As I'm new to Acura I'm wondering a few things about the Nav:

1) How often are the updates available?
2) Is there a fee (I'm assuming yes)
3) Does anyone keep the nav updated or do you usually just roll with it and use your phone to look for restaurants and things that come and go?

Thanks!

 

Sir Cheesey,

I'm not sure if this will be different with the TLX.... but in the past Acura would release a Navigation update annually. You'd go to the "Acura Store" online to purchase it. They would then send you a DVD to load the update to your car's hard drive. The DVD's were generally about $150. I do not believe the MDX/RLX/TLX will be handled this way though... they may be updated via satellite. I'll try to find more info on it and I'll post unless someone else does first.

edit: I think it'll be the same... for the TLX it says "Navigation system can be updated with available DVD-ROM"

I personally purchased the update each year because I like to waste money.... and I'm a software update whore.

 

According to the handbook they are usually updated in the fall of each year. Yes, there is a fee, I think about $150, and no free update program, although I am hoping that if the just produced TLX's are using the 2013 version that they may provide a free update to the 2014 in a couple of months.

With my '06 3G TL I got a free update 3 or 4 months after buying the car, but updates for the TL were about $300 and I did not get any more. The may were quite out of date but not a serious problem I used Google or MapQuest ahead of time if I knew I was going to a new area. My current plan is to purchase an update in about 3 years.

 

I bought a '14 RLX in Aug '13. I noticed that a '13 TL I had as a loaner on a service trip had a more updated Nav data than my newer RLX.

 

I always got the updates too. I have an 06 TL. The updates are $150, but they go on sale ($99) before the new one comes out, usually over the summer. I was always able to recoup 75% or so by selling the old one on eBay.

Joe

 

That's why I wasn't certain if the TLX/RLX/MDX went through the same process or not because there are available 2014 update DVD's for the TL etc... but not for the RLX so I thought maybe there was another method of updating... interesting

 

Lol!

 

Thanks! I just sent my sales guy a text asking about which map version will be on the Nav - will try to make sure they're going to include the 2014 maps.

 

There's always a sale every year for the update for 99 bucks plus shipping (or sometimes free shipping?) people have said that while roads do change and get updated, it's not worth it to update every year. i've read some people update once every 3 years or so.

 

UPDATE - My sales guy said the new car will indeed have the 2014 maps on it!

I think I may do the 3 year update cycle - I don't travel out of town that often anyways.

 

Yea, wait for the $99 update. You won't need it unless you've had a lot of highway updates in your city.

 

Has it been confirmed that the update for the TLX will be via a disc and not over the air? If the latter then a $99 update may not be available. In my city there are many new housing developments per year so the issue is not highway changes but new roads.

 

I asked my Acura sales person about this and he said that the update will be done at the dealership. They would load the maps on your HDD for you since there is no disk like in my 04 TSX. Has anyone else heard this?

 

some Hondas update via USB, same price. I suspect they'll all go that way. Still sucks, and is why the iphone enable navi option in the lower trims is better....maybe...

 

I update the navi every 2-3 years, probably. I also wait for the $99 "sale". I have a Garmin I use for backup if I need to on trips outside the city. Also, I'm not quite the whore that RandomRon is.

 

How do you know where to go when the $99 sale is available? Is it the same acura site that has the full priced update?

 

I want a free Nav update now. The current version does not know about a major highway onramp in TO that has been there for 15 years or more. My 06 TL knew about it, so this is a backward step.

The $99 sale is usually to clear out old stock before the new ones are released, so the earliest sale for the TLX would likely be in 2016. I am not sure if the update for the TLX is via a CD or OTA. There is nothing in the Navigation manual about it.