| bobisevil |
Our base X finally came in and drove it home last night. Silver with Grey interior-We love it.
We didn't opt for the touring/nav thinking that the extra money was not worth it. Comes to about $4000 extra. We just added the roof rack for a few hundred $'s.
Now that we have it, I am the slightest bit depressed that I didn't go for it. Still have that big screen on the dash that to me looks like a waiste.
Anyone know if I can install the Acura OEM NAV system in a base MDX and how I would go about it? I am not very mechanically inclined so I would have someone do it. The dealer says it cant be done but I was hoping they said that just to try to get me to buy it factory installed.
Thanks, Best,
Bob |
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| jswift2000 |
bobisevil,
Love the name. Anyway, you can search the forum for topics on this but you will find that you can not do it. I think there was a post with from someone stating the parts alone would cost about $3,000. Do a search. I wish you all the best of luck.
Jeff |
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| kishino |
| IMO, the most cost effiecient way will be to go aftermarket. Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer all make navigations. Granted that they won't be as well integrated as the OEM navi. but they should function just as well and the audio sound will definetly be better than the prem. stereo. Also, there is not many dealers that I know of will perform this procedure and the labor cost will be huge in addition to the Acura navi. |
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| bobisevil |
If I go aftermarket, do you know if I will be able to use the indash screen? I saw with some other posts examples of an addon screen for the Navigation which is naturally less desirable.
Thanks again!
Bob |
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| vicpai |
quote:
Originally posted by bobisevil
If I go aftermarket, do you know if I will be able to use the indash screen? I saw with some other posts examples of an addon screen for the Navigation which is naturally less desirable.
Thanks again!
Bob
.......is SO TERRIFIC, that it's one of the strongest reasons to buy an MDX (or any other Acura/Honda product available with Navi)!!
That said, it's a bit too late now as you cannot retrofit the Acura OEM NAV. Technically, you could do it (I've found out and gone over this in detail), but it wouldn't make financial sense. - Because the Acura Navi system is so stellar, sometime back, I actually contemplated retrofitting a Toyota Corolla with the Acura OEM Nav by buying the parts individually from the Acura dealer and then having a highly experienced professional installation company custom-install the whole thing - discussed this with the Acura dealer and the installation company and they said it was possible provided I bought all the wiring harnesses etc. However, it turned out to be a prohibitively expensive project (about $5500 for all the parts + $1500 for the custom install) so I abandoned the idea.
Considering the hot demand for MDXs, one option could be to just sell the vehicle and get a Navi model (if you don't lose too much in the process) .......trust me, the Navi model is still worth it, even if you were to lose $1500 to $2000 dollars! .....The Alpine and Kenwood aftermarket units will run from $3500 to $4000 INCLUDING INSTALLATION for the Nav and retractable monitor/CD (provided you shop for price on the internet)
Other options would be to go aftermarket as others have suggested. For right now the only units worth looking at are the DVD-based systems from Alpine (NVE-N852A) and the Kenwood (KNA-DV2100). Alpine supplies the hardware for the Acura OEM system, whereas the Kenwood is the exact same system as those found in Lexus vehicles. While the Alpine unit not nearly as good as the Acura OEM system (because Honda writes it's own software and has it's own user interface) it's still fairly good. The Kenwood unit is a bit better (still not as good as the Acura OEM) because it's touch-screen operated and has better user accessibility to all of the Points-of-Interest, even though the Point-of-Interest database is FAR SMALLER than Alpine's (850,000 vs. over 6 million!!). While Alpine has a HUGE POI database, it is very difficult to find the business you're looking for because it's sorting functions are very limited, whereas the Kenwood has far more sorting/access options for it's SMALL database (Acura is the best giving you a ton of ways: by place name, keyword, category, sort by distance, alphabetically etc. etc. etc. etc.)
