Hi Guys,

Looking at the leasing options, and not sure if the $19 extra for Navi package is justified. What do you think? It's around 500 bucks more over 24 month period and I just don't know how well it works and if i am wasting $

Thanks

 

depends...do you want an integrated NAV? if so, then it's not a bad deal. Keep in mind, the NAV also gives you other features such as bluetooth music streaming, etc...If you care about that, then get it. If you don't care, then get a Garmin for $150 and use it anywhere you want and keep it after the lease.

 

+1 for Bluetooth stereo if you listen to music from your phone, and don't have an iPhone. On the other hand, you could get an FM transmitter.

 

The nav unit is very nice, lot of options to make it easy to get the information you need. I highly recommend it. Plus, I believe it also comes with the upgraded sound system.

 

The nav pkg also gets you...
-a higher resolution screen (hd)
-9.3GB HD (normally 2)
-streaming bluetooth audio
-dvd video player
-voice recognition for audio commands and navigation
-Zagat
-a bunch of XM stuff, which will cost you more to keep afterthe trial ends

Is it worth $19/mo? Thats up to you. I didn't get it in my 07 G sedan and always felt like I was missing out on something. I have it now and use at least one function associated with the package, every day.

 

good points. thanks

 

I have it in the G but not the Z. One of my first mods to the Z ended up being a Pioneer head unit with nav, blue tooth, etc. I found I really missed it. I wanted it in both cars but there are quirks with the Nav units in the G's. Voice kind of sucks and can take a long time to enter addreses/locations into. You can't just say find Starbucks like you can on your phone or other voice reconition systems. Pluses are it's meant to be in the G. There is a ton to be said about keeping stock stuff in your car. It works and the hard drive is a big plus to old folks like me that have a ton of CD's. The USB port is another plus. XM traffic and weather can be a plus and I found most of the time fairly acurate even though I have heard complaints. Blue tooth is fantastic, although on a few occassions people have had a hard time hearing me. Most of the time this is a non issue. Not sure if this is reception, the phone or the nav unit.

So really it depends on what you want and if you think it's worth it to you. For me in the G I wouldn't want it any other way. In the Z I am kind of glad I ended up with an after market product.

 

Definitly worth it..Wouldn't have it any other way. No-Nav blows. My 08 was premium only. No thanks

 

GET IT! don't be regret like I do. It You'll be happy if you did.

 

The Nav is a nice to have but definitely not a must. Just curious who is streaming the music over the air, you are not getting the same quality as wired. No iphone is necessary either, using the USB thumb drive is more convince. I have the Nav, wish I didn't get it, never used it since as I like my Garmin with lifetime map and traffic more. Those are extra with the Nav. A HUGE downside is that you can NOT use the Nav while the car is moving, same as the DVD is piratically useless too.

BTW, the premium package comes with the 10 speaker Bose, not the Nav.

 

^^Please elaborate on "not getting the same quality as wired"? If you figure redbook audio standard, where a minute of audio occupies approximately 11 MB, then that's a data rate of 183KB/s or approx 1.5mb/s, that's still under the limit of 2mb/s for bt ver 2.0+edr.

 

$19 bucks a month... not much really. I don't like the suction cup nav. garmin/tomtom whatever. my sister's car window got bashed in because someone wanted the gps unit.. not worth it. get the nav.

 

I meant the sound quality not as good as MP3s from thumb drives. It could suffer reception issues when interference presents. In addition, when I have a 16GB thumb drive, you can get 32GB under $30 now, storing all my sounds in it, I don't see any advantage provided by the streaming. It's cool though.

 

You have the option of using a Garmin friction mount, I've never used suction cups. Both mount and GPS can be easily stored in the center console when not in use. Also, I would rather to have a portable GPS die on me, not this expensive in-car unit. When it dies, it takes climate control and audio control with it. Want to change your destination? Search for POI? You get to put the car in a dead stop to do it, not with Garmins. Another advantage is that the placement of a portable GPS will keep your eyes on the same level of the road. Oh, did I mention you can upgrade to a new GPS every year with the money spent on the in car unit? My next car will not have in car Nav unless it proves to be much superior than any portable units on the market which is unlikely as the portable GPS will not be standing still.

 

I think most of us will agree that a Garmin is the best performer as a straight direction finder. It's pretty common knowledge.

However;

The OP is looking at a lease so he's likely not keeping the car long enough to be concerend about the head unit dying out.

He is going to pay $228/year for the Nav Package which equates to the same amount as a good Garmin unit, if purchased annually as you suggested. Plus the package offers up many other features.

There are simple and affordable solutions to allow one to enter POI's , on the OEM Nav, without having to stop.

My BT audio streaming always sounds as good as any other source and it has never lost the connection when streaming the mp3 music or the internet radio (Nobex/TuneIn Radio) from my phone.

We don't have to look at the Nav display for the directions. I'm sure you are aware that it has spoken directions. In other words your eyes don't need to leave the road to look at the display.

In your opinion the portable is a better option because you can enter POI's while you are driving (can be dangerous) and then you say the portable has a placement advantage to keep your eyes on the road. IMO placing it any where on the dash (or rear-view mirror, as I have seen some do) is just another obstacle blocking some portion of one's line-of-sight. Be it small, it's still a distraction from driving.

just my $0.02.