smokyis350

iTrader: (21)

I actually don't use navi much in general. But it is a good option to have. The interior looks a lot better. Not to mention the bluetooth and back up camera that I always use on a daily basis. However, on my girlfriend's car, we never use the bluetooth function because it has terrible sound quality and the person that I talk to always complain having a lot of wind noise. Not to mention, we don't even take out the navi on a daily basis but we leave it in the glove box 95% of the time. Where as, with the OEM navi, you don't have to worry about it getting stolen and is always there to use.

I don't know where you live but especially here in the city, a back up camera is needed. Sure, park sensors can take care of the parallel parking but in situations where there is a big van or truck parked next to me at the mall, I rely on my back up camera because the truck/van is blocking my view of sight. This has probably saved me numerous times from getting into a car accident on the streets or inside a parking lot. In fact, I use the backup camera everyday to back out of my house because people tend to bike on the sidewalk and had many close encounter on my previous car which did not come equip with a backup camera.

I have MSN direct on my Garmin 885T. Although it is a good option to have, we barely use it because I am pretty sure no one takes out their portable navi out just to go to work nor do they need to input their destination going to work so I do not see this option that useful when most people have smart phones and look on google maps for traffic which takes less than 5 seconds. Not only that, MSN direct is only free for 3 month and charges $49.99 + tax after.

Do you mind telling me what model Garmin you have? Because I have almost the top of the line Garmin yet I am having issues pinpointing my locations. I also have a low budget TomTom that also have the same issues. Like I said earlier on my previous post, portable navigation have problems when there is a lot of skyscrapers. However, my OEM navigation has no problem with that at all.

I purchased my car in 2008 and have no trouble with the "outdated" DVD for my navigation. I don't remember roads changing every year or even months so I don't see what is the need to update my navigation DVD yearly.

Some good features Garmin has are red light camera, movie times, real time traffic, and weather. Red light camera function can be pretty useless since I am pretty sure no one is that dumb to run red lights anyways to begin with. However, I do have Escort 9500ix and Valentine 1 equipped on my cars. My Escort does have red light camera alerts but that is not the main reason I purchased it. It is to prevent myself from getting a silly ticket which has saved me at least 500 times in 5 years.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

So you're happy to have spent $2500 on an option you don't even use 95% of the time?


Well, I don't really agree... I don't find either to really look better than the other...just one has one big screen rather than a climate display and a radio display. But then I don't get people who put neon under their car or folks who install 8000k headlights either and there's lots of those around...

One can't fairly argue on looks... so if it looks $2500 better to you then it is. It's not to me though.

I dunno... I don't drive around with the windows down all the time so I don't have any wind noise using bluetooth on my Garmin... but both nav options offer bluetooth, and you can do aftermarket backup camera pretty cheaply too (a lot less than $2500 anyway) that display on an aftermarket GPS screen.

When I used to backup camera on a loaner it didn't really have a left/right view, so that wouldn't help with bikers unless they had stopped directly behind you.

Looking over my left/right shoulder seems to work fine for noticing people coming behind from either side though.

At malls I tend to part a bit anti-socially to avoid door dings though, so I don't have a lot of issue with folks blocking my peripheral vision in those cases...but again I didn't find the OEM backup camera to offer a real panoramic left/right view when I used it, just behind mostly...

But again, you can put in an aftermarket one that displays on an aftermarket nav easy enough if, as your situation sounds it's really really useful.

Traffic is free on a lot of Garmin units (and has been for several years now)... I think a few still use MSN direct with a fee (though even then it was like $99 for lifetime or something but most don't.


I have a 765T. I've not had trouble with it in (so far) Seattle, Portland, Denver, Vegas, Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Pittsburgh... probably so other large cities I'm leaving out but that's off the top of my head.

I could see NYC being a problem I suppose... FYI you OEM system isn't keeping signal all the time in those cases, it's using dead reckoning since it's hooked into the speedometer and knows which way it's going. It does work pretty well, but probably 95% of the population doesn't live someplace it'd come up much... if you do (and really need directions in such a place all the time) then a system with dead reckoning like the OEM might indeed be a wise choice.

