I am at a point where I just have to order my new 2013 ES 350 White on black, the question is to get NAV or NON NAV, the only thing missing in the NON nav is the maps, I am still getting BSM, HID, HEATED/COOLING SEATS, STEERING, etc. The difference between the two options is a $25 car payment over 42 months.

NAV: Fully loaded, everything included but never use NAV much unless long drives.

NON NAV - Still Fully loaded, but no maps - however, i use google maps on my iPhone via bluetooth and i find it to be more accurate at times, and no update of the navi is needed 2years from now.

just needed an opinion, thoughts?

 

Tony - I'm a new owner of an ES300h - and if you were buying that I would give you a strong advisory about the lack of places to place a phone and have easy access to it, especially if you wanted to see the screen. I'm not sure if the ES350 has the same issues in the console space or not, so hopefully an ES350 owner could help you out there.

I do find the convenience of the in-car nav system very handy, especially with the way Lexus hooks it up to eDestination and live Destination Assist - if you are considering those services, I'd say an in-car nav system is worth it.

-Dave

 

The Nav itself stinks.A Garmin or your Smartphone is so much better.
However,the Nav screen performs other functions,looks great and will help with resale or trade in number but no where near what the cost is now..

 

I have NAV, my wife doesn't. I rarely use it. Instead I use Goole Maps on my phone. It;s more accurate and gives far better directions. However, sometimes, on long trips here in the west, my phone will lose the connection, and then I must revert to the Lexus Navigation. But, if it were me, I'd skip it and use an old fashioned map for the rural areas, not many road choices in the boondocks anyway.

Lou

 

Thank you guys - but is it worth the extra $25 a month on a lease for 42 months where the only options it adds is the maps and the inform suite?

 

That's a decision you have to make.
If you don't feel you should have got Nav later,yes.
Me,it's a luxury car and I must have Nav.I'd also have a couple more options if a special order wasn't necessary in my area.

 

I would go for the nav for the bigger backup camera screen and some of the other features accesed thru the nav screen as well as the higher residual on the car. I don't use the nav very often but ordered it anyway and haven't regretted it. Mine is also white on black - another choice I don't regret. If you haven't yet ordered it consider the remote trunk opener option which I do use often and really appreciate.

Dave Mac

 

If you are leasing, then you don't need to consider resale. Only pay for what you need, and with your iPhone, you don't need the nav. Not worth the extra $1,050 in my opinion.

 

Tony - get the nav - I don't think you will regret having it - we traded in our last two leased Lexus's with the cars being worth more than the residual value. While researching the trade values of our non nav vehicles, I was surprised at how much more the nav equipped cars were worth.

Bill G

 

I frankly don't understand why a luxury car is offered WithOut Nav. I was in the market a couple yrs ago looking at BMW, Mercedes, Audi and would not consider anything that didn't include Nav.....I also don't understand why the feature is as expensive since I'm a retired engineer from Megellan one of the providers of GPS for the auto industry and know what the cost is.....then again they bundle it with a bunch of other stuff you probably don't need.

 

I must say, I agree partially. Sometimes I have had great experiences with the nav, other times not so much. I think it will have a better resale value when it comes time to resell it. I would just get it.

 

Thank you so much guys for your feedback and help. I finally decided to go with NAV, it was only costing $20 more a month and the car is now ordered, white w/ black interior. Almost went to Infiniti, glad I did not. Thank you again.

 

Is this a 2014?

 

It's a 2013.

 

So, they're ordering it from another dealer then?