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I live near Gotham - a metropolis - and the navi is great because its mapping is near perfect here. If you live in the boonies, TL's navi may not be well suited for you. In your case, perhaps the old paper map or handheld device may serve you better.
Acura's discloses, on its website, the coverage map of its navi state by state. Perhaps you should have reviewed the website more carefully before you decided on the navi option. I believe the perceived problem is with the navi software, which should be updated more frequently and be available to TL owners at a lesser cost ($50 instead of $180).
I don't have a TL, but I do have an '06 MDX Touring w/ Nav/RES
I understand the Nav units are slightly different. I've heard the detail is better in the MDX and I know that the MDX has the Zagat surveys.... but when it comes to navigation, I'm happier than I expected to be.
It's gotten me through the big dig horror and was very up to date with detour nightmares. We've take it to the backwood boondocks of Hastings, MI, down through Chicago, IL and back home to MA, and it never skipped a beat.
It knew the shortcuts friends and family suggested that AAA did not, and I love how it's extremely accurate with my arrival times.
All and all, I'm very happy with Acura's Nav and would buy it again.
Try talking to your handheld and saying, "Find nearest Thai" and see if it lists all Thai restaurants along with their address and phone number. I also love the included Bluetooth... no more headsets!
That stuff comes in handy when on a road trip. I bet you'll grow to like it once your out on your trip and wondering what each exit has to offer.
Give it some time, it'll grow on you like mine did me.
I guess it's a wrap. My wife had an interesting point. She likes the car but refers to it as that "city slicker" car.... I think this may be reflected in the capabilities of the navi. No problems getting to the Starbucks off of Capital and Main in big city u.s.a., but ask it to get to the farmer market north of Shrewsbury PA (real place BTW) and it gets a little flustered.
Scottm123 is right, I drove a MDX loaner while the TL was in the shop (yep, brand new TL already in the service dept., the dealer would prefer it if I would not bring this up - their fault/long story) and the detail of the mapping was much better. Why can't this be in the TL navi? I know this is going to be a big shock to a lot of people - but I have actually sighted passenger cars on back roads in PA! Yep, I knows it's just amazing, but I don't recall any laws that state you must be in a pick-up truck.
Farmers buy TL's too!
I'm use to an old pick-up and a Garmin, so this is a big departure for me.
Still think Alpine Electronics could have done a better job with it....
I really like the TL's nav - it's saved me a bunch of times, and I use it plenty, even when I know where I'm going. I also think the voice recognition and integration with the radio and climate control is a real breakthrough for cars.
As for your criticisms, I just want to make a few comments:
"breadcrumb trail" - I'm not really sure why you'd need this, unless you were off-road. If you know where you are and where you're going, then you don't need it. If you are using the nav to direct you, you can see the line of where you've been, and where you're going on the map. I don't think a breadcrumb trail would be much more helpful.
"latitude/longitude - I mean that's gotta be the most basic function of any GPS." I can't imagine this being an important feature for a car. A boat, yes, but in a car, you 'll only go to araeas where there are roads, so the lat/long is not useful.
"more or less map detail" - yeah, it would be nice to have options like that. I'd actually like a setting that automatically zooms in as you get closer to your destination.
"more options for routing..."Avoid U-turns" option." - yeah, more options is always better. The U-turn thing doesn't bother me. In fact, I'd rather it tell me whether it's better to make a u-turn v. 3 right turns. While I agree it doesn't always give the "best" (a subjective term) route, it usually makes the same "mistakes" as mapquest - that's not a defense, but something I want to point out since I think mapquest is the most widely used mapping website.
"I think the Acura unit talks too much." I don't, but I bet this will be adjustable in the future. You do know you can turn it off completely, right? I really think Acura's was a groundbreaking system, and now other cars are building on it. I was in an '06 ('07?) Infinity G35, and you could set it for the amount of advanced notice you want. It's a hard thing - if you're flying along at 80 mph, the "2nd right...next right...right turn..." prompts come to quickly together to be of much use, but if you're in stop-and-go traffic, they are helpful.
I am sure there are handhelds out there that are "better." Gradually, the more useful of their features should make it into the cars, but I think some of you are being too harsh on the TL system. It's a benchmark for the industry.
In reviewing the posts, Xaf - in one line pretty much sums up my problem.
Let me quote him; "It's not so bad that I'm mad I got the navi-TL. But it's obvious that having the hand held gave me false expectations. For someone who never used a GPS before, it's probably really cool."
For folks that are already use to using GPS - the TL's navi is kind of a letdown - regardless of automotive critical acclaim.
I use GPS... in several different cars. And the Acura is one of the best. For my typical automotive needs, the navi does perfect for me. If you're trying to geocache with your TL, or play "google earth", then you may have a problem...its not meant for that. But for what the automotive GPS is supposed to do (get you from point A to point , it does fine.
I'd be curious what other automobile manufacturers you feel have better GPS units in their cars...
