Seems like a heck of a lot of money for a glorified map, but maybe I'm missing something.

Can some NAV owners talk about the feature, how often they use it, etc

 

I don't have it, I don't see why you would need it if you're going to spend most of your time going to locations you already know how to get to.

 

I have the navigation. I love it. Anytime you get lost I can just put in my home address and it is accurate everytime. Car and Driver said that it was one of the best navigations available on the market. But, the only regret was that the woman's voice should sound sexier, like the Ford lady. Thanks, I'll keep my 8. Not only is a great practical use, but it is also a great "dash-enhancer." The dash looks soo good when you crank up the rotary and the nav flips up. That will get people's attention. It is also one of the cheapest navigations around, because it isn't touch screen. My dad has a Lexus SC 430 and he paid $4,000 for his and it is touch screen... but mine is more accurate than his. It is a great way to spend $2k. So, its accurate and it's amazing looking. What more do you want?

 

I have never used the nav on the 8, but I have experience with my friends' nav on RX330 and IS350. I love them and I am pretty sure the system on the 8 is comparable to them. Finding directions and interest points whenever you want is great. However, I am not sure if the system is worth $2000 (not speciflically the one on the 8). A factory nav certainly looks neat and clean, but you can't bring it to a different vehicle and you can't keep it when you sell your car. It will lose most of it value when you sell your car (as does most options). On the other hand, a portable system (like those from Garmin, Magellan, etc.) cost 1/3 or 1/2 the price and offer 95% of the functionality. Plus you can put it in any vehicle. At any rate, I love having a nav system in my car, but only you can decide whether the clean factory look is worth the extra money.

 

I dont feel like I'm missing something from my 8 Not like I can pick up a map. To me it just looked cool. I do miss a sun roof.

 

$2k is not worth it to me. The only reason I can see for me to have one is to find restaurants or the like. A portable unit will do that for next to nothing, when compared to the factory nav option. And it's not blocking half my view while doing it.

 

its worth it, when I got my car, I was thinking i never needed it, why would i need it now? well I regreted it big time after seen my friends who have the nav unit, its really worth it. I ended up installing a car computer in my car that does nav and music etc, Nav is definetly very nice to have. trust me, just about everyone in my car club that didnt get their car with nav agree with me. its something you dont think you need, but after you buy it without it, youd want it really bad.

 

I'd much rather spend 2k on a carputer w/ an uploaded navigation. Cheaper and more stuff to do. I do like the way the factory navi looks though.

 

In the year & a half I've had my 8, I've only used my NAV a handful of times.
Even though my software was out of date when I signed on the dotted line,
it's saved my butt each time.

Worth $2K?
Probably would be if they added the ability to play video DVD's also.

 

carputer is really nice and can do a lot more than factory nav, but its very difficult to do, unless you have expertise in routing wires and knows where all the switches and plugs are in your car, you have to open up you dash and center console, and depending on the car, if there isnt a 2 din conversion kit, you will have to do some heavey duty cutting etc.

http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77034 this is me installing my screen, it took 6 hours. thats not even accounting for the time it takes to build the carputer, install the programs and make sure everytihng is in working order. and the biggest thing is, someone needs to make a good kit for your car for the screen, or it wont look right.

 

dvd is kind of worthless on nav units, at least in the inifiniti ones, you can only watch dvd if the handbrake is engaged and the car is not moving. if those condition arent met, you cant watch dvds. so its pretty useless since youd probably rather watch a dvd in your house when the car is stopped neways.

 

I have used my NAV approx 4 times in the past two years - it definitely works great, but it is not worth the $2,000.00.

As fas as being able to watch a DVD on a NAV in some cars, it's a good thing the Infinity requires the car to be stopped and the 8 does not handle DVD movies. I don't want people watching a movie while they are driving (at least when driving near me).

 

My second job told me it is a necessity so they are giving $2500 for it even though it only costs $2000!!!

 

thats nice, what kind of job is that?

 

Honestly, you can't base your use of nav off everyone elses. How often do you use it? How often do you think you will use it? Would you prefer something that is portable? I know I need nav because I have a terrible memory and I go to a lot of new places but I think I would opt for a portable device as it is cheaper and you can take it anywhere and would not have to worry about it in your next car.

 

mdaj, your so right.

 

use the $2000 else where, it can help you out with that MS kit =)

 

Nav's are one of those things, if you never had you never feel the need for it (you can always use map, mapquest.com) but once you have a nav unit its like how did you ever live without it.

I move quite often, and have a small Garmit Sat Nav portable in my 240SX. LOVE it. I'm gonna def. get the Factory Sat Nav in the RX-8 cos even though its more expensive and not as good aftermarket ones its really well integrated in the car.

 

It's with the government so, technically, all of you who pay taxes are buying my navigation system. Thanks!!!!!

 

some of the portable nav systems are VERY well made, and function better than most OEM system, for half the cost of the OE system!

I believe in function over form first, so I'd save the $2000 on the OE system, pick up a really nice portable one for $1000, and enjoy the $1000 you saved on something else

 

Is the nav option worth 2k?

HELL NO.

The navigation system really isn't worth it. It's a show off piece and nothing more. And I'm being brutally honest. Only reason why I have one is because the only yellow they had left on the lot just so happened to have a navigation system in it.

I live in South Florida though and rarely travel...so if you travel a lot and go to parts of your city you're not familiar with then I guess you could make some use out of it.

But if you're like most of us and usually do the same **** every week, it's friggin pointless.

Get a carputer instead. Much more versatile, and a lot more fun.

I am so bored out of my mind with my navigation system that I'm planning on buying a converter for it, so I can watch DVDs on the screen and get a better look at the ******** who tailgate me. That's how impressive the navigation system that comes with this car is.

 

There were 2 identical side by side at the dealer when I bought mine. 1 with nav the other without. Fired up the nav saw the maps were out of date and asked the dealer if they would be able to fix it before I signed. They said no. Just as well. Went w/out the nav and saved 2k.

Spent about $400 on a portable that I can update the maps and poi whenever I feel like it. Most of the 8 owners are about 3 years behind on their maps. Those that updated spent $200 for the new disk, right? Awful lot of money for the cool factor.

Besides, when I am in the 8 I am usually going somewhere I know how to get to. I need nav when I am in rental cars which is 3-4 days per week. Can't beat the portables.

 

I have the nav...have used it countless times in the last year and a half....like the fact that it is factory, if I have any issues the warranty covers it. Also I am amazed how often I really use it. Love that I can find the nearest gas station in a few minutes, don't have to watch the gas gauge and worry about getting to a station that I know.... Also use the nav for destinations that I know where I am going because there is an ETA (estimated time of arrival) in the bottom right of the screen... As for all of the portable units, they are a pain to program because the screens are so small and you usually cannot do it as fast as the factory system and the screen id in a perfect place because you can still see what is happening in front of you in your perriferal vision while you enter a destination...also when its not in use and when the car is parked you don't have to look at the screen....you cal also close the screen and the voice will still guide you without the map.
So yes to me it is absolutely worth it and I will not get another car without navigation now....
just my $.02

 

Those would be my feelings on it in the US (Japan... particularly Tokyo is a different story). Your money is better spent on getting a CarPC... you can get nav, DVD, video, mp3 and more. At this point in time the nav isn't as good as the best from Alpine, Pioneer, etc. or Lexus, Honda... but the other features make up for it.

 

I'd rather take the 2 grand drive to Vegas get loaded, a few call girls, and the buffet at Circus Circus. But that's just me.