Opinions on the value of the NAV option

[RxDawg]

Looking at the NAV option on 2011 Mustang, it seems to be a top tier option price-wise.

What is ya'lls opinion on the value?

Those of you who have it, let me know what you feel you are getting as opposed to a aftermarket device for a fraction of the price in an otherwise equally optioned car.

Also, does anyone have the rearview camera in the rearview mirror and how does that seem to be working for you?

And for all of you that don't have the NAV, do you feel like you miss it?

Thanks,

Ted

 

[stanmckinney]

It is not worth what Ford charges for it. I had an aftermarket in dash unit in a 2007. It cost less than factory and was much better. It also had a backup camera which I found to be quite useful.
I now have a 2010 GT and use an aftermarket GPS which mounts on the windshield when
I need it.
I would love the factory unit but it just costs too much and is probably hard to update

 

[STANGmole]

I have a 2010 GT with the Shaker 1K...no nav. I don't need nav because I have a cell phone w/ data plan and GPS...and I can get turn by turn speech directions through SYNC which are more useful than seeing a map on the display in my opinion. If I had the nav, I'd likely still use the SYNC turn by turn navigation instead of the map display. I don't personally think the nav is worth the $$.

 

[Tanjima]

I just picked up a 2011 GT on Friday, it has the rearview camera in the mirror, it was an option that came with the car, it's OK but if was ordering the car I would probably have done without it.
Regarding the nav - all my other cars have built in factory nav (needed by the direction challenged in my household), I decided on this one not to have it (cost reasons) however the turn by turn on the SYNC gives you everything but the maps and works great - I am pretty good at finding places myself, the turn by turn does the job for me.

 

[stangdude2000]

I never thought I'd need a Nav system, as I have a phone with turn-by-turn directions. My current car has one though, and whenever I drive another car, I really miss it. The portable ones and phone just seem to be so much more of a hassle. I never had Nav on a Mustang though, so I have no idea how good that specific system is.

 

[jaybertx]

Phone GPS is great unless you go to the mountains or places with not cell data coverage. No cell data coverage = no GPS.

I have heard the navigation is very tightly integrated and works well... it's just... EXPENSIVE.

Aftermarket install in these cars is still a PITA because of the AC built into the cover plate. I have only seen one replacement and think it looks cheap. I don't know if you can just order the plate from the double-din NAV unit but that might also be an answer.

 

[astronut1885]

1) I have the back-up cam, and while it's no HD, it's nice to see if someone is coming through a parking lot quick in your blind spot, makes parallel parking much easier thanks to the distance gauge (the upswept tail on these cars makes it hard to see behind you), and overall I am happy I have it.

2) I have the shaker 1000, so no Nav. I use my Motorola Droid via the sync and love it. Honestly, the shaker 1000 is the better option IMO. The droid has a big enough screen to see the maps, and when you combine that with Pandora radio and the sync, you get seamless music and GPS along with the hands-free call features all in one. Couldn't be happier with all of that, and don't miss the nav at all. Honestly, I barely take my eyes off the road to look at the droid as I have it mounted low on the windshield over the center stack, but looking down at where my radio is to see a map has collision written all over it. Honestly, unless you really need the bigger screen, or just want a bragging point, I say get a sweet sounding shaker 1000 and a smart phone and be done with it. Oh, and to those mentioning no service, the droid uses a standalone GPS component, so even when service is out, GPS works flawlessly. Far better than the Garmin it booted out the door! Oh, and Google Maps on the Droid updates automatically and free, rather than Garmin's $100/year rape me price, and god only knows how it would go to update an in-dash Nav.

 

[jaybertx]

Oh, and to those mentioning no service, the droid uses a standalone GPS component, so even when service is out, GPS works flawlessly.

You sure about that? The GPS will obviously lock but most cell phone navigation is dependent on a data connection to download the maps real-time. Don't want to get off topic from what the OP intended but also don't want the OP to think that cell phone GPS is a cure-all.

 

[60sIron]

I have the NAV with backup camera

The cost is an issue everyone must decide on their own. I've been waiting for this car for 12 years and when the 5.0 came out I couldn't wait any longer. I ordered the car with as many options as I could get.

Since it has the NAV and convertible, it does not have shaker 1000 sound.

The NAV unit comes with 10GB hard drive to store MP3s digitally. It also makes it very easy to scroll through the songs on my iPod, which I can also search with Sync, but that is available without NAV. It also has dual zone climate control so if / when I get a passenger they can adjust to their own temperature. It also comes with six months of Sirius Travelink which gives traffic and weather updates, but I haven't used that much.

