Navigation system, Is it worth it?
 

Hi all, I just got my 8 two months ago but I did't get the one with the Navigation system. I got a silver 8 with GT, apperance, 6 speed and I was just wondering if it was worth the extra 2k for the Navi system. Also does it play DVD movies too? :p and can I add it later on to my 8 if I decide that I wanted it? Thanks for any reply.

You cannot add it later. I had this same question 2 weeks ago before I got my 8. I think it was worth it to me. I have a great sense of direction and i know atlanta quite well, but it has already come in handy for finding random places I needed to get to. I think if you didnt get it, you wont miss it. But if you had it, you would think it was worth it. You cannot play DVD movies on the stock system, but there are add ons to enable you to use the built in LCD for playing back from various AV sources.

No question & I have the old, less refined version. Getting ready to upgrade at http://www.rx8garage.net/?page=shop/...8262aa1d977a4f
Even stock, it seems to pay for itself, time after time!

Wish it was even available as an option here in Australia...... :(

I use my -8 for fun drives, driving into downtown Chicago for meetings, drives to the trainstation, the airport and my sons' soccer games.

For that purpose, $2000 for the Navi made no sense in my world.

I've got a very good way to solve this, however ... I have an HP iPAQ Pocket PC. You can buy this terrific software called Pocket Map Navigator for it ... it's a turn-by-turn navigation software that also then integrates the iPAQ with a portable GPS unit. I've got a Bluetooth-powered Delorme Earth Mate GPS receiver that I use with my iPAQ, and the two together are fantastic for navigating. No issues at all.

The whole rig cost this:

1) iPAQ: I already have this for business, so don't count the cost. If you don't have, $400 gets you one with enough horsepower to do this.

2) Delorme Earthmate with GPS dock: $250

3) Pocket Map Navigator software: $39.00

That's it!

And it all works like an absolute charm - for $300 incremental cost to my iPAQ. Beats $2000 AND I can use it when I want it, and in any car - rentals, my wife's Honda Odyssey, a limo, even an airplane!

Stew

the rx8 navi costs $1700. If you're paying $2000, you're paying msrp for it.

secondly, the rx8 navi has dead reckoning. So if you are in the city, in a forest, etc. and the GPS signal is lost, the car can continue to track, while other GPS devices cannot.

I've had portable GPS units before, the last one I owned cost around $800, it was full color, had a nice big screen, and worked well. The problem is, you have to hide it when you get out of your car, it looks like a hack sitting in your car, and it's not nearly as cool as OEM. On the plus side, it was cheaper.

I have the navi in my car, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Also, you can't add it later on. It has sensors that monitor the wheels, how fast you're going, what direction you are turning, and so on. A retrofit would be really painful., if you could even buy the parts.

Jason-the aftermarket Navs like Garmin and the like are now $1299. The factory unit seems fair especially if can be had for $1700.

Bob

NAV is great! I wouldn't buy a car without it. On the other hand Renee has a Roadmate 500 in her car that she likes better than my built in.

Vince

Well, whatever the price was, $2000, $1700 ... etc, doesn't change a thing for me. Totally not worth it for me. I drive this car about 9000 miles a year, 95% of it locally. I don't need a navi to find my kid's soccer field, O'Hare Airport, the parking garage at Wabash & the Chicago River, our train station in town, my mother in law's house, or the local pub.

For "fun drives" out on the road, I love NOT having the navi ... a good map (with which you can then see a broad omnicient view of twisty roads over the next 20 miles), and a couple of good CD's and I'm a happy man with my car.

No knock on the factory system - it is slick and seems to work well. Not as intuitive as others though. I had one on my 2001 Acura TL that I traded on my RX-8 ... and found that I totally did not use the Navi on that car. No sense in wasting that money again. I did love the Acura Navi for it's ease of use, and cool factor. But that's a lot of coin for a toy. As my wife continually pointed out to me.

I bought the Delorme GPS kit and the Pocket Map Navigator primarily for business travel so I wouldn't have to pay Hertz $8.00 a day plus 20% tax for the damn "everlost" (they call it Neverlost ... I beg to differ - it sucks!) system they offer. Is my Delorme/Pocket Map Navigator outfit as slick as a factory system? Hell no, but for getting me from the airport in Austin TX out to Dell's HQ in Round Rock (for example ... the last time I used it), it worked great. And does every time I use it.

And, it does have dead reckoning - the GPS receiver and software continue to track regardless of if there's a road in the DB ... for example - Austin TX rebuilt their airport entrance not too long ago (last 2 years I think) and none of those roads exist in most GPS programs - it's funny to see your car icon "flying" over open land.

As far as your wheel sensors and all that in your RX-8 system, I don't believe that stuff is integrated to the GPS. It flat doesn't need it. The GPS system (as in what's in your car PLUS the satellites it talks to) does all that for the car - it reads your rate of travel, direction of travel, which way the car is turning, etc. all through the measurements of the signals it's receiving from the satellites - the more satellites tracked the more accurate the data. My little $300 Delorme system (actually, the GPS receiver itself, without the BlueTooth dock was only $85.00 - it needs to be hooked to a computer or iPAQ and software to work, using a GPS cable. The Bluetooth rig is so much better ... but man, that's cheap!) does everything the Mazda system does except rise out of the dash on that cool hinged dash lid. It even has a database of "points of interest" and what's even better is that with the software purchase, I can download monthly POI updates so it knows when there's a new Starbucks somewhere. Too bad they don't update the maps that often! :)

Anyway ... choices. I'm sure you love the factory GPS unit, and if it were $350 versus $2000 on the sticker, I would have one in a minute just for the gizmo factor. But $2000 (or $1700 at the discounted rate ... whatever) translates to close to $50 a month more on the lease payment, or more than $2000 on the life of the lease. Not worth it for that. I need the portablility. Hence, my choice.