Depends where you live I guess... around here roads change quite often and I update it every 3 months (free, lifetime, for $99). Vegas is another place I've been very glad for the map updates as they do a lot of road changes/building there.

Again in say NYC, probably not as important as the roads there have mostly not changed in 100 years


So... you dislike having an aftermarket GPS because you don't like having an extra gadget hooked up people might steal... but you have a radar detector... which is an extra gadget hooked up that people might steal... Just saying...

smokyis350

iTrader: (21)

Like I said, I don't use the portable navigation 95% of the time because we don't take it out every time we hop into the car. So features like live time traffic and bluetooth would be useless. However, when I have the OEM unit, I actually take advantage of it because it is always there. There is no need to worry about leaving it out or thieves stealing it.


I am pretty sure a lot of people on the forum can agree with me that the navigation gives the 2IS a better look inside the interior. And I am pretty sure no one on the forum puts neon lights under neath their cars. However, I do not have 8000k headlights [still using the OEM HID] but I did change my foglights to 3000k for performance.





I don't either but people seem to complain more about the sound quality on the Garmin than on OEM navigation. Anyone who has an aftermarket camera on the 2IS still does not look as cleanly done as the OEM camera. If you are talking about Fly Audio it still has a MSRP of $2000.


Actually the 2IS back up camera is a wide angle lens. I am not sure if you are familiar with camera lens but compare a wide angle lens with a telephoto lens. The wide angle lens does provide enough visibility to see if there is bicyclist on the sidewalk or not.

According to Lexus site: shows an area behind the vehicle. The small camera above the rear license plate captures a wide-angle view to help increase visibility when backing up. Included with the available Navigation System [2].


I tend to do the same but it is nearly impossible to find parking at malls here sometimes. Parking here is limited and no matter how hard I park away from people there is always a car/truck that parks next to me.

I did not see the MSN direct for $99 life time option. Even if I purchased a lifetime option it would be useless because according to Garmin, they will discontinue MSN direct on January 2012.


It can depend on the area. But I have went to Sacramento, San Francisco, LA and the GPS has lost reception on me. I don't mind it losing reception but it is such a PITA for it to recalculate my route which takes like 10 seconds and can cause me to miss an important turn or exit.
I frequently drive around the whole California and has never had any trouble yet with the outdated navigation DVD.




I don't remember aftermarket GPS being able to be concealed. I install my radar detector where no one can see it outside so I do not have to worry about taking it off everytime I park nor worrying about someone smashing my window to steal it.

Here is some pictures of how it looks like but this is not my car.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Features like realtime traffic would be useful on the OEM unit if it actually had the feature you mean (pre 2010).

The nuvi goes right in the center console BTW, fits easily... nobody would be able to steal it unless they had X-ray vision...in which case you probably should let them have it.



A lot of people put huge rear wings on FWD cars too...majority vote doesn't make right :P But like I said, looks is opinion, and if the looks is worth $2500 to someone that'd entirely their choice.

BTW, 4300k puts out the most actual light, not 3000k




Why not? You can certainly install it exactly as cleanly if you really want to. (IIRC some of the fly audio guys even looked at using the OEM camera from the Lexus parts bin...not sure what came of that)









As I said, they've mostly replaced MSN with the FM traffic, which is free on most of the units.... it does suck for folks with older units though that used it for their traffic... but again, you can buy 10-20 of these things for the cost of the OEM nav, so upgrading isn't a huge financial hardship in comparison.

Seriously, it takes about 10 seconds to toss the nuvi in the center console...maybe 30 seconds if you'd rather put it in the glovebox, but neither is see-through.

The other nice part about being able to do this- You can take it with you, since it'll provide pedestrian navigation too if you have to, say, get out and then find your way around a downtown you're not familiar with.

Some newer units even provide info to navigate public transit once you get out of the car.

