What are RNS-D NavPlus units going for these days?
02-11-2009, 09:10 AM
#3
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Which faceplate? I'd asked about RNS-E with C5 faceplate a while back.
Honestly I'm so pissed at Audi/Navteq abandoning the RNS-D in 2004 that I'm not sure I *want* to switch to RNS-E. If their idea of useful life is 2-4 years, then fvck them! I'm not even complaining about the *$250* map update price - I just want current maps! RNS-E would be nice, and if I could get one in that price range without having to massage the faceplate (I'm an *electrical* engineer) it would be worth considering. Did you get maps with it or still have to buy those separately?
I'm thinking about using the Garmin VIB-11 and just going that route. Loses a lot of the cosmetic appeal of the factory unit, but TONS better (and cheaper) map update assurance and might let me upgrade GPS units over time too. (Garmin seems to have been decent about keeping that VIB connector the same since the StreetPilot 550.... and did from the Nuvi 7xx to 8xx, so one could hope for that to continue into the future a while.)
If I got $500 for the RNS-D (less than half what I put into it) I could buy a decent Garmin and the VIB-11. Sigh. Decisions, decisions.
I'm thinking about using the Garmin VIB-11 and just going that route. Loses a lot of the cosmetic appeal of the factory unit, but TONS better (and cheaper) map update assurance and might let me upgrade GPS units over time too. (Garmin seems to have been decent about keeping that VIB connector the same since the StreetPilot 550.... and did from the Nuvi 7xx to 8xx, so one could hope for that to continue into the future a while.)
If I got $500 for the RNS-D (less than half what I put into it) I could buy a decent Garmin and the VIB-11. Sigh. Decisions, decisions.
02-11-2009, 09:26 AM
#4
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My brother has nav with his 03' bmw and he is considering getting a Garmin as it is
almost the same price as getting a updated dvd. Plus you can take the Garmin when you travel on business
02-11-2009, 09:42 AM
#5
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Yes and no.
The cheapie Garmins (I have a Nuvi 260 bought on a trip once) lack some useful features for route planning, so I'm not thrilled with them for trips.
But yeah, a voice-enabled, street-name-speaking Garmin can be had for around or less than the cost of many OEM disc updates. I think the wife's Acura is ~$180, Audi's RNS-D is $250, etc.
For me the bigger problem is either leaving the thing stuck on the windshield (STEAL ME PLEASE sign) or taking it down all the time (PITA) vs the builtin unit. I really like the radio muting, etc which a builtin provides too.
If Audi were continuing the map updates for the RNS-D I'd pay the $250 - every few years to be sure, not annually. Since they're not, I'm not happy with the unit - and I don't trust them to do so for the RNS-E.
But yeah, a voice-enabled, street-name-speaking Garmin can be had for around or less than the cost of many OEM disc updates. I think the wife's Acura is ~$180, Audi's RNS-D is $250, etc.
For me the bigger problem is either leaving the thing stuck on the windshield (STEAL ME PLEASE sign) or taking it down all the time (PITA) vs the builtin unit. I really like the radio muting, etc which a builtin provides too.
If Audi were continuing the map updates for the RNS-D I'd pay the $250 - every few years to be sure, not annually. Since they're not, I'm not happy with the unit - and I don't trust them to do so for the RNS-E.
02-11-2009, 09:48 AM
#6
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Totally understand where you are coming from - I have nav in the RS and Lexus
<center><img src="http://mobileroar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/20080524-xperia-x1-sony-ericsson.jpg"></center><p>
just got Garmin for my Christmas gift smartphone and love it. Better than the RS for finding shops (i.e. Looked for the nearest Starbucks when I was in Denver last week and the voice directions were great)
just got Garmin for my Christmas gift smartphone and love it. Better than the RS for finding shops (i.e. Looked for the nearest Starbucks when I was in Denver last week and the voice directions were great)
02-11-2009, 10:00 AM
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MobileXT?
It still doesn't do text-to-speech, right? So "Turn left" vs "Turn left onto main street"
That just ticks me off. It's probably my 2nd choice navigation program for WindowsMobile (1st choice for still-in-business navigation programs) but I'm baffled why they don't do TTS. My 7yr-old Mapopolis app does TTS on way-slower PocketPCs than I have now, but Garmin won't do it.
I'm sooo happy that there are <cough>solutions<cough> to the Garmin map situations so MobileXT can be loaded on your own microSDHC, etc.... but I won't buy it until it does TTS.
That just ticks me off. It's probably my 2nd choice navigation program for WindowsMobile (1st choice for still-in-business navigation programs) but I'm baffled why they don't do TTS. My 7yr-old Mapopolis app does TTS on way-slower PocketPCs than I have now, but Garmin won't do it.
I'm sooo happy that there are <cough>solutions<cough> to the Garmin map situations so MobileXT can be loaded on your own microSDHC, etc.... but I won't buy it until it does TTS.
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02-11-2009, 10:10 AM
#9
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Yeah - that's true - and yeah I loaded it on to my own sd card
I had tom tom on my hp ipaq pda and did not like it so that is why I went Garmin