I guess I'm spoiled from having a factory navigation system in my last 4 vehicles. I could never imagine purchasing a vehicle without it. I tried a portable unit once when I had my Grand Cherokee, and while it did have some features that the factory units don't, I didn't like the fact that it sat there on the dash just waiting for someone to break a window and swipe the unit. And I read in the news that this happens all the time. And removing the portable gets to be a real pita. Also the screen size is way to small on the portable units. While they have their faults, the factory integrated units to me are the best.

 

how did you override the can't use while moving more than 3 mph? it was very annoying that the passenger couldn't even operate while i was driving.

 

Welcome to the forum, Buzz Lightyear!

If you do a search you will find many discussions on overrides for using the nav while moving. They depend on the year of your vehicle and nav generation. All involve some element of risk, whether it is getting into the maintenance screen or performing installation of if special interface units.

Feel free to discuss further, but please keep this topic to the general subject of the poll.

 

When we went shopping for the GX we did not waste our time with GX's without nav. Had 4 Lexus's prior to this one with the GS4 and SC430 (comes fully optioned) having nav. The nav has nice features such as reminders, radio artist/song storage, and the rear view camera on top of the usual nav items. Some controls are a bit more awkward with the nav but well worth the trade off in our opinion.
We would not purchase another vehicle without nav.

 

The navigation is the primary reason for upgrading vehicles. We currently have an '03 Sequoia (which I dearly love) and nav wasn't offered until a year or two later. Husband doesn't feel that after-market units would integrate well with the factory installed overhead DVD system.

Thoughts on the various systems: Husband drives an 01 Mercedes S500. While that particular system is a little cumbersome to program, he loves the fact that he has the directions directly in front of him in his instrument panel, with the countdown to the turn. He wanted to get a new ML for that feature alone... I personally feel (in the little that I've played with it on my neighbor's GX and on the dealer's lot) that the Lexus system is much more intuitive and easier to operate. We'll see!

 

Wife wanted a Nav, but we bought a used 2003 GX470, and the kids wanted the dvd/ent system... and that did not include a NAV in the front. I will be purchasing a portable one to switch between cars (mainly my wife who always needs directions).