OEM GPS System worth it?

[410225]

I have Garmin Portable GPS now and wnated to see if it will be worth to change my stereo to OEM GPS unit. How is the accuracy of direction compare to the portable units? Any other advantages?

[Hucky]

I have an additional Alpine Mobile GPS unit the latest version for my car and the Factory H2 GPS is far superior and is far more accurate.

Example:
In my 911 if Im listening to music I cant hear the navigation
In my H2 I can

The Alpine doesnt adjust itself automatically for day and night
The H2 does

The Alpine isnt Onstar Compatible
The H2 is.

This list is long, but the Factory Blows the aftermarket Nav away

Plus, its easier to steal the portable for some butt bandit than it is the Factory Navigation.

[WHOSNEXT]

Originally Posted by Hucky

I have an additional Alpine Mobile GPS unit the latest version for my car and the Factory H2 GPS is far superior and is far more accurate.

Example:
In my 911 if Im listening to music I cant hear the navigation
In my H2 I can

The Alpine doesnt adjust itself automatically for day and night
The H2 does

The Alpine isnt Onstar Compatible
The H2 is.

This list is long, but the Factory Blows the aftermarket Nav away

Plus, its easier to steal the portable for some butt bandit than it is the Factory Navigation.

agree

[mikejr]

ok i havent had much drive time with the 08 Nav unit, I concur with the points already made. I was using a Garmin GPS60CS with a window mount.

There are a few things I like about the garmin better. It was on the windsheild and was easy to glance without taking eyes off the road. The dash unit, you have to look down. The voice prompts of the dash unit are nicer than just the beep of the handheld.

Accuracy...i would suspect that the handheld would be more accurate due to it having more sophisticated antenna being 12 channel and WAAS enabled. I dont know the specs on the dash unit to know the type of antenna the OEM unit.

Since we enjoy geocaching, the handheld is nice for that along with biking and quadding.

Again, its all in how much you will use the unit and will the cost be acceptable for the amount of use you will get.

[timgco]

the 08 nav it sooooooo much better that the 07 factory units.

easier to use.
more screen options.

seperate nav disk slot. (you can listen to a cd and use your nav at the same time). You cannot so this on the years previous to 08.

I;m not sur eif it has the IPOD jack inthe front or not. Our Tahoe has this I believe....same as in the 08 H2.


It will also leave breadcrumbs for you too.

[410225]

You have mentioned that you CAN listen to the music with navigation, I thought there is only one CD slot for pre 08? Are you referring to the radio or ipod?

Also, how hard is installing the Nav unit?

Originally Posted by Hucky

I have an additional Alpine Mobile GPS unit the latest version for my car and the Factory H2 GPS is far superior and is far more accurate.

Example:
In my 911 if Im listening to music I cant hear the navigation
In my H2 I can

The Alpine doesnt adjust itself automatically for day and night
The H2 does

The Alpine isnt Onstar Compatible
The H2 is.

This list is long, but the Factory Blows the aftermarket Nav away

Plus, its easier to steal the portable for some butt bandit than it is the Factory Navigation.

[mikejr]

Originally Posted by timgco

the 08 nav it sooooooo much better that the 07 factory units.

easier to use.
more screen options.

seperate nav disk slot. (you can listen to a cd and use your nav at the same time). You cannot so this on the years previous to 08.

I;m not sur eif it has the IPOD jack inthe front or not. Our Tahoe has this I believe....same as in the 08 H2.


It will also leave breadcrumbs for you too.

Yes it has the ipod jack thank god!...was tired of that FM modulator I had to use. I was reading that it will leave a trail, just havent had the need to do so yet.

[mikejr]

Originally Posted by 410225

You have mentioned that you CAN listen to the music with navigation, I thought there is only one CD slot for pre 08? Are you referring to the radio or ipod?

Also, how hard is installing the Nav unit?

Pre 08 there is only one slot thus you cannot listen to a cd and use the nav at the same time. In the 08 the touch screen tips down to expose the nav slot so you can nav and listen to the cd at the same time.

