Does anyone here have a navigation system in their Element? If so, what kind and can you post a photo? Also, does anyone know of a good in-dash navigation system, that is not a stereo reciever?

I appreciate any responses....
NyArtist26

I use a Garmin streetpilot III. It's a portable unit that I use in both cars and on both motorcycles.

Here's two pics. Click on them for bigger versions.

<img src="http://images.fbrtech.com/tora/proj/element/dt6%2bthumb.jpg"> (http://images.fbrtech.com/tora/proj/element/dt6.html) <img src="http://images.fbrtech.com/tora/proj/element/dt5%2bthumb.jpg"> (http://images.fbrtech.com/tora/proj/element/dt5.html)

I have the unit plugged into the aux power jack for now. In the not too distant future I plan on adding a hard-wired power cord to free up the power jack, and a speaker in the headliner for the voice output.

I've used a lot of the indash nav kits (I work for a GPS company in fact) and there's all kinds and makes of 'em, depending on what you want to do. Since I have the 7-speaker EX stereo (and I kind of like it) I'm not going to dice it out to put in one of the in-dashers, myself. If anything I'd put up an overhead 'pod' (those dropdown video screens with a DVD) and route an under-seat unit to it, like the Alpine DVD model.

Tugrik,

Great, you even had the Delphi system in the same place as I do.

I have the Garmin V, but I am still learning how to use it.

Wow - that is going in the same place as I'm putting my system! Mine won't have all those unsitely wires though, and will work in rain and solar storms.

:lol:

Yeah, the wires are kind of fugly. However, I leased my Element (I'm betting on a hybrid version coming out in 3-4 years and I want to upgrade) and I did the installs with a 'no cutting' mentality in mind. I'm going to surface route the wires with colored moulding soon. It'll look pretty swank.

So Tug, I'm planning on putting in an Alpine CDA-9807 (http://ecominet2.alpine-usa.com/pls/admn/item_info?p_item_name=CDA-9807&p_category=10&p_subcategory=45&p_main=10) (but at least for the time being, keeping the speaker system) so I think I should have some room in the dash for a nav system. I won't have my E until the 28th so I can't see quite how I'm going to set this up. Do you know of any reasonably priced (good) in dash systems? Or do you think I should go with an external?

I really appreciate the pics and the help...
NyArtist26

Most in-dash nav systems (that fit in a single din chassis) are the kind that have a pop-out screen and are integrated with the radio. Alpine makes some great ones. You might want to consider that instead of the 9807 + a separate nav.

Navs pretty much come in three varieties: Self contained (external), integrated radios (like the blaupunkt system, the older auto-PC, etc) and modular. The modular ones are where you have a box (CD or DVD based, usually) that hides under the seat or goes into another din-slot and then feeds the nav-video output to a screen.

Externals:
Pros:
Easy! Just stick 'em somewhere.
Portable. Move them from vehicle to vehicle.
More theft-proof if you remember to remove them :)
Cons:
Not integrated with anything (no auto-mute audio, etc)
Uglier installations (they're perched on things)
Tend to be less powerful processors / less elegant

Integrateds:
These tend to not have full map displays or bigger screens. I don't know much about them, to be honest. Some are voice-based with no maps at all. Modern ones tend to be OEM and pre-installed (like the lexus kind, etc) and take din-and-a-half or double-din slots, and are integrated with the factory radio. It'd be hard to find/install one of those in an Element.

Modular:
Pros:
Powerful! DVD-Navs have it all.
Will work with any display, be it overhead, in-dash or otherwise
Slick installation -- you can hide it well
Faster processors usually.
If installed with same-brand, can auto-mute sounds, etc.
Cons:
Taken as a whole system -- the most expensive of them all.
(gotta factor in the screen, stereo, and nav unit together)
Relatively invasive install (multiple boxes and wires)
One-car only; can't tote it between vehicles


I use the SP3 'cause it's portable and I have multiple vehicles. It's slow, sure... but it's accurate and modern, with good software. I get frustrated sometimes at its slow computation speed on re-routing, for instance... but the rest is great.

I used to have the Alpine CVA1000 pop-out screen radio. I used their CD-based navi (and in fact have it still, quite willing to sell cheap) as an under-seat box to feed it data. If I didn't buy a SP3 I would be getting a CVA1003 and their newer and far-improved DVD navi... but that's really expensive. It does it all, though.

There's a bunch of new ones out I've not seen yet, from Panasonic and some smaller names. Find a high-end audio shop that does navi stuff and take a look through the various offerings.

I really, really apreciate all your valuable help in this. I'll be checking out an audio shop just as you suggested, and I will have to do some research, but I may be interested in that system you said you may be willing to sell..

Thanks again
NyArtist26

How about old fashioned maps on paper? hehe Does that count? 8)

DX Boy, I'm with you. Paper is one heck of a lot cheaper and it works when the batteries give out.