The portability also lets you throw it in a bag and take it with you when you fly so it can go in a rental car... try that with the OEM unit

shaolin

iTrader: (2)

Navi is good for people that use the functions... whether or not they use it every day.
I'm sure IS is not the best interior choice for a 4 door vehicle.

btw, i have navi and i do use most of the fuctions; i used it so much that my navi touch screen stops working. (few owens here have the same issue) and it will cost you $$$$$$$$$$$ to replace the dame touch screen.

funnie

iTrader: (14)

i dont think it matters now cause there is the fly audio option to add on to the car. Its almost just as good as the oem nav unit. but the fly audio unit can play dvds and you can update maps for free basically.

So if you find a killer deal on an IS with no NAV u might just be able to get it n add the fly audio in the future.

516IS

iTrader: (12)

Before you go adding Flyaudio, read this:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-350-a-63.html

Pretty messed up that they do not support their product less than a year of being released. Do your due diligence before spending close to $2000 for the unit and install.

The OEM NAV is by far the best option IMO, I would not buy another Luxury car that has no OEM NAV on it.

DajonDondo

i have it.. makes the car look sooooo much better... the interior looks plain and ugly without it IMO..... the features, everything is nice....

mong

iTrader: (4)

2010's Navi all day, everyday!

smokyis350

iTrader: (21)

Would be useful but I can't imagine myself using it everyday. Like I mentioned earlier, it is a lot easier looking at traffic through my iphone using google maps. Takes less than 5 seconds to do.

I don't know about you but these Garmin navigation don't turn on in a few seconds.

Don't forget you have to make sure you don't have any suction cup marks on your windows. Thieves in my area notice that there is suction cups marking on the window and will smash your window and goes like a tornado looking for the GPS and any valuables. (actually happened to one of my close friend)

It isn't just primarily for cosmetics. That is just one of the pros of the OEM navigation. To each to their own I guess. But isn't it ironic that 80% of people on the board have navigation equipped even though it doesn't perform "as well". Not to mention, people spend $500-1500 on axle back exhaust that only gives about 5-6WHP. And intake that cost $300 and yield 5WHP. People paying so much money to increase the power of the car that they cannot even feel yet they cannot spend $2500 for a navigation?




Like someone mentioned. Fly audio navigation are having issues and problems. It wouldn't be financially smart to change something that big in the car without having proper warranty. One year ago, my CD jammed. If I didn't have warranty on the car it would cost $500 in labor to repair. I don't even know what happens if your CD gets jammed in one of those Fly audio. It is not a OEM part so Lexus will not service it. So would you have to ship the whole navigation back to Fly Audio to repair?






My 885T model is actually pretty recent. The MSN direct is a failure. $49.99 + tax per year is a bit ridiculous. Plus there I don't even think there is a lifetime option.

10 seconds if your super fast. I can see this method taking over 1 minute (for me).

1. Park my car and I take off the navigation off the mount
2. Turn off the navigation
3. Put it inside the black bag to make sure it doesn't get scratched
4. Put it inside glove box
5. Take of suction cups
6. Wipe off the suction cup residue on the window
7. Remove the plug from the AC adapter
Pretty neat option to have but hoped it actually worked in places with sky scrappers. Instead, I had to use my iphone maps because my Garmin did not have good signal. Let's not forget that these things aren't light. It isn't easy to carry it around town. But on the other hand, using a phone is much more portable and much more versatile.

Rather pay extra $10 a day for a peace of mind of it not getting stolen or damaged. Or another option is to use a smart phone when you are on the go. I actually have the TomTom navigation equipped on my phone and google maps.

Bottom line, I have probably 4-5 navigation (including my phone) and I still prefer the Lexus OEM navigation hands down. I have the Garmin 885T which is probably one of the best out there. Some low budget TomTom navigation and TomTom navigation application/ Google Maps on my iPhone and would still prefer to use the OEM navigation. The convenience and peace of mind it has is well worth the money. Sure it doesn't have a few function but it definitely help get me from point A to point B at ease without losing reception or having any malfunctions. Not to mention the back up camera which is very useful because it is wide angle lens can and help prevent accidents. I cannot stress how important it is and how many close encounters I have in my girlfriends' car which is not equipped with one. However, It may not be portable but I am pretty sure everyone here has a smart phone in this era.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

It's easier to pull out yet another device, which isn't the one you're using to route you to where you're going... and which also won't offer to route you around the traffic with a new route?