......Other pros and cons exist as well between the aftermarket units. Common differences are:
Kenwood does not give you the ability to input a phone # to find a business, whereas the Alpine unit does
Kenwood does not have an efficient way to designate an intersection of 2 roads, as your destination (no smart filtering of East/West/North/South and Blvd/Ave/Street combos)...You got to be specific. For example you cannot say just "Pacific Coast" and "Crenshaw"...You've got to say "West Pacific Coast Highway" and "Crenshaw Blvd" .......whereas the Alpine unit will eliminate choices by "smart filtering". Sometimes you may not know exactly "West" or "East" or whether it's "Ave" or "Blvd" and here's where the Alpine helps out!
Alpine unit has better "route-guidance" using the "vector-line" system for NON-NAVTECH-MAPPED-AREAS (usually areas outside major metros) - if you want detailed info on this PM me - too long to explain here!
BTW, the Acura OEM unit is the ONLY NAVIGATION SYSTEM AVAILABLE CURRENTLY IN THE WORLD to not have ANY of the above mentioned negatives!!
If you decide to go aftermarket, I strongly urge you to wait until the fall of this year (2003). I just talked with a Kenwood technical rep the other day, who told me they're introducing a new model this fall, that will fix all of the above shortcomings! Additionally, it will have 10 (TEN) MILLION business listed across the USA!! :eek: (currently Acura is the best with over 7 million) and it will also be VOICE ACTIVATED for all the commands! (this is already noted on the Kenwood website www.kenwoodusa.com )
To answer your question with regard to the in-dash screedn you can use a "retractable monitor" for both Alpine and Kenwood units, but like you mention it will not look too good (it will ruin the "flush" OEM look and will require some customization)
FYI, I've EXTENSIVELY used the Lexus, Kenwood, Alpine and both the OLD and NEW Acura Navi systems, and that's how I know in detail each one's pros and cons (which are not very readily apparent at first). PM me If you have any specific questions. |
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| markable |
Vicpai,
Great write up! Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge of the systems.
Btw, like the choice of your MDX color. :D |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by vicpai
If you decide to go aftermarket, I strongly urge you to wait until the fall of this year (2003). I just talked with a Kenwood technical rep the other day, who told me they're introducing a new model this fall, that will fix all of the above shortcomings! Additionally, it will have 10 (TEN) MILLION business listed across the USA!! :eek: (currently Acura is the best with over 7 million) and it will also be VOICE ACTIVATED for all the commands! (this is already noted on the Kenwood website www.kenwoodusa.com )
Thanks a ton for shariing your knowledge! :)
I went to the Kenwood website www.kenwoodusa.com for more info. Then I searched the web and according to this...
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-5kCBjH...=113KNADV21&s=0
this system will be available March13th! :2: |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by vicpai
FYI, I've EXTENSIVELY used the Lexus, Kenwood, Alpine and both the OLD and NEW Acura Navi systems, and that's how I know in detail each one's pros and cons (which are not very readily apparent at first).
3 questions that I haven't found an answer to by searching your other posts here.
1) You didn't mention Pioneer. Are you in a position to make a comparison of them?
2) Even more importantly to me because all of these system are very expensive, are you able to say how much you give up by going with the much cheaper Garmin StreetPilot III Deluxe?
3) Do you know if the Nav System in the Honda Pilot is the same as the Acura system? |
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| vicpai |
quote:
Originally posted by florida_guy
3 questions that I haven't found an answer to by searching your other posts here.
1) You didn't mention Pioneer. Are you in a position to make a comparison of them?
2) Even more importantly to me because all of these system are very expensive, are you able to say how much you give up by going with the much cheaper Garmin StreetPilot III Deluxe?
3) Do you know if the Nav System in the Honda Pilot is the same as the Acura system?
