Brian Stell wrote:
>> what value do you get from navigation? personally, i already know
>> where i live, where my work is, where the local stores are, etc. why
>> on earth do i need to spend $1k+ for a navigation option that i'll use
>> less than 3 days a year and can be "simulated" by a $10 rand mcnally?
>> i don't get it.
>
>
> If one only goes out of their area 3 days a year
> it makes no sense. In this case I'd recommend
> mapquest since it's free.

that's my point - the vast majority of people don't go that far afield.
personally, i live only 15 miles from work, don't use the car for
work, yet i do about 25k per year. and i manage without nav. don't
think that makes me extroardinary. if i have long distance travel to
do, i fly & rent. can't say i've ever had a problem getting free maps
from the rental company.

>
> I may just be different but I go to lots of
> places other than work/local-stores all the time.
> The nav is great for getting me there.

better than a free map?

>
> But would I pay $1k for this. Hum... No, when I
> ordered a Mini last year I didn't because all it
> did was navigation (the deal fell thru but that's
> a different story).
>
> The Honda nav has a lot more than just navigation.
> It has address/type/phone info on a million
> businesses in the US. This and the ability to
> search these adds tremendously to the value.

how? who would drive at random and have no idea of destination? if you
have destination, route is merely a planning exercise which has a
trivial extension to incorporate all that you list.

>
> Here's why:
>
> Ever been on a trip (or out of your normal area)
> and needed to know where the nearest gas station
> is?

no. they're all over the side of the road.

>
> Or needed cash and want to find the nearest ATM?

they're in gas stations, malls, stores, etc.

>
> Or the nearest restaurant? (The nav lets you
> specify fast-food / Mexican / Italian / Thai /
> American / etc. I found a great Cajun fish
> restaurant this way.)

no. they're all over the side of the road.

>
> Ever had (or a passenger ever had) a headache /
> toothache / etc and wondered where the nearest
> drugstore / grocery store was?

over the counter painkillers are at gas stations.

>
> Or had a flat-tire / out-of-gas and need the
> phone number of the nearest gas station so you
> can call them to send someone out?

no. i have aaa for that.

>
> Or nearest Honda dealer? Or the nearest Target or
> other kind of shopping? Or the nearest hotel? Ever
> wanted to find the nearest post office / police
> station? Or hardware store / stereo store?

no. you've posted this message, so presumably you have access to the
net. if that fails, i [gasp] /ask/!!!

>
> For me these features make the Honda nav unit
> worth the money.

that's impressive. but i'm coming from the other end of the spectrum to
you when i say that.

>
> The newer nav units have real time routing
> around traffic jams. And have restaurant reviews.

so, i'm stuck on the bay bridge. i'm not going anywhere as there's no
alternative routing. now what? send out for pizza?

>
> On a more minor note: I've lived in San Francisco
> for 23 years and I and friends have been surprised
> that it occasionally finds quicker routes. I also
> really like the fact that I don't have to keep
> referring to the map and/or figuring where I am
> and where I need to turn next. I get to pay
> attention to *driving* because the nav takes care
> of routing.
>
> I have 2005 Accord w navigation and love it (and
> because it only comes with on the EX w leather it
> really bumps the total price up a *lot* more than
> $1k).
>
> Honda/Acura seems to have the best OEM unit. I've
> been told the Toyota unit takes a long time
> (~4 minutes) to recalculate if you go off the
> route (the Honda unit takes about 20 sec). Friends
> with BMWs don't like the clumsy rotary/press input
> (Honda has a touch screen). I've looked at the
> Alpine after market units and they have more
> features and about a $3k price.
>
> I will never consider another car without a *good*
> nav unit.

i would never consider a car /with/ a nav unit. seems /utterly/
ridiculous to me. just like people that buy cars based on the quality
of the stereo. but hey, i'm told that some people worry about the color
of their toilet paper too.