I don't think so.

Maybe yours is defective? As I said a warm lock on mine is 5-15 seconds... it's on and ready in less time than it takes to put my seatbelt on.


Why would you? the friction mount works wondefully and leaves no marks of any kind since it's not attached to anything but the GPS. Sits perfectly in place right on top of the center stack. Those suction mounts never made any sense at all to me.



Not really... Lexus ships most of their cars that way because it's marked up so much it's a high profit item for them... and most people aren't willing to special order their car as I did.

I mean, much more than 80% of people on here have the factory stereo over the ML one, because that's how Lexus ships them... By your logic that means the base stereo is "better" than ML... which is clearly incorrect.



I didn't do those things either... I spent $400 on a used Tanabe which works and looks the same as the full price one... and I got my intake both on sale and at 30% off the sale price thanks to Microsoft cashback.

I mean, I paid cash for my 350, I certainly could have gotten nav on the car... I just didn't want to pay 10x as much for a product that did less.



Yes, there was a lifetime option... I've mentioned it 2 or 3 times now. It was $129.99... or less than half the cost of one map update from Lexus.

Your GPS is coming up on 2 years old (as a model, dunno when you bought yours), and the MSN service runs through 2012... so that's 3 years, which is ancient in small electronics.... but again, even if you bought a new one every single year, let alone every 3, you'd still be rid of the car long before you paid the cost of one OEM nav unit.... and you'd constantly be getting new features along the way too unlike the static OEM unit.

I agree folks who really wanted to keep their inexpensive GPS for a decade got screwed on MSN discontinuing service after only 3 or 4 years of ownership...But like I said, most Garmins now (and even when I got mine a while back) offered free lifetime traffic via FM, not MSN.




Yup, so far so good.


It turns itself off once it loses power actually so remove that step.

Do you keep loose uncut diamonds in your glovebox or something? It's pretty sturdy... so yeah this step is also not needed. I've had mine for 2 years without a bag, been in luggage on dozens of trips as well as in/out of the center console a ton of time... not a single scratch.

Yup, this is step 2 in things you actually need to do.

No, you don't do either since you used a friction mount like a smart person.

That was kinda in step 1 in my mind... but ok...

So it's 3 actual steps, not 7... and yeah it takes between 10-30 seconds depending how slow you move I guess.



What? Now you're just making stuff up.

My Garmin is 6.4 ounces.

That's less than 2 ounces more than an original iphone.

Again, put it in the glovebox and the only person who'd know it's there to steal is Superman.

If Superman wants your stuff you really should just let him have it.

Even if it DID get stolen though the replacement cost would be less than I'd pay to rent a GPS on a long trip.

But in 6 years of traveling with a GPS I've never had a problem with someone magically seeing into the center console and stealing it, so you probably won't either. In fact, most rentals have larger center consoles than the 2IS, so you don't even need to remove it from the mount, the whole unit fits, so now you're down to just TWO steps when parking- unplug, put in center console, done.

Four problems with that-

You paid for the app... and unless you're just holding it there in your hand the whole time you also paid for an awkward dash-mounting kit of some kind too...probably about as much for all that as a really cheap traveling GPS would've cost so that's a bit of a wash.


Second problem- the GPS antenna in the phone is far inferior to a standalone GPS. You were so concerned about signal, when you don't have cell coverage (so no AGPS) your phone sucks compared to a "real" GPS that just needs a view of the sky. Warm up time for GPS on a cell phone without a cell signal is massively longer than a 'real' GPS for example. And as a side-note- using google maps on an iphone, without a cell signal, doesn't work either... it downloads the maps via the cell network as you go. (paying for a GPS app with preloaded maps avoids that issue at least)

Third problem- the screen (for an iphone and most others) will be significantly smaller than the one on a Garmin...

