I am traveling today for work. I got a Volvo from Hertz. Not a bad car, but even after just a week, I am severely spoiled. I got the car with Everlost. I used to think it was OK. Not anymore. The nav on the IS is SOOOO much better at everything. Entering addresses is easier, seeing your position on the screen is easier, and here in Salt Lake City, Everlost wouldn't let me enter the addresses without screwing it all up. I wasted 5 minutes just trying to enter an address....can't wait to get home to my IS!

(I would rag about the Volvo, but that's just totally not fair - apples and oranges.)

 

Totally worth it. It got bluetooth intergration + make the car look nicer with it.

 

Ok you guys....now you're making me want nav. I have a deposit on a "non-nav" is 250 right now and could probably switch if I wanted to get nav. I made my original decision based on justifying the cost, but I'm buying the car and as one poster said, 5 yrs from now everything will have nav....

Ugh....decisions decisions!!!

 

I can honestly say that if I were you, I'd make a change to that order to get the NAV asap. I drive a lot for my work because I'm a social worker so I make home calls and I can't fathom the idea of having to focus on driving and looking at a Thomas Guide at the same time. Having the NAV tell me what to do is not only safer but I'm able to relax. But even if you don't drive around a lot for your work, it's still helpful to have because you'll know that no matter where you go, you can always find your way around. To me, the NAV is very empowering!

 

^^^That's it dead on! Perfect description of how you feel after having it. I too thought it would be a "nice to have" but I didn't care one way or the other when I was shopping. Having bought it - WOW! I don't know how I've done without it in the past.

 

This is my first Nav but it is so fast it's not even an issue. a few seconds, very fast.

I rarely use the NAV but it is still definatly a must. Sometimes even when I know where i'm goign I will plug it into the NAV so I can see how many miles are left, and the expected time I'll get there.

my main point, even if you think you know of all the NAV can do for you other than calculate a route you're still not aware of many things...

Nav is a must

 

Absolutely cannot live without one.

 

Love my NAV. Saved me several times.

 

So, what happens if somehow in the longrun, the Nav system breaks down. In that case do you loose the control of AC/Heater, and other features because you cant access them from the LCD???

 

Its worth every penny...just the "oohh and ahhh" factor alone should be a reason for getting the nav. add the functionality of it and you should have been sold at "it also blow dries your hair." Anyway lets say you decided to get an aftermarket touchscreen from lets say alpine with some of the functions that the factory touchscreen has, you're going to be paying a little more with installation as well as the depreciation of value of your car by sticking something non oem in it. Besides, if youre already pay that much for a car whats a couple thousand extra anway???

 

in response to pimp...the nav unit is covered under the 4 year 50,000 miles warranty.

 

If there are non redundant features that can only be accessed on the nav screen and the nav screen goes blank permanently.....

 

That's when you hand the dealer your paycheck for the last couple months. Assuming this happens after the warranty period.

 

If you decline to purchase things on the fear of their failing you would never buy a television set, telephone, refrigerator, or even the computer from which you access this forum. You would then lead a very dull life.

 

Well......you can fix a "television set, telephone, refrigerator, or a computer" AND you dont have to worry about OTHER things not working if one of those goes wrong!! But, I was wondering how much it would cost to repair something like the NAV? Like other people have said, AC/Heater/Audio controls are built in the Nav as well as separately on the dashboard. So that is a good news!! If they were NOT, than would you be satisfied with that kind of feature for the NAV and freeze/burn depending on the weather outside?