Navigation: OEM or After-market?

[fotodad]

I'm in the thinking-about-it stage of getting a navigation system for the Solara. I knew I'd regret not getting it when I bought the car new, but I guess it's a live-and-learn lesson. So, anyways, should I look at getting the OEM navigation system and having my dealership install it, or should I go the after-market route and have car stereo guys install it?

Here's what's important to me:

A clean look (yes, as factory as possible)
high quality equipment
high quality installation
price is important, but I'm not going to cut corners

What should I do?

Has anyone out there had the OEM navigation system installed by the dealer? Are you happy with the job they did? Does it appear and function as if it came with the car from the factory?

Thanks!

[theflow]

I think the stock nav is co-developed by Toyota and Delphi. But I don't think you can buy it seperately because I think it comes with the car. Call Toyota and check with them.

Those aftermarket ones will cost a lot more because you will need both a monitor and the nav system. And you have to pay more for the monitor that has the touch screen function. Not to mention you need to find the right size of monitor, find a space in the car to install the nav system, and find a place for the antenna. In my opinion, I don't think it's worth getting aftermarket, given the stock one costs only a little over $1K. For aftermarket, $1K might only get you the nav system, and no monitor. Not to mention you'll be kicking yourself if the installer didn't do a good job and the thing doesn't work. The stock one is really convenient because the CD player and the DVD is behind the screen, so there's no need to find a place to install the nav system. The whole system is right there.

I would say wait a year or so, and see if there's one from the junkyard. It's an option i highly recommend if you like to drive around and have an active lifestyle.

[indiglosolara]

I think the stock nav is co-developed by Toyota and Delphi. But I don't think you can buy it seperately because I think it comes with the car. Call Toyota and check with them.

Those aftermarket ones will cost a lot more because you will need both a monitor and the nav system. And you have to pay more for the monitor that has the touch screen function. Not to mention you need to find the right size of monitor, find a space in the car to install the nav system, and find a place for the antenna. In my opinion, I don't think it's worth getting aftermarket, given the stock one costs only a little over $1K. For aftermarket, $1K might only get you the nav system, and no monitor. Not to mention you'll be kicking yourself if the installer didn't do a good job and the thing doesn't work. The stock one is really convenient because the CD player and the DVD is behind the screen, so there's no need to find a place to install the nav system. The whole system is right there.

I would say wait a year or so, and see if there's one from the junkyard. It's an option i highly recommend if you like to drive around and have an active lifestyle.

Actually you are incorrect on this part. NOT all Aftermarket Navi is more expensive then OEM,

I looked into getting a OEM one before,
The unit is by Rosen. Which does not include the Navigation CD or GPS Ant.

When i checked at the dealer this is what i got

Rosen Indash unit with dvd function am/fm and cd player $1000.00
DVD Cd with US maps only $500.00
GPS ant $500.00
Plus installation came out to about $300.00 (dealer install)

totaling $2300.00,

If you wait Panasonic will have the Navi unit out very shortly,

Panasonic CQ-VAD9300U<~ If you can find a good deal you can pick one up for about $1100.00 - 1300.00,
The Navi unit brian and GPS ant will be about $500.00 bucks. (this is what i heard from panasonic

est cost little under $2K.

This is all on personal pef.
I would go with the Panasonic or clarion or eclipse units. You can play DVD movies while the stock OEM can't, Also MP3s and alot of other functions.

[Fergy1020]

I have to tell you that I have NO regrets concerning the Nav system in my Solara. It was made to fit the dash and is impressive looking even when not on. When it's on it's even more awsome!! I really didn't think I'd use it much but fact is, we've used it several times and not just as a novelty. It's accurate within feet and is quite impressive in the way you can use it. By the way, the option to have it included in the price of the car was approx. $1300.

[slingshot]

Check this new portable unit out! It's the only one I know of that has the whole US and major metros and highways of Canada included. You'd have to mount it on top of the dash somewhere or attached to the windshield though.

Magellan RoadMate 700- I've seen it for about $1150 on the web

http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/ ... PRODID=955

I highly doubt you can get the OEM NAV unit installed on a car without it except getting it from a junkyard and doing some dash mods. The only weaknesses of the Roadmate 700 compared to the Toyota system are that the Toyota has a bigger screen and the Toyota has millions more points of interest (restaurants, etc).

[slingshot]

I have to tell you that I have NO regrets concerning the Nav system in my Solara. It was made to fit the dash and is impressive looking even when not on. When it's on it's even more awsome!!

Another really cool option is the fact that the NAV has a few tilt angles you can set it to so that the sun coming through the side windows or sunroof never blinds the display. I drove four hours with it once and had to set different tilt angles as I changed direction and the sun moved. The sun never obscured the display at all. It had the perfect choices of tilt no matter where the sun shone in! Of course I didn't have to glance over at it too often anyway because of the voice instructions and the fact that no matter how loud you play music, you will always hear those instructions since the NAV takes over your left speaker when it talks! Awesome

[fotodad]

Thanks for all the informative responses. Looks like OEM is out of the question, and I'm a little concerned about putting something aftermarket in the dash.

So I've come up with a fantastic solution. I may have to wait a bit, but I'll just trade the 04 in on an 05 with navigation! I love how I can rationalize things!

[slingshot]

Foto,
Don't forget you'll lose your six CD changer if you get the Nav equipped car. Not a huge biggie for me at least. Another option might be to wait for the midlife upgrade maybe happening in 2007 and get that year's car. Hopefully then they'll fix some of the minor annoyances and add a few more features like they did going from Gen1 to Gen1.5. Or you could just get a portable NAV.

[fotodad]

Oops! I just realized I should have put this thread in the "Audio" section. My bad. Moderators, please move this thread. Thanks!

[glenb]

I decided to not get the nav system because at $1300 it was a little high and it has only a single disk cd. The big reason is I spend all day at work looking at a computer screen and did not want it in my car.

I use my laptop with mapping software and a gps.

Glen

[jp82729]

The gen 4 OEM navigation system that is used in the Solara is designed by Denso.

Although the gen 4 system is easier to retrofit into a vehicle than the gen 3 system, I'm sure the dealer would try to overcharge for installation.

[theflow]

Anyone knows if the Nav comes with Anti-theft security?? I don't see a red flashing light and kinda worried when I part outdoor.

[slingshot]

The NAV itself doesn't have anti-theft security as far as I can tell and it looks kinda hard to just rip out. You'll have to depend I guess on your car's security system. It is still much better to have it integrated instead of constantly having to take out a portable one from a bag or from the trunk and set it up then put it away every single time you park somewhere.