Get a hand held - and see what your missing!!! I have a Garmin 3600 w/ a bean bag bottom and a cigarette lighter adaptor/speaker. There's no comparison.
I never said anything about other cars! The only navi I saw that was a little better, was the MDX, and I'm familiar with the Saab. It had more detail. As far as other cars, they're navi's are probably horrible compared with the TL's - I don't know and really don't care. I needed an Acura or a Honda for dependability, not the navi. If Acura would improve it's Navi, it would be nice. I'm not rich, so I don't have a fleet of luxury cars as you elude to (must be nice).
I think people that have only used in-dash navi's would be a lot less "snarky" if they saw what a simple hand held is capable of.
"Get a hand held - and see what your missing!!! I have a Garmin 3600 w/ a bean bag bottom and a cigarette lighter adaptor/speaker. There's no comparison."
The TL Navi system was not designed to compete against handhelds. Instead, back in 04' Acura incorporated one of the best navi units into its TL.
"As far as other cars, they're navi's are probably horrible compared with the TL's - I don't know and really don't care."
That's fine. The fact of the matter is- the TL Navi unit set the standard for auto manufacturers and now Lexus, Infiniti and others are following Acura's lead.
"I needed an Acura or a Honda for dependability, not the navi."
Why in the world did you waste your $$ then and subsequently complain about it?
"I think people that have only used in-dash navi's would be a lot less "snarky" if they saw what a simple hand held is capable of."
True- but the handheld is not really incorporated into the vehicle.
The Navu unit in the upcoming MMC 07 TL will be updated with XM Real Traffic similar to MDX and will have a back up camera. Can the handheld do that? :confuse:
"'I think the Acura unit talks too much.' I don't, but I bet this will be adjustable in the future"
This is already an option in the current 06 MDX. Since the 07 TL is getting XM Traffic and Zagat surveys, it means the Navi has gotten an update. Hopefully, it's as good as the MDX's... cause I'm more than happy with the MDX nav.
Well... let's have some fun. In regards to the TL's navi and cars in general.
Road & Track wrote; "the intuitive navigation system with its rows of XL-sized, easily deciphered buttons proved the test favorite.", referring to the 2005 TL.
See - I'm being fair.
Brian Cooley from CNet wasn't so nice. Let me take one little piece good and one bad....
The good one; "The Acura RL's NavTraffic system with Zagat database is giving us a first glimpse of a system that delivers something you can use every day." (this is an RL, not a TL.)
Now for the bad; "Usefulness? Most are limited, at least until systems routinely offer live information such as traffic hazards ahead; restaurant locations, ratings, and reservations; and services such as weather map overlays. Ease of operation? Ha. I've seen some of the worst examples of consumer electronics interfaces in history in the dashboards of cars.", he goes on to advise you're probably better off getting a portable unit. The full article is called "Driving It" on Cnet.
As a whole, most all consumer orientated impartial write-ups say to get a portable navi. The in-dash units just are not worth it. The bonus is that you can take it car-to-car.
As far as the Acura TL is concerned, none of my fact-checking (wow, that is a nasty term is it not?) produced any accolades about the TL's navi whatsoever. Earlier bloggers - please refer me to such publications or articles. I would like to see them for my own information.
In response to "GG", "Why in the world would you waste your Money".... I didn't buy the car for the navi, I bought it for the voice activation/touch screen in conjunction with the dvd audio. When this whole rodeo started - I was already eyeing up the TL's navi with suspicion - right on the new car lot. My suspicions were correct. I will continue using my portable automotive navi.
Well, for someone who doesn't own a hand held and doesn't want to... I really like the Navi in the Acura MDX.
As for the TL, I had a loaner for a few days and it did not have the Nav. I like the look of the dash in the TL much better with than without. Now, this is no reason alone to spend that kind of money... just for visual appeal, but for someone like me who also likes the navi itself, it's a no brainer.
"The good one; "The Acura RL's NavTraffic system with Zagat database is giving us a first glimpse of a system that delivers something you can use every day." (this is an RL, not a TL.)"
This will be available for the 07 TL.
"I bought it for the voice activation/touch screen in conjunction with the dvd audio."
Must be nice to have a navi unit smoothly integrated into the dash allowing you to access the voice activation/touch screen in conjunction with the dvd audio huh?
Quick question, will TL owners (2006 to be specific) be able to upgrade to the newer version being used in the 2007 models? To incude the new interface, NavTraffic and the zagat database capabilities? :confuse:
"Quick question, will TL owners (2006 to be specific) be able to upgrade to the newer version being used in the 2007 models? To incude the new interface, NavTraffic and the zagat database capabilities?"
I inquired about this at the dealer last night. The 07 TL Navi disk will not work in an 06 Nav. Also, the 06 Nav cannot be (Or at least, wont be) upgraded to include Zagat ratings and XM Traffic.
Sorry, but the answer to both of your questions is No.
Thanks, that was cool of you to get an answer directly from the dealer.
That sucks, nowadays "upgrade ability" should be a big feature in anything having to do with technology/computers. Especially in something like navigation.