First:
I have not had the opportunity to test out the Pioneer system for myself. However, I've read several reviews and from my general Navigation System knowledge (after dealing with so many Navi systems, I'm able to judge by "gut feeling") the Pioneer systems have some shortcomings. From what I know, it supposedly does not calucate routes efficiently. In addition to that, even though it has a large POI database, only a small portion (Navtech) is readily sortable/accesible and categorized. On the positive side, it has some really cool features like voice recognition, and REAL-TIME traffic updating and will recalculate/adjust the route accordingly. Just recently, though, I heard that the company that provides this real-time traffic info in major metros (CUE) went out of business. So I don't know how this affects the Navi system!
Second:
The Garmin SPIII is definitely not going to be anywhere close to the Acura system in Accuracy, integration and efficiency, since the Acura system is a very sophisticated complete INERTIAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM, and not just a GPS receiver. It uses GPS, a speed sensor and piezo-electric gyroscope (very similar to the system found in modern commercial jet aircraft) to PRECISELY determine location. That said, I'm very seriously considering a SPIII myself, because I will be travelling frequently and even though I would love to take my MDX everywhere I go, I know it's not gonna happen :( (For example, if I'm going to NYC from my home in LA, in all likelihood, I'm going to fly and rent a car there). From what I've read the SPIII is one of the best PORTABLE Navi systems. Shortcomings I expect, compared to the Acura system are:
Slightly reduced positional accuracy
Slightly less comprehensive POI (business listing) database
I've heard the calculating/recalculating time is very slow and the REAL-TIME tracking on the screen is not going to be instantaneous.
Every time you start your vehicle it will take several minutes to "acquire" the satellites and "get it's bearings"
When you travel in areas where the antenna does not have a view of the satellites (such as under a bridge, in a tunnel, heavy tree cover etc.), it will temporarily be unable to track your position or give directions, since it has no inertial reference system.
Third:
The Nav system in the Honda and Acura vehicles are identical. It's the exact same Nav system. However, only the 2003 Acura MDX, the 2004 Acura RL, the 2004 Acura TSX use the SECOND GENERATION Voice activated DVD Navi system.
The Acura 3.2TL, 3.2CL, the Honda Odyssey and the Honda Pilot all use the OLD FIRST GENERATION DVD Nav system. However, it's just a matter of time (maybe the next model year change) before they get the newer upgraded Nav
Hope this answers all of your concerns! |
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| vicpai |
quote:
Originally posted by florida_guy
Thanks a ton for shariing your knowledge! :)
I went to the Kenwood website www.kenwoodusa.com for more info. Then I searched the web and according to this...
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-5kCBjH...=113KNADV21&s=0
this system will be available March13th! :2:
.....indicated there is the CURRENT Kenwood Nav. I had it installed in my Toyota RAV4 which I sold recently. From what I know, the new one (which Kenwood is very tightlipped about) will not be available till later this year! |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by vicpai
Hope this answers all of your concerns!
Yes, thanks alot! :)
Two things I can add about the Garmin from my own research...
1) They let you download firmware upgrades from their website which has been steadily adding features
2) Simulation mode so you can pretend to drive the trip from your living room without driving it |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by vicpai
.....indicated there is the CURRENT Kenwood Nav. I had it installed in my Toyota RAV4 which I sold recently. From what I know, the new one (which Kenwood is very tightlipped about) will not be available till later this year!
O.K. sorry for spreading misinformation. The feature list appeared to be just like you described on the new one. |
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| florida_guy |
| One more question if I may.... As you can see by my signature line I tend to keep my vehicles a long time. :eek: What is your confidence level that Acura/Honda will not abandon the older Nav systems as the years go by with regard to mapping and possibly upgrading the software? |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by florida_guy
One more question if I may.... As you can see by my signature line I tend to keep my vehicles a long time. :eek: What is your confidence level that Acura/Honda will not abandon the older Nav systems as the years go by with regard to mapping and possibly upgrading the software?
ZERO.
They can barely be bothered to have purchase decent maps from NavTech for the current model year! Once they are no longer selling the GPS version, my opinion is that it will ne poorly supported.