Fourth problem- Better hope the rental car has an easy way to get the sound from the phone to the car speakers otherwise you're gonna have trouble hearing it compared to a real GPS...both for GPS use and if you get a phone call since it'll be sitting away from you up on the dash someplace.




Cognative dissonance will tell us to justify why we spent more on something that does less...I get that... but really "this 6 ounce GPS is too heavy!" or "I don't like an extra device so instead I use my cell phone that comes with a bunch of shortcomings and a pay-app to not work as well" is just getting silly.


Anyway, again, there's reasons I understand for really wanting the OEM unit... if you have kids there's no way I'd NOT have a backup camera, and it's probably less hassle (albeit a lot more cost) to use the OEM one rather than aftermarket... if for some odd reason having two small climate/radio displays instead of one BIG screen causes you seizures then paying $2500 for the looks makes sense too...

And if you're buying a 2010 they at least got realtime traffic and a couple other features from this century in there so it's only a few years behind Garmin features now

So if I were buying TODAY (a 2010/2011) I might well have seriously considered the OEM nav... but the original question someone asked that I replied to was why the 06-09 nav sucks, and I think I've covered that pretty well

javyLSU

iTrader: (21)

Not really - you've repeatedly failed to realize that 99% of the people on this forum (pretty much everyone except for you) prefers an option that is "integrated" into the car, without wires showing or having to mount/remove it every time you get into our out of the car. It's your preference, you've made that patently clear. However, many people do put a dollar value on aesthetics - and that certainly matters as well. You're happy with your Garmin - congratulations. Many, many here do not like that solution for their cars.

Javier

smokyis350

iTrader: (21)

For every day use I wouldn't need to take out my GPS because it is such a hassle to use. Just few weeks ago, I was using my Garmin in LA around Disneyland and it rerouted me to drive on the streets which had way worst traffic than on the freeway. It estimated that I would arrive at my destination in 30 minutes with traffic on I-5 but ended up taking 45 minutes driving all around the streets. This is not the first time the Garmin has routed me into places with even more traffic. Just because there is traffic on the freeway these things automatically think that there are no traffic on the street.

I actually leave it off if I don't use it.


They cost $30 and would rather have my navigation sit either on the far left side of my window or underneath the mirror when I plug in my AC adapter. Just a personal preference.

I had a spanking deal on my IS350. I tried to build my own IS350 since they were so limited but the downside is that they wouldn't budge with the pricing if I were to build my own. I was able to get invoice on my car which I think was like $5000 or $6000 off window price.
Why would someone pay $2500 for something they don't want or need then?


Regardless you paid around $80 per HP for the Tanabe. Power that you won't even feel at all.
Yet is still missing some key features like back up camera and the convenience of the OEM navigation.










These unit aren't cheap. I paid $350-$400 for mine not too long ago. I definitely want to keep this thing in prestige condition so I can resell it in the future.

Where as my TomTom has scratches every where.

You still need to hide the friction mount. These things aren't small.

I forgot I even lock my glove box. Rather be safe than sorry.

They are way more bulkier than a iphone. The thing don't even fit inside my pocket. So you would expect people to carry it around town when you are traveling then what do you do when your not using it?

Actually I got the app for free. I have a jailbreak iphone. Also got a $1 window mount for my iphone works perfectly.

Ironically, I had less signal issue on the phone than the Garmin.

That's fine. I don't have one more expensive item to worry about. It is a good trade off IMO.

No problem with sound. Jailbreak iphone allows you to tweak with the volume controls btw. But I still don't need that because the OEM volume is plenty loud.

I don't have kids and still find it useful. Like I said before the wide angle lens help a lot with pedestrian crossing or cars driving by.

flowrider

iTrader: (9)

My response to a thread just like this one in the ES350 Section:



Lou

brociouz

iTrader: (65)

Geez, this is one epic debate. Seriously though, like Javy and I said, it's mostly for aesthetics and convenience (and the DVD changer if you have ML), two things people are willing to pay significant amounts of money for. There's no right or wrong here, just do what makes you happy.