I'm dissapointed at Acura, we the consumers are owed better.
Honda will be releasing in Japan, the ability to receive updates every 10 minutes on weather conditions in your area or along your chosen route. If roads are flooded or closed from being iced over, it'll let you know. The service is called InterNavi Weather and is part of the new InterNavi Premium Club.
A subscription to the InterNavi Premium Club will also give you access to a Social Networking Service (SNS). Subscribers can enter their comments at various Points of Interest (POI), so people will know where the coolest places to hang out are or if some bar plays lame music. The possibilities can be endless here if they develop an open and flexible architecture.
It's only available in Japan right now, but so was the real-time traffic feature before it first became available on the new Acura RL. If and when it comes to the US, I sure hope they'll offer a way to sync your comments via a memory card. This way users can write their reviews on a PDA, notebook computer, etc. and won't be as inclined to be writing long reviews while driving!
Has anybody tried one of these navigation screen protectors? They look like they'll get the job done, but I can't seem to find any reviews. ClearGuardXP
Can anyone tell me if there is an aftermarket navi DVD for the Acura CL that will work rather than paying $185 for the Acura version on line. Call me cheap....but $185 is a lot for a GPS DVD.
Can you please tell us which manufacturer out there installs a factory unit in their vehicle that encompasses everything you think should be in a Navi in this pricing segment i.e. entry level luxury performance sedan market?
Are you asking in terms of who has the best? I have no idea... I don't think the car companies produce the navi's, it's a vendor item. In the case of the Acura TL, it's Alpine Electronics.
I'm not even sure Garmin produces for auto companies, most of the stuff seems to be Alpine Electronics.
When you speak of hacks, is it mostly from the car buffs/hobbyists that do serious modifications? I would love this information if you have it. Thanks
No. I am asking which manufacturer of Navi units in this vehicle segment has what YOU want in it because obviously Acura/Alpine doesn't do it for you. If you can't think of one, then which vendor creates the best unit for vehicles in this segment?
Insofar as hacks are concerned, there are many. On acurazine.com, you can find a wealth of information in regards to the hacks and modifications Acura enthusiasts have done to the 3rd generation TL Navi units. When you visit the site go to the TL section and then browse the forums for third generation TL's and look in the section for navigation.
OK, you were asking which navi I though was best for OEM brand new car in vehicle class/category with no custom work..... I really don't know to be honest. They probably all are "gimmick" orientated. Compared to what you can get aftermarket, OEM navi's (and I will try to be nice) are pretty horrible. On a bigger road trip, my wife finds it quite humorous that my portable navi is parked on top of the dash while the TL's navi is doing its own thing and looking pretty.
If you want to go completely off-scale, I had a friend that had his aftermarket navi actually "painting" 3d terrain as he drove a route that was selected by the computer with weights/constraints on his route preferences. I don't expect this at all - that's in the realm of the "super-geek". I think he was using DeLorme mapping.
Yes, you can guess the Acura/Alpine is not doing it for me -that would be an understatement. It's odd that the aftermarket Alpine stuff is better, but I still prefer Garmin.
It never really came up in my thought process for buying the TL. I mean, basically, what are you buying? You're buying a car right? The navi is nice, but it is pretty much secondary to the primary task. A couple of decades from now (hopefully more, I can't afford it), the TL I just bought is going to be in the scrap heap and I'll be dead and gone (I'm a geezer). The navi that came with the car will be an odd appendage that never got updated because it simply wasn't worth it - kind of like the 8-track that was an option on the original on the 66 T-Bird.... all-the-rage, but in the end, it was something quaint to look at at a car show.
The only hope for the TL's navi (or any OEM navi) is for it to be a "scaleable" navi instrument. I doesn't show any signs of being that at all and really expensive updates "ain't gonna do it there slick", That's why I'm trying to find out what the hobbyists are doing with it.
Thanks for the article. From my reading, the study used people who owned the 2006 model. For MY 2007, the TL Navi unit is improved- might make a difference in the next study
Thanks Liferules.... The thing that really stuck out is that the TSX is at the top of the list, even before the RL or TL and the MDX was way down the list, that was a surprise.
I think I'm going to lurk around the Acura dealership tomorrow and look at the TSX's navi out of curiosity. It was also good to have a list of the vendors for OEM navi's It might be interesting to see the differences.
I think the list can be misleading if you don't carefully read how the index is calculated.
It appears that the index is based on the number of owners surveyed who expressed their satisfaction with their OEM navi. However, it does not mean that the TSX's navi is necessarily better than the RL, TL or MDX navi. That is, it simply shows that more TSX owners are satisfied with their navi.
This is not surprising, because the TSX is cheaper in price, but its navi is almost as good as (and I don't think it is better than) the ones in the RL, TL or MDX.
Hope that my interpretation is correct and I haven't made a fool of myself.
No, your interpretation may be correct. Many more people can afford the TSX, and this may be the culprit. I think when I see the navi, it will be pretty much the same as the TL but you never know.
