RX22

What are the opinions on the Navigation System. I can still add it to my order, but I can't decide. The wife wants it, but I can't decide if it's worth it. I won't be travelling in the 8 much, and I've lived in the same city for most my life, so I know it pretty well. But on the other hand it's really a cool option. I just keep thinking I could use that money for an extended warranty.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

P00Man

once youve had it, you cant live without it
________
Braising

BRx8

i guess it all depends on if you need it and how much you're willing to pay for it...

personally i get lost a lot and like most men, i don't stop to ask for directions...also like most men, i'm a gadget freak...i like my toys...it's also just flat out cool to have since you have it...when you don't want it, you close it...

i guess in the end, if you want it or think you may want it down the line, get it...this is your last chance to get one and you may regret it later should you wish to add it and realize you can't without making a mockery out of your center console

tripwire

Call the ball Maverick!!! Call the ball!

Just get it!!
You know you want it!

It'll add to the resell value also...

midniteblue

here are my thoughts.....

you have an option of either using the extra money on either the navigation system or an extended warranty. You said it yourself that even tho you know your city, you still think it is a cool option. I say since you plan on having this car for a while that you get the Navigation system just for the fun factor and the fact that it will be needed for future use for future trips.

I totally think it is a waste of money to get an extended warranty. Ask yourself, why are you getting an EXTENDED warranty on a car that already has a warranty? And why get an EXTENDED warranty on a car that is supposedly already reliable? Warranty's are just a way for the dealers to get more commission. I just think you would have a much better investment in the navigation. Good luck on your choice

jdl

I agree with the previous poster about the extended warranty being a dealer profit point. Yet I also think the Nav System is overpriced.

I'm considering the iQue 3600 because, well, it's another cool gadget! And it looks to be suitable for my purposes, and I can take it with me (to another car, or...?) Oh, and it eats less of my dwindling funds

Anyway, might be worth checking out.

lbrintle

I've never driven a car with a nav system, such as a rental car. I could be missing out on something Really Cool and neat that I couldn't live without, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt.

With that caveat: it's too expensive.

If I really needed a nav system (i.e., mapquest plus a map isn't good enough) and had $2K to spend, then I could:[list=1][*]Spend $1700 travelling and scuba diving to the Cayman islands, where I buy a handhelp GPS unit for $300 which does the same thing.[*]Buy an entire laptop with GPS, DVD player, MP3 library,
a couple of games, a wireless internet card and hotspot subscription-- and keep it in the glove compartment.[*]Get pretty good navigation help from one of those dial-a-valet services a hundred times.[/list=1]

Even more interesting, if there's some quirk I don't like about any of those three choices, I can upgrade or try something else cheaply. On the other hand, if you don't like your RX-8 nav system (the voice is too whiny, it doesn't alter the volume control, it doesn't include Hardees in the restaurant menu, the screen glare is bad, it gets too hot...) then you are straight out of luck, my friend. Er... except it gives us stuff to gripe about on this board while WAITING FOR MY DAMN PREORDER TO ARRIVE.

Ahem.

Even though buying it doesn't make sense, I still tried to change my mind after I placed my order -- but it was too late. Therefore, this entire post should be read in the same light as someone who was too impatient to wait and is now clamoring to convince everyone how cool his powerful new Evo is.

U. N. O.

get it dude. It is cool, raises resale value, and you could (if u r a hadiman or know someone who is) hook up a dvd changer to the screen and even a ps2 or what ever else u want that needs a screen)

I never had nav before either. I got it and i don't regreat it. Plus my girl oves it coz it tells you about all the shooping malls and area if u ever go to a new place or around town. I have found very nice restaurants around my area with it that i never knew they even excisted..

Haze

Not for me. I get my maps from the AAA for free, and the problem that i've always had with the Nav systems that I've used is that it gives you one choice to go, which is often not the most intuitive route or the prettiest.

I look for things on maps like scenic routes, towns that I want to blow through, historical sites, camp grounds, and the Nav system won't do that because it just doesn't have a human brain to put behind it. You'll miss alot of the fun and beauty of driving if you don't know that you are driving right by something wonderful.

I think that they work, but a map still gives you more options and they're dirt doirt cheap. It also allows you to route plan out of the car for the next day's trip.

Sorry, I'm probably atypical, but I spend about 25K miles a year driving and take most of my vacations in the car, and driving to Cape Breton or Key Largo a map will give you a more satisfying trip than the Nav system who just gives you one option for getting there.

I guess that they are good if navigating ain't your thing.

all the best - H

loco4rx8

Too expensive. Like someone else mentioned, you can always get another separate unit cheaper if you decide you need one. Plus, you could take that with you anywhere, in any car.

Hey, I've never had one before and have no idea what I'm missing, so I won't miss it. And I'll save myself some serious dollars I will be able to spend on something more important to me.

Boozehound

Get it. Here's an example of a use I never would've picked out - today for work, I had to drive across town to a client's facility on the other side of Houston out in Deer Park. I had a sketchy hand drawn map someone at work had made, but when I got out there, and I thought I knew where I was going, I ended up getting lost and not finding my road. Being frustrated, I pulled over, kicked on the flashers and used the joystick to surf around the area map until I found my street. Hit enter, mark point, set as destination - and blammo! blow by blow instructions and I was there in less than 5 minutes. You people are foolilng yourself if you'd have gotten out a map in this instance, or made arrangements to go to AAA before hand (of which I'm also a member), and the only other alternative was harassing someone at the office, or pulling over and asking directions to match some vague drawing I had.

I've done this kind of thing several times, and it's awesome when a road is blocked off for whatever reason and you turn on a sidestreet that you're unfamiliar with - you have instant maps, guidance if you want it, and it's willing to recalculate after you screw up. It's also nice for going to places you don't usually frequent, lets say if you're meeting someone etc. Want to know where the nearest gas station is because your lights been on for a while? Check the screeen. Tired of that LCD on the dash? Roll it away and motor on.


Nav rocks.


And for the overpriced comments, go buy a turn key Magellan system that's designed to move from car to car with audible guidance - $2000. And all the aftermarket in the world won't look nearly as nice as a piece from the factory with a huge screen (5X7) that rolls away and has controls mounted within reach. It's clean, it's easy, and sure you could get it cheaper, but you get what you pay for.

Lex

Way overpriced, in my opinion as well.

The resale argument is bogus: you'll buy a $2K option that will raise the resale price by, what, up to $1000? Everything depreciates - not a good investment in this case.

I'd have to need a LOT of directions to justify $2K. But, then again, I've gotten lost while driving less than a dozen times in 15 years (hey, navigation is one of the few things I'm naturally good at

Quick_lude

I guess it depends on how you use the car.. If you use it for work and find yourself in the situation that boozehound described above then it's worth it.

Personally I'm very good at directions and reading maps. I also have an up to date map in my car. I wouldn't get the nav.

krackerx7

i just checked out the nav system today and im not going to spend 2g's for that i was unimpressed on how slow it was

Prowla

On the other hand, the RX-8 is one of those cars I would never consider selling once I bought it. But different people have different opinions. Me and my girlfriend were having a talk about the navigation system and thought it was actually a pretty interesting idea to get one when the time comes next year for my own RX-8. I was like "You can use the navigation system" and she said "Oh.. right... like you're ever going to let me drive the car." Yes, to get groceries.

We've gotten lost in Orlando when we should've been at kissimee thanks to maps, so personally a Navigation system would be suitable for us, even if I'm not the type of guy to get lost... working with my g/f on directions is like running through a fire with flammable liquid all over me.