recommendations for NAv unit

[Rando]

Thinking of getting a in dash nav unit sometime in the future! Anyone got any good recommendations for inexpensive basic unit? and what is your review of your recommended unit??

Thanks for time and response everybody!

[sturang wonder]

Honestly I wanted to have my indash to have NAV and couldn't afford it. The price jumps so much that I had to get a regular GPS and mount it on my steering column.

I really don't think there is a cheap way to get an indash with Nav.

JVC and I think Jensen make a Nav unit but still a little pricey...

[Rando]

thanks!!! Thats what I thought but with so many folks having in dash head Units Thought maybe there was something out there!!

[AceStyle]

I apologize ahead of time for the long read....

I just recently installed the AVIC-U310BT nav unit into my tC... I had Best Buy price match Amazon's price for 264.99. (bout as cheap as I've ever seen an In-dash nav)

It is a basic in-dash Nav unit. 4.3 inch screen. It does not play DVDs. Out of the box it will only handle addresses (you have to buy a POI SD card to load into the unit in order to search for places around you) Fairly low quality screen... Its fine at night, but its not bright enough, on sunny days I have to lift up my sunglasses to really be able to read the screen (I can still make some stuff out but not very well)

It does bluetooth phone pairing so can use it as a hands free device (it comes with a wired microphone that you have to mount/clip onto something, the wire is plenty long to reach wherever you want it to be)

You have to buy a converter to wire up your steering wheel controls to it. It does support Sirius, XM and HD radio by getting an external hide-away unit.

It is truly a basic In-dash nav unit. It is missing a lot of the features that the more expensive units have like traffic updating and re-routing features. POI search (without paying 99 dollars for the SD card.)

With the more expensive in-dash units you will get larger screens... DVD capabilities, more features to the navigation.

With portable units, you can get a lot more features for a lot less money. So it depends on what you decide is important to you.

I went with an In-dash one because Minnesota has a law against mounting GPS on the windshield... I'd rather have it in-dash than sitting on a dash mat that can slide around... and I got tired of my portable one sitting in a cup holder. I like using it to see a map of whats around me as I drive so I can bypass things like construction without turning onto a dead end.

Overall I am happy with it because it suits my needs well... but it may not work for someone who is expecting more.

[Luc1f3r]

define cheap? ive got an Avic f7010bt w/xm im selling for $425 shipped...

Navi
bluetooth
iPod controls (video playback)
CD
AM/FM/XM
can add HD

[Rando]

thanks for input!!!

[pelly3s]

if you consider $1000 inexpensive the Kenwood DNX6960 is absolutely amazing but thats not really inexpensive in most peoples eyes. with things like that i always have to say you get what you pay for

[CriminalCrispy]

if 1000$ is around your budget, the Alpine INA-900 looks promising. If you ever played with the Alpine IVA-W505... the INA-900 is basically that with a built in GPS. It's what i'm aiming to get.