I was thinking about getting a Nav system at first, but then decided against it. I thought "why on Earth do I need this?" Other than the fact that it would be fun for about 2 weeks, I'd never use it. Even if I go on a trip or need to find something new. Mapquest and a cell phone do wonders for me. If it was under 1k or if I just had the money laying around, then maybe. My dad's got it in his car, but he has a real estate appraisal business and is constantly driving to new areas every day. Whatta ya'll use/need it for?

 

I have been told by all people that I must get the NAV. Why you might ask? Well, it's not just because it's a sweet option and looks cool in the dash. And it's not because it comes with more buttons in the car (and we all know that more buttons = more fun.) No. The real reason why I must get the NAV (this is according to everyone else, of course) is because I have absolutely no sense of direction. Me and some friends once went to Detroit for a Richie Hawting Control III party (techno party)... They were all so f*cked up at 10 AM when the party was over and we left to head back to Chicago, that I got to drive back. When my one friend woke up an hour later, we were in Flint Michigan. Now, I don't know where Flint is, but I guess it's in the wrong direction from Chicago. Then another time I was driving my girlfriend's car and I was going to Ikea which is in a north suburb of Chicago to buy some furniture and surprise her. Well, the expressway splits on the way up there and goes different directions... I used my great geographic intutition and ended up going 45 minutes the wrong way

Oh, I have plenty of other stories, even with going the wrong way in the city itself, in which I live, in which every block is a perfect rectangle and goes by round numbers at main streets (1000 West, 1100 West, 1200 West, etc...)

Yes, so it is a must that I get the NAV system.

N.

 

We don't have it in the Z but we have it in a 03 Lincoln... IMO it is the biggest waste of $2000 and dash space I could have. As long as I know what direction I'm heading I can firgure the rest out with a map.

 

Hhmmmm, I just had it installed over the weekend. I still don't know how to use it very well. I used to get to work this morning and I noticed that it gives you enough warning to change lanes or when you need to merge onto another freeway. I think it may make driving in unfamiliar areas much safer. You may only use it once or twice a month but definitely worth the $1200 that I spent on it. My wife loves it too.

 

Since i bought my Z used, it didn't come with the NAV, but i am planning on getting some type of aftermarket nav in the future. Besides it looking cool in the dash , i'm terrible with directions and i think it would actually serve a useful purpose for me.

 

Don't have it, wouldn't get.
I have a good sense of direction. If I'm going some place new, I know how to read a map. I don't need some annoying voice telling me to change lanes. I hate back seat drivers! LOL

If it had some useful features such as being connected to the internet, being able to tell me what movie plays where and when, where is the closest Mcdonalds and does it have a drive thru... then I would possibly get it. Untill then, as I see it, its just a useless cutesy-wutsey gadget.

 

I love it, have had it in 3 cars now, and wouldn't want to live without it. Even in familiar territory, I like to see how far up the next street is, and just plain like having the display. Heck, did you know our map even has the whole track at Road Atlanta programmed into it (I don't really watch it while tracking though ) and the atlanta airport shows the runways and taxiways, and its all accurate.

 

IMHO I like the NAV in my Track, but I have to say, I was traveling beck to Long Island from NJ and it had me going in the most rediculous way possible. The directions are not always very appropriate. It even wanted me to do a U turn to go back after I missed a turn, even though there was a better route to take by going straight.
The one good thing is that it re-routes you if you make a mistake.

A couple of other cool things are the quick stop.
If you need a Bank ,ATM, or fast food by choosing quick stop, it lists all the places and the approx distance. VERY COOL.

I am starting to like it more and more as I use it, and get to know it's limitations.

If you hav the extra cash, by all means, buy it.

My car was discounted over $3K so I actually got it for free.

 

I just got it because it looks cool. 2000 is alot but I'm sure it'll help the resale value just a lil. The navigation is handy sometimes, but I got it mainly for the aftermarket TV/PS2/Xbox that I plan on getting. I figured I'm gonna get TVs in my car, so why not have one there already. I plan on building a showcar out of my Z. "All show, no go". But at least this car hits 14s stock.

Zunzet, did U use Shortest Time or Shortest Distance? I found out that shortest distance does take U on some really weird routes.