My big game is going to be checking out the different navi's. The one I really want to see in action is the Siemens unit in the BMW 5 series. Siemens has more of an industrial background (like Garmin), and I bet I'll see something different from the other navi's. I was originally looking at BMW's before the Acura TL, but I never saw one with a navi.
I have a couple of questions about the various GPS systems. I'm planning on buying an '06 Acura (assuming I can find one.) What I want from the navi or from any GPS is: real time traffic and re-routing and voice activation. From what I've read here, the '06 navi does not offer traffic and rerouting. So, is there a good GPS system that offers both things that I want?
Why do you say the 06 nav does not offer re-routing? What is the source of your info? As to traffic conditions, which is only available in the 07 nav, don't forget you have to pay a monthly fee (about $10) for the service, and it only covers major metropolitan areas.
So how does it offer re-routing? If I subscribe to MX Radio real traffic is there a way I can verbally input information to get an alternate route?
For those of you who are critical of the Acura navi, I just googled voice activated gps systems, and couldn't find any except Novogo? which hasn't been released here. The voice activation is really important to me. (I do enough hands free driving between phone and lipstick... well, you get the idea).
I do live in the NY metro area; so a re-routing because of traffic jams would be terrific.
Once you programmed in your destination, even if you stray away from the calculated route (eg using another route), the nav will continue to direct you to your destination from your current position. The nav also give you several alternative routes. So, if you hit traffic on one route, you can switch to another route to get you where you want to go.
As to nav traffic, from what I heard, is not all that great because the technology is not quite there yet. You are better off listening to 1010 WINS for traffic report. There is also XM traffic, though it is not displayed on your nav screen (on the 06 model), but at least you can listen in to see what is going on around you.
The 06 nav also operates with voice prompts, in addition to touch screen input. I don't know about the 07 nav, but I guess the newer software and database might have been updated so that the nav understands more voice prompts. In any event, you will find the 06 nav user friendly, assuming you can get one at the current GREAT price.
I just purchased an 06 TL w/Navi on Friday night. Should I receive a CD or DVD with system files for the Navi? I received an Audio DVD with sample music which is meant to showcase the stereo but I did not receive a system disc for the Navi.
Your DVD nav disk is in the dvd player unit in the trunk. Your salesman should install it and show you how to use the nav unit. If he doesn't then give him a zero during evaluation.
If the nav disk in not in your nav drive (which is located in the trunk), your nav will not work at all. If it works, then you must have the disk already installed. I am not quite sure what you mean by a disk with "system files" as I am not an IT person. If you want the system files so that you can hack or alter them, good luck and hope that you don't mess up. :P
I have a '99 TL with a perfectly working nav system that precedes use of cd-rom for updates. I was told by my dealer at purchase that I could drive in to any dealer and have the hard drive updated or new geographical coverage installed on the spot at no charge. I have yet to find a dealer who could do this. I am relocating to Florida and, as a newcomer, having a workable GPS for the area would be very helpful. Acura customer service is no help saying they don't support the nav system in a car this old (as if they ever did). Any suggestions for a fix short of replacing the computer would be greatly appreciated.
My Navi is working fine so I guess I have the disk that I need. I don't plan to hack or alter them as I have neither the time nor the inclination to do so.
I just got one of the last of the '06 TLs. I didn't get the navi mostly because I want a navi that's linked to real time traffic that can reroute me according to tie-ups etc. I know the '07 has that capability, but couldn't see springing for the '07 price and the navi.
Now I'm looking for an after-market navi/gps that is voice activated and tied to real time traffic. The only one I can find is a product called Novogo which is not available in the US. I think Pioneer makes one too that has to be installed in your dash... don't want to touch my dash.
Any suggestions? I'll also post this on some other threads; but thought people here might have done some research before chosing their navi equipped Acura.
There are systems that provide Live Traffic Repoirting that do not need to be installed in the dash. Different models appear to be getting their traffic information from different sources.
Check out Crutchfield, they offer a lot of different models.
Here's a list of models with Live Traffic available...
Here we go again.... Every time I bring up portable navi's in this thread - I feel like I'm lighting a fuse on a powder keg.
Carteach - get a portable like a Garmin or a TomTom - assuming you don't want to mess with your dashboard. As far as the realtime traffic and voice activation, I don't think we're there yet. If you absolutely have to have it - you may be out of luck. For the price though - Yikes! don't even go there. The portables are far cheaper.
I have been able to successfully navigate massive tie-ups in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area simply by listening to am radio and staying a little slower than the "traffic pack" to eye up brake lights in the distance. Luckily - I'm not a 9 to 5'er and only have to occasionally go to the big city.
My trusty Garmin still sits on top of the dashboard, comically, right over the TL's navi. It has much more capability with presetting weights and constraints and the best thing of all - you can tell the unit that U-turns are prohibited unlike the TL's navi, which seems utterly addicted to them.
Believe me, you did NOT make a mistake by buying a '06 TL without a navi. Take the money you saved and buy a portable for the time being and you'll still have enough money left over to buy another portable with the voice and realtime traffic when they come out later on.
