Why Bother With Built In Satnav ?

fergy · May 23, 2005

So when I got my RX300SE I did not go for the SATNAV option as could not justify (or afford) the £2.5k that it cost.

My father just bought a tomtom go 300 last week for < £400 and I borrowed it...it is brilliant, does what the SATNAV system did on the demo RX300SE did...plus, I've downloaded the speed camera, sorry safety camera ;) data base so covers that as well..

So, trying to see how Lexus charge you £2,100 more for a built in version...ok you get a Bluetooth phone...my headset cost £40 and parking camera (realllly neat)...but £2k+ ????

alajota · May 23, 2005

Personally I like everything clean I would not want to put an aftermarket kit/screen mounted on the dashboard.

There has been no data regarding what happens in an accident?

Is it very well secure, will it come flying at your face in a frontal or rear shunt?

All this has not been investigated.

I know that it is a lot of money but then everything is integrated into the dashboard

My 2p

fergy · May 23, 2005

Personally I like everything clean I would not want to put an aftermarket kit/screen mounted on the dashboard.
There has been no data regarding what happens in an accident?

Is it very well secure, will it come flying at your face in a frontal or rear shunt?

All this has not been investigated.

I know that it is a lot of money but then everything is integrated into the dashboard

My 2p

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I think that risk in very little in a crash, especially as mounted in centre of thw screen...plus it is very light.

I agree that the built in system is neater...but worth £2k ???....no way...

Mr Morse · May 23, 2005

£2,500 for a Lexus unit, that stays in the car and doesn't do anything else....

or

£500 for a top of the range iPAQ plus BT GPS receiver that I can move to any car I like and can use to read my email and a whole load more....

for me it was a no-brainer

Rillo · May 23, 2005

Portable systems have come on in leaps and bounds but I think there maybe a few advantages to the built in systems:

1) Traffic Avoidance information to help rerouting

2) If the GPS signal is lost an integrated system will compensate by monitoring the direction of travel from the wheels such as when going through tunnels, car parks etc.

3) Re-sale value. There was a time when sat nav etc added no value to your car but this is changing. Now certain models have to have certain options to be more saleable and I think this happening with Satnav. Don't believe me?? 10 years ago it was not common to own an executive car with leather - can you imagine today without it??

4) I work on the principal that all cars should have it so only buy cars with it - couldn't find my own way now!

5) it's one less gadget dangling from my windscreen that needs a cable :D

fergy · May 23, 2005

Portable systems have come on in leaps and bounds but I think there maybe a few advantages to the built in systems:
1) Traffic Avoidance information to help rerouting

2) If the GPS signal is lost an integrated system will compensate by monitoring the direction of travel from the wheels such as when going through tunnels, car parks etc.

3) Re-sale value. There was a time when sat nav etc added no value to your car but this is changing. Now certain models have to have certain options to be more saleable and I think this happening with Satnav. Don't believe me?? 10 years ago it was not common to own an executive car with leather - can you imagine today without it??

4) I work on the principal that all cars should have it so only buy cars with it - couldn't find my own way now!

5) it's one less gadget dangling from my windscreen that needs a cable :D

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#

1)...yip can get that with the portable systems.

2)...Some have the ability to predict direction, sure the TOMTOM G0 300 does this, no idea how though..built in Gyro / compass ?

3) I priced othe SATNAV at £2.5k...was told worth £1k extra at 3 year resale point...ooch !..so bad resale your point.. worth £500 a year

4) ...cant argue with that...personally I'd only use it occasionally at best.

5)... yip one less but as it does speed cameras it replaces the radar detector !

Rillo · May 23, 2005

Portable systems have come on in leaps and bounds but I think there maybe a few advantages to the built in systems:
1) Traffic Avoidance information to help rerouting

2) If the GPS signal is lost an integrated system will compensate by monitoring the direction of travel from the wheels such as when going through tunnels, car parks etc.

3) Re-sale value. There was a time when sat nav etc added no value to your car but this is changing. Now certain models have to have certain options to be more saleable and I think this happening with Satnav. Don't believe me?? 10 years ago it was not common to own an executive car with leather - can you imagine today without it??

4) I work on the principal that all cars should have it so only buy cars with it - couldn't find my own way now!

5) it's one less gadget dangling from my windscreen that needs a cable :D

←

#

1)...yip can get that with the portable systems.

2)...Some have the ability to predict direction, sure the TOMTOM G0 300 does this, no idea how though..built in Gyro / compass ?

3) I priced othe SATNAV at £2.5k...was told worth £1k extra at 3 year resale point...ooch !..so bad resale your point.. worth £500 a year

4) ...cant argue with that...personally I'd only use it occasionally at best.

5)... yip one less but as it does speed cameras it replaces the radar detector !

←

Ooops - should have said ease of resale rather than resale value. Two comparative cars one with SatNav and one without. You may or may not get more for the one with but it should be easier to sell.

The other advantage of the integrated system is you tend to get a bigger screen and that other car systems are routed through it such as climate, audio etc.

As to whether it is worth 2.5K??? Maybe in the same way that an IS is worth more than an Avensis because it has a lexus badge on the front or is that opening a can of worms?? I guess the manufacturer charges for the integration work plus whatever the market will cope with on top?

MartinC · May 23, 2005

For me it was a feature I really wanted, never had it on a car previously and looked at all sorts of after market versions for my other cars, in particular the Navman's.

This is the most expensive car I've bought so it was bit of a must at the time, and luckily comes as standard on the SE's now. I blew out a very nice used Sport as it didn't have it.

I must admit I really don't use it that much at all, but it is a nice toy when I do need to :D but I wouldn't have got Sat nav if I had to pay the £2300 extra