Of all the NAV features, I find myself using the backup camera the most. I had the beeper system on my old Escape, and this has been a little harder to get used to, but I think it is better. The red, yellow, and green bars do a good job of telling you what you are about to hit.

 

[astronut1885]

You sure about that? The GPS will obviously lock but most cell phone navigation is dependent on a data connection to download the maps real-time. Don't want to get off topic from what the OP intended but also don't want the OP to think that cell phone GPS is a cure-all.

It has been my experience that even with no service, GPS performs flawlessly on the Droid. Every time I cross the oakland bay bridge into san francisco, I lose service but the GPS doesn't miss an inch.

 

[Satin Silver GT]

Does anyone know the procedure and cost to update the maps in the unit after a couple of years?

 

[stangdude2000]

Coming home last week with my Droid X, I was using the GPS (in my rental car), and went through some mountains in PA. I lost cell service and the GPS cut. Unless the maps are stored internally on the phone (they aren't), you will lose your GPS capabilities. It is very possible it "buffers" the data (similar to Pandora) so that if you go through short bursts of no service (aka the bridge example), you'll maintain your GPS capability. The phones require data connections to be able to properly communicate with the satellites. My old Blackberry Storm wouldn't even use the satellites in sync with its geocaching ability when taking pictures on my cruise to record coordinates for me to pin the pics down later. Even with the cell service issue, you'll still be fine a vast majority of the time.

Also keep in mind, with phone solutions for GPS, it chews through the battery like no tomorrow. You'll have to make sure you have some decent way to mount your phone for it to be convenient and relatively safe to use.

 

[stangdude2000]

What I did leave out is using Google Navigation (actual turn by turn directions, not just following a dot on google maps), I do always have the most up to date maps. For the nav on my M3, I'd need to buy a ~$300 DVD to update the maps every year - and that is still only once per year. I still wouldn't trade my car's Nav system though.

 

[The Fang]

The Nav on the phone you can set to walking mode and go off the road.

 

[eric n]

THE NAV on the 2011 mustang is OFF THE HOOK! I have had a Garmin it worked very well. I have a Android 2, it works very well. But, I love my ELECTRONICS PACKAGE. Worth every dime. It spoils me!!!

 

[RxDawg]

thanks for all the info!

Astronut1885 can you go into a little more detail, or even post a picture, of the Backup CAM in the mirror?

Currently I am leaning toward keeping my new TomTom in the golvebox for the rare times I need a GPS, but definitely springing for the backup cam in the rearview mirror.

I live in a neighborhood where I have to back out of my driveway and there are a lot of small kids, walkers/joggers and animals, so the camera would be extremely valuable to see behind me where my mirrors can't.

Thanks to ALL of you for your opinions ... and keep them coming ... more is ALWAYS better,

-Ted

 

[stangdude2000]

If the picture is anything like backup camera in the mirror of the Navigator, it is only good for "seeing" larger objects. It does have a backup sensor as well, but no idea how sensitive it would be to small animals, etc. but I never had an issue with it picking up smaller posts as I was backing of. From a pure "picture" point of view though, it isn't terribly useful in my opinion.

 

[jaybertx]

Also keep in mind that the look of the rear spoiler changes a bit when you add the backup cam.

 

[Rickmaan1]

Does anyone know the procedure and cost to update the maps in the unit after a couple of years?

On the pre-'09 in dash NAV units, Ford issues CD's to update the maps, I've seen them for sale on ebay around $100-$150 but have no idea if those are the most up to date maps or not. I haven't heard if they changed or not, but I imagine they still use the yearly CD method to update their maps on the new models.

 

[STANGmole]

On the pre-'09 in dash NAV units, Ford issues CD's to update the maps, I've seen them for sale on ebay around $100-$150 but have no idea if those are the most up to date maps or not. I haven't heard if they changed or not, but I imagine they still use the yearly CD method to update their maps on the new models.

They charge...and it's expensive. My parent's have a Mariner and it's still under warranty (only a year old) yet they want to charge for a map upgrade...their Cadillac gets free upgrades while under warranty.

I don't think anyone is questioning the functionality of the Nav system (it works and it's VERY cool!!)...as for value though I don't think it's a GOOD value. You're better off going with SYNC turn by turn in a Shaker 1K or 500 stereo IMO if you have a cell phone with GPS.