Anybody from Honda Motor Company or Alpine want to explain why the navi in the good old, run of the mill, Honda Civic has more detail than the Acura TL navi? Literally had the two cars side by side in the car lot. Even the salesman was a little shocked.
And now, the big news - the 2007 Civic that costs thousands and thousands of dollars less than a Acura TL (S - if you want), seems, at first appearance, to have a far more capable navi in regards to real usability and display. It has a whopping 8 gig database (with dvd) with voice rec. and traffic. The display is also much brighter and crisper than the TL and keeps detail intact as you zoom out. The LCD-type screen is much easier to see and the controls are far more intuitive. The only strange thing is, once again, Alpine's bizarre fixation on making sure you know where railroad tracks are when you zoom the map out. As to how this is suppose to help in navigating a CAR around.... I'm not really sure.
The navigation system in this brand-new Civic is truly impressive. If you could yank it out and put it in my lowly 2006 TL - I would be ecstatic.
The answer to your question lies in your post. Your comparing the Navi of an 06 TL to a 07 Civic. Better comparison would be comparing the 07 TL to the 07 Civic. Try that when you get a chance and let us know what you find. The Navi unit in the 07 TL is not the same one in your 06
Last week was the first time I drove my car from NY to NJ using the Holland Tunnel. I was surprised that the satellites were able to accurately track the car, from the point of entry into the tunnel until the point of emergence. Does anyone know how that is done? I thought gps tracking would be impossible when the car is in the tunnel, which, I believe, can be more than 100 feet below sea level.
ggesq, - Yes, I already have compared the two cars! I was not speaking of my '06 TL navi. I'm in the market again and made sure I looked at the '07 TL S.
I am EXTREMELY impressed with the Honda Civic SI coupe and from what I have seen with its navi.
A family member is delighted that I don't like my '06 TL and has expressed great interest in "taking it over", so I can get the Civic SI and not take any damage financially.
I think, for my purposes, the navi in the Civic is far better than a 2007 TL S, and I loved the Civic in general. For a lot of people, I'm sure this is complete nonsense. "Up branding" should logically insure a better navi - but I am sure not seeing it here. Generally speaking - I was not impressed with the "S".
In my legwork at looking at different cars, the best navi was in a BMW 5 series, but that also includes the pricey proposition of the BMW. Of all the OEM navi's, it had the best detail. The only drawback was that stupid "I Drive" selector on the center console, I still think that's a mistake. The most pathetic navi was, well, I'll give you a hint - they're doing so poorly lately, there's no sense in bringing up there name here and making it worse.
I think this may be my last posting in this forum (Yes, I can hear the collective sighs of relief), and my staunch defense of portable navi's and I'll leave you on something to mull over. An OEM in-dash navigation system has one severe and pointed drawback, and to the folks who have been following the news lately, well, you know what I'm talking about. I don't have to bring up what an incredible asset a portable would have been in that incident. My heart goes out to the family.
If you see a "geezer" driving a Civic SI Coupe around the Baltimore/Washington area and Maryland/PA/VA, and he's also driving slow... It's probably me. Don't worry - I try to stay in the right lane. Good luck everybody - Drive Safe!
Comments
Acura's discloses, on its website, the coverage map of its navi state by state. Perhaps you should have reviewed the website more carefully before you decided on the navi option. I believe the perceived problem is with the navi software, which should be updated more frequently and be available to TL owners at a lesser cost ($50 instead of $180).
I understand the Nav units are slightly different.
I've heard the detail is better in the MDX and I know that the MDX has the Zagat surveys.... but when it comes to navigation, I'm happier than I expected to be.
It's gotten me through the big dig horror and was very up to date with detour nightmares.
We've take it to the backwood boondocks of Hastings, MI, down through Chicago, IL and back home to MA, and it never skipped a beat.
It knew the shortcuts friends and family suggested that AAA did not, and I love how it's extremely accurate with my arrival times.
All and all, I'm very happy with Acura's Nav and would buy it again.
Try talking to your handheld and saying, "Find nearest Thai" and see if it lists all Thai restaurants along with their address and phone number.
I also love the included Bluetooth... no more headsets!
That stuff comes in handy when on a road trip.
I bet you'll grow to like it once your out on your trip and wondering what each exit has to offer.
Give it some time, it'll grow on you like mine did me.
Scottm123 is right, I drove a MDX loaner while the TL was in the shop (yep, brand new TL already in the service dept., the dealer would prefer it if I would not bring this up - their fault/long story) and the detail of the mapping was much better. Why can't this be in the TL navi? I know this is going to be a big shock to a lot of people - but I have actually sighted passenger cars on back roads in PA! Yep, I knows it's just amazing, but I don't recall any laws that state you must be in a pick-up truck.
Farmers buy TL's too!
I'm use to an old pick-up and a Garmin, so this is a big departure for me.
Still think Alpine Electronics could have done a better job with it....
