FYI,
Did not see your name. There is a 3rd option out there. It only works for the trip stats - BUT it's even cheaper. You can purchade MS Streets & Trips with GPS. It works with a laptop. You plug the GPS into your USB port. I bought one at Office Max ($130.00). It has voice commands, time, MPH, elevation, Grid coordinates, your current location, area attractions, trip planner, etc. I used it for a 40 min trip yesterday. When we went a different way it says "Off Route". You can then reconfigure your route to the destination from your current location. All this on a 15" screen. I think for the inconvenience of the laptop - $130.00 it's a great deal - and way cool!
Don

 

Personally I think about half the people out there with NAV's just get it for the gadgetry. Give me a good ol' state DOT highway map anyday. ;-)

 

Yeah, that's part of it, but the NAV system is more than just a map, it's also a very comprehensive database. The map has icons on it (configurable) for gas stations, restaurants, ATM's, grocery stores, hotels, post offices, etc. In addition to what is displayed as icons, the database also contains all kinds of retail stores, restaurants by type and name, points of interest, etc. It's like carrying around an electronic version of the yellow pages with you. I used it to find the closest Radio Shack, for example.

 

I sure did. I like the bling factor.

 

NASAgineer,
MS Streets & Trps is also a database. If you type the name of a business, city, & state it will give you the street address and phone number and then guide you there. It also has near by attractions, etc - It takes up IGB on the hard drive.
Don

 

While poking about on the prius chat site I found this

http://www.lexus.com/assets/navigati.../lexus_nav.htm

Cool tutorial on how the Toyota nav system operates. Does Honda offer a similar site?

Thanks

 

That is very cool. I was wonder if Honda had something similar too.

 

Does anyone happen to know about how the NAV works on the EX? I'm curious if it has the full trip computer with fuel economy.

 

As I recall the Honda NAV is exactly the same for the entire line (don't know for sure because I don't own an EX). There is only one system in the '05 model year (manufactured by Alpine), not various systems. It changes some when you move to the Acura line.

 

Is the nav system in the HCH identical to the one in the accord?
I've seen/used that one and thought it was great.
I use a laptop with the CoPilot gps program while traveling with my dodge diesel truck and fifth wheel. Wished I had sprung for the OEM Nav system for the truck. The laptop route is a hassle plain and simple. It works (and I've got the bluetooth model) fine, but it just adds more stuff to deal with on trips. Plus, you've got to put it away at every stop.