Do you regret NOT getting navi in ur car?

Right now I'm looking at an 05 TL without the Navi. Some people have said they can't live without....some say they would rathe save the $2K. I'm on the side of saving myself $2K and not getting navigation.

I have never had navigation in my car and have done just fine till now...so I don't think i NEED to have it.

So for you guys that didn't get the navigation system...how is? Are you happy with ur decision or do you regret it?

-Pat

 

Nope, don't regret it one bit! I thought I would at first, but than realized that if I were to get it, it would only be to show off and for the appearance sake of the dash (IMO, I think the dash looks better with the Nav screen and buttons)

So I came to the conclusion, for me anyway, that showing it off or getting it for appearance sake of the dash, was not worth 2+ grand. I am one that likes to know where I am going before I get into the car, reviewing directions etc. I use streets and trips, mapquest, etc.

Just owning the sweet ride exterior and interior is enough to satisfy my "showing off" needs! LOL

It all comes down to what you want/like etc....good luck to you!

btw: for all you NAV owners, I am not knocking your NAV buy any means...I think it rocks and I hope you all enjoy it!

 

This sounds like the same predicament im in. I belive most people with some sort of navigation system in their car opted for that as a want rather than a need. Similar to XM and Sirius satellite radio...none of us need it but once we hear it were hooked so-to speak.

 

Very true...

I know you were asking from non-nav owners but I thought I would give you my thoughts. You are correct when saying that from a "need" stand point the navi isn't a requirement. Saving the $2K was also something I thought several hard days over. Now after owning a navi-TL for over a 15 months I can honestly say I rarely use it to show me where to go, but I don't regret spending the extra money for it one bit. I can also admit that if I hadn't chose the nav I would also be regretting it!!
In the big scheme of things $2k more on your loan (if going the financed route) will run you less than or equal to about $20 more a month. You are correct that it complements the dash perfectly and the extra functionality of the touch screen makes the car that much more enjoyable (coming from a gadget guy). The last thing is your resale will most likely be better and/or easier with the nav. I believe in the near future nav systems will become the norm in vehicles thus, not having one if/when you sell in the future Will be a negative point.

Not trying to talk you guys "in" to the navi, but I rarely hear/read about someone who spent the extra $2K and wishes they didn't... Like california-usa said above (and I feel the same now), once I had it I loved it... Even if all I am doing is looking at it vs using it to its max potential.

Good luck in your decision. The TL is a nice car and you will enjoy it with or without "the nav" ..

 

Don't regret it one bit.If I was a traveling salesmen and on the road a lot then I would get it.
The $2,000 looks better in my pocket then in Acura's pocket or the dash.
I will spend some of that on the A-spec suspension.

CJB

 

I do not regret spending $2,000 for a toy that is not used... I doubt that many people who have it 'need' it, they just like the looks etc...

I also do not waste money on XM radio, nor do I use bluetooth... just a waste of money that I do not want to waste...

I bought the car for the 6 speed, the handling, the engine etc. etc.... I had to get some of the gadgets, but that is the price for 'expensive' car.

 

i never had a nav, but now that i do have it, i use it a lot more then i thought. dont have to write down directions anymore, just need the address

for me it was an easy decision to go with the nav. the salesperson made me a deal to the point that the diff would only be 1G instead. so i went for it.

 

I guess the problem I have with the non-nav is the appearance of the display. I would be more comfortable if the shadow mask of the display was not quite so obvious. Specifically, the shadow mask covers about 1/2 inch all the way around the display and is quite obvious in dividing the upper and lower quadrants. To make matters worse in all non-nav installations I've seen, the shadow mask looks a little thinner on the bottom than the top - making it look like an installation glitch on an otherwise primo car.



Instead, the display would be considerably more attractive if Acura used a plastic bezel to hide the shadow mask completely. The bezel would make upper and lower displays appear as separate components as well as making the displays not seem so 'undersized.'

I can't see it costing Acura much per car to implement such a minor change that would improve the dash appearance so considerably.

 

Get it, you are guaranteed not to regret getting it, while you may regret it slighty if you dont get it. for a car this expensive 2k more is definatly worth it. Navi is the coolest car tech out there. WIth the TL you get better looks, voice activasion on multiple systems, a great show off toy, and beats the hell out of ever reading a map. Voice cues. You will not regret getting it. ITs SOOO Awsome.

 

I say get it because of all the uses (map, phone, direction, voice commands) and the aesthetic reasons.

 

I was told by my sales guy when I bought the car last year that they sell more cars with navi then without navi (could be a sales pitch but he didnt have to throw it because I had told him that I wanted it)

Also look at it this way when you try to sell/trade in the car after 3/5/7 years most of the cars will have NAVI so not having a NAVI could be a disadvantage.

I think the Navi is awesome but then again people were doing just fine before it started coming out in cars 2 years ago just like people were doing fine without computers 15 years ago so...it is the infamous war of needs v/s wants...

Looks like people who did not get it are not regretting it but if you ask NAVI owners who have spent the 2K are all LOVING it and not regretting spending the extra money either so I guess the end decision is going to be yours.