As for your criticisms, I just want to make a few comments:
"breadcrumb trail" - I'm not really sure why you'd need this, unless you were off-road. If you know where you are and where you're going, then you don't need it. If you are using the nav to direct you, you can see the line of where you've been, and where you're going on the map. I don't think a breadcrumb trail would be much more helpful.
"latitude/longitude - I mean that's gotta be the most basic function of any GPS." I can't imagine this being an important feature for a car. A boat, yes, but in a car, you 'll only go to araeas where there are roads, so the lat/long is not useful.
"more or less map detail" - yeah, it would be nice to have options like that. I'd actually like a setting that automatically zooms in as you get closer to your destination.
"more options for routing..."Avoid U-turns" option." - yeah, more options is always better. The U-turn thing doesn't bother me. In fact, I'd rather it tell me whether it's better to make a u-turn v. 3 right turns. While I agree it doesn't always give the "best" (a subjective term) route, it usually makes the same "mistakes" as mapquest - that's not a defense, but something I want to point out since I think mapquest is the most widely used mapping website.
"I think the Acura unit talks too much." I don't, but I bet this will be adjustable in the future. You do know you can turn it off completely, right? I really think Acura's was a groundbreaking system, and now other cars are building on it. I was in an '06 ('07?) Infinity G35, and you could set it for the amount of advanced notice you want. It's a hard thing - if you're flying along at 80 mph, the "2nd right...next right...right turn..." prompts come to quickly together to be of much use, but if you're in stop-and-go traffic, they are helpful.
I am sure there are handhelds out there that are "better." Gradually, the more useful of their features should make it into the cars, but I think some of you are being too harsh on the TL system. It's a benchmark for the industry.
Let me quote him; "It's not so bad that I'm mad I got the navi-TL. But it's obvious that having the hand held gave me false expectations. For someone who never used a GPS before, it's probably really cool."
For folks that are already use to using GPS - the TL's navi is kind of a letdown - regardless of automotive critical acclaim.
I'd be curious what other automobile manufacturers you feel have better GPS units in their cars...
Get a hand held - and see what your missing!!! I have a Garmin 3600 w/ a bean bag bottom and a cigarette lighter adaptor/speaker. There's no comparison.
I never said anything about other cars! The only navi I saw that was a little better, was the MDX, and I'm familiar with the Saab. It had more detail. As far as other cars, they're navi's are probably horrible compared with the TL's - I don't know and really don't care. I needed an Acura or a Honda for dependability, not the navi. If Acura would improve it's Navi, it would be nice. I'm not rich, so I don't have a fleet of luxury cars as you elude to (must be nice).
I think people that have only used in-dash navi's would be a lot less "snarky" if they saw what a simple hand held is capable of.
The TL Navi system was not designed to compete against handhelds. Instead, back in 04' Acura incorporated one of the best navi units into its TL.
"As far as other cars, they're navi's are probably horrible compared with the TL's - I don't know and really don't care."
That's fine. The fact of the matter is- the TL Navi unit set the standard for auto manufacturers and now Lexus, Infiniti and others are following Acura's lead.
"I needed an Acura or a Honda for dependability, not the navi."
Why in the world did you waste your $$ then and subsequently complain about it?
"I think people that have only used in-dash navi's would be a lot less "snarky" if they saw what a simple hand held is capable of."
True- but the handheld is not really incorporated into the vehicle.
The Navu unit in the upcoming MMC 07 TL will be updated with XM Real Traffic similar to MDX and will have a back up camera.
Can the handheld do that? :confuse:
This is already an option in the current 06 MDX.
Since the 07 TL is getting XM Traffic and Zagat surveys, it means the Navi has gotten an update.
Hopefully, it's as good as the MDX's... cause I'm more than happy with the MDX nav.
Road & Track wrote; "the intuitive navigation system with its rows of XL-sized, easily deciphered buttons proved the test favorite.", referring to the 2005 TL.
See - I'm being fair.
Brian Cooley from CNet wasn't so nice. Let me take one little piece good and one bad....
The good one; "The Acura RL's NavTraffic system with Zagat database is giving us a first glimpse of a system that delivers something you can use every day." (this is an RL, not a TL.)
Now for the bad; "Usefulness? Most are limited, at least until systems routinely offer live information such as traffic hazards ahead; restaurant locations, ratings, and reservations; and services such as weather map overlays. Ease of operation? Ha. I've seen some of the worst examples of consumer electronics interfaces in history in the dashboards of cars.", he goes on to advise you're probably better off getting a portable unit. The full article is called "Driving It" on Cnet.
As a whole, most all consumer orientated impartial write-ups say to get a portable navi. The in-dash units just are not worth it. The bonus is that you can take it car-to-car.
As far as the Acura TL is concerned, none of my fact-checking (wow, that is a nasty term is it not?) produced any accolades about the TL's navi whatsoever. Earlier bloggers - please refer me to such publications or articles. I would like to see them for my own information.
