Built-In GPS Units

I have an Acura 2004 TSX Nav, it has a great GPS, problem is, the Maps are way out of date and pretty much useless other than Major roads. Last year I decided to splurge and I purchased a 2009 update to my maps and I almost think my earlier one was better. I am not sure how Acura deals with it, the system and maps are not Acura and the new 2011 update is
$185.00 direct from Navteq.

I love the GPS but I'd never purchase another car with a nav system with out the ability to buy or get life time updates... because the MFG knows your stuck with what they provided you and you have no other options!

Almost purely for aesthetic reasons.

In terms of ease of upgrading and tossing broken units, the portable units can't be beat, IMHO.

Try doing a search on the subject; it's been discussed on this board as well on many enthusiast boards for particular cars (I frequent one of the Mini Cooper groups, and it's a topic that gets beaten to death periodically).

Factory/built in NAV

Pros-- superb integration, no dangling bits

Cons-- difficult or impossible to customize/add POIs, updates are expensive and not very often

Add-on NAV

Pros-- flexibility, price, ability to update and customize

Cons-- dangling bits and exposed pieces, not as tightly integrated

bob in sunny silicon valley

A friend has a 2007 Lexus and he discovered the update on his built-in GPS is approximately the cost of a low-end Nuvi. He decided to go with the Nuvi.

this is very true

I have a 2004 Cadillac Escalade with a built-in GPS. It is an older joystick model versus a touch screen -- incredibly inefficient for entering data.

The DVD to update for the GPS database is updated annually and GM charges $250 for each update. It is a total ripoff. As convenient as some of the built-in features are (like dimming the radio when the GPS "speaks"), the cost of maintaining the database FAR exceeds the value and convenience.

i have 2003 4-runner that has a factory gps. in the rear of the car is a dvd player with a disk in it with the maps. in order to update this unit i have to buy another disk which is 300.00 and you can only get it from toyota. I hope they are made different now.Plus i paid 2200.00 for it.

Does anyone here own a 2010 or 2011 Chevy Suburban with a factory installed GSP? If so please tell me, if you know, the make and model of the GPS unit. If you know anything else about it (how it's updated, if you can update it without getting the dealer involved, how accurate it is, etc.) please post that as well.

I fly alot...if it was built in my gps would be at the airport and I'd be stuck in a strange city without it. i know how to get around Houston but not Chicago or DC or LA

Long ago, the relative high price of built-in GPS turned me off, as slick as it might look. I've had a Garmin for years (enjoying the portability to move it to different cars), but more recently I've come to enjoy the ability to have navigation in my smartphone. I personally use an iPhone, but Android-based phones are great, too. I don't use custom POIs that much at all, but rather very much enjoy being able to search a map for destinations (restaurant, theater, landmark, etc.)

I agree with you. I have both a Streetpilot 2610 and 2720. The reason I asked my last question is because I'm considering purchasing a Suburban and, if it comes with the GPS built in I'd like to know something in advance about it.

I have an Android based phone (HTC Evo) and I have used Google Maps for the navigation. The only thing that I don't like about it is I lose the navigation if a call comes in.

they are a PITA to update and are much more difficult to use on the fly based on what I have seen. A former business partner of mine had one in his GMC truck and the thing was nearly useless unless you pulled over and then inputted info...I suppose they are better now, his truck was a 2005 or 6 IIRC...still for $200 you can get a MUCH better portable unit.

JM2C, YMMV

I have had several opportunities to compare my Garmin to current generation built-in GPS units. Most recently (actually last September), I was able to compare it to a new Lexus built-in unit. The Garmin was, in every instance, faster than the built-in and just as accurate. The built-in's traffic feature was better and more accurate, but that was the only area in which it beat my Garmin. It also had no means of adding custom POIs, which I find invaluable, as the built-in POIs become dated so quickly.

The portable units win hands down if you fly to different cities a lot. I routinely take my Nuvi with me on trips. I find I rely on the traffic features a lot also.

To me, the portable GPS wins for sure. Sooo much cheaper to update and much more flexible. You can add POI's easily and do many other tewaks that you cannot do with the built-in units.

We use our nuvi 885 as a pedestrian guide when we travel and it has been extremely useful. I take extra charged up batteries so we don't have to worry about it going dead in the middle of a tour. That's something you can't do with the built-ins.

BUT... the Bluetooth quality and ease of use on the built-ins is really.... really good.

That's been one drawback with the portable compared to the built-in. It's a lot of money to have to spend just to get good bluetooth.

