The "NAVTECH and GDT merged" database found in Lexus/Toyota Navigation system has a serious shortcoming and that is: The guidance, AS WELL AS THE HIGHLIGHTED ROUTE abruptly dissappear the moment you leave a NAVTECH mapped area and enter a GDT mapped area (primarily covering rural areas/smaller towns), making this additional mapping virtually useless.

By comparison Honda/Acura Navi systems have only NAVTECH maps in their database. Until now, of course, this was of no consequence as the additional mapping in Lexus units was just a bonus to see which street you're on.

Now with the advent of the new "NEXT-GENERATION" Navi as seen on the new 2003 Honda Accord, they are using NAVTECH's latest database release, which covers the ENTIRE United States to STREET-LEVEL-DETAIL, providing POINT-TO-POINT guidance to virtually ANYWHERE in the continental U.S. (YES, including every small one-horse town).......so this makes the "merged" Lexus/Toyota database totally useless and far inferior as well.

I'm wondering if Lexus will abandon this "merged" database in the next DVD update and go fully the NAVTECH route just as Honda has done??.......unless, of course, Lexus has signed some sort of agreement with GDT for a certain time period!!

The other major shortcoming I was wondering about was the VERY POOR POINT-OF-INTEREST DATABASE......Do they ever plan to address this?? (The new Honda Navi has 7 million POIs compared to the measly 800,000 or so found in Lexus systems

 

The Honda system doesn't give guidance in non-detailed areas. Where did you get this information?

mmm

 

The reason why the Honda/Acura point of interest (POI) database is better is they licensed the InfoUSA database (www.InfoUSA.com) for the DVD. Lexus should do the same! Let's hope they drop the GDT and use Navtech's latest database, also including the InfoUSA database and we will all be more happy with our navigation systems.

 

.......notice that I said the Next-generation Navi that will debut in the new 2003 Accord. Yes, it is true that the CURRENT Honda Navi systems do not have the ability to route to anywhere in the U.S.

This new Voice-Activated Navi for the 2003 Accord will not be available till January 2003........here's a link that gives more detailed info on this new state-of-the-art Navigation system (go to "INTERIOR - PART 2" and scroll down).

http://www.hondanews.com/forms/honda...h+currenthonda

Additionally it will be far more accurate than Current Honda and Toyota/Lexus units as it will sport a 12-channel GPS receiver, as opposed to the now, obsolete 8-channel units.

Here's another link that refers to NAVTECH's "accelerated build-out initiative" providing FULL-DETAILED-COVERAGE for the entire U.S. This is what Honda has used to provide FULL-COVERAGE in this 2nd generation Navi which will debut in the '03 Accord

http://www.navtech.com/data/accelerated.html