IronPhoenX

I think factory car navigation systems are more limited in technology and features than aftermarket ones. Factory systems generally lag in the aftermarket technology and become obsolete quicker. But I would agree that they look nicer and more integrated than the aftermarket ones.

Probably the most useful feature is the text-to-speech technology. Where the navigation system actually pronounces the street names. I don't think there's a factory navigation system out there that can do that. You would think that's a simple enough luxury feature to add to a factory system that costs over $2,000.

iSuxeL

iTrader: (21)

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!!!!!

Perfection

NAV is definitely a MUST HAVE, you will regret it if you don't get it. I'd say that you should splurge and get it.

Magellan

Sorry, you’re incorrect on that one. All the new Infiniti navs have that feature. My new G37 not only pronounces street names, but usually gets them right. It’s actually funny when it gets one wrong, e.g., in my neighborhood it pronounces “Reseda” street as “Raseda.” But it's quite useful when it says "turn right on Balboa ahead" instead of "right turn ahead."

BlackGhost

It worth it,,get the Nav ML,its the most perfect complete kit you can ever get,,,I remeber when i was looking for a car before buying the is350,i was comparing the Navs and screen in different rides like benz,bmw,acura,audi. none of them really has the quality,easy to use,color and almost playing all your musics and movies no matter what they are as well as the lexus Nav ML.

I have also S350 2006 benz,,and I hate the Nav and the screen it has,its really hard to use and no touch screen,and many other things.

so long story short go with the Nav ML ,an less ofcourse u r planning to get after market Nav and DVD player, then the options are widelly open.

dsclar

I tried this a dozen times in my 2008 but to no avail. Am I doing something wrong or does it not work on the 2008's?

ba-b4

The NAV as a whole package looks better obviously but if you're talking about functionality the little Garmins and Tom Tom's are better and they're easily upgradeable flashable and hackable all for less than 300 bucks and can take with you to other cars or use on foot while hiking etc. I just flashed my Garmin and now it can speak in Cantonese LOL.

ajmtbm

works only on 2006 model year

dsclar

Oh bummer,

Thanks.

istundra

iTrader: (2)

worth it becuase aftermarket support is minimal. some have done it with a custom trim peice.

i have it and it works well.. especially reverse camera.

Zeus69

iTrader: (1)

Agreed x2. There are, however, threads on how to hack the Nav system to override these restrictions. Several threads will come up with a search. So far, I've opted against...

Brian231

Not sure if anyone posted this ever, but their was a comparison between facotry and portable Nav's a while back. I am pro nav, but I do not have nav in my IS because I wanted silver and they had a black one on the lot. I don't regret it for price reasons, but I would love facory nav and do agree with everyone that it makes the car look much better and more expnsive with nav. Also, the voice recognition in factory navs work well. The main selling point in factory vs. portable is that most portable units are desigend to last 3-5 years whereas the factory units are designed to last 13-15, or the life of the car. Furthermore, most facotry units have a much bigger screen and you don't have to worry about theft as much as the portable units are easy to remove for those who choose to leave them suction cupped to their window. On the other side of the specturm, the Garmin Nuvi widescreen works very well and takes seconds to compute longer distances. It all comes down to prefferance, cost, and amount of driving. Factory is always going to be better.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Even if the Garmin dies every 5 years and the factory nav lasts 15, that's 3 times longer... at 10 times the cost. Horrible by any math. Add in the $225 a year you save by buying Garmins $75 map updates instead of the $300 ones from Lexus- Over 15 years that's a savings of almost ANOTHER $4000 on top of the 4k I saved not getting nav.
(or only another 2k on top of 4k if you buy lexus maps from ebay or something)

Plus if you replace the garmin in 5 years you get one that does massively more than the factory nav does (you already do today by getting traffic in realtime plus all the other stuff many units can do- only thing you really give up is the backup camera)

Theft ain't much of an issue if you just put it in the console when you're not using it (the garmin friction mount works like it was designed from the factory for that flat center stack area on the dash of the ISx50)... plus it lets you take it with you in a rental car if traveling.

Arantant

I'm pretty sure that most people don't update their maps every year... the roads don't change that much, especially if you live in the city and not in developing suburbs. I'd probably replace mine when I noticed driving off into "uncharted territory."

wawawa

I think instead of limiting your option to NOT have a Nav, why not keep the option open? Chances are you can easily find the car with the exact options that you want with the Nav than without Nav since Nav is so common nowadays (like some people want ML but don't want Nav, I think you need to special order this kind of option). You'll have a lot more bargaining power when you are dealing on a car in stock, whether than special ordering ones.

So if you find a car in stock with the exact options that you want except it has a Nav in it, don't walk away! Try to bargain for it, you might get $1000 or even $2000 discount (so your Nav is FREE !!!) more than special ordering one without Nav and you don't have to wait 3 months for it !!!