You would think that the car manufacturers would come up with something in between - like a unit that plugs into a cutout in the dashboard (like a built in model) but that is removable. The unit should be able to be used with battery charge and/or cables (like the portable) when outside the car. It should also be easy to update and add POIs like the portable units. This would solve a lot of problems.

We all seem to agree on the pros and cons of both. No reason not to use your portable even when driving a car with a built-in GPS. After all, the built-in isn't going to have the RLC and speed camera poi's.

I recently bought a BMW 528i that has a built-in GPS. I am still learning how to use it, so I cannot give a full comparison, but here are a few observations:

Much bigger screen making it easier to see the side streets as I'm driving.
Altough the POIs don't seem as intuitive (maybe a learning curve there), I like how the system anticipates what I'm entering and gives me several choices before I finish. Also, since it is integrated with the blue tooth, it is easier to call the POI than my GO 930.
I don't like the way it shows traffic, just text. I like the traffic I get via Google Maps on my cell phone better.
I like the IQ routing I get from my GO 930 better than either the routing I get from Google Maps or the in-car Nav.

I love my 1490T with lifetime maps and traffic It is great in my car with no gps and when I rent a car. BUT I also love the built in unit in my Lexus. Backup camera, excellent bluetooth, voice activation, large screen with better resoluton, comes on instantly with no cords and wires dangling and no worry about it being stolen. I update the map every couple years which works great for me. I don’t think you can really compare them fairly as each has its pros and cons. It would be like trying to compare a Laptop pc to a desktop pc. My answer is to have both if you can and have the best of both worlds.

My wife just purchased a 2011 Taurus Limited. It had the GPS system installed. I told the dealer I didn't want to pay $1,800 for the thing since I already own 4 Garmin units. As it turns out, the GPS was part of an integrated system that gives bluetooth phone connectivity, voice commands for multiple functions (radio, media, climate, etc.) and a hard drive that stores all of your CD music so you don't need to have CD discs in the car. In addition to the voice commands there's a large touch screen for access as well. They agreed to drop $1,000 off the price of the car to help close the deal since I just kept stating that I wasn't interested in paying for a GPS when I already had a better one.

The GPS works pretty well but it does NOT mute the media that's playing when it gives directions! If you have loud music you simply won't hear the directions. I've entered a number of important (to me) locations into the thing and also tested it as far as finding random locations - Safeway, restaurants, etc. - and it worked well. It gives me the local gas prices, too.

However, my vote still goes for my nüvi 760 when it comes to navigation. It's portable, has lifetime map updates, mutes my audio book when giving directions, etc. The in-car unit WON'T work with audio books from audible.com which is a BIG problem for me. I often travel for work and listen to audio books during the drive times. The car does have an audio input jack and a USB port though so I can still listed to the books on the nüvi through the stereo.

So......... I do have an in-car GPS unit that functions pretty well but I still prefer the nüvi.

I have both a portable and built in. The built in unit is in a 06 car so it is pretty old. I hate using the built in to find stores or locations. I want to find a costco and it says the closest one in in TN. I live in CA. I like being able to add POI points in my portable unit. One of the only things I like about the built in is that it is big and easy to read. Especially when I need to look at a quick map of the area to avoid traffic or construction. It is always there and within arms reach.

I recently drove about 200 miles and the in-dash GPS was only one minute off the ETA for a 3-hour trip. That is as good as my GO930.

BMW offers a Portable GPS for their 1 and 3 series vehicles including, I think, the X3. The GPS is a rebranded Garmin. They started using the 760 but went up to the 885 and are now using the newer units. They mount one of two ways, I bought the mount that screws down under the hood over the gauges. This places the nuvi to the right of the gauges on the dash. The BMW units include a special cradle that takes the sound out to the car sterio through wires. The car gets reprogrammed so it will mute the radio when the GPS wants to talk or a call comes in. I did not buy the BMW, I just used first my 760 and current my 885t in my 128i convertible. I take the sound out the headphone jack into the aux port of the radio. I have a 8GB SD card in it (I could use a 16GB) for music. On trips, I listen to the MP3s and get the navigation or calls as necessary. I did something like this myself in my SUV with a semi-permanent mount and wiring in the vehicle, not dangling. I have Garmin remote microphones in both vehicles and the bluetooth phone works very well.

The X3 mount is a plastic tray piece that goes onto the dash. Wiring comes up through the dash to the tray. I think it would have worked in my 128i but I didn't hear of it in time.

Cradles are the same for 760 and 765t and I just upgraded the SUV to the 765t. 760 is now a backup. All I had to do to put the 885t in the bimmer was snap on the new cradle and move the power and microphone cords. The power connector is the same.

These are nice setups for around $300, a little more when I add lifetime maps.

Jim