To address the original question: If you could pick up ALL the parts needed for $1500 from a wreck (which is a steal, new it is $4k at least), then pay someone $1500 to do a meticulous install (NOT A CAR STEREO INSTALLER FLUNKY) it might be worthwhile- or, sell yours immediately, take a 1k-2k loss, and get the nav already installed!
Live and learn.
I don't have the nav, and am not convinced I'd get it in that vehicle if I bought again (it's my wifes).... for me, I have a portable GPS since I travel quite a bit... I love the GPS- just question the need in HER mdx...
BTW, I really like building routes/ planning trips on my PC, then downloading it to the portable GPS... can you do that on the Acura Nav?
Ard |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by ardvarkus
ZERO.
They can barely be bothered to have purchase decent maps from NavTech for the current model year! Once they are no longer selling the GPS version, my opinion is that it will ne poorly supported.
To address the original question: If you could pick up ALL the parts needed for $1500 from a wreck (which is a steal, new it is $4k at least), then pay someone $1500 to do a meticulous install (NOT A CAR STEREO INSTALLER FLUNKY) it might be worthwhile- or, sell yours immediately, take a 1k-2k loss, and get the nav already installed!
Live and learn.
I don't have the nav, and am not convinced I'd get it in that vehicle if I bought again (it's my wifes).... for me, I have a portable GPS since I travel quite a bit... I love the GPS- just question the need in HER mdx...
BTW, I really like building routes/ planning trips on my PC, then downloading it to the portable GPS... can you do that on the Acura Nav?
Ard
Hi Ard
Umm.... somewhere in this thread you apparently got a little lost ::eek: For the moment my only vehicle is a 92 Accord with 196,000 miles. It's not even worth 2k maybe 1k if I'm lucky. :) I got my 16k purchase price out of this little work horse a long time ago. Of course, I have put a few dollars (actually a few thousand dollars) in it to keep it running like new (almost) all these years.
What portable system do you have that allows you to build routes on you PC and dowload them. I would definitely like having the capability as well. |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by florida_guy
Hi Ard
Umm.... somewhere in this thread you apparently got a little lost ::eek: For the moment my only vehicle is a 92 Accord with 196,000 miles. It's not even worth 2k maybe 1k if I'm lucky. :) I got my 16k purchase price out of this little work horse a long time ago. Of course, I have put a few dollars (actually a few thousand dollars) in it to keep it running like new (almost) all these years.
What portable system do you have that allows you to build routes on you PC and dowload them. I would definitely like having the capability as well.
Huh?
Where did I get lost? I believe you asked for feedback on how confident one was that Acrua would support the NAV?
Then I addressed the original poster's question on installing a factory nav..,
So, where did I go wrong?
Ard |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by ardvarkus
Huh?
Where did I get lost? I believe you asked for feedback on how confident one was that Acrua would support the NAV?
Then I addressed the original poster's question on installing a factory nav..,
So, where did I go wrong?
Ard
Sorry. I didn't realize that the second part of the message was meant to address someone elses question since you only quoted mine. :1pat: |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by florida_guy
Sorry. I didn't realize that the second part of the message was meant to address someone elses question since you only quoted mine. :1pat:
Cool. That's why I prefaced it with "To address the original question:" ;)
So... I have a Magellan Platinum Color handheld GPS. Use it for hiking, biking, skiing...and driving. Really helpful for rental car use (I flew 115k air miles last year!)
I also have their "streets and destinations" program AND their "Topo"... both allow you to create very detailed maps (with points of interest in the former, topo contours in the latter) and download these to the handheld. I also can pull up a map of the city I will visit- ID all the points I need to get to, create routes, name the routes, download them to the handheld...
It is NOT the same as an Acura NAV nor even a 'street pilot'... but it will fit in a large pocket, or can be held on the handlebars of a mtn bike and work all day.
There is a pretty complete spectrum from handheld - to - dashboard - to - PocketPC/Hybrid - to - full featured autorouting/permanent install..... I decided the best for my use was a total handheld.
