Is the factory Nav really worth it??

[Barlow]

I know its a nice feature and all

but like my prof said, you can get better ones for cheaper in any electronic store.

I did do a search and all, and i know theres a tonne of posts on Nav. but yeah is it worth getting from the factory?

[Yimbie]

I personally think it's worth it. I really like Infiniti's "trademark IMO" Birdview navigation.

- Yimbie

[zozoka1212]

It depends how much you think you'll use it. If you travel a lot sure go for it. If not well don't wast the money.

Zozoka

[torbach1]

I think it is worth it over an external nav. Reasons:

1. Integration with the audio system is great - lowers volume to give directions, etc.2. birds eye view (although this is available on many Garmins)3. Integration with phone/bluetooth4. Can be controlled through voice5. Doesn't it automatically include the 10GB music hard drive? If so, that one is really worth it...

CheersTamir

[J-Owner]

IMO the factory nav is a good one. I agree that it depends on how much you think you will use it.

I can tell you that I do not use mine as much as I thought I would. I use it alot when traveling out of town but I pretty much know Dallas like the back of my hand and we have the all encompassing Dallas Bible "The Mapsco" so to each his own I guess.

I personally am on the fence as to if I will get it again. But there is nothing wrong with the factory nave and I do like that it is integrated into the car. I have a friend that bought a garmin and he has this weird sandbag like thing that sits on the dash and holds the unit and with the sun coming in you can never see the screen on that thing plus the screen isn't that big to begin with.

Anyway, like I say just my opinion.

[Gimli G35]

The factory Nav is very good, its just that when new maps come out sometimes the factory skimps out.

Pros: Easy to seecome on its FACTORY .. its meant to work with your car

not going to go into CONS lol not really any i can see except for you cant customize it

[AZhitman]

If you're buying used, find a Nav car. Buying new? Don't know if I could justify the cost, unless they make you a smoking deal.

I love having factory NAV, mostly because I think the aftermarket units are tacky and lame.

[ugaexploder]

No, it's not worth it. Even if it does come with a 10gb hd...that's very small for hd space. the new g35's also come with video inputs so you can plug in your ipod with 80gb, what's better for music? IPOD! of course, most people have one anyways.

Also, most phones nowadays come with navigation if you really need it. personally, i just mapquest and go but that's because i use wifi on campus everywhere. aftermarket navi's are just nasty looking though, but at least they don't cost 2g's

[smockers83]

If you want to add some pizzazz to your car, go for it. Otherwise ask yourself these questions:1) How much traveling will I do in unfamiliar territory?2) Am I good with remembering directions (not always new ones)?3) Can I read a regular map?4) Do I want to be a female and have to ask for directions everywhere I go? just kidding5) What's wrong with Mapquest to navigate a freeway or 2, get a couple exits, and/or a couple of turns to get to the PoI? 6) Do I want to be interrupted from jamming to a good tune by "Turn right..."?

Case #5 will look better to the hot date (new girl, girlfriend, wife, what have you) that'll be in your passenger seat, that you know what's up. Anywho...

In all honesty, I personally didn't think it was worth it because once I go somewhere once, I remember how to get there from then on out and if I really have to figure out where to go, I can just take a quick glance at Mapquest, jot a few things down if its unfamiliar territory and I'm gone.

[torbach1]

One point I wanted to mention regarding the 10GB drive vs iPod is that the iPod input is great, but you still have to control the iPod through the iPod itself as far as I know. The advantage of the hard drive is that you control it from the main radio unit. If there is an iPod controller like that for the G35, I'd love to know about it because I also have an iPod, and would otherwise prefer to use that too.

Also, some of the answers above are general about nav systems. If you know your way around town or are comfortable using Mapquest, etc., then you probably wouldn't be looking at nav systems. Personally I travel a lot for work to see clients in DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Richmond, etc., and definitely find it incredibly useful. I had a Garmin Streetpilot C550 prior to this (actually selling it right now), and as external navs go, I can highly recommend that unit.

Also, regarding the voice interrupting your music, that is something that can be turned off if you want, but is useful when you're heading to a client meeting and want to make sure you get there on time.

Regards,Tamir

[Gimli G35]

Are you sure the G's Nav is that annoying ? took test drive of some BMW's and got a very lucky chance to SIT in an Audi RS4

Bmw M5's NAV is annoying... Turn Left on highway # In # feet. 2 seconds later - warning high traffic area ahead - 5 seconds later , Please merge lane and prepare to get off the exit ....

[ugaexploder]

One point I wanted to mention regarding the 10GB drive vs iPod is that the iPod input is great, but you still have to control the iPod through the iPod itself as far as I know. The advantage of the hard drive is that you control it from the main radio unit. If there is an iPod controller like that for the G35, I'd love to know about it because I also have an iPod, and would otherwise prefer to use that too.

