it. I personally didn't think it was worth the money.

Just a side note, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I get tired of hearing on this board how the TL dash without the NAV looks like ass. It looks fine. I'm extremely happy with my car without the NAV. Don't regret buying it at all.

 

Get the NAV. I have a TL on order with it.

I used to have a 2001 MDX and it had NAV. When I sold that (needed something to tow 7000 pounds) the replacement didn't have NAV. It is seriously the thing I miss the most about the MDX.

My TL must have it. People say you won't use it much, but you'll find yourself using it without even realizing it. Especially if you drive in an area you aren't familiar with. For instance, I like to go look at new homes being built on weekends sometimes... (I like to dream) I've often been in a situation around the lakes that I couldn't figure out how to get to a certain street to see a home. NAV would have been fantastic to have in that case...

 

I currently drive a 99 TL with the old hard drive based Nav unit and find the mapping feature of value pretty much every time I drive. I don't necessarily use the nav for directions, but it's great knowing where you are in relation to other streets, landmarks, etc. I can only imagine how much better the newer units are in respect to POIs, full US coverage, much improved interface, and speed of calculations. Just having the map of where I am always available has helped me numerous times when I needed to detour, or get some place quicker than I normally would have.

I will definitely be getting nav in my 04/05 TL.

 

I never get lost - the navi is really good and even when I dont listen to it, it will recalculate the fastest way after making the wrong turn. Its idiot proof. :P

 

Dont Flame me,,,,just having some fun cause I am bored at work.


Top 10 reasons why not to get Nav

1. Get in to accident

2. I would rather keep my hand on my shifter

3. See #1

4. Like to hear music and not some person chatting telling me where to go

5. Like to find places on my own like a man should

6. See #1

7. Easier to install customized audio video set up

8. Makes the inside of the car too bright at night

9. Too expensive

10. Did I mention that it is easier to get in to an accident?

 

Your list is obviously the product of someone who does not have much experience with the TL Nav system.

1. I am not aware of any published research that establishes Navigation, per se, is more dangerous than non-Nav.

2. Nav is voice activated for many functions. "Find nearest ATM" and "Find nearest gas station" are two very useful features, to say nothing about being able to "Go Home" from anywhere.

3. See #1.

4. The Voice can be turned off, like mine is.

5. I am secure enough in my masculinity to use an electronic aid from time to time, plus I like to see what my options are, particularly if I have to detour or avoid traffic/construction.

6. See #1.

7. I don't think so. The Non-Nav is not a standard receiver size. I doubt it makes a difference, since both cars have the ELS audio system.

8. The brightness can be adjusted/screen turned off.

9. 'Expensive' is a relative term.

10. See #1.

 

Got to love it!!!!

 

coop you're an idiot

 

Man you people are mature....have some fun!!! Lets get back to the topic please! Taking things a little bit too seriously here boys!

 

You dont get lost, Duhhhh!

 

1. Saying the entire dash was designed around the NAVI is ridiculous. The console was designed to accommodate either having a NAVI or not having one.

2. I have no problems reaching climate control buttons.

3. I think you are leaving out some steps for voice command. (Please incluse all the steps in detail, how long it takes for each step and how often you have to repeast yourself.) I guarantee you I can manually change the CD track, AC settings, etc., faster than you can with voice control. I'm talented enough to do this without getting into an accident. Amazing huh?

4. Mapping is very beneficial for certain people but not everyone travels 6 times a year or lives in a large city.

5. I can call information using my cell phone.

6. I can do that.

7. My non-NAVI has that too.

8. My audio controls are very simple to use.

9. Sounds like a neat features if it ever materializes.

10. Wrong. Resale value is lower on NAVI equipped TL's. That's why the residual is lower on a TL w/ NAVI lease.

 

This is the post of someone bottling up rage at making the decision to ditch the navi.

Regardless of the other points, I do believe the design is centered on having a Navi. They could have done something a little nicer than a two LCD displays. Why not one big one?

I got it for the geek factor, but I have a feeling its like a cell phone. You can't see NEEDing one until you have it, after that you can't see how you survived with it. (Ok, survive is a strong word... )

 

The MDX w/NAVI looks virtually identical to the TL w/o NAVI.

Don't forget when the voice commands tell you to turn they cut off your radio/XM/Cd/DVD-A or whatever it was that you were listening to.

