I’ve been working on this new SUV for my wife’s birthday at the end of the month, almost done after a year of agony! I’m just finishing up with the interior and other accessories and wanted to know if anyone had experience w/ in-dash navigation systems? Any suggestions/ideas that combine audio and navigation would be really helpful for me.
Replies (5)
swez on 11/13/2006 22:35:29
Talking some big bucks for a feature like this friend. Most good ones start at over $1200.00 and up. Have a look:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-40UoK4vjZ1f/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=182350&avf=Y&skipvs=T
If this is just a Mom toting kids around town vehicle, that's a pretty expensive package for local trips. However, if she travels a lot for business and is not map savvy, consider a portable Nav unit like Tom-Tom or the likes.
Does she get lost easily, once out of the neighborhood traffic zones? If yes, this makes some degree of sense. (We all know women are clueless when you hand them a map and say... "How do I get there... from here?")
FYI: My Dad had a small screen Garmin for a while and upgraded to a large screen Lowrance a year later. The Garmin screen was so small, it was virtually useless. The Lowrance is much easier to read and program too.
Both were very pricey and he has not figured out how to use the darn things well anyway. Basically.... $1500.00 blown for a stupid thing he rarely uses???
Is your wife a gadget gal? If not, this may wind up as a very expensive dash ornament that is rarely used and frustrating to program as well.
Think about that one OK? Is this your idea of a great gadget to have or something she'll really use and appreciate. (It's all about motives huh?)
FYI: I did some nifty add ons for my Ex's Mini-Van a few years ago. Unfortunately, she did not take good care of things and this van became a weekly trash collector. The add ons were trashed in a matter of months by the kids/dogs and I often spent hours each weekend, cleaning up the messes. Won't get caught in that trap again! End Rant!
Swez COFFEE
ccorces1 on 11/14/2006 13:05:13
very helpful reply and lots to consider. my wife is absolutely terrible with directions yet for some reason is pretty tech savy. she has always been good with computers and isn't someone who gives up learning a new program or feature on a car. i believe the addition of the nav system is partly out of need and also out of a want to have the newest tech gadget. she's been dropping hints that the Pioneer system is "best" but i'm not sure yet
swez on 11/14/2006 18:37:34
LOL... Well, if she thinks Pioneer is the best, for her, nothing else will do. (Eclipse and Alpine make some pretty nice in dash NAV units too)
The trick here, is how easily she can adapt to programming, using and interpreting directions available from a given NAV unit. Some units are very intuitive and quickly mastered. Others may take hours of pouring over the users manual to figure it all out.
It is a computer, but the programming methods are very different as there are no keyboards and mouse as the interface. Most are touch screen or menu driven inputs that eventually spit out a given map and segments of the route choosen.
If your wife is pretty tech savvy, she'll devour the manual until she masters it. However, if you have to learn it, then teach her to use it as well.... are you prepared to offer that assistance?
FYI: Ever try to teach someone the fundamentals of golf? Even if one is a very proficient golfer, they may not have the patience to teach others.
Swez
cplkittle on 11/14/2006 23:02:49
I can't speak for anything other than pioneer and alpine, my vote goes to pioneer. I'm thinking you have a din and a half sized radio to work with, so the AVIC-N3 would be my recommendation unless you want to modify the dash to accept the GOD of all navigation systems the double din AVIC Z1. This baby is awesome (built in 30 gig hard drive for navigation upgrades and personal music library) one touch voice activation - voice commands and responds with pleasant voice. multiple route options.. I could go on all day.
basically it will do anything you want it to do.
ccorces1 on 11/15/2006 12:35:03
such great feedback and commentary, i definitely appreciate it! i think you may have sold me on the AVIC, i've been reading a lot of positive reviews online and it seems like the features and capabilities in terms of DVD/iPod/Bluetooth compatibility coupled with the fundamental navigation components make it a win win purchase
Replies (5)
swez on 11/13/2006 22:35:29
Talking some big bucks for a feature like this friend. Most good ones start at over $1200.00 and up. Have a look:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-40UoK4vjZ1f/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=182350&avf=Y&skipvs=T
If this is just a Mom toting kids around town vehicle, that's a pretty expensive package for local trips. However, if she travels a lot for business and is not map savvy, consider a portable Nav unit like Tom-Tom or the likes.
Does she get lost easily, once out of the neighborhood traffic zones? If yes, this makes some degree of sense. (We all know women are clueless when you hand them a map and say... "How do I get there... from here?")
FYI: My Dad had a small screen Garmin for a while and upgraded to a large screen Lowrance a year later. The Garmin screen was so small, it was virtually useless. The Lowrance is much easier to read and program too.
Both were very pricey and he has not figured out how to use the darn things well anyway. Basically.... $1500.00 blown for a stupid thing he rarely uses???
Is your wife a gadget gal? If not, this may wind up as a very expensive dash ornament that is rarely used and frustrating to program as well.
Think about that one OK? Is this your idea of a great gadget to have or something she'll really use and appreciate. (It's all about motives huh?)
FYI: I did some nifty add ons for my Ex's Mini-Van a few years ago. Unfortunately, she did not take good care of things and this van became a weekly trash collector. The add ons were trashed in a matter of months by the kids/dogs and I often spent hours each weekend, cleaning up the messes. Won't get caught in that trap again! End Rant!
Swez COFFEE
ccorces1 on 11/14/2006 13:05:13
very helpful reply and lots to consider. my wife is absolutely terrible with directions yet for some reason is pretty tech savy. she has always been good with computers and isn't someone who gives up learning a new program or feature on a car. i believe the addition of the nav system is partly out of need and also out of a want to have the newest tech gadget. she's been dropping hints that the Pioneer system is "best" but i'm not sure yet
swez on 11/14/2006 18:37:34
LOL... Well, if she thinks Pioneer is the best, for her, nothing else will do. (Eclipse and Alpine make some pretty nice in dash NAV units too)
The trick here, is how easily she can adapt to programming, using and interpreting directions available from a given NAV unit. Some units are very intuitive and quickly mastered. Others may take hours of pouring over the users manual to figure it all out.
It is a computer, but the programming methods are very different as there are no keyboards and mouse as the interface. Most are touch screen or menu driven inputs that eventually spit out a given map and segments of the route choosen.
If your wife is pretty tech savvy, she'll devour the manual until she masters it. However, if you have to learn it, then teach her to use it as well.... are you prepared to offer that assistance?
FYI: Ever try to teach someone the fundamentals of golf? Even if one is a very proficient golfer, they may not have the patience to teach others.
Swez
cplkittle on 11/14/2006 23:02:49
I can't speak for anything other than pioneer and alpine, my vote goes to pioneer. I'm thinking you have a din and a half sized radio to work with, so the AVIC-N3 would be my recommendation unless you want to modify the dash to accept the GOD of all navigation systems the double din AVIC Z1. This baby is awesome (built in 30 gig hard drive for navigation upgrades and personal music library) one touch voice activation - voice commands and responds with pleasant voice. multiple route options.. I could go on all day.
basically it will do anything you want it to do.
ccorces1 on 11/15/2006 12:35:03
such great feedback and commentary, i definitely appreciate it! i think you may have sold me on the AVIC, i've been reading a lot of positive reviews online and it seems like the features and capabilities in terms of DVD/iPod/Bluetooth compatibility coupled with the fundamental navigation components make it a win win purchase
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