Also, some of the answers above are general about nav systems. If you know your way around town or are comfortable using Mapquest, etc., then you probably wouldn't be looking at nav systems. Personally I travel a lot for work to see clients in DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Richmond, etc., and definitely find it incredibly useful. I had a Garmin Streetpilot C550 prior to this (actually selling it right now), and as external navs go, I can highly recommend that unit.

Also, regarding the voice interrupting your music, that is something that can be turned off if you want, but is useful when you're heading to a client meeting and want to make sure you get there on time.

Regards,Tamir

I can definitely see your point of view if you travel a lot, then navigation is a must and will save you a lot of time. I guess it really comes down to preference and luxury. Personally I didn't want to go higher than $35 and if I would've purchased the journey then I could've gotten the tech and premo packages but I really wanted the performance. i live in atlanta but it's an easy city to get around especially since I've lived here less than a year and i know most of the roads.

but with the ipod, you can just make a playlist and not mess with it unless ur just really anal about what music you listen to on every song and even then you can still use mp3 cd's. if you make a mp3 cd you can put up to 13cd's on one cd...multiply that by 6 and that's a lot of music. maybe 4-5 gigs of music just on cd's. so i really don't see 10gb worth buying, too small.

[C-Kwik]

Honestly, it's not going to dramatically change your driving experience. It is a nice convenience, but certainly not necessary. It is however, very handy for the obvious reason that it will guide you to your destinations when you don't know your way. But some of the side benefits are you can find various stops like ATM's, gas stations and restaurants if your in an area that you are not as familiar with. I've been in situations where I was running low on gas in an area I'm only partially familiar with and drove around for half an hour just looking for a gas station. I only know a handful of my bank's locations near me, so if I'm not right next to the known atm locations, the nav has helped me to find one quickly without stopping for directions or having to go out of the way to the ones I do know.

I had the nav in my G35 and it's usefulness in the G35 swayed me towards a Titan equipped with the nav as well. I did use my G35's screen to output video from a modified xbox and on the Titan, I have the rear DVD player outputting to the nav screen as well as a back-up camera.

[chadg]

I heard that the aux video input only works when the car is in park. Is that true?

[smockers83]

I heard that the aux video input only works when the car is in park. Is that true?

Yes sir. It's illegal to have video playing for front-seat passengers while the vehicle is moving.

[Barlow]

About the 10gb hardrive, and it is a touch screen right.

I saw a vid od some dude driving in and out of traffic while playing with it.

This screen, i can control nav, and also alll my music controls...

This will be my first luxury car, as the past two cars i've owned have been civics....

But yeah thanks for all the reply's.

[AZWoodWorker]

I recently bought a sedan with Nav. I still ask myself whether it was worth it. For coolness factor, it's definitely a 10. The touch screen, the hard drive and the nav itself combine for a huge wow factor when someone steps into the car for the first time.

However...

For the $2000+ (I forget what the sticker price is), you could sure do some cool stuff with aftermarket accessories. Also, the Music Box functionality is a bit clunky. However, the touch screen is awesome.

I'm not sure I would do it again. I live in an area where I know where everything is, so I don't really use the nav all that much. If I lived somewhere where I used it all the time, I'd definitely spring for it.

Just my opinion.

[zozoka1212]

touch screen is really cool but the cleaning of the screen!?

Zozoka

[deathBooster]

Hey How do you find out your hard drive size???

is it possible to hack that Aux Video in PArk only????

[jnix]

Hey How do you find out your hard drive size???

They're all 10GB. I assume in a year or two someone will take the time to figure out an upgrade. Hard drives are cheapcheapcheap these days. I'll probably take a look at it at some point, but I'm still in the break-in period, and only have 3 CDs loaded so far.

is it possible to hack that Aux Video in PArk only????

Not yet. People have posted options for older models, but the 2007 at least is still no dice.

[ugaexploder]

to find a fix for the video input would be to just look at the wires near the parking brake. whatever ground wire that is attached to it just take it off and ground it to the chassis.

also, the hard drive is not going to be a full 10 gigs, just like when you get your computer it says 80gb hard drive when really the operating system takes up some space and the programs that usually come with it and backup resources nowadays.

just like a member said earlier, 2100 dollars is a lot of money for a navigation system, wouldn't you much rather have exhaust, hi flow cats, and intake system? i would

[cybertec69]

I love the navigation system and hard drive that comes with it, great in finding places real FAST and easy, yes I do drive to many different places, plus info on traffic restaurants banks and the sort, the hard drive can store thousands of songs from your long list of CD collections, my HD is not clunky and works great.