I got the fiance a Valor NVG-670W. It had good features and only cost $897...Nav, bluetooth, ipod interface, xm ready, 6.5" touchscreen...I like it...

 

when you pull out the stock head unit, there is a metal crossbrace running horizontally behind it, if you feel around under the dash above that you will feel a metal cylinder also running horizontally, i mounted the antenna on top of that spherical bar, gets perfect reception.

+1 on the d3, great bang for buck, cept that it bricked my ipod classic have to take it to the apple store and have them fix or replace it

 

My idea is: I'll actually need such a thing as a GPS navigation unit about one-and-a-half times a year. I don't like the idea of expensive equipment sitting inactive while it depreciates, and distracting toys interrupt my enjoyment of the driving experience: I don't even listen to the radio very often, preferring the exhaust note and tire song, thank you.

Somewhere I got a referral to BuyGPSnow, and they sent a GV-201 unit for $99.95 plus reasonable S&H, very quickly:
http://www.buygpsnow.com/

I see that model is clearanced-out; the $129.95, slightly more recent and advanced model, seems to be bottom-of-the-line now.

Mine came with the wrong user DVD, but a version of the manual is on line, and the year-old maps and whatnot work just fine. The 2GB SD card is half-full, plenty of room for MP3 and more whatnot you could play if that is your bent.

It guided me across town with ease, and although it doesn't read out street names, the clearly audible instructions are timely and accurate. It also picked up my en-route route change and compensated with ease. Accepts plenty of favorite locations/addresses that are easily entered and selected. Gas station and Points Of Interest (and more whatnot) information seems current, and I believe update- upgrade-able in any case.

I have no comparison for locating/locking-on time, but it seemed quick to me. Actual battery-charge life is untested, but the meter reflected 85% charge remaining after a 35-minute excursion.

Not much in the way of bells and whistles, but kind of a simple, basic lug-wrench in a world of rechargeable impact tools, eh?

Works for me.

 

isnt there a factory option for navigation? id get the factory nav

 

Gross.

 

Additional on my $99.95 Nav "system":

It does not read out street names, but it does say numbered highways; today I used seven different, and its instructions were timely and appropriate.

Once again I challenged it by deviation from the anticipated route. It caught and made the new calculation within fifty feet, which was a lane change into an "only" lane two hundred feet prior to the point of no return, by which time it had given the correct instruction!

Remarkable.

 

...?

 

how is it gross? not only is it flush with the center, its probably the best option

 

While it may sit flush and be OEM it has very limited expandability. If you're looking for a Multimeda system the factory option is kind of lame. Not even the Ford Trip Tunes will work the the NAV head unit.

 

I use my laptop and Delorme software + the Delorme GPS antenna. It not only has voice output for directions, it has voice commands. That is, you tell it what to do using a microphone. And the screen size and resolution is much better than any unit you can install in the car. I made a platform that fits over my console that holds the laptop for when my wife and I are on a road trip. Not the right solution for many of you, probably, but it works very well for me. Oh, and did I mention the cost? You can get this solution starting at about $70, not including the laptop. But if you already have a laptop...

http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELi...minisite=10020