There alot of things you can do without in a car. I mean do we really need power windows, power door locks, leather seats, heated seats, etc. Nav. is just another luxury item. The nav really comes in handy if you get lost or run into a traffic jam.

 

^ that is true....

 

I'm the opposite. I do use my nav and it's very handy even in town when I'm going to a place that I've never been before. Also, a built-in stock system is harder to steal than a break-and-grab job for an aftermarket unit. And what's a good aftermarket nav for $100?!?!

Yyyyep! And the once-in-awhile road trips!

 

Mine is without NAV. Since I bought my car to own for 8-9 years, and with a progress of NAV technology - I didn't want to get anything that will be obsolete in a few years. The only plus is integration, but hopefully VAIS Tech comes up with something to hook up externally LOL!!! I’m starting to see a number of manufactures of portable NAVs that include life traffic and more and more bells’n’whistles.

W/O nav you still get a full touch screen with all the functions and “VIP” look, and ’07 models have high res screen.

 

obsolete in few years? LOL, what do you think is going to happen in a few years? cars that drive itself? there will always be a need for navigation and plus, if you want to upgrade the maps, just put in an updated dvd

chances are, the roads you MIGHT travel on for the next 6-7 years will still be there, so your navigation will always work.

Doubt people travel on newly built roads all the time anyway

 

Not the roads, but the functions. I could care less about maps, I know where I'm going. But I do care about life traffic updates to know which highway to avoid in my daily commute. Do you get life traffic option with Lexus NAV?

 

... and regarding future technology, I can betch you they will have something projected on windshield on the level of your eyesight ... and in 8-9 years curent nav will be a useless option when I'm ready to sell my car

 

So when all that new technology comes out, in 8-9 years, another 8-9 years that stuff will be obsolete then too.. will you not get it then? lol so why knock the GPS in the cars now? lmao

 

If your at all concerned about obsolesence why would you keep the car for 8-9 years? Just get the NAV and trade in the car in a few years, at least that is how I'll do it.

 

^ agreed with ISFTwins.

 

What if its a top-dash mounted aftermarket nav unit? You guys are missing the point. Of course, you can't always worry about all the tech toys and how soon they will be obsolete. Just in this particular case and at the rate of how NAV technology matures every couple of month, I personally prefer to get the latest aftermarket NAV module when I find the one I like. Its a matter of personal opinion. BTW, nobody answered if you can get Life Traffic update with Lexus NAV. For me NAV is really useless without that option.

If you have money to waste, go ahead and buy/lease a new one every couple of years. I'm still in my early 30's, paid cash for my car, and planning to keep it for a long time.

 

Some Lexus vehicles use XM Nav traffic - maybe you could look into getting that option for your car. I'm sure that lexus.com or a dealership could provide you with that information in more detail and provide cost/details. I just use my i-phone for traffic updates and when the technology gets better Apple just provides free updates.

 

Very good point about iPhone or any smart phone with GPS/NAV option. I might have to look into that

 

For traffic update, you can always listen to good ol' local radio for that. Navigation is really not useless without LIVE traffic update. Can you guarantee that you will always be driving on roads that you know and never ever take a road trip to an unfamiliar place? Also, buying a new car every couple of years might be a waste; however, leasing is probably not such a waste.

Lastly, for projection on the windshield, it has already been out for quite a few years. I believe at least Cadillac and BMW have such options for information display and/or infra-red camera display.

 

XM NAV Traffic is available on the LS460 and LX570 at this time only. It is not applicable or an upgrade option for any other Lexus model at this time.