I just bought an 06 with navi and the maps are the original 06. They are HORRIBLE to the point that they are pretty much useless. It only has about 5 verified roads in my town, and none of the smaller surrounding towns have any verified roads. I was thinking of buying the new 2014 map update but i wondered if anyone has upgraded to them and if they are much better? I don't really want to spend $150+ if they are gonna suck just as bad.

 

I upgraded my 2007 to 2014. Works well, more roads in more places.

 

Do you still get a lot of "entering unverified area" messages? I was driving on 400 highway which goes from the Kansas/Missouri border to the Kansas/Colorado border so 400+ miles and it was an "unverified area" for the 30 miles i was on it. Kinda crazy since the highway was built in the early 90's.

 

Acura is selling the 2014 map discs for $99.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-94/sharing-2014-orange-navi-disc-%2499-back-907396/

 

It's hard to answer that in isolation because so much depends on where you live, how much new construction there is, where you regularly drive to, etc. However, note the 2014 Navi update is the final update for the orange disc (including your 2006 TL). So if you plan to keep your TL for several years, the upgrade fee (which I believe is $99) is minimal in the scheme of things once you spread the cost over several years.

If you have the original 2006 maps, upgrading your disc will patch the DST date so it'll change automatically on the correct date. 2006 software won't because the current DST law only took effect in 2007 (and the Navi software lagged a year or so).

The maps still LOOK the same, which I think is fine. They're MAPS. They should look like maps, not some cartoonish crap designed for little kids. They do that well. However, the POI search is much the same as it ever was. It's probably easier to get an address using your PC or whatever and then to program that address into your Navi next time you stop.

However, if you live in a very rural or isolated area where there isn't much new in the way of roads, you may not benefit from the new disc. But bear in mind the Navi isn't primarily intended to help you around your local area—after all, you should know your local area, right? I use mine most often on our twice-a-year trips to Florida. Consider where you drive outside your local area and whether there are improvements there.