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IIRC isn't the stock navigation system isn't even touchscreen?

 

I've used a few garmin units (I own 2) and I have the factory navigation. The Garmin units have far more points of interest (I think garmin has more than just about any other manufacturer). The factory Nav looks nice and is integrated into the dash but that is about the only thing it has going for it. I have a 2004 RX-8and the latest mapset that has been released is a 2005 mapset. The POI search in the factory nav is OK at best. The interface with the joystick can be cumbersome. As for accuracy the factory nav has the dead reckoning which is nice if you drive in areas where you may lose reception but for pinpoint precision I think aftermarket systems are going to be more precise.

 

factory nav is nice, but isn't as nice as aftermarket. However aftermarket will not integrate as well into the car if you're using suction cups on the window.

in 2000 I owed a $900 GPS unit, it was color, updated instantly, and better than the factory nav in every way I can think of.

Ultimately this thread is useless unless the OP is looking at buying a car since retrofitting the OEM navi is cost prohibitive.

 

^or this thread can be used as argument to forego such attempt and just get a portable aftermarket GPS unit

and no you don't need to use the suction mount, there are friction base mounts for various units that are much more convenient than the suction cup

 

when i use the mazda navi, i always need to plan ahead of time and ask ppl the exact address of where i need to travel to. as long as i have that, it's mostly dead-on. but, without a destination address, unless i'm looking for gas, groceries, drugs, hospital, or police, then it's pretty useless.

so, the factory navi will mostly eliminate your need for needing to login to use mapquest or google maps when you're looking for directions to a location that you have the destination address for. it will also be able to find the nearest gas station, macdonalds, or drug store if you're just looking for something quickly while on-the-go.

BUT (and this is a big "but"), it will be completely useless for finding named places when you're in an unfamiliar locale. for example, say you're in some neighboring city visiting a friend. and, you want to find the nearest Home Depot, Best Buy, Guitar Center, or Circuit City. well, you're never going to find it using the Mazda factory navi... LOL.

this is also true of the navi's in the mazda 3's, cx-9's or what not, since they all use the same piece-of-crap software.

>

 

Used both garmin and have factory nav. Garmin has it down with simplicity. The Factory setup is overcomplicated and needs too much precision. Havent had the car very long but have shut the damn thing off in frustration a few times. It really kills me when it still tries to tell me where to go after its down.

 

I'm looking at a Nuvi 660 - Anyone have any experience w/ it? It's got a near FM modulator so one can listen to MP3s over their car's radio...also gives voice warnings thru the car's radio that way.

 

i get mad at my nuvi 660 from time to time. it's a godsend when i'm lost. but otherwise, because it only gets traffic info on highways and doesn't take traffic on local streets into account, you might find yourself driving even longer if you're not careful.

still, the garmin has every POI that I've ever wanted to find. Oh, and one more thing. The bluetooth thing is a waste of a function, the mic is too far to be useful and most people complain that all they really hear is the sound of my rotary engine.

Other than those concerns, the nuvi 660 is great (although because of those concerns you might want to just get a 650). The FM modulator works okay and helps for your hearing of the other person on the other line, but again, you might have to speak up for them to hear you. Oh yea, and it works really fast in calculating destinations (after it finds the satellite - that has taken a long time occasionally) as well as recalculating when you get on the wrong street or freeway (which happens when there's an off-ramp to 4th, 5th, 6th street and the garmin doesn't tell you which particular one to take).

 

I won't need traffic updates - the place where I'm moving has no real traffic - How does the FM thing work w/ MP3s? Quality of the sound okay?

Thanks Sleeper.

 

same my rx8 dint come with it i install it after was but is useless

 

I ended up buying a Nuvi 660!

 

I bought the LG LN740. Would recommend it highly. Although, I will go with a 2-din GPS/DVD combo in a few years once I start doing the ICE mods