Nav System - Worth it?
#136
Probably the most useful feature is the text-to-speech technology. Where the navigation system actually pronounces the street names. I don't think there's a factory navigation system out there that can do that. You would think that's a simple enough luxury feature to add to a factory system that costs over $2,000.
#139
Probably the most useful feature is the text-to-speech technology. Where the navigation system actually pronounces the street names. I don't think there's a factory navigation system out there that can do that. You would think that's a simple enough luxury feature to add to a factory system that costs over $2,000.
#140
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 06-IS350-BLK-BLK-Lux pkg-Nav-ML-XM-HID 6K
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It worth it,,get the Nav ML,its the most perfect complete kit you can ever get,,,I remeber when i was looking for a car before buying the is350,i was comparing the Navs and screen in different rides like benz,bmw,acura,audi. none of them really has the quality,easy to use,color and almost playing all your musics and movies no matter what they are as well as the lexus Nav ML.
I have also S350 2006 benz,,and I hate the Nav and the screen it has,its really hard to use and no touch screen,and many other things.
so long story short go with the Nav ML ,an less ofcourse u r planning to get after market Nav and DVD player, then the options are widelly open.
I have also S350 2006 benz,,and I hate the Nav and the screen it has,its really hard to use and no touch screen,and many other things.
so long story short go with the Nav ML ,an less ofcourse u r planning to get after market Nav and DVD player, then the options are widelly open.
#141
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: CA
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The hack to open up the nav functions while the car is in motion do NOT require cutting wires.. Just click on Menu, Volume, then hit the top left corner of the nav screen, then the bottom left corner of the nav screen, then hit the top left corner of the nav screen, then the bottom left corner of the nav screen, then you'll see a new menu. Hold the override button for 5 or so seconds (you'll hear a beep). Then hit the "back button" on the top right and you are ready to go!
The NAV is great, I would not have purchased the car without it. I would have purchased an M3 if the 350 NAV system wasn't available. NAV system being the combination of navigation, rear view camera, easier to use (while driving) controls, among others.
The NAV is great, I would not have purchased the car without it. I would have purchased an M3 if the 350 NAV system wasn't available. NAV system being the combination of navigation, rear view camera, easier to use (while driving) controls, among others.
#142
Lexus Test Driver
The NAV as a whole package looks better obviously but if you're talking about functionality the little Garmins and Tom Tom's are better and they're easily upgradeable flashable and hackable all for less than 300 bucks and can take with you to other cars or use on foot while hiking etc. I just flashed my Garmin and now it can speak in Cantonese LOL.
#143
#147
Lexus Fanatic
Not sure if anyone posted this ever, but their was a comparison between facotry and portable Nav's a while back. I am pro nav, but I do not have nav in my IS because I wanted silver and they had a black one on the lot. I don't regret it for price reasons, but I would love facory nav and do agree with everyone that it makes the car look much better and more expnsive with nav. Also, the voice recognition in factory navs work well. The main selling point in factory vs. portable is that most portable units are desigend to last 3-5 years whereas the factory units are designed to last 13-15, or the life of the car. Furthermore, most facotry units have a much bigger screen and you don't have to worry about theft as much as the portable units are easy to remove for those who choose to leave them suction cupped to their window. On the other side of the specturm, the Garmin Nuvi widescreen works very well and takes seconds to compute longer distances. It all comes down to prefferance, cost, and amount of driving. Factory is always going to be better.
#148
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Even if the Garmin dies every 5 years and the factory nav lasts 15, that's 3 times longer... at 10 times the cost. Horrible by any math. Add in the $225 a year you save by buying Garmins $75 map updates instead of the $300 ones from Lexus- Over 15 years that's a savings of almost ANOTHER $4000 on top of the 4k I saved not getting nav.
(or only another 2k on top of 4k if you buy lexus maps from ebay or something)
Plus if you replace the garmin in 5 years you get one that does massively more than the factory nav does (you already do today by getting traffic in realtime plus all the other stuff many units can do- only thing you really give up is the backup camera)
Theft ain't much of an issue if you just put it in the console when you're not using it (the garmin friction mount works like it was designed from the factory for that flat center stack area on the dash of the ISx50)... plus it lets you take it with you in a rental car if traveling.
(or only another 2k on top of 4k if you buy lexus maps from ebay or something)
Plus if you replace the garmin in 5 years you get one that does massively more than the factory nav does (you already do today by getting traffic in realtime plus all the other stuff many units can do- only thing you really give up is the backup camera)
Theft ain't much of an issue if you just put it in the console when you're not using it (the garmin friction mount works like it was designed from the factory for that flat center stack area on the dash of the ISx50)... plus it lets you take it with you in a rental car if traveling.
#149
Intermediate
Add in the $225 a year you save by buying Garmins $75 map updates instead of the $300 ones from Lexus- Over 15 years that's a savings of almost ANOTHER $4000 on top of the 4k I saved not getting nav.
(or only another 2k on top of 4k if you buy lexus maps from ebay or something)
(or only another 2k on top of 4k if you buy lexus maps from ebay or something)
#150
I think instead of limiting your option to NOT have a Nav, why not keep the option open? Chances are you can easily find the car with the exact options that you want with the Nav than without Nav since Nav is so common nowadays (like some people want ML but don't want Nav, I think you need to special order this kind of option). You'll have a lot more bargaining power when you are dealing on a car in stock, whether than special ordering ones.
So if you find a car in stock with the exact options that you want except it has a Nav in it, don't walk away! Try to bargain for it, you might get $1000 or even $2000 discount (so your Nav is FREE !!!) more than special ordering one without Nav and you don't have to wait 3 months for it !!!
So if you find a car in stock with the exact options that you want except it has a Nav in it, don't walk away! Try to bargain for it, you might get $1000 or even $2000 discount (so your Nav is FREE !!!) more than special ordering one without Nav and you don't have to wait 3 months for it !!!