For the same $2k (msrp) on the MDX you also get a rear backup camera, they saw the TL buyers coming and charged a bounty on top of the $2k price tag. Acura seems to have plenty of NAVI's for their MDX's yet they somehow do not have enough for the TL's, what a country......

 

Should you get NAV?
Here' my suggestion to determine if you do or don't.

1) Go back through the threads here devoted to NAV.

2) In those threads, look how many people discuss the coolness factors vs actual useful factors. I'll bet 8 of every 10 posts talk about something "cool" rather than something usefull (like "Man I was so lost in the South Bronx at 3am last night and it really saved my ass!").

3) Understand that resale will suffer with NAV; residuals are 2% less with it that without. But if you plan on getting rid of the car in less than three years the coolness factor might help you sell the car quicker and recover some of your money. But if you plan on keeping it more than 3 years there's a good chance that the NAV will be ancient compared to newer models (even aftermarket ones). Think of it this way: How much would you give someone for a 4-5 year old computer?

4) Know that the NAV controls almost EVERYTHING in the car, so if it craps out at some point (and computers do that sometimes ;-) that you're headed to the dealership ASAP. Its not like just the NAV doesn't work so you can live without it, it means you climate control, radio and God knows what else won't work.

5) Understand that the majority of the appeal of the NAV is "coolness" and determine if you're willing to pay $2k and wait 2 months for it. If so, go for it. If not, you can make a great deal on a non-NAV model right now. As someone pointed out, expensive is relative; so if $2k doesn't mean much to you then go for it.

 

I really thought about the nav/no nav question. I'd like to have nav capability, since L.A. is a very large and spread-out place; I would have paid $1500 to $2000 more for it. But dealers were not budging from sticker ($35,195) or at best $500 less ($34,695) on the navs. I bought a non-nav in my favorite color of SSM/ebony for $31,299 + $290 for "pro pack" + TTL. Thus the nav would have effectively cost me close to $3500. A bit too steep for me.

I bought a nice computer with the difference. I will also consider the TomTom GO when it comes out next month (www.tomtom.com). Cool 3-D GPS navigation for $899.

I am very pleased with my decision. the non-nav TL is a GREAT car. Saved me $57 a month for 5 years of car payments and a few bucks on resale. The next-generation nav is out of this world. My 2007 hybrid TL will definitely have THAT!

 

I think the 'resale' issue needs some clarification.

Although the Nav cars do have a lower residual percentage, they are still worth more than the non-Nav cars.

It is not that Nav makes a TL worth less, but that you don't recover as much of the $2000 Nav system price when you sell the car. A 2% difference in depreciation on a $35k car is only $700. That means the Nav Depreciates an additional $700 beyond the Non-Nav car, but is still worth a few dollars more at the end, probably around $500 (an estimate, not a calculation) as a result of having Nav.

 

I am amazed this topic has gotten so riled up again. It's a futile discussion. There is no universal, God-fearing, absolute truth about the Navi. For some of us, it was well worth the money. For others, it isn't. Neither having it nor not having it makes a person smarter, cooler, geekier, smellier, or stupider. It's just a personal choice that makes lots of sense for some, a little sense for others, and no sense for a third group. Trying to convince each other differently is pointless.

 

Excellent point. The Nav is certainly not a "detractor" for resale. As long as the Residual on Non-Nav is greater than 35.2%, a Nav Model with residual of 2% less will have a $ value residual equal to or greater value than the Non Nav.

 

This isn't an excellent point. Its more like "Duh".

That's like saying a $35k Pontiac will be worth more after 3 years than a $18k Civic. Duh.
But that doesn't mean the Pontiac has better resale value.

You are correct that the NAV will probably be worth more when you go to sell it, but that's onlt because you paid $2k more for it in the first place. Proportionally its resale value is less than a non-NAV model.

But if you have the money and/or you plan on keeping this car until it dies all this doesn't matter anyway.

 

The Bottom line on Nav's

Many were against computers but now everyone on this site has one, as well as a cell phone, as well as a bank withdrawal cards.

I thinks its time to accept the benefits of todays tech. toys

Nav systems will eventually be the standard in all cars, well maybe not Kia and thoses other bargan basement transports

 

Good points MC.

The reality is that we really don't need the nav. It's just a great luxury feature. The best luxury feature on the best sports luxury car in America. My logic, though sometimes flawed, is this:

The same people who don't invest in the nav are the same people that should have bought the Accord EX-V6 instead.

