NAV Decision - Poll

Hi Guys - need some help making a decision. I did't get the factory installed NAV in my 09 Cayman (some mixed reviews). I currently have the CDR-30. Looking to get a NAV. Either after market installed or a Garmin. I kind of do not want to ruin the original porsche look with an after market installation. I think the CDR-30 looks nice as it still has a 5 inch screen. Any thoughts? Are the Garmins bad? Good? Anyone use them? :dance:

Obviously, it would be best to get an all in one unit with nav. But, like you, I like the factory look. Maybe somewhere down the line I will upgrade everthing, but for now I have a garmin I keep in my car. IMO Garmin's have the best user interface. I've tried Magelland, Tom Tom, Mio and Garmin. I think between family memebers, we must have 4 Garmin units.

Garmin is the gold standard software. The only thing I have seen that I like as much is the CoPilot Live software on a Smartphone. All this assumes you are not going to replace the CDR30. If you go to replace the CDR30, a Kenwood system with Navi and BT would be my preference. Kenwood OEMS BT technology from Parrot (gold standard again) and Navi from Garmin. Best of all worlds.

If you have an iPhone I'd check out the Tom Tom iPhone application and associated hardware. It looks good for use in the car and on foot. Co Pilot maps are not very up to date in some areas. My Garmin Nuvi is perfect for the car but I would not lug it around. The fast changing technology for GPS makes built in systems problematic if you keep your cars for more than a few years and like the latest gadgets. I'm guessing in car units are going the way of the dinosaur unless they can be updated to keep up with the times. They will be 8-track players in the days of the iPod.

I've owned at least 10 Garmin units, from handhelds to Nuvis. IMO the software and the interface developed by Garmin can't be beat. However, after playing with the nav system on my new 2009 CS with PCM 3.0, I have to say the Porsche system is fairly respectable. You can configure the display to show a split screen with the map on one side and routing directions on the other, and it even has its own version of Lane Assist, which tells you what lane to get into before you exit. Also, if you have XM installed in the car, PCM 3.0 is compatible with XM live traffic. I'm still planning on buying a Nuvi 765T to replace my 760, however - the benefits are the portability (you can use it in any vehicle you like), lifetime map upgrades, and lifetime FM traffic subscription. And, you can get it for less than $300.

+1 on Garmin being the gold standard. I also have an '09 without nav. I just couldn't justify the additional $ 2,400 (3,110 minus 695 for bluetooth, which I do have) when I could buy a Garmin for 200 bucks. It's 2009...amazing that the prices of OEM units haven't even come close to "market value"...especially when they offer less functionality. Seriously, the price of a factory-installed unit is the same today as it was five years ago. What gives? My previous three BMWs had nav, but I really don't miss it in my Cayman. On those rare occasions when I need it, I pull my Garmin out of the glove box, stick it on the window and voila... $ 2,200 saved. BTW, my Garmin also has bluetooth built-in! I should've saved the whole $ 3110... And I wouldn't have to deal with the insanely LOUD and unadjustable PCM incoming "ringer". Still haven't found a fix for that... But I still love my car...!

Just picked up a couple of Garmin Nuvi 260Ws from Costco for my kids. $149@ and covered by the Costco lifetime warranty. I originally thought I would use it in the Boxster but would rather no have it hanging on a pod. Since I'm not happy w/ the CDR30 I'm looking into an all-in-1 replacement for the CDR30

I'm not quite sure what you are looking for... advice on OEM NAV versus After-Market NAV? Garmin versus other brands? Paper versus plastic? But I'll give you my thoughts: While I like the integrated look of an OEM Navigation Unit in any car, I doubt that I would ever pay the $2,000+ that the manufactures want for the in-dash units. I have three Garmin Nuvi's, none of which costed more than $450.00 (2 were about $250, and the one with both US and European maps was about $450.00). And the fact that I can take them out of the car and use them on trips (rental cars) or even walking around new cities is a big bonus. I rely almost completely on them for getting me around... I don't even look at regular maps much anymore! Case in point: This past weekend, I flew into Detroit and then drove to Toledo. I'd never been to Toledo, and other than knowing that Toledo was generally SW of Detroit, all I relied on was my Garmin. Absolutely no problems getting around. So in summary: "No" to OEM Navigation Unit "Yes" to Garmin Nuvi

I have used the Garmin units for several years. Gone through about 4 of them and the total still doesn't add up to the cost of an OEM unit. I like having all of my contacts on one unit which I can take with me on trips in any car/air combo. I used to travel to Toronto and Montreal once a month. The Garmin Nuvi never let me down.

Great feedback guys. Sounds like I made the right decision. This is the first time I did not buy an OEM NAV in my car. I heard a lot of good things on the Garmin's. I like the CDR-30 interface with Bluetooth and couldn't justify paying over 2 grand additional for a NAV. I like the fact that you can just take the Garmin's out when you want. My Range Rover came with one!

Another plus for the garmin. Spend $300 now, and in a few years spend $300 again to get everything up to date on the newest NAVI with all the new features and new maps. The price of a hardware+software upgrade for a garmin is less than many vehicle manufacturers charge... Plus if you go on vacation you have a good nav that you are familiar with in your rental... I wish manufacturers would just make a dock in the dash that provides microphone, speaker, external antenna, etc... connectivity and let Garmin et all compete for what you put there...

you could also search for what one of the members (nperetz) here did.........putting in a MacMini computer with a touchscreen screen in the place where the OEM NAV is located. He not only has a full GPS system, but a full computer with all the music etc.... He did a great job. That system is awesome. I think he put a Sprint card for wireless access.