Hi everyone,

I've been in some situations recently where GPS would really be helpful, and I think I may want to go get it installed. I have a 2004 with grand touring package, but no gps (obviously.... no wait, i want TWO!)

anyway, did anyone go get it installed after buying their car?

If you have the gps that comes as an option with the car, do you like it? How well does it work and all? Do you have to buy cds for updates and things? I heard that like a year ago, just curious what all the options are.

Thanks!

 

I don't think you'll find a way to get the stock system installed for a sane price - just to scare you off, look at this thread to see what is involved. You literally have to take apart your car to get that done, plus the cost of the system itself is about 2 grand to begin with.
You're much better off getting a portable system like a Garmin StreetPilot if navigation is all what you need.
If you are a DIY type, you could get a kick-*** car PC into your car for less money than the factory nav installation would cost, and you can do much more with a PC than just navigation (like playing DVDs, MP3s, games, wireless internet etc.)

 

Not as slick, but you can get an aftermarket system w/ a PDA and a GPS receiver and a windshield mount or something. That's what I did for my Protege. Read about it here.

(These days you can get a bluetooth receiver that auto-shuts off. The one I just got has 22 hrs of battery life.)

 

I read in her other post that she wants to accomplish it for under $500 installed

my estimate will be $2500 total (maybe more...possibly less if she can get a good deal on the unit, but unlikely

 

is the OEM screen the only motorized screen out on the market?

how much for a decent car PC set up?

 

Mine was abour $1000.

Check my site out.

 

Listen to him, he is the man....

 

I have a garmin IQue 3600 for my GPS. Basically it is a PDA with a built in GPS antenna that flips up on the back. The maps are stored via a SD memory card (I have the entire USA on a 2 gig stick with 500 megs left) anyway. If you buy it with the auto kit (like $600 at circuit city) it comes with a window mount, bean bag friction mount, and a charging adapter w/ speaker that plugs into your cig lighter. I do alot of travel so this is great for me. I've used it in all of the USA, Canada, Germany, and Italy (I bought the european maps) and it has never gotten me lost. Plus it has all the functions of a PDA. The main draw back is the battery life with the GPS is around 3 hours, however I have never in the 9 months I've owned it used the GPS to walk around, I'm always in a car, and therefore always have my GPS plugged into the charging adapter mount. Infact I bought a second one to keep in my toolbox when I fly. I do want to do a few mods to my RX-8. I **REALLY** like what Rotary Rasp did with his. I'm just a little nervous because it would be a project I've never done before. I think the hardest part would be actually cutting the dashboard to install the nav dash area. The rest is fairly simple computer connections, but that is the part that has me nervous. (if anyone know's of any newb guides out there on this subject i'd love to know) Anyway's the garmin PDA is great. Good maps, clear voice, great display, and best of all No stupid bluetooth extra's to carry...Just one device.