Hi everyone-

I have a 2004 without the gps nav in it, but i think i want to get it installed. anyone done this? Had it installed later? Just wondering about it, if it was expensive (gulp). i was hoping to spend $500 at the most....

Also wondered if i found one somewhere and bought it, could i just take it to mazda and ask them to install it?

do you pay for the service monthly? or once it's installed, away you go?

Thanks in advance for any info on it....

 

i'd recommend getting one of the aftermarket GPS units than trying to retrofit the OEM navigation system

something like this:

http://www.fotoconnection.com/viewit...RefTag=froogle

I've been looking around for one too, but decided to wait until I have a need to do a cross-country drive to get one :D

 

or this:

http://store.gpsandmarineworld.com/y...4410/c320.html

reviews have all favored the TomTom Go, but the Garmin isn't too bad either.

 

and uh, all GPS services (at least for public use) are free of charge :D

 

there is a DIY on installing the NAV system for non nav cars...I must warn you it is INSANITY :p but worth it for the motorized pop up screen


here is the DIY: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...7&page=1&pp=15

 

ditto. several of my friends have this kit.

 

so what do you think of the TomTom Go kit? good? worth the premium over the Garmin??

 

And now with John Cleese!!

http://www.tomtom.com/plus/service.p...5&TID=4&BID=14

 

getting the nav system as an option originally on the car is $2000. so, i'd say forget about getting the nav system put in after-the-fact for $500 or less. you definately can't buy the parts for that, and i doubt $500 would cover the install costs.

 

if she installs it on her own...it would be worth it

besides most people who have the OEM NAV installed after purchase are doing so for the motorized screen...this way they have the most integrated video solution on the market

taking a GPS unit on the dash is a pain...u must remove it...if you don't it is a virtual guranteed break-in and theft, besides controls and audio are not integrated into the stereo system

 

i'm not saying it wouldn't be worth it. i'm just saying that she wouldn't be able to do it for $500 or less, like she says in her first post of the thread. i wouldn't mind having it either, but i would suspect it would cost somewhere between $1500 and $3000, depending on if i did it myself or not and how much it would cost me to get the parts needed.

 

oh funny I totally blanked out the $500

asking for under $500 is funny at best :p...she could get lucky and find a destroyed RX-8 with NAV and haggle for the motorized screen

 

Of course the OEM Nav has old maps. Have they released the new map disk yet? Last time I called in July, they said early August and that they'd put me on a contact list.

 

that's another benefit of portable/3rd party GPS system, that you can download the latest updates right from their websites :D

 

You can get the Tom Tom without the hard drive. It uses an SD memory card, as I recall. Inexpensive and reportedly very functional with voice direction and a decent sized screen. I use a Garmin, myself. I stick it on the dash with velcro - tape. I never leave it on the dash when parked! Same as radar detectors - idiots will break the side window to get them - and they are worth less than the window!

The advantage to a "built in" is it is fully integrated into the cars controls.
The disadvantage is they are more expensive, and expensive to keep updated.

The advantage to a protable is it is less expensive, and less expensive to keep updated (we're talking about map changes and other things such as location of gas stations and restaurants). You can also move it from vehicle to vehicle. They work just fine through the windshield, no external antenna required.
The disadvantage of portables is they "sit" on the dash, and if not secured properly can become an extreme hazzard in an accident. You will also have a cord dangling down to the cig. lighter/power socket. I ran a power cord under the dash and put a plug for the unit on the dash. The velcro holds very well, and you can secure the carry strap to a "safety holddown" that you can bolt to the dash. It's possible to do all this and keep it looking good, just not really easy.

Oh, one other advantage to a portable - YOU get to choose which one you like! Check out Garmin, Tom Tom, Magellan, Cobra, Navman, Eagle, Digital Ocean, and Fugawi. I'm sure I missed some.

 

Slinky

You can also try the Palm Zire w/ GPS like me! I needed a new PDA so this was perfect for me.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=zire+gps

I'm not worried about theft because I take the PDA with me and all that is in the car is the suction cup mount (who wants that on it's own??). For sure it'll be nice to have the cool motorized screen like OEM nav though.

 

As I recall, the guy that did the OEM DIY spent nearly $3k in parts alone and spent weeks dismantling and reassembling his 8. With more slavage 8's out there the price might have come down just a bit.

For MORE than you ever want to know about GPS (including the most detailed reviews you will see anywhere, check out http://www.gpsinformation.net/