 

That's not what the display looks like in a production car - the production car has a black background for the radio/climate control displays. It is much less obvious than this photo leads one to believe.

I do not regret getting the non-nav model one bit. I don't need it, and frankly I think XM sounds like crap so I don't listen to it and therefore don't even miss the nav's ability to show all of the track information at one time for XM.

No one has ever ridden in my car and commented negatively on the dash or the lack of a navigation system, although I agree the nav dash looks better - but that does not mean I think the non-nav dash looks bad - they're just two different degrees of goodness.

I also find the climate control (which I do use!) display easier to read and use (because of its proximity to the climate controls) than the navi layout appears.

Mike

 

But if you get navi you will never regret it. You get a car, what, every 3-5 years(if you are lucky), you may as well get it with the navigation system. svtmike, have you ever used mapquest since getting your TL, or have you ever gotten directions to anywhere?

 

I do not regret not getting the Navi because of it's limited use in Canada and the fact that I already had a Navi option with my PocketPC that will be migrated to my PDAPhone (Audiovox PPC-6600).

Also, most of the time that I need Navi is when I am traveling by plane and renting cars, my car is parked at the airport.

I also find that the cost of upgrades for most In-Car Navigation system is quite expensive compared to stand alone units as my Upgrades are $49US per year and inlcudes new Navigation Software and Maps for all of Canada and USA.

Best regards from Montreal, Canada

Fenchnew

 

I wish i have navi but for the price i paid for the car, $29 something before taxes (demo car) doesn't really bother me much. I can always buy it cheap at the junk yard and get it installed later and still spend under 2 grand.

 

My wife and I share 2 TLs, one 04 non navi and one 05 navi. I really didn't think that the navi would be worth the money until I bought one. After taking a long vacation using the navi, being able to find places easily in the middle of large cities and using the voice command features, there is no doubt that all my future cars will have navi systems. I routinely use the navi system in most of my daily driving now.
Both cars are great but the navi system is extremely functional and worth every cent of the price.
THe only downside that I see in the future is after the warranty period is over any problems with the navi could be really expensive.

 

GET IT!!!!

Nav's and information screens are standard equipment for luxury sedans. Why would you deliberately choose to make your Acura look like a Corolla on the inside!!!

Your real decision is why would you opt out of it. You should be fined $2000 for not buying it. Also as was previously mentioned, think ahead and realize what the resale value will be.

I've used the database for finding the nearest CostCo and vaccum store for a replacement belt. And with the phone numbers given for places, I'm saving on 411 calls on my cell.

It's a no-brainer.

 

Look at it this way:

There's TONS of people who bought this car without the Navi who regretted it afterwards, while I'm yet to see a single post from anyone that got it who wishes they hadn't.
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Twice for trips in the TL - that works out to once a year. When I really need a nav, I'm not in my car in my city - I'm in a rental in a strange city. Not worth $300 per incident over the seven years or so I'll have the car.

Mike

 

Yes, it will be far less than $2k more. Any more illogical, emotional arguments you'd like to put forward?

Mike

 

I was disapointed that for 04 in canada, I could'nt buy a 6 speeds TL with the navi. Otherwise I really would like to have it....

 

Thanks for the tips guys.

Few things I have thought about that have been mentioned. I will be financing the car over 60 months...so after that time I'm sure alot more cars will be offering navi...and having it in the car may help my chances of selling it down the road.

BUT I am also concerned about repairs on it. Since I will be keeping the car for at least 5 years any repairs that need to be done are going to be alot more expensive with the navi than without the navi (replacing or fixing the navi $$$$ compared to replacing or fixing the radio)

Also the dash does look alot better with the navi than without...but looks alone aren't enough to get me to fork over another $2k for it.

I haven't decided either way yet...still in the middle. We'll see what the dealer can do for me...

Thanks

-Pat

 

Dear Seaman,

if you can check the coverage for Canada of the TL Navi system. you will not be disapointed. Map coverage is very limited and I seriously doubt you would even see Chicoutimi on it.

Best regards from another Non-Navi Owner from Montreal

Frenchnew

 

The TL with navi does look better than the TL without navi. The Honda/Acura Navigation system is one of the best, if not, the best on the market. I do not regret getting it one bit. I will admit that it is more of a toy, but it can be very useful in finding places or finding your way home. The map screen is fun to watch (when I'm a passenger), and the radio screen is nice, because with the XM it shows all of the song data very clearly. The voice commands are cool too.

Yesterday we took the TL down to the beach in Ocean City, NJ for the first time. Thought it was cool that the mapping had the boardwalk on it, and it showed all the places along the boardwalk (stores, resturants, ATMs).

I am glad we got the navi. It is worth the extra 2k. It will help with resale value, becuse I think it will become a common feature in cars. It is just like A/C in a car. You don't need it, but it is nice to have. Navigation systems are new, and people are just becoming familiar with them, so I can see the delema on whether or not it is worth the money.

My final word, get the navi. You will not be sorry, unless you live in Canada where the mapping is horrible.

 

its guards!

 

I would recommend getting the navi, I love the thing. It's well worth it!

