I had a 1st generation 2 inch black and white portable Garmin nav before this OEM nav head unit from Mazda on my 04 RX-8 and honestly that was a million times better. The only thing it couldn't do was speak out directions but it gave a big beep whenever attention was needed.

The damn Mazda OEM thing can't even find the nearest Best Buy/Walgreens. The POI (points of Interest) is all but useless for shopping.

My previous Garmin used to show addresses of POI's *and * telephone numbres so you could call resturants up and make a reservation before driving.

I have the old 03 map DVD so I dunno if the new $199 04/05 maps are improved or not, but I find it ridiculous that the OEM 03's are still inferior to an over 5 year old product from Garmin.

 

That's why I'm waiting for one of the projects to finish a dash-top screen mount so I can install a car PC with a proper navigation system (provided there EVER will be someone to offer an affordable solution).
But wait - you already do have the screen, so you can do that already

 

But WHY do all that is my point. How can a 3rd generation OEM nav be worse than a first gen 2 inch monochrome GPS in the first place is my question

 

the oem nav on the rx8 is definately useless for finding stores. I use it for getting me places on the map and it works quite well for that. Also keep in mind the oem nav is hard wired to the wheels and other sensors on the car, so if gps signal fails, the car's navigation will still function and can figure out where you're going.

 

Well of course its a different database.

I just find it extremely frustrating that this supposedly 04 NAV is so bad. The Garmin had lots of options under its POI (which included computer stores, malls, hardware stores etc.) All these had addresses and telephone numbers.

Im fairly new to town and was lost in Seattle when I decided to go and buy something from Best buy and of course the OEM Mazda Nav couldnt even find a Best Buy which Im pretty sure my super old Garmin could find with ease. I had to come back to the eastside and go to one I knew in Bellevue.

Another example - I was in Woodinville yest and decided that I better buy some 5W-20 and go to a NAPA hardware store. Of coure this nav couldnt find that either and again I had to drive back home to go to one I knew.

You can get to any place if you know that address but thats not the point in NAV. It should be able to take you to places you dont have an address for yet.

My friend has a MB C320 which is a 2000 year model and that has a *significantly* better Nav than Mazda's OEM.

I was excited when I thought I'd be getting a proper 3rd gen. GPS but I am *extremely* dissapointed.


I havent tried the new 04/05 maps from Navteq and wouldn't mind buying them if the POI database has improved over the stock 02/03 Maps.

 

It won't help the OEM nav (which I must agree sucks), but if you want to find an address and phone number for something you can always send it to google through your cell phone.

Send a text message to 46645 (googl) in the format "establishment, city, state abbrev." Obviously replace the establishment, city, etc with what you want. You can also search for stuff like "pizza" by town.

Google will send you back a text msg or two with the name, address and telephone number of the store.

And it's free.

 

Obviously this is the first and only Nav you have ever used. try some others and lemme know how you feel then. If I didnt have any point of reference I'd consider it pretty good too.

And Im just talking about OEM ones. If you see the aftermarket ones that are out now, they'll probably just blow your mind.

Think about it. My $200 first gen monochrome portable Nav bought years ago had only 9 MB of storage but it was complemented with 2 Map DVD and had a MUCH bigger database.

 

Bah, quit complaining. It's better than the Nav I've got.


You ever try to use google maps from a blackberry?

 

I have never had nav before, but oem sucks *** for POI. I can't even find places that have been established for years! I have to search the address on the web first. No different than me using mapquest or google maps and printing them out. So basically having oem nav is pointless if you don't have the exact address of your destination. Can't wait to hack this thing up.

 

I've had a Garmin 2610 for a couple years now. Use it in any and all vehicles including friends, associates, and clients. Why get a permanent one?

The Garmin has been magnificent. We find restaurants, gas stations, random places of interest, whatever.

Beautiful unit, and the new ones are even better.

And now in our new RX-8, the power cord/speaker plugs right into the center console, and snakes out nicely to the dash unit.

Do it and forget about it.

 

When I purchased my 8 I didn't have an option of OEM Nav (it was used, only one on the lot) so I decided to use my Dell Axim as my gps in the car. I bought a cradle that actually had the gps unit built in to keep everything clean looking. I currently started using iGuidance and have had no problems locating anything thusfar. Just another alternative.


Hudson

 

I like the OEM integration and the pop up nav. I had a portable Nav before. Unfortunately the HU in the RX-8 does ONLY nav unlike most other cars which also show info on radio stations, CD's, temp control etc.

Instead we get a weak LED type one line display for everything else

 

hehe,

cool post # 666 for you

 

the poi's aren't the greatest, but the oem nav has telephone numbers in it.

 

im surprised (to say the least) that the Nav package doesnt operate more of the car's features....
as mentioned above an LED line for radio etc. why wouldnt this be incorporated into the Nav system?

 

Cos Mazda ddint wanna pay some design engineers to do that I'd imagine. Seems a waste of prime 7inch color LCD space to me.

@Napboy - How do you get telephone #'s? Which maps do you use 02/03 or the new ones? I can just get addresses no #'s

 

I have the old maps, but the new firmware upgrade (the telephone numbers are there with either) the telephone numbers are included when you choose a poi and select it as a destination. however, if you pull it from your history list, the phone number is not there.

 

Nope I have the latest firmware (just got the CD from Mazda yest.) and old maps. I don't see it. Might be a different setting/region (CA and WA are both western though).

 

Yes, we already know that the 04-05 nav is not so hot compared to the navs included in other cars, especially where Acuras or Infinitis are concerned. Nothing you can really do about it. Hopefully the 06 nav has had some major improvements since it's completely different. Our nav is somewhat useful when you are traveling to unfamiliar territory or for determining how many miles it's going to take you to get from point A to point B, but other then that, it's really just a toy.

That's why you should consider buying and installing a video switching unit, which will enable you to watch DVDs, play video game units, and connect other performance enhancing A/V components to your RX-8's nav and give it the sex life it always wanted. Purchase one today at www.mazdaparts.com !

 

try going through the steps.

hit the menu button
select destination
poi, then restaurant, then all (or whatever)
pick a restaurant
it then brings up the info. the phone number should be there right under the address.

i tried to take a pic of it, but my camera phone comes out blurry from that close.

 

I guess it probably has some numbers but not all of them.

I was able to get a few but its hit and miss most of the time.

Tnx

I'd really like to hear from someone who has the new maps, just to see if they improved the POI so that you can search for things like best buy etc.

 

While we're at it, I'd like to see some of my favorite local strip clubs come up on the POI list too.

 

So Jerky weren't you gonna threaten dealers to hand you over the new maps or something.

Any headway there?