Zeuser

So my dad is jealous of the nav system in my TL. He's been eyeing a bunch of aftermarket systems for his older Honda Accord. Since x-mas is coming up, I decided to get him one. I got him the Garmin streetpilot c330.

So as usual when it comes to electronics and stuff, I try it out, set it up etc. before I wrap the box. That way it's ready to go straight out of the box. This avoids x-mas day headaches.

So to "calibrate" the thing I mounted it in my Navi equipped TL and drove around. Here are my impressions. Keep in mind that I'm biased towards my TL's navi because I think it' better than almost all other factory navis.

Mounting: Clear winner is TL. Nothing beats a factory installed unit. But the Garmin does have an advantage because it's easy to remove. If you've only got one car... who cares?

Boot-up time: Clear winner is the Garmin. You're up and going with the Garmin before the "OK" button on the TL is even shown!

Screen: Winner is TL. The Garmin's screen is really good though. The nly reason the TL wins is because it's twice as big... almost.

Buttons: Winner is TL. The buttons below the screen give the TL navi an extra edge. The Garmin does have the advantage of using a volume dial right on its right side instead of being buried in the setup menu.

Touch screen: Winner is Garmin. The touch screen on the Garmin doesn't require as much pressure, it's more accurate and quicker (keyboard for example).

Map coverage: Clear winner is Garmin. The Garmin has roads, cities etc. the TL just doesn't have. At least when compared to my Canadian version.

Points of interest: Clear winner is Garmin. Far more POI and better organized.

Menu features: Winner is TL. More setup options, calculator, calendar etc.

Navigation: Clear winner is Garmin. More accurate with distances, destinations etc. Of special note: DETOURS! The Garmin is far better at doing detours than the TL. The TL's navi will make you do some ridiculous things when doing detours. The Garmin just avoids the street you're on but it goes straight to the point.

Voice feedback: Winner is Garmin. The Garmin willvoice feedback at better times and more accurately.

Voice control: Winner is TL. DUH! Garmin doesn't have it!

Bluetooth integration: Winner is TL. DUH! Garmin doesn't have it!

Updates: Clear Winner is Garmin. You can update the software, get updated maps, updated POIs etc. far easier, and certainly quicker , than from Acura.

Despite the kick ass features th TL navi has, when it comes down to useful navigation, the Garmin wins. The TL's advanced features are really more for showboating.

Do I regret getting the factory navi for the TL? Hell no! But my dad's going to have an easier time using his navi than I do.

pzero23

Rumor has it that Navi will be avaiable on your moblie phone that will hook up to a on board computer to display it when your in your car. Then you can have Navi everywhere you go. Snowmobiling, Moutain Biking, Jetsking...........

HiTEC

Only problem is it looks like you got a fish finder on your dashboard and cords running to your power outlet, and the worry to remove when you park in a public lot. I'd take an OEM system over an aftermarket any day.

TLTrance

Instead of Navi discs, they should have hard drives that you can just upload information to by downloading updated info from the Internet (transferred from computer to the car through flash memory or something of that sort).

vp911

Wireless would be excellent


Great review - very informative!

shockwave

Agreed, and with built in satellite radio, Acura could lease channel space from XM and beam the updates down by satellite link. Hard drive space within the navi would open up a bunch of other options too.

KADAW

Sounds good, nice review/comparaison. How much did you pay for the Garmin streetpilot?

Flippie

Zeuser....Great write up.....this is the information I have been looking for. Thank you !

corey415

I actually bought a Garmin c340 about two weeks ago. It's similar to the c330.

With respect to wires, the Garmin c3x0 has a built in lithium battery good for up to 8 hours/per charge. So it doesnt really get that messy. You dont need an external antenna either, so that's another wire you dont need to worry about.

With the POI and mapping, both Garmin and the TL use the same NAVTEQ database, at least for the US I know. Perhaps your TL navi disc is old?

BTW the Garmin c330 retails 500-530 on the internet.

wasabe918

i totally agree. i owned an garmin ique3600 palm pilot/navi and its awesome. besides taking a lil longer to get receptions, its a lot more accurate than my 05 RL navi. I cant seem to find poi anywhere in my RL, even when its right in front of me and i thought we have one of the best navi's out there.

Actuary

Yeah DVD map database sucks big time. It should be updatable. Either through burned CD/DVD or flash memory(SD/CF)

jjh1234

HiTEC, I agree. I know there are many stand alone GPS units that are probably better than the Acura OEM unit, but the Acura is rated the best of OEM units. I would rather have the best fully intrgrated unit than some aftermarket thing hanging from my windshield. Especially with a puny little 2.5" screen.

jjh1234

russ0813

Any one have pictures of a garmin c330 mounted in a TL

Danoli

had hard drives in the early versions of acura nivigation but switched to dvds for easier updates. One thing I found interesting about dvd updates. when I was comparing the infiniti to acura the infiniti dealer told me the automaticly ship an updated dvd every 15months for the first 5 years. I thought that was great considering how much acura charges us for them

jazznut

Definitely agree with some of the guys/gals here about OEM. I have a buddy of mine who has a portable GPS that sticks by the windshield and it was a pain since we kept on adjusting/fixing the mount while cruising since the suction was not sticking enough to be stable(the gps kept on shaking). I would not trade my OEM GPS on my TL for aftermarket.

dampfnudel

I also prefer the integrated OEM navi, but there's room for improvement. It would be nice if we could update/upgrade the system easily at minimal or no cost with a simple download/USB flash drive. I think the next navi should be HD-based. The graphics could also use some improvement.