In response to "GG", "Why in the world would you waste your Money".... I didn't buy the car for the navi, I bought it for the voice activation/touch screen in conjunction with the dvd audio. When this whole rodeo started - I was already eyeing up the TL's navi with suspicion - right on the new car lot. My suspicions were correct. I will continue using my portable automotive navi.
As for the TL, I had a loaner for a few days and it did not have the Nav.
I like the look of the dash in the TL much better with than without.
Now, this is no reason alone to spend that kind of money... just for visual appeal, but for someone like me who also likes the navi itself, it's a no brainer.
This will be available for the 07 TL.
"I bought it for the voice activation/touch screen in conjunction with the dvd audio."
Must be nice to have a navi unit smoothly integrated into the dash allowing you to access the voice activation/touch screen in conjunction with the dvd audio huh?
Enjoy your portable navi
I inquired about this at the dealer last night.
The 07 TL Navi disk will not work in an 06 Nav.
Also, the 06 Nav cannot be (Or at least, wont be) upgraded to include Zagat ratings and XM Traffic.
Sorry, but the answer to both of your questions is No.
That sucks, nowadays "upgrade ability" should be a big feature in anything having to do with technology/computers. Especially in something like navigation.
I'm dissapointed at Acura, we the consumers are owed better.
The screen up in the dash is obviously "dumb" without inputs and I wondered if it actually had room for other inputs/sources.
Honda will be releasing in Japan, the ability to receive updates every 10 minutes on weather conditions in your area or along your chosen route. If roads are flooded or closed from being iced over, it'll let you know. The service is called InterNavi Weather and is part of the new InterNavi Premium Club.
A subscription to the InterNavi Premium Club will also give you access to a Social Networking Service (SNS). Subscribers can enter their comments at various Points of Interest (POI), so people will know where the coolest places to hang out are or if some bar plays lame music. The possibilities can be endless here if they develop an open and flexible architecture.
It's only available in Japan right now, but so was the real-time traffic feature before it first became available on the new Acura RL. If and when it comes to the US, I sure hope they'll offer a way to sync your comments via a memory card. This way users can write their reviews on a PDA, notebook computer, etc. and won't be as inclined to be writing long reviews while driving!
New CL owner Rob
I can confidently say that the TL I just got will someday be in a junk-yard, the navi having no changes for its entire lifetime.
What completely cracks me up is that they (Acura/Alpine) think they have a great price on it.
I'm not even sure Garmin produces for auto companies, most of the stuff seems to be Alpine Electronics.
When you speak of hacks, is it mostly from the car buffs/hobbyists that do serious modifications? I would love this information if you have it. Thanks
If you can't think of one, then which vendor creates the best unit for vehicles in this segment?
Insofar as hacks are concerned, there are many. On acurazine.com, you can find a wealth of information in regards to the hacks and modifications Acura enthusiasts have done to the 3rd generation TL Navi units. When you visit the site go to the TL section and then browse the forums for third generation TL's and look in the section for navigation.
Hope this helps.
If you want to go completely off-scale, I had a friend that had his aftermarket navi actually "painting" 3d terrain as he drove a route that was selected by the computer with weights/constraints on his route preferences. I don't expect this at all - that's in the realm of the "super-geek". I think he was using DeLorme mapping.
Yes, you can guess the Acura/Alpine is not doing it for me -that would be an understatement. It's odd that the aftermarket Alpine stuff is better, but I still prefer Garmin.
It never really came up in my thought process for buying the TL. I mean, basically, what are you buying? You're buying a car right? The navi is nice, but it is pretty much secondary to the primary task. A couple of decades from now (hopefully more, I can't afford it), the TL I just bought is going to be in the scrap heap and I'll be dead and gone (I'm a geezer). The navi that came with the car will be an odd appendage that never got updated because it simply wasn't worth it - kind of like the 8-track that was an option on the original on the 66 T-Bird.... all-the-rage, but in the end, it was something quaint to look at at a car show.
The only hope for the TL's navi (or any OEM navi) is for it to be a "scaleable" navi instrument. I doesn't show any signs of being that at all and really expensive updates "ain't gonna do it there slick", That's why I'm trying to find out what the hobbyists are doing with it.
Thanks for the info. I'll go to Acurazine.
Navigation rank list
From this article, the TL's nav is one the best (Alpine) and ranked within the top third of all navigation systems in autos...
I think I'm going to lurk around the Acura dealership tomorrow and look at the TSX's navi out of curiosity. It was also good to have a list of the vendors for OEM navi's It might be interesting to see the differences.
It appears that the index is based on the number of owners surveyed who expressed their satisfaction with their OEM navi. However, it does not mean that the TSX's navi is necessarily better than the RL, TL or MDX navi. That is, it simply shows that more TSX owners are satisfied with their navi.
This is not surprising, because the TSX is cheaper in price, but its navi is almost as good as (and I don't think it is better than) the ones in the RL, TL or MDX.
Hope that my interpretation is correct and I haven't made a fool of myself.