 

You will find that when it reroutes you, it attempts to get you back to the original route, whether it is most appropriate or not. If it happens, reenter the destination. You can do it while moving, by going to DEST, then Previous Destinations, then selecting your current dest. from the list. It will then recompute from scratch instead of trying to go back to its previous routing.

 

I got the NAV because its a neat little toy to have in the car. I think that the NAV really adds alot to the interior of the 350Z. I also like having it in case i need to use it.

 

I know you guys with the Coupes don't face the same problem that I have but I just want to give my 2 cents for those of you who might be thinking of getting Nav in a Roadster.

As soon as you put the top down while driving in the sunlight....poof there goes your display as the sun washes the image out and you can't see it anymore. And believe me, it seems like the sun is always right behind you or on your left or right side. Grrrr. You Coupe owners might know what I mean when the sunlight hits your digital gauge on the top of the dash cluster when you are trying to see the speedo and the image is washed out.

Nissan USA does not have a fix for it and the guy I spoke with said that when they put the Nav in the Coupe, they didn't really consider the suns effect on the Navi screen with the Roadsters. However, they have received several complaints (mine included) and will be looking into the problem. The briteness and contrast don't help a bit. The sun is just too bright.

Anyway..that's my 2 cents

 

Ordered in the Max and not the 350 and it was a waste of money in our opininons, we have only used it a few times to find a store. 99% of the time we know where we are going and have cash for what we need so no need in finding ATM's, so I m glad we didnt get it in the 350. Although it does make for a good conversation whenever someone new gets in the Max.

 

I am glad I have it in my Track....it was not an option I was considering but now that I have it I find myself using it more and more. The best part was that it was already installed in the car and the dealer gave it to me n/c since they were trying to move all of their inventory.

 

I got an early Z (Aug 2003) andf the only Z available had the nav. Otherwise, I would not have spent the money. I can think of better things to do $2K.

 

My sense of direction is horrible.

I hate driving in DC. When i get lost there, i get soo stressed out.

I bought the garmin street pro 2610. It fits nicely in the nav compartment, and also on top of my rangers dash. So i can use it anywhere, including friends cars.

Its so much easier to drive through DC and all other points.

BTW i get lost in the same mall that ive gone to for 15 years...


Mine cost 950 bux..

 

I think I choose Shortest Distance. It really sends you in some strange directions.
I'll try the Shortest Time next time.

Thanks

 

I use mine for all of my road trips, even if I know the way. Having that ETA computer, and watching how the roads 'really' go is very interesting.

MapQuest printouts are fine until you make that fatal wrong turn in downtown Baltimore. The reroute feature works very well, especially in unfamiliar territory.

Around town, I use it to find little shortcuts all over the place. I now take completely different routes to my most frequented destinations, and have saved dozens of hours of sitting at stoplights!!!!

So, for me this was $2K very well spent. Like everything, it's what you make of it.

 

Spent the 2G's the Nav would have cost on Performance Mods.

Maybe I wont take the best route to a location but I'll still get there faster.

 

I got it and love it. I'm using it all the time to find routes to clients sites. The city/county here is really big and it comes in very handy. The quick stop and being able to find just about any establishment I want to go to by name already programmed in for the whole country is really nice. I can be somewhere unfamiliar and decide to get some lunch or something and search by type of food, all fast food, name of the place and find the nearest one to me. That beats driving around aimlessly hoping you find something tolerable nearby that you don't get lost going to and speeds up time it takes to find that place to eat and get back.

It's replaced having stacks of mapquest printouts that I carry around. I can get an address and know I'll be able to find it without having to first hit the internet.

The auto-reroute is really handy if you are trying to find someplace and accidently go past the street or can't get over or something.

But really, just for getting back to the freeway from some weird places is worth it's weight in gold so you don't end up somewhere bad or just more lost. No worries about backtracking thru directions. Also, with the big zoom in on exits and turns it helps quite a bit when you might have a large interchange where you could go in a bunch of different ways.


I suppose if you lived in some hick town that you never leave and drive the same route every day and don't ever go anywhere else then it's likely not going to be worth it. But at least here in so cal with everything so spread out it makes a world of difference.