Well thanks for your Imput. I am going to go without the Navigation for now.

 

I'm seriously thinking about going the Eclipse route, though I don't like having to pay so much for the double-din conversion.

 

I say BIG mistake. I asked the dealership if the NAV could be installed after and they said NO. The reason i asked was because I didnt want the Premium Package (dont like the sun roof, makes car heavier) so I wanted to buy w/o premium and get the NAV installed (cuz they req premium to get nav) so well got nav and premium. Dont regret it at all.

 

Who needs this overpriced POS these days? You can get much better looking stuff. Aftermarket, self-built, handheld, notebook with GPS or whatever. Your OEM GPS will be outdated in few years and it costs 5 times what it is actually worth.

 

^ yeah well can you have it pop up automatically as the stock 05?

 

Is this important?
I installed a neato stereo in my WRX that had the motorized deploying screen thing. It was a really cool novelty for a couple of months, then I didn't really care anymore. I guess it does impress people that haven't been in your car before..

 

I think oem looks better than any install I have seen. While most installs give you more functions, the OEM looks better as in, PART of the car, not added.

 

The Eclipse installs I've seen look just as OEM as the OEM unit. To each their own..

 

the eclipse install may look OEM, but one would know easily its aftermarket. oem usually has buttons dials embedded in the dash panels itself.

 

Yeah, I guess it's true enough that if you're trying to determine what's OEM and what's not, it'll be evident. I guess I'm more into function than form. I don't feel like the car loses anything for having aftermarket parts.

I'm sure OEM Nav is great; I just couldn't justify the cost when I know I could get a cool touchscreen with more functionality for less money. We all get what we want in different ways...

 

youre wrong, my moms lexus actually came with the eclipse, from factory...
ill take pics later

 

i didnt mean that the brand eclipse per se or any brand would mean aftermarket. ours came w/ Bose right? i was talking about the install compared to oem and that usually on new luxury cars models, buttons/dials are embedded on the dash panels, not just confined to the headunit.

 

i still dont understand what youre trying to say... my moms lexus comes with the eclipse double din that i have in my car... the eclipse AVN 2454... its the big screen that folds out, like this pic below
and yes, the buttons and dials are confined to the headunit itself

 

He doesn't like it because the buttons are all integrated into the HU. I think it looks great. It's exactly what I want. Now to find the money...