One of the reasons I didn't opt for navi on my new cab is because given the nature of these kinds of things it will be antiquated before you know it. Here's an example of a promising alternative announced today for those of us who don't have navigation built in.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10310838-1.html

 

Given the latest NAV is hard disk based, updating maps should be easy enough. I'm not sure what would get outdated about a GPS fix on where I am and a map of where I can go. Granted, if you use the GPS to find a business, ala a yellow pages, then there are aging issues.

The big benefit I get is that the built in NAV works in conjunction with the NavTraffic data from XM to adjust my routing based on incidents and congestion.

 

Agreed. If you use NAV regularly, getting an integrated system is probably going to give you more features. I like how it works with XM Traffic and I just added the Voice Module and now I can select destinations that way too as well as enter addresses. It all works very well.

We've had NAV in all our cars and even when they get 4 years or so on them, they still work fine - not as cool as the latest technology, but nothing is that you own for a year.

For frequent travelers using rentals, iPhone Nav or some portable unit is a plus - and carry a roll of double-stick mounting tape along, I reckon.

 

The shortcoming to the cell phone navigation is it costs $ 10.00 + tax a month to use regardless of whether you use it or not. Outside of the initial expense, and you can't ignore the Porsche price, it's free. Portables can be had for as little as $100 that allow you to download updated maps for free as well.

 

$10+tax/mo? I didn't see that cost mentioned anywhere. I agree though after looking at it a little closer; it sounds like a no-go for me. I don't want a gangly device (even though the iPhone is not unattractive) suction cupped to my windscreen or taped to my dash.

The other downer is that the app won't continue working if you decide to use any of the myriad of other applications on your iPhone such as...say, use your phone as a phone and answer a call. If you answer the call TomTom GPS will stop working.

Plus the company suggests buying an additional ~$90 car kit. The cost is starting to creep up to their existing standalone GPS device, which I understand works pretty well.

Wishing again that I had GPS built in. Too bad it's impossible to add things like XM and GPS to the PCM 3.0

 

The ad in the link references " -AT&T's $9.99-per-month Navigator," $ 10 is also what Verizon gets for it's version on a BlackBerry Storm in addition to their regular tech bundle. While it appears the deal in the ad was a one time charge for the ap I figure if it's on your phone you'll wind up paying for it somehow and the going rate seems to be $ 10 a month.

 

I dislike Nav .
My cars have it .
I wish they didn't .

If I added up all the money I wasted in Nav systems which I have never used I could probably buy another car .

 

Hmm, I guess I won't buy a computer, car, or any other item, ever, because it will one day be outdated. If you think that anything you can get your hands on today isn't already outdated, a reality check is in order.

Live less for tomorrow and more for today.

 

The Nav on my 04 Touareg is a little slow, but it works fine. The nice thing about OEM Navs, is they are always there when you get in the car. How many times have people forgoten there portable units?

 

Hah, well said. But sadly, I fall on the other side of the line. If I didn't have a nav, I wouldn't even find my way out of my garage. Totally bad sense of directions (though never the case when I flew airplanes. Go figure).
Anyway a nav is a must in every car I drive. And I'd much rather have a built-in than an add-on, even though add-ons are almost certainly more up to date. Certainly for the Porsche. A $100k sports car with something stuck to the dash/window and wires dangling? I think NOT!
All that said, the nav in the .1 cars (e.g. mine) is just ridiculously bad. But I still use it. I get all excited when the german lady screams at me to turn left!

 

I guess iPhone apps sell like candy, but why buy another map application for the phone? The one that is on the phone works 100%, it's fine, it gives accurate directions, and it's free. Maybe the traffic thing will be cool, but you can be pretty sure google maps will always be more up-to-date then anything else right?