tllover2

I read your mail with great interest. I am deciding between a 2005 tl with navi vs one without. Is it really worth the money to have one already in or it is better to get one after market? Can I get an after market with the big screen mounted as it comes from the factory. I hate those handheld device sticking up on the dashboard. Thanks for your advice!

dennisil

i play video from my ipod through the stock navi and even use the navigation at the same time by having the voice guide me while i watch the latest porn, or whatever... would not trade it for a 3.5 inch fish finder anyday. I get tons of looks from people in suvs becaus eit look so nice and factory fresh and "Multifunctional" fish finders are only good for one thing finding fish..... auto pc? no... Xbox360? no... FISH? Yes... just buy an accord if you cant aford the goodies that make the TL somthing special.

leedogg

i will never get another vehicle without integrated navi. thieves wont break in to steal it, I'll never misplace it, it is the least distracting. It integrates with the rest of the car (voice commands, mutes radio, dials number of places it finds..

tllover2

Hey Guys I appreciate all your advice about the whole navi deal. One more question though. Can the integrated or OEM navi in the 2005 tl can be updated as far as memory for new maps? If so how easier it is to upgrade vs the rest of the navi out the there? Thanks.

dennisil

Acura has a new navi disk avalable every year although is perty pricy 200$ i think i will buy an upgrade maby next year and mine is an 06, i love how the listings for resaurants and store and anything you can think of have the telephone numbers in them and all i have to do is press send for it to call the phone number in the listing via HFL.

tllover2

Hey Dennisil, I really appreciate your advice. You are a great one. You convinced me to get one of those bad boys. All I have to do now is to look for a nice deal. I am from Maryland and I should be looking around DC and Balto area. How much do you think I should spend on a 2005-06 with navi? thanks

dennisil

I wish I could tell you, I can give you some advice. You should check with www.KBB.com and look for how much the trade in value is, then look for how much the retail value is and hope you can get as close to the trade in value as your "horse trading skills" will get you. There is a huge markup on used cars but dealers will tell you that because this car has X amount of miles you wont find another one to compare it to. Therefore they have a (best price strategy). In this case if you have a trade you can leverage the trade to have a "retail value" for you rather than a "trade in"- trade value. If you can haggle over the price of the car outright don’t tell the dealer you have a trade until he has brought the price of the car down as low as he possibly could. Then slap him with the old “oh yea I have a trade” and then it will be up to you to try to get retail value for your trade. I would recommend printing up all the different values of the car your trading and the one your buying and keeping them in a folder or something. I used to sell cars but I only did it for 3-4 months, I was told this was a classic way of getting the most from a dealer although it has had mixed results for me. I feel if you go at the end of the month like say today would be a perfect example. Find the most pathetic salesman that hasn’t sold shit all month you might be able to convince him to sell you the car for a price you are satisfied with and he will be happy to do the business and get the sale.

ps, I love my car but as all things in life I inevitablly want bigger and better, faster and safer, it human nature to feel buyers remorse, especially when it passes you on the highway


regards,
dennis

mattbizkit

dennisil just curious what i needed to get the ipod to play on the navi?

csmeance

You need an IPOD, Dom's video converter for video and a usa SPEC HON2Y for audio, plus the necessary power wires and such Look above for the audio FAQ and you will find DIY's on installations, tips, tricks and ways to get what you want.

Fleet_king_at_va

I dont even know why your comparing the Acura Navigation to the the Garmin. If the Garmin is so much better then know one would get the navigation in the Acura. Acura has the best navigation system out there and that is a fact. Before I got my TL I had a c550 in my TSX and that thing was a piece of junk. First of all it took forever to find a signal. Second of all it would take me on this crazy route everytime I aksed it to take me home. Third of all nothing was updated correctly on the system. Theres a reason why Acuras navigation system one several awards and you cannot top there navigation systems. Whats better than voice commands and zagat ratings.

dennisil

fleet king at va , I’m no stranger to trying to make my dollar go further although its hard to sell a used gamine and I know my navi will net me an extra 600$ bucks at trade in time. That alone is a good enough excuse to spend 2000 extra, not to mention the fact that I watch TV on it too and that all the honeys get in my ride whenever we go to the beach!!! Last Sunday I had 4 hotties in bikinis drive to Michigan for a day at the beach all because they wanted to watch my pirated version of knocked up i got from bittorrent and converted to play on my ipod video - through my navi via doms unit and pie x3….. woah I got winded after all that techno babel… this car really apeals to the technosexual in us all

timmahh

I absolutely hate external/portable GPS units. I've always like integrated nav - even the in-dash aftermarket ones (like the pioneer) are great, but i've always steered clear of the portable units. My friend finally got one, we used it on the drive from California to Washington, first off we got pissed because it didn't come with the points of interest.. you had to add them manually; and that sort of throws out a carlos mencia "dee dee dee" noise because.. If I know where the f!@#ing place is I don't need a $500 nav unit to tell me.

So we're driving.. staying the night in Oregon; about 15 miles from the hotel she comes up and says make a right turrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrr. The friggin thing froze up - it had locked up numerous times before, but after 15 mins or so it would come back on. This time she was dead, I started pushing buttons and hitting the reset, it booted to the WinCE image loading program, I did the memory/gps tests/etc. - and then it no longer had an OS. It was returned when we got back to home. Never again will we mess with a portable nav system.

timmahh

i love you.

Fleet_king_at_va

You will not get an extra $600 trade in value for having a portable navigation. Trust me I would know. A factory navigation system will bearly get you $600. I know it sucks but thats just the way the used car market works

dennisil

Fleet King i have acura navs system not a "fish finder" and yes 500-600 is the valuation on such a unit. my source is KBB

sorry that i didnt point that out in the first post you all cant read my mind since i started wearing my tin foil helmet...