Enjoy your factory GPS while I enjoy my portable.

Stew

also keep in mind the factory navi talks to you, tells you that a turn is coming up in a half mile, then when you get close, it zooms in the map and shows you where to turn. If there is a complex left turn exit, followed by a right turn, it will show the map on the right side, while the left side will show the exact route you should take.

Additionally, if you're listening to music, it will lower the volume of the music as it speaks so that you don't miss a turn.

If you decide you don't want to turn where it told you to, simply keep going where ever you want, and it will reroute and plot a new course based on your new location.

What I do is bookmark all the locations I frequent. Home, office, bestbuy, friends houses, etc. So where ever I am, I just pull up the destination menu, select "Jeff's house" and it tells me how far I am, how long it will take to get to Jeff's, and what route to take.

very useful.

Hello,

I was debating on this as well, but I decided not to get it only because I am looking at customizing the RX8 by putting in a touch screen VGA monitor with a small form factor pc attached to it. So then I can run Linux or Windows and have all the advantages of a pc, nav software, games for the passenger, mp3, dvds, etc…..

My version of Pimp my Ride ;)

Well that is my take on it.

When I get it all finished I will post some photos

Get a portable one.. They go with you and can be used in multiple cars.

I have to admit that I paid the extra 2K maily because I thought it was hot having that screen pop up when I turn the key. That gets the biggest reaction when I show people the car...On a more practical side, I find myself using it at lease once a week. Think about it, how many times do you go to mapquest and print directions. You would be suprised. Its worth every penny and I will not own another car without one.

I would say if you are bad at maps and get lost easy after 2 miles like me yes. I personally lean towards a very weak yes, I guess I am the only one that has a bad Navi it seems. My sysyem loves to reroute me when I am near highways and tells me to turn left on the next exit into a cement divider on the highway also! Over all I am somewhat happy about it but totally pissed that I have to spend about an other $700 to make it play DVDs and that is not even factoring in the money for the DVD player itself!

Ok I use it probably ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS FOR ACTUAL NAVIGATION...

there is only 2 times where it actually was very usefull since I had no clue where I was going

but I USE IT EVERYDAY FOR DVDS...and soon as a music server

WORTH EVERY PENNY NOW :) after installing this:
http://www.rx8garage.net/?page=shop/...46062399c168d&

Exactly how I use mine, too. Well not exactly cause I dont even know Jeff:D

Atlanta roads are laid out every which way. Its nice to be able to navigate to my favorite locals points from any other point in the city. Before nav, I didnt get lost in the city, but I frequently took the "long way home."

Also, I like being able to enter any new address (i.e. Restaurants, movies, new friends, etc.) and have the unit plot out my shortest route.

Thought it would be an expensive toy/gee whiz gadget, but it's proven to be a very useful tool.

Mapquest is awful and Rand Macnally is so 80's. Won't own a car without NAV now.

My Pocket Map Navigator, at highway speeds gives you 2 mile and 1 mile warnings on turns and exits, and below 40 mph, gives you .2 and .1 mile warnings on turns, and also zooms.

But, it doesn't pop out of the dash.

One thing I love about iPAQ/PocketMap is that it is tied to my contact list in my Pocket PC Outlook address book. Rather than entering an address, I just select it from my contact list, and bang zoom, I'm on my way ... very cool.

I think the nav system is worth having. Others may not.
I often go places I have never been to before -- nav helps here big time.
It can locate the nearest ATM (very handy when you need it!).
You can add onto it with aftermarket items that add to the flexibility (if not the legality).

And, yes, it can do dead-reckoning, which is continuing to navigate based on tire rotation and steering changes when the GPS signal is NOT available.

It's certainly not perfect. A few things I'd like to see changed:

1. Provide the choice of the fastest route as well as the shortest route. They are often not the same and the nav system will direct you to use surface streets just because the faster route is a few yards longer.

2. Provide for the option of not using toll roads/bridges/ferries/etc. It's really annoying to find that your nav system has sent you to a toll road -- and it won't accept cash!

3. Provide a way to put the voice prompting into a "minimally invasive" mode so that it only interrupts your music when you actually need to change routes or turn a corner. I don't need it to tell me that i don't need to turn here!

where i can buy the factor navi screen ?????? If anyones know please informe !!! I dont want full navi system !!! Just the dash factor screen ...

Try e-bay or try to find one in a wreck.

$1700-$2000 is way too much. I didn't buy it on principle. I expect GPS navigateion will become a standard feature on most cars in the future for a lot less money. I bought a Garmin IQUE 3600 for $400+ which is a PDA/GPS unit with a color screen, moving map and voice directions which has been very useful when driving to a new address. I have a car mount for it and another advantage is it's portability for rental cars.

The factory Mazda NAV SUCKS. I have NAV in all four of my cars and it is the worst I've seen. BUT... if you feel like dumping some money in your car them buy it just for the dash piece and mod it out however you like. Thats what I did and now my shit is PIMP!!!

I went the after market route and got a portable one, Tomtom.. I like being able to move it from car to car and take it with me when I fly for business and have to get a rental car. It helps quite a bit when in an unfamiliar city

What ever works for your situation.