Ard |
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| tzeus |
I would suggest leaving the factory radio intact. If you look at previous posts on this group you will see people who have converted to the various radio/GPS systems, but it does not look attractive, and the with the LCD screen extendedit blocks the Climate/Compass screen etc.
My suggestion is to go with a fully external Nav system that connects to a DVD player etc. The cost should be pretty reasonable.
Example: http://www.audiovox.com/cgi-bin/nco.../input?cat=1650
Or if you are Computer savy install a small foot print PC in your X with the Navman USB GPS ($135 for GPS, and about $800 for the PC/LCD)
http://www.xenarc.com/index.html
http://www.navman.com |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by ardvarkus
So... I have a Magellan Platinum Color handheld GPS. Use it for hiking, biking, skiing...and driving. Really helpful for rental car use (I flew 115k air miles last year!)
I also have their "streets and destinations" program AND their "Topo"...
I assume it doesn't give turn by turn instructions though?? |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by florida_guy
I assume it doesn't give turn by turn instructions though??
Correct. You need more of a 'car based system' - street pilot, Garmin GPS V (I think) or a hybrid - Pocket PC/IPAC plus the GPS receiver attached.... then you loose the hiking/pocket/handlebar utility.
Ard |
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| florida_guy |
If you have the 2003 Acura Navigation System in your MDX but you want to upgrade your stereo system, how hard is it to do. I wouldn't do it myself. I have a professional installer do it.
The new 2003 Nav system sounds really great but I'm still concerned about being orphaned on updates as the years go by since I keep my cars many years. |
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| florida_guy |
Question:
I like to take a weekend excursions around Florida to the various parks and beaches. To make these trips affordable I sleep in my vehicle on Saturday night. My preferred place to sleep is at a Truck Stop so that when I get up in the morning I can walk in pay my $6 and take a shower and then eat breakfast at the restaurant.
O.K. So say I'm in Ft. Lauderdale (south east coast Florida) and I plan to make my way up the coast to let's say Cocoa Beach (central east coast Florida) I want to know if there is a Truck Stop near there. If I ask the Nav system for the nearest Truck Stop it will give me the nearest one to Ft. Lauderdale. How do I find out the nearest one to Cocoa Beach? |
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| jswift2000 |
| It may not be mapped on the DVD. Did you trying searching by category, then city, then name? Ive seen a few things that should be in the database that arent. |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by jswift2000
It may not be mapped on the DVD. Did you trying searching by category, then city, then name? Ive seen a few things that should be in the database that arent.
Apparently I wasn't clear. I don't even own one yet. I'm trying to get an understanding of how they work.
Another example.... You're driving to a convention center that's 150 miles away and you want to know what restaraunts are near the convention center BEFORE you leave your house. Can you use the Nav system to do that? |
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| jswift2000 |
| Yes... press the talk button and simply as "find nearest restaraunt (sp?)". better yet... "Find closest italian restaruant". Very cool. |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by jswift2000
Yes... press the talk button and simply as "find nearest restaraunt (sp?)". better yet... "Find closest italian restaruant". Very cool.
I'm obviously communicating this very badly. Let me try again.
You are home.
The convention center is 150 miles away.
You want to find the closest restaruant to the convention center. Not to your home.
If you say find the closest restaruant it will show you the closest one to where you are at the time, which is home.
How do you find the closest restaraunt to the convention center which is your destination that you have not even begun driving to yet? |
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| jswift2000 |
| If you know the city the convention center is in, you can find restaraunts in that city vicinity. |
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| florida_guy |
quote:
Originally posted by vicpai
If you decide to go aftermarket, I strongly urge you to wait until the fall of this year (2003). I just talked with a Kenwood technical rep the other day, who told me they're introducing a new model this fall, that will fix all of the above shortcomings! Additionally, it will have 10 (TEN) MILLION business listed across the USA!! :eek: (currently Acura is the best with over 7 million) and it will also be VOICE ACTIVATED for all the commands! (this is already noted on the Kenwood website www.kenwoodusa.com )
I buy my vehicles new and keep them a long time. As a result this demonstrated lack of commitment making NAV updates available is an extremely serious concern of mine. I don't want to pay the extra 2K for it and end up with an obsolete system in 3-5 years.