My big game is going to be checking out the different navi's. The one I really want to see in action is the Siemens unit in the BMW 5 series. Siemens has more of an industrial background (like Garmin), and I bet I'll see something different from the other navi's. I was originally looking at BMW's before the Acura TL, but I never saw one with a navi.
I also noted that Garmin was not in the list.
Thanks.
For those of you who are critical of the Acura navi, I just googled voice activated gps systems, and couldn't find any except Novogo? which hasn't been released here. The voice activation is really important to me. (I do enough hands free driving between phone and lipstick... well, you get the idea).
I do live in the NY metro area; so a re-routing because of traffic jams would be terrific.
As to nav traffic, from what I heard, is not all that great because the technology is not quite there yet. You are better off listening to 1010 WINS for traffic report. There is also XM traffic, though it is not displayed on your nav screen (on the 06 model), but at least you can listen in to see what is going on around you.
The 06 nav also operates with voice prompts, in addition to touch screen input. I don't know about the 07 nav, but I guess the newer software and database might have been updated so that the nav understands more voice prompts.
In any event, you will find the 06 nav user friendly, assuming you can get one at the current GREAT price.
Thanks for the feedback.
Now I'm looking for an after-market navi/gps that is voice activated and tied to real time traffic. The only one I can find is a product called Novogo which is not available in the US. I think Pioneer makes one too that has to be installed in your dash... don't want to touch my dash.
Any suggestions? I'll also post this on some other threads; but thought people here might have done some research before chosing their navi equipped Acura.
Different models appear to be getting their traffic information from different sources.
Check out Crutchfield, they offer a lot of different models.
Here's a list of models with Live Traffic available...
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-vEqKKCtPowM/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=270650&avf=N&nv- - - pair=AG%5FGeneral%5FFeatures%7CFFLive%5FTraffic%5FService
Carteach - get a portable like a Garmin or a TomTom - assuming you don't want to mess with your dashboard. As far as the realtime traffic and voice activation, I don't think we're there yet. If you absolutely have to have it - you may be out of luck. For the price though - Yikes! don't even go there. The portables are far cheaper.
I have been able to successfully navigate massive tie-ups in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area simply by listening to am radio and staying a little slower than the "traffic pack" to eye up brake lights in the distance. Luckily - I'm not a 9 to 5'er and only have to occasionally go to the big city.
My trusty Garmin still sits on top of the dashboard, comically, right over the TL's navi. It has much more capability with presetting weights and constraints and the best thing of all - you can tell the unit that U-turns are prohibited unlike the TL's navi, which seems utterly addicted to them.
Believe me, you did NOT make a mistake by buying a '06 TL without a navi. Take the money you saved and buy a portable for the time being and you'll still have enough money left over to buy another portable with the voice and realtime traffic when they come out later on.
And now, the big news - the 2007 Civic that costs thousands and thousands of dollars less than a Acura TL (S - if you want), seems, at first appearance, to have a far more capable navi in regards to real usability and display. It has a whopping 8 gig database (with dvd) with voice rec. and traffic. The display is also much brighter and crisper than the TL and keeps detail intact as you zoom out. The LCD-type screen is much easier to see and the controls are far more intuitive. The only strange thing is, once again, Alpine's bizarre fixation on making sure you know where railroad tracks are when you zoom the map out. As to how this is suppose to help in navigating a CAR around.... I'm not really sure.
The navigation system in this brand-new Civic is truly impressive. If you could yank it out and put it in my lowly 2006 TL - I would be ecstatic.
Seems like portable navi's just get better and better as a "better" option than OEM navi's.....
I am EXTREMELY impressed with the Honda Civic SI coupe and from what I have seen with its navi.
A family member is delighted that I don't like my '06 TL and has expressed great interest in "taking it over", so I can get the Civic SI and not take any damage financially.
I think, for my purposes, the navi in the Civic is far better than a 2007 TL S, and I loved the Civic in general. For a lot of people, I'm sure this is complete nonsense. "Up branding" should logically insure a better navi - but I am sure not seeing it here. Generally speaking - I was not impressed with the "S".
In my legwork at looking at different cars, the best navi was in a BMW 5 series, but that also includes the pricey proposition of the BMW. Of all the OEM navi's, it had the best detail. The only drawback was that stupid "I Drive" selector on the center console, I still think that's a mistake. The most pathetic navi was, well, I'll give you a hint - they're doing so poorly lately, there's no sense in bringing up there name here and making it worse.
I think this may be my last posting in this forum (Yes, I can hear the collective sighs of relief), and my staunch defense of portable navi's and I'll leave you on something to mull over. An OEM in-dash navigation system has one severe and pointed drawback, and to the folks who have been following the news lately, well, you know what I'm talking about. I don't have to bring up what an incredible asset a portable would have been in that incident. My heart goes out to the family.
If you see a "geezer" driving a Civic SI Coupe around the Baltimore/Washington area and Maryland/PA/VA, and he's also driving slow... It's probably me. Don't worry - I try to stay in the right lane. Good luck everybody - Drive Safe!