Now I am not sure since the unit looks a different size if the 08 unit will fit into the pre 08 H2's or not. Maybe one of the more technically inclined members could answer that. I know the 08 has the new bose surround sound in it. Not sure if the pre 08s are compatible with the new unit.

[410225]

Thanks for the info. I know for sure that the 08 NAV will not work with pre 08 H2. I am looking at 05 NAV touch screen ones and planning on adding ipod adaptor, so I can listen to music from ipod while using NAV.

When it comes to taking out the center panel and instaling the unit, is it necessary to take the whole center console out to pull out the center panel from dash?

Originally Posted by mikejr

Pre 08 there is only one slot thus you cannot listen to a cd and use the nav at the same time. In the 08 the touch screen tips down to expose the nav slot so you can nav and listen to the cd at the same time.

Now I am not sure since the unit looks a different size if the 08 unit will fit into the pre 08 H2's or not. Maybe one of the more technically inclined members could answer that. I know the 08 has the new bose surround sound in it. Not sure if the pre 08s are compatible with the new unit.

[mikejr]

Originally Posted by 410225

Thanks for the info. I know for sure that the 08 NAV will not work with pre 08 H2. I am looking at 05 NAV touch screen ones and planning on adding ipod adaptor, so I can listen to music from ipod while using NAV.

When it comes to taking out the center panel and instaling the unit, is it necessary to take the whole center console out to pull out the center panel from dash?

I am not sure about that. I've never ripped into the dash on mine. I know there are tons of members on here that have. Maybe do another post with that as the title or search the threads.

[MVR 155]

Originally Posted by 410225

Thanks for the info. I know for sure that the 08 NAV will not work with pre 08 H2. I am looking at 05 NAV touch screen ones and planning on adding ipod adaptor, so I can listen to music from ipod while using NAV.

When it comes to taking out the center panel and instaling the unit, is it necessary to take the whole center console out to pull out the center panel from dash?

We have the factory navi in the 06... it works pretty well although I spoiled from the navi in my Acura TL type-S which is far superior from just about every point (faster, you can input while moving, better/bigger display and it has XM traffic nav). I do have the Nucleaus I Pod adapter that lets me control the I pod from the head unit and displays song/artist on the Nav screen and since I dont have to swap CD/Nav disc any longer I can always have the nav disc in the head unit. Overall Im happy with the factory unit.

[obzidian]

Yes, if you want to install a nav headunit, its recommendable to remove the center stack before doing this.

Also, you said you know for a fact that the 08' Nav won't fit... care to share any info? I was thinking about doing....

[410225]

I do believe the face and unit changed from year 07 which is introduced as 08 model with facelift. This is the unit with totally redone interior and fitment wise, it will not fit properly. I have also heard the brain is different than the pre-07 units.

Originally Posted by obzidian

Yes, if you want to install a nav headunit, its recommendable to remove the center stack before doing this.

Also, you said you know for a fact that the 08' Nav won't fit... care to share any info? I was thinking about doing....

[tower]

You absolutely need to pull the center console to swap head units. A lot of steps, but fairly easy if you don't lose small parts. I definitely prefer my Nuvi 680 and former 660 to the '05 factory nav. Data entry is much more user friendly and logical, but it is easier to steal. At least you won't get your dash trashed. Plus, you can enter data on the fly. I don't really like the old factory nav units at all. I'm clueless on the '08, but it sounds nice.

[mikejr]

Get this...when the low fuel light came on in my 08, the NAV pops up a message wanting to map out the gas stations that were near me....pretty freaking slick!

So far, I've very impressed with the 08 NAV unit...

[MVR 155]

Originally Posted by mikejr

Get this...when the low fuel light came on in my 08, the NAV pops up a message wanting to map out the gas stations that were near me....pretty freaking slick!

So far, I've very impressed with the 08 NAV unit...

Now that is cool, soon these things are gonna drive themselves