New here, question about sat nav
 

Hi guys, im new here, from the UK. My parents bought a velocity red rx8 a few months ago. Thanks to me anyway! they were looking at boring saabs and mercs till i persuaded them to at least look. Anyway, its a jap import automatic version with flappy paddles on the steering wheel. Am not allowed the keys as im only 19, drive a suzuki siwft gti but if money wasnt an issue would definatley get an rx8!! As its a jap however, there is currently no navigation. They were quoted £1000 to change it as apparently they have to rip the whole thing out and replace it with an english version. Now, i dont trust dealers...is there not just a simple disc available that will convert it? has anyone else here had this same problem?
thanks, luke

Hey,

Now, I don't pretend to know anything about the Japanese version of the nav, but I'd hazard a guess that they're the same unit. You'd need to get an English firmware upgrade/change (Mazda) and a European maps disc (Navteq).

If they are different, then you would have to get a new box. Best thing to do is take a picture of the nav box itself and of the screen with it switched on (menu screen or something like that) - then I can compare it to mine.

Dear Lukey223,
Greetings from another 'noobie', who just happens to have a velocity red RX-8 with SatNav package!
I think £1000 might be reasonably close to the mark, considering that many car mags (eg TestDrive) quote £2500 from scratch.
I always thought SatNav was a gadget too far; now I wouldn't know what to do without it!
Having an installation (with the pop up consol) gives the SatNav an extra space-age feel - sad, perhaps! :o That said, it has its security benefits......:D
Go for it!
I'd be interested to know how you get on. :)