Factory GPS a good idea (not)?

Are you thinking about dropping $3K for the factory GPS? An interesting take on why it might not be a good idea. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=3874 I've had both, factory GPS and a portable. I like the idea of having it built-in but it was a bit expensive for what you got. I have to say the portable is a bit of a pain to put up and down but the article has some good points in it.

With technology, that is what it is. Once you put your money down, it has depreciated 60%, if you are lucky. With the PCM 2.1, its the same, a bit pricy, but no different than the Cayman S that we bought. To me it is the look & feel of the PCM that makes the interior of my car. Another great debate on personal choice. chowsfor us , thanks for the article, it was a good read.

I've now had GPS in three cars, as a factory option. I prefer to have the system integrated into the rest of the car's electronics and into the dash. The whole depreciation issue does not bother me because that is a fact of life with any electronics and cars for that matter, as Ploc pointed out. At this point I wouldn't be without factory installed GPS. I know it will be a standard item at some point, but until then it will be on my option list.

I second that!

Well that sort of depends on how much you want to keep up with technology and how long your plan to keep your car. As it stands now I'm thinking longer term ownership of the Cayman but I love new toys so I'd be buying the newest aftermarket GPS anyway just because I "need it". So I decided to pass on the already behind the times Porsche unit and just spend the money on the new ones as they arrive. It is a flaw I know.

I have just bought my Cayman and it hasn't got a GPS system fitted. I found that the position that it was situated in was all wrong. They need to have the the dispaly screen higher. Just LIKE THE NEW MERC C CLASS. Anyway a portable is best, l use a MIO A701 can be held by passenger and is ideal, size wize.

I had been planning to order the PCM with extended navigation when I get my '08 CS. The large screen size, integration of the log book, multifunction steering wheel, and other onboard electronics seemed to make the PCM a no-brainer for someone like me who will use the vehicle for business travel purposes. But a recent trip to LA that occasioned the purchase of a portable Garmin GPSMap 60CSx at about 1/6 the cost of the CS's PCMx changed all that. Initially skeptical about using a portable GPS in a vehicle due to the small viewscreen, I've become a total convert. The display is surprisingly easy to read and provided all of the information necessary to get me where I wanted to go without any headaches. Plus, when I got there, I could take it with me to navigate the streets of an unfamiliar city on foot. It also helped me locate nearby car rental offices, drugstores, and other businesses effortlessly. Most importantly, when the GPS hardware technology changes signficantly, a portable unit can simply be replaced for a few hundred dollars, while maps are updated annually. Since I tend to hold on to my cars for many years, it would cost thousands to upgrade the PCM in a CS, and besides, future units may not even be compatible with the console housing and electronics in a 2008 Cayman. I compared the accuracy and level of detail of the Garmin unit with a factory GPS installed in a 2007 Acura TL, reputed to be have one of the best navigational units around, and found the Garmin's accuracy and speed of route recalculation on par with the unit in the TL. Compare and see what you think. You can check out the Garmin unit at https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=310 and can purchase one at considerable savings at http://gpsnow.com/ -- Dan

I've got both models that Dan mentions, the Garmin GPX60CSx and the PCM. They both have their benefits and liabilities and I use the both everytime I go out. Like others have said, having the GPS system incorporated into the rest of the electronics is nice. It's a nice big screen. The Garmin unit is great in my Audi that doesn't have GPS. Also, I really can't use the PCM system to go geocaching and that's the real reason I have the handheld unit.

Money and depreciation aside, I agree with what Santa Fe said, I think it's a matter of how long you expect to own your car. Some argue that the factory nav is out of date the day you get it. Imagine how far behind it will be in 10 years. 10 years of new streets, new technology, faster processors, more memory, new operating systems, new features, etc..... In 10 years, that factory sat nav will be nothing more than an amusing reminder of where the technology used to be. Can you remember the computer that you were using 10 years ago? How would you like to be committed to still using it because someone installed it into your desk?

Most all GPS units get their maps from Navteq (pretty sure), so you won't be 10 years behind in Streets. Even Porsche sells a new DVD (which I think is 2005). That might sound behind but its probably the latest produced. On the other hands, its not cheap ... maybe $250? I have both, a Magallen and PCM. The portable IS a pain ... put it up, take it down ...etc. On the other hand, any updates ... the new DVD was $100 and software you just download. They supply a DVD because its too much for most people to download but the maps are in memory. Want to add traffic ... you add a small receiver. You can't even get traffic on the PCM. Even though I have a portable ... which you can put in any car... I wanted PCM and picked a car that had it. However ... now Im beginning to believe its a $3000 waste and probably would not get it in the future. Why? Well its nice being integrated. But unless you use it for business, how many times does anyone actually need GPS? Its not like I'm going to new places all the time. But, when you do ... its good to have ... and that is where a portable unit comes in ... you just throw it when you need it. The worst thing, IMO, about the PCM GPS is that I find it very user unfriendly. I have said before I have given up on reading the manual (Sorry Santa Fe but its not happening). ANY consumer electronic for the masses better be intuitive and the PCM is not. It's also WAY behind the times ... no touch screen ... no voice input ... not even Bluetooth. Memory? PCM has not memory, its DVD. I have used it but still have no clue of which button to push to get to which screen because the buttons are not clearly marked and Porsche may engineer great cars but their GPS ... is poor (IMO) in terms of being current and user interface. Finally ... about 10 years from now being obsolete ... The whole point of GPS is to get from where you are to where you want to go. As long as it does that ... what is to obsolete? My magallen is about 3 years old now and while the prices have come way down, it still gets from Point A to Point B and new widgets are just SW updates ... Try that in a PCM. I also dont think you can equate PCs to GPS. GPS is just a device to get where your going. A faster processor isn't going to mean much if it works now. Sirf receivers have better sensitivity but its dont mean much since the antenna is external anyway (unlike portables that may have the antenna inside the car. But, you can always add an external antenna).

How about a $3000 dead fish installed in your dash that stinks more and more as time goes by? I wish there were a way to update the hardware. The screen will last forever. Software can be updated. Why not a modular approach that would allow for a tech refresh every few years? I picked up a $249 portable unit for business travel and was blown away.