As a result I am seriously considering going aftermarket. I think but do not know that an aftermarket company would be more inclined to provide timely updates. Is this a valid assumption?
Is there any more information available on the updated Kenwood Nav? |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by florida_guy
I think but do not know that an aftermarket company would be more inclined to provide timely updates. Is this a valid assumption?
IMHO, any update that is UNIT SPECIFIC (ie only for the Acura system, or the Kenwood system, etc) will be risky.
If Kenwood doesn't have an update in 4 years, all you can do is never buy Kenwood radio/nav again...If Acura does it, you won't buy the whole auto. I wonder who would be more motivated to provide updates...?
I'd look for a unit that can use generic NavTech upgrades (if there is such a thing...) |
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| renov8r |
Ard, I like your thinking. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a truly generic upgrade. Even when considering the portable handheld units their is a limit to what data is updatable.
My guess is that IF Acura/Honda doesn't get on the stick SOON there will be a window of opportunity for a "third party" to offer updates. Ya know, I would BET that unless Honda/Acura has the most lazy/incompetent people running the project that a DELAY may actually be a good thing, as they are probablt cramming as much info as is ou there into the updates...
{:rolleyes: then again they might be the same folks who OK'ed the Bose :16: }
quote:
Originally posted by ardvarkus
IMHO, any update that is UNIT SPECIFIC (ie only for the Acura system, or the Kenwood system, etc) will be risky.
If Kenwood doesn't have an update in 4 years, all you can do is never buy Kenwood radio/nav again...If Acura does it, you won't buy the whole auto. I wonder who would be more motivated to provide updates...?
I'd look for a unit that can use generic NavTech upgrades (if there is such a thing...)
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| xcel |
Hi Renov8r:quote:
Ya know, I would BET that unless Honda/Acura has the most laxy/incompetent people running the project that a DELAY may actually be a good thing, as they are probably cramming as much info as is ou there into the updates...
___Actually, the PDA based NAVI solutions update ~ 3 times a year with the same Navtech data most of the luxury car owners use. That includes both the actual maps and the POI’s. It is not a big deal to provide a map update if that was being considered.
___The real item that would make me mad as hell if I owned a NAVI equipped X besides the lack of real map and POI updates is that when you purchased an 03, you more than likely received early 02 Navtech Map data and probably earlier. Those that purchased an 02 Navi received 99 Navtech map data. Who in their right mind would purchase a 1999 or 2001 Atlas for $9.95 or less today let alone $2,000 for one?
___For anyone else considering a PDA based NAV solution, have you done a search for Intellinav, Routis, or Mapopolis? The latest Mapopolis 4.xx using the latest version 5 Navtech maps are dated 05/18/03! Total cost, $62.42 including the Place Guide otherwise known as POI’s with a Lexus test drive :D
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by renov8r
Ard, I like your thinking. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a truly generic upgrade. Even when considering the portable handheld units their is a limit to what data is updatable.
My guess is that IF Acura/Honda doesn't get on the stick SOON there will be a window of opportunity for a "third party" to offer updates. Ya know, I would BET that unless Honda/Acura has the most laxy/incompetent people running the project that a DELAY may actually bea good thing, as they are probablt cramming as much info as is ou there into the updates...
My feeling exactly, plus I don't feel like sending them $150 every year for just a map update. Every 3 years will probably work for me. |
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| xcel |
Hi DaleB:quote:
Every 3 years will probably work for me.
___It appears to me that you were due a 3 year map update about 6 months ago :eek:
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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