 

if this car didnt have navi i wouldnt have got it.. i wouldve just gotten a faster car like an EVO or STI.

 

I think that new rims instead of navigation look much better on the car ). I have a Pocket PC with integrated navigation wich works great when i do need it - wich is three times a year tops ....

and also in my opinion 6speed with navigation doesnt really fit together - navi is something convenient wich fits more with the AT..

all in all i rather spend the money on something else then on navi..

 

hmm interesting reasoning...

I say if you have the money then go for the navi.

 

Assuming you put nothing down its about 33.33 a month over 60 months. Definatly worth it. As far as it breaking, its probably will not, computer last a lonnnnng time. The first thing to break would be the disk drive, which would be like 20 bucks and you could put it in yourself. The next thing to happen would be to have pixels burn out, and the touch screen fail. All easily installed for a few hundrud bucks. THe most expenive part of the Navi is updating it. 120 bucks a pop.

 

When you take care of luxury, the necessity takes care of itself.

 

I don't have one and do not regret not getting one, I'll stick to my radar detector that has a compass and I'm good to go...besides if we decide to rent a car for a "long" trip , these don't have it and I don't want to get spoiled and frustrated by having to rely on a good old AAA map.. .

 

FWIW, Nav was nice until I got a Bluetooth phone, then it became wonderful. The ability to look up something in the Nav system and dial directly from it is great, especially on a Friday or Saturday night when you are trying to find a restuarant without a long wait. :-)

 

If you really wanna push it... If someone is injured and there is a panic "find nearest hospital".

 

$33/month is a lot of money. For that kind of money, you can buy a very nice high-end laptop, with GPS, and NAV software, play DVD's, carry your entire music collection, etc... NAV is nice, and it's very cool, but no-one can claim that it is a wise financial decision. Heck, buying an Acura TL is NOT a wise financial decision when there are so many other more practical cars on the market.

Also, anyone who thinks all cars will have NAV within 5 years is crazy. Heck, it's hard enough to get a CD player as standard equipment after 20+ years in the marketplace. Cassette decks are just finally being phased out. NAV will not be "standard equipment" for at least 10-20 years, buy which time something else will have totally replaced it technologically.

If I drove my car for a living (salesman, taxi, deliveries, etc...) then I think I would have opted for it, and it would have possibly been a good financial decision. I am personally glad to have saved $2,000 (over 6% of the purchase price for my TL). To those of you with excess cash, I am happy for you. I have no regrets.

BTW - You cannot just buy the NAV components and repair it yourself for $20 to a couple of hundred bucks. Go down to you Acura dealer and you'll be shocked at the price of these parts (thousands of dollars, not tens or hundreds.)

 

Junk yard? you can get the hole unit, buttons, screen, computer, for about 1500. If you are already paying 33k for a car the 2k more for the navi is worth it. If this car didnt have navi I wouldnt even give it a second thought, I would instantly go look at other cars. Its a nice car, but I still view navigation as the finalizing feature of every luxery car. You just arent bragworthy without navigatio, IMO(before I get flamed for this).

 

True. I think those that are arguing that Nav is only for getting from "point a" to "point b" are missing the true value, which is the ability to quickly find an alternate route to where you are going when you are stuck in traffic. I live in Northern Virginia, where traffic is a bear, the Nav system has helped me find several new ways home. It's also a useful tool for measuring how far you have to go, finding ATMs, gas stations, restuarants, etc.

Yes, it cost me another $2k, but IMHO it is worth every penny, and if I ever sell the car the Nav system will give me a higher resale value.

 

Don't buy Nav if:

a) this will ONLY be a to and from work car, and you know every street and business location along the way.

b) you live in a small town with nothing in it except wall mart, and you never plan on leaving the city limits.

c) you don't visit family that is more than 1 mile away

d) you don't ever plan on going out for a saturday drive out.

e) you have a strict regimented life, and you go to the same places all the time, and never plan on seeing or trying anything new.

F) If $2000 is going to break the bank, then don't buy the nav system



If you live in a city (like NYC) I don't see how you couldn't buy the nav. You have 11 million points of interest...

I'm pretty sure that all the doubters have never used the Honda/Acura navi. For those that have it and don't love it, you should check out the leisure category.


There's plenty of navs that suck, like toyota's. However, Honda/Acura's nav isn't one of them.

 

Mike,

Give me a break! Get over your emotional fear of spending 2k additional on a logical 33k vehicle where the biggest selling point is the much lauded NAVI feature. The question was asked and the overwhelming response is obvious.

You'd better hurry up and read this message before your dial-up connection cuts out.

 

Nope, not one bit.

It looks nice but it's one of those things I would rarely use.

Also a neighbor/friend works for the Government and is always getting the latest GPS handheld units. What the protable units can do is astonding, and you can also transfer MapQuest/GoogleMap directions from your PC into it. If I really wanted one I would insist on having a FLASH card interface that would allow you to program routes on a FLASH card at your PC then put the routes into the car.

I should add that to the 2006/07 TL upgrade, a FLASH card interface for the Audio/Navi system. For map routes, maps, MP3's...