dean2900

I am just posting my 2 cents on this in case someone is looking into buying an 8 and trying to decide on the NAV or not.

I got every option on my 8 except the NAV (Ok, no mp3 player but they didn't tell me that was an option).

I have the Garmin Street Pilot 2610. This thing is fantastic with touchscreen and tends to be updated more than the car navs I have had before. It runs about $1299 at Best Buy but you can pick up on Ebay for around $750 dollars.

The advantage is you can put mounts in multiple cars or use the beanbag mount. I have multiple cars.

There is certainly nothing wrong with getting the NAV built in the car especially if you get an deal but the Street Pilot is a great unit. I especially like the detour options. And sometimes for fun, I change the voice to speak in languages I don't understand

Below is the link:

http://www.garmin.com/products/sp2610/

Dean

dcfc3s

There's also the Delorme Earthmate if you have a laptop -

http://www.delorme.com/earthmate/

Software with all the maps and GPS receiver for $125. That's DAMN hard to beat.

I'm probably gonna get that in the near future, especially since I now have a free laptop .

Dale

mazdabob

I just got a Garmin Street Pilot 2620 on ebay for $959. It's like the 2610, but is preprogrammed with the entire U.S. and parts of Canada. It also has a remote, so you don't have to lean forward and possibly move the unit when you push buttons. It's great!

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

What might be even better: a GPS receiver and software running on a handheld, like a iPaq or a Palm Tungsten C or T and the like.
If you have such a handheld, you carry this around anyway for phone numbers, memos and stuff and having a GPS receiver and software for it should be also relatively cheap (like $300). I think that's better than the laptop thing because the laptop is more cumbersome to use.
I have a Garmin StreetPilot III myself, and while it is a nice unit, getting it out of it's bag and putting it up on the dashboard is a bit inconvenient. I only use it if I go on longer trips to areas that I absoutely don't know and I will need directions for several days. Otherwise, I use a simple map to find a street in a neigboring area where I live - I don't waste time to set up and program the GPS.

dean2900

I used to runa gps off my IPAQ and I have used a PC version. However, I finally decided it is much better to have a dedicated unit just for nav. There are less bugs and I can leave it in the car.

The 2610 and 2620 are the same other than the 2620 comes with the 2GB microdrive. I have a 1 GB card in mine so I get half the US and I can always download more for trips.

I do not like the Magellan becasue it doesn't have the detours and other features. It also comes with a cheesy vent mount. The Garmin comes with three mounting options.

Rob Tomlin

The 8 that I test drove today had the NAV system in it. Didn't think I would be at all interested in it, but damn, the cool factor of that thing is pretty damn high!

Unfortunately, so is the price!

Nice to know that there are cheaper alternatives!

Johnnyma45

This has only happened once for me but the stock GPS in my 8 went bonkers today...it showed me turning in a circle when I was going straight, and it would reset my position back onto the street after ten seconds or so, then repeat. After a few minutes it reset itself for good and then was fine.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

dell x30 axim 624 and a belkin bt reciver. total price about 420 us. does everything + mp3.

beers
john stewart

rx7&rx8

I also passed on getting the built in GPS. I use the Garmin Ique which is a PDA with built in GPS, voice directions, etc. http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3200/ It can be found for $445 or less, and has the same Navtec maps as in the stock unit. It will route you to addresses stored in the PDA phonebook. PDA style screen makees inputing adresses much quicker. (p.s., I have no association with Garmin except having bought 3 of their units)

swoope

iTrader: (5)

garmin, and mapsoruce is a great way to go. wish the non garmin software was as able.

beers
john stewart

Rob Tomlin

Can anyone tell me how the NAV unit that comes in the RX-8 compares to these other models being discussed here?

In other words, is it decent? Are there any major features that it lacks that the others have?

I'm a little torn on this issue since I really like how well the optional NAV system is integrated into the car, yet it seems overpriced.

dean2900

Rob,

I have used the GPS in both Acura's and Infiniti's and they have bigger displays but the Street Pilot has better functionality. It has a nice touch screen interface and great voice directions along with arrows to even show you what lane you need to be in when you are at complicated intersections. It will say something like "Make right in 0.4 miles and then left turn." It continues to update you. If you go off-route, it automatically says "Off Route" and recalculates the best route based on your preferences.

I really like the street pilot for when I am on vacation in rental cars. In fact, it is a little better than the Hertz Neverlost.

However, the downside is that it could be stolen so I lock in the glove compartment a good bit.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about the Garmin. I have not tried the Mazda GPS so I cannot compare it apples to apples.

Dean

Rob Tomlin

Thanks for those impressions Dean, it helps.

In the short time I drove the 8 with the NAV system, it also said "turn right in one quarter mile", which is very cool.

I really would like to hear from someone who has used the Mazda GPS as well.

dean2900

No problem. One the Street Pilot does is adjust where it tells you to turn based on your speed. So if you are crusing 80 down I-whatever, it will tell you 2 miles ahead. If you are going 30, it will tell you at a shorter distance. Hopefully, there is someone on the board who has used both.

Dean

rx7&rx8

Make sure your are ok with how you have to enter addresses in the RX-8 nav unit. Touch screen is so much nicer than turning the **** to highlight and pushing enter for each number and character in an address. Personally, I was disappointed that the RX-8 didn't come with the touch screen option and it was a show stopper for me at the price. One good thing is the RX-8 unit lets you (or it really should be your passenger) make entries while you are moving. Ford and Toyota units I have seen lock the controls when you are moving!

Rob Tomlin

Exactly the kind of information I was looking for rx! The salesman input an address and I did think that there had to be a better, faster way.

Tough choice.

Abracadabra

Has anyone tried that hand held GPS that is advertised on TV...cost around $39.95? It doesn't have a screen, but provides info via speech. Thoughts?, Thanks

dean2900

You get what you pay for!

dean2900

Garmin just went up in my opinion. I sent them an email asking to purchase a replacement non permanant adhesive pad so I could use the mount in my 8. They pointed me to their online store. However, I emailed them back that the buy option was ghosted out so they shipped me out the non adhesive mount for free.

That is good Customer Support.

Dean

Rob Tomlin

Yeah, that's pretty cool Dean.

Where are you going to mount the Garmin in the 8? How do you think it will look compared to the integrated Mazda unit?

BTW, do we know who makes the GPS unit for Mazda?

dean2900

I am mounting dead center right in front of the speaker in the center dash.

A mobile unit is always going to look like an addon but again, I have never seen the RX-8 GPS.

Really with the mount, it looks pretty good. Once I get the mount (and get rid of the sandbag), I will take a picture and post it on the board.

Dean

Rob Tomlin

Thanks Dean!

mazdabob

I mentioned this earlier, but the 2620 has some significant additions over the 2610. Check it out:http://gpsnow.com/gmsp2620.htm

dean2900

Bob,

THe 2610 and 2620 are Identical except the 2620 comes with a 2GB microdrive.

You can buy a 1 GB CF card for 100 bucks at Sams. That gives you half the US at any time and you can download any trips outside your area to the CF card that comes with the 2620.

There is nothing wrong with the 2620 but you can probably get the 2610 and the 2 GB drive for less than the flat out purchase of the 2620.

Dean

dean2900

BTw, the newest is the 2660.

http://www.garmin.com/products/sp2660/