Looking for new car stereo with built-in GPS

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/car_entertainment/mobile_video_n_n...

What is your definition of "not too expensive"?

All of the in dash stereo/GPS units look too expensive to me, but then I have a preference towards regular vehicle GPS units. I suspect the in dash units are great once they are installed properly, though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KENWOOD-DNX6180-NAVIGATION-RECEIVER-...

One nice thing about the Kenwood units is that the GPS is a Garmin GPS so POI Loader works. Additionally, the cost of updating the maps is less than $100/year.

However, I don't know what you mean by cheap. Generally, the screen is bigger on an indash unit, so the cost will be higher than a standalone unit. Sometimes by a lot.

It also depends if you want a factory installed unit or an after market add-in.

After market

Crutchfield's is a good place to look for aftermarket. They have decent prices and a large selection of combination systems. They also have good technical information and reviews.
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_182350/In-dash-GPS-Navigation.h...

The problem I've always had is the super high price you pay relative to what you get. I know you get a bigger screen and usually an upgraded sound system to boot, but if my Nuvi listed for $1200 like Nav systems still do I never would have bought it. While it would be neater than a GPS with a cord dangling off it, I just couldn't justify it.

Thank you

The cost of In Dash units is a combination of greed and screen size. Basically, the cost of touch screens goes up geometrically, not linearly. A screen twice the size isn't twice as expensive or even four times more expensive.

The larger screens take a lot more materials to make ... double the size requires 4x the materials ... but the yield losses also mount in the manufacturing processes as the size of a device increases ... and this sometimes costs more than even the 4x material usage penalty.

CC