How would you rate the 2001 GS430 navigation system? Is it useful, easy to use and where is the CD player/changer located?

Im gonna go look at one tomorrow and see if I chose it.

 

welcome to clublexus

imho the nav is always useful. basically, you never know when you are going to need it, and it's always good to have. 01+ they use the dvd base nav, and the nav unit it in the trunk area. it's independent from the cd changer which is in the glove box. and the nav is very easy to use imho

 

thanks for that info. Also has anyone done an Mp3 player swap out of the cd player in the glove box or anywhere else in the car? I definately wanna be able to play MP3s in the car.

 

there are a lot of options on the mp3 player, you can always check out the electronic forums, i am sure people there are much more knowledegeable

 

I have one in my GS430, IMHO it is easy to use, but not as easy or informative as my 01 Acura TLS. If I had a choice I would have the Acura Navigation with/Nissan BirdEye View Display. The Lexus is alot faster in route calculation though. But compared to MB and BMW/s Lexus wins hands down.

 

oh, euro nav sucks major *** period. they are just horrible, and not even touch screen? come on.... the nav screen on the s class is smaller than that on my is300? that's a joke man....

anyway... i agree, i think the lexus nav is much richer in color and response time, but it's not as intelligent and friendly as the acura one. infiniti is good on the bird's eye ,but other than that i don't think it's anything special compared to the other two

 

It gets the job done. I have NAV in both my 02 BMW and 01 GS300. Here are some notes based on the year/models I have:

Lexus has touch screen, BMW does not.
-The Lexus NAV seems faster at processing info.
-The Lexus NAV voice talks through the speakers on the front/left, BMW voice talks through all speakers.
-The Lexus continues to display the map while you change radio stations or CDs, BMW NAV does not show the map while doing these things.
-Lexus has night mode, BMW does not.
-The BMW NAV display is a little sharper.
-The BMW lets you input new addresses while driving, with Lexus you have to stop.
-The BMW NAV does a good job at dynamically showing minor details like your altitude, latitude/longitude, current city/county, and current street name.
-It seems easier to find places to eat with the BMW.

(not NAV related, but the BMW is plug and play with iPod, I wish this was the case with Lexus)