The value of the nav is that it adds a touch of luxury and pizzazz to an already terrific vehicle. You could own a TL without it, but why? Why not indulge yourself? You bought an Acura, right? You wanted all the toys and all the convenience, so why skip the most luxurious and convenient toy that Acura offers?

Dial it back to the TL vs the Accord. Those who skimp on the nav usually say "I could just buy a map and it's a lot of money for something that really is just a 'wow' factor". Well, justify for us the rationale of buying the TL instead of the Accord. By the same logic, you could say "I could just buy the Accord and save $10k and put that to stickier tires and better shocks.....who needs the Acura badge?"

As stated by many, there is no right or wrong point of view here. Except mine, which is right: You bought a superior car.....you should buy its most superior option as well.

BJ

 

[QUOTE=Stewie]

4) Know that the NAV controls almost EVERYTHING in the car, so if it craps out at some point (and computers do that sometimes ;-) that you're headed to the dealership ASAP. Its not like just the NAV doesn't work so you can live without it, it means you climate control, radio and God knows what else won't work.

I never thought of that (but I'm non-Navi). I wonder about all the things that WON'T work if the computer/brain takes a dump. Anyone know???

 

[QUOTE=1FasTL]Forget the nav, if the computer in the TL goes you wouldn't be able to hit the accellerator and move an inch.

We live in a world where computers run our car; renders the argument moot.

BJ

 

In my opinion, Nav is a must. It's one of the reason why I bought TL among many others. Yes, it true about 90% of the time you won't need it, but it's that 10% when you really needed, it becomes a lifesaver. It comes really handy, when you're on vacation. It feels good when a valet asks you, "Do you need a direction?" and to answer, "No thanks, I got it."

I had to admit the first week that I got nav, it was kinda distracting. I couldn't stop playing with it. When that's over with, it comes really useful. On top of that, Acura/Honda comes with the biggest screen available in the industry (besides aftermarket, of course). I think it's definitely worth 6% of the car. We pay more on tax than that. Also, if you plan on keeping the car for more than 6 years, it comes out to less than $1 a day... Different perspectives...

 

Oh, and don't forget the calculator. It's a very good calculator that can add, subtract, multiply and even divide. I'm trying to hack it to make it a scienific calculator, but it's proving to be difficult.

BJ

 

Your right about one thing. Your logic is sometimes flawed. You give a great example of that above. There's so many things the TL has over the Accord including more power, better handling, better ride, nicer interior, etc. (I could go on and on.) To say the people who bough a non-NAVI TL should have bought an Accord is just an asinine statement. Some people, including rich people, are prudent with their money. If they don't believe the NAVI is worth the money they are not going to buy it. It's just that simple. It's called a smart buying decision. Acura made the NAVI an option for this reason.

 

Dang man, I didn't see anyone attack you personally for your choice not to get Navi. So you don't think its worth 2k, thats great! People are having fun in here offering opinions on why they think its worth it (or not worth it); I don't really get why your posts seem aggressively defensive. That I decided to fork over extra money for this luxury doesn't mean I'm not prudent with my money; and honestly the fact that you decided to save your 2k doesn't mean you ARE prudent. Intelligence and purdence aren't an issue here, its personal taste and choice. You chose not to, and thats cool. I chose to get it, and that too is cool.

Constructive advice is far more helpful to the original poster than defensive acidic comments. Go off on the properties of compound interest and the power of a dollar (or 2000 dollars); thats a far more compelling (and interesting) argument than "nuh uh."

 

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I think If I saved 2 more thousand dollars, it might be a better investment for the 5 years.

 

Exactly, with time your 2k (assuming you invested it and didn't throw it away) would have lots of returns.

Compelling argument against navi, no?

I went for the nav anyway. I'm not financing my car, so I can pretend that I'm still coming out even since while I"m not earning interest, I'm not paying it either. And its just the way I wanted a car I'm going to keep for awhile. :P

 

No.

A compelling argument against buying any depreciating asset. Nav is not unique in this regard.

 

Well I'm a person who uses his car as a tool for future vehicles. If you work your way up the car chain starting from a POS, to a 20k car.. to a 30k car.. once you get to the 30k car.. after 5 years after you pay it off.. you usually have a good tool to put down for your next vehicle.. then you can start making progress into the 40k and 50k range without having to put anything down except your car. You just have to pay out the arse early to be able to do it