Hi. I am new to the forum.

I am planning on buying a 07 g35 in the next few weeks/months. I was planning on getting one with the navigation system, but since reading up on the new external navigation systems such as Garmin, TomTom,.... I'm not sure if it is worth the extra $2000 for internal nav when I can pick up an external one with similar features for about $500.

Should I get it built in, or should I just get an external navigation system?

Those of you who have the external nav systems, how are they? What are the best ones to get?

Any opinions are greatly appreciated, Thanks.

 

The main reason that I chose to order the nav package was for the music box and the compact flash card reader and XM radio. I haven't listened to FM radio since I got this car, and I will probably never put a disk in the 6 CD changer. I think that the music options alone justified adding on the package, the map was just a bonus.

 

Yea, what he said. And the navigation system itself is awesome. Far better then the after market ones. The graphics are really nice and crisp, its all touch screen, and it is all integrated with your vehicle. You also get the live traffic updates from XM radio... built right in.

Save up and buy the navigation package, well worth it.

 

Eh...when I infrequently need navigation, I use a Nuvi 350 - which can also go with me when I travel, or use our other car, or whatever. And regarding music, the combination of six disks and a video iPod provides all the music I could possibly want (plus movies for the kids). Plus I don't have to keep multiple music sources up-to-date, would rather just synch one.

So I didn't buy Nav even though it would have essentially been free (wife wanted to buy it for my birthday - gotta love that).

To each his own, a buddy has Nav and likes it.

 

+1, I completely agree. Plus having the Navi fully integrated with the car (ie, steering wheel controls, voice commands, etc) is much nicer as well.

 

The *only* advantage is having the system fully integrated, which is nice, but in my opinion not worth $1,500.

That is a lot of money, can buy you a lot of nice things, such as a new laptop, television, etc.

Garmin units have real time traffic updates too, so that isn't a real advantage.

One possible downside, having your built in nav go on the fritz at 60,001 miles and having to pay a huge amount to get it repaired.

One last point, most people finance/lease their cars and are paying interest on the whole thing...look at it this way, you are also financing a $2,000 navigation system and paying much more than 2k for it over the term of your lease/loan versus just buying a $500 unit from Amazon.

Me personally, I would never put one in the car, I like being able to use my own when I travel, have rental cars, etc. etc.

 

im not gonna lie - having it in the car is awesome - but i dont have one in the car
i bought a Garmin nuvi 350 and its seriously awesome
Its great because I am living in DC this summer while working and since its portable while in my apartment i flip it open and find nearby restuarants and delivery places and shops and stuff so its cool because its like a personal assistant also while you arent in the car

but either one is seriously great - if you are going to use it a lot in YOUR car - then go for the integrated (and if money doesnt matter ) haha but if not id go with a Garmin Nuvi

 

One of the major disadvantages of a portable Navi system is the fact that you need to be very aware and remember to remove it and hide it when you park anywhere.

Few of my friends forgot to remove it and their car was broken into just for the Nav (damn thieves ). That to me is a major pain in the a$$ and would make think twice whether I need to take a portable unit with me.

Being portable is nice when you want to use it in a rental car or something ... but it comes with its own problems.

 

What? Is this true? Why would the built in navi go out at 60,001? Doesnt make sense. Any more info on this?

 

LOL - Relax

tagheur was merely talking about a hypothetical scenario

chill out - nothing to worry -- the nav is not programmed to go out at 60,001 miles

 

LOL...ok, i read it too fast....my bad

 

Yeah, don't get the NAV package 'cause it might go out at 60,001 miles... LOL.
Get the most car you can. Enjoy life.

 

I got my G with the built-in Nav. My previous car didn't have Nav, so I bought a Garmin Nuvi 350. IMO, the Nuvi 350's software is better than the Nav built into the G35. Its points of interest database is also better. However, it is very convenient to have a Nav built into your car. It's a bit of a hassle having to setup the Garmin everytime I get into the car, and a pain having to put it away when I park (Navs are one of the most stolen items these days from cars). So, I wind up using the built in Nav in the G35 more than the Nuvi. I take the Nuvi with me sometimes on very long trips, but for short to medium trips, the G's built in Nav gets used more.

 

So what do you guys think of the sound quality on the music box? Im looking into the g37 so my best bet is to talk with you all and your thoughts on the sedan

 

Check the FAQ thread that is stickied at the top of the page. There is a thread there that discusses the SOW.