Hey Fellas,

Just a quick question, I am getting close to ordering a 2009 and one of the last options I am on the fence over is the NAV.

I am just wondering if the NAV is completely "touch screen" as far as all of the radio controls?

I think the NAV definitely wins in the coolness factor from all the past threads I have read. Heck I probably wont even use the NAV portion often but really like the looks of it and if it allows all of the radio and XM controls to be accessed via touch screen it would be great to have. It also makes the console area look much more modern.

The dealers in my area are lucky to have one or two vettes on the lot and a NAV unit on them is even more rare.

Save the comments on it costs xx dollars, I would be getting it for GM employee pricing so its like $1400ish my cost. I would never tear apart the dash to install an aftermarket one to save $400.

Thank you,
Mitch

 

I have the factory nav and am very happy with it. While most nav and audio functions are accessed from the touch screen, a few have hard buttons:

• Voice command recognition activation
• Access sound quality / screen characteristics menu
• Select audio system
• Select nav system
• Station / track seek up / down
• Power / volume

Go with the factory nav - you'll love it.

 

Thanks Mike!

I should have asked what common functionality can be done with the touch screen as far as radio and XM control?

I assume all of the channel/volume/song information displays on the NAV and some of that in the HUD?

 

I've read so many negatives about the Nav, I just ordered one without it. Quality is poor, many problems, and no 6cd player or ipod connection if you get it. GM should not make it an either/or choice. Look at the new Kenwood unit...better all around except that the Nav won't be on the HUD

 

There is always something newer and fancier in electronics, but I like the factory NAV system and its integration with the rest of the car. Most of the head unit functions are touchscreen, not just the NAV, including the radio, the XM, and the CD/CD Changer. And it displays certain info on the HUD screen, also.

It could be a little more intuitive, but it works pretty well. The things that are annoying are the Nag Screen, the inability to input info while the car is moving, the inability to play regular DVD's, and the continuing annoyance resulting from GM failing to deliver the long promised iPod PAL interface.

Here is a link to the manual:

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/Download...rvette_nav.pdf

There are supposedly some new features for 2009 resulting from integration with the new OnStar 8.0 system, such as allowing a passenger to input new data, but I haven't tried any of it. And there is a 6 disk remote cd-changer available that goes in the rear cubby hole. It is very well integrated with the NAV system but does not play DVD's and supposedly doesn't play MP3's (I haven't verified that myself because I have tons of regular CD's.). However, the CD in the NAV head unit does play MP3's.

 

I've got the NAV in my '07 as well and so far, I like it. Many people say you get more with aftermarket systems, but the fact that its tied into HUD and so on, cool factor is nice with me. Its a bit complex at first, but once learned, its easy. It will not play DVD videos so don't expect it too. The NAV database disk is a DVD, but only a DVD data disk. Many times, trying to find an address the old way with mapquest printouts and so on.. all gone with the NAV there. Also, the Onstar, if you get it, also has turn by turn nav via them and the audio but its an extra fee on top of the monthly. I think there is room for a lot of improvements in the nav system but its not too bad. Yes, its all touch-screen as everyone else mentioned which includes all of the audio functions.

 

Get it...the "looks cool" factor was enough for me. I agree that most features can be accessed by touch screen but not all. As I was once told by a wise old man..."it's better to have it and not needed...than to needed it and not have it". Go for it...

 

The majority of the functionality of the audio system is performed on the touch screen displays. A few have dedicated hard buttons and the most common controls are duplicated in the set of steering wheel buttons.

The volume info is not displayed anywhere. I suppose the designers figured you could tell how loud it is without seeing a display.

 

Well, the touch screen question has been answered but I thought I would add my two cents. I got the nav only because the Vette I found had the features I wanted plus the nav. I wouldn't say it's bad, but it certainly is not good. Poor audio quality, skipping CD's, "ghost" songs on mp3 CD's, and overall clunky and outdated interface. For $1400 installed, you could have a FULLY touch screen, state-of-the-art DVD playing, iPod intergrated, terrific sounding reciever.....complete with your customized Corvette background! Oh yeah, Bluetooth intergrated and usable through the wheel.

I wish I didn't have my nav. I find it hard to finance a $1500 nav and replace it with an installed one for the same price. Oh well, at least I have HUD nav! (oh yeah, one dude has the Kenwood unit and installed his Mild2Wild controller to it. No remote press, just a press of a button on his radio! THAT's state-of-the-art!)

 

I had NAV on my '07 and IMO it was a WASTE OF MONEY. The factory NAV unit is LOW TECH, NON USER friendly, and NON VOICE ACTIVATED. My first clue came during a Corvette cruise thru Gadsden, AL (pop. 40,000+) where the unit did not even recognize the town!

Needless to say, I have specifically excluded NAV from the options on my (ordered) '09. The aftermarket offers several units which are far superior at much less cost...SAVE YOUR MONEY

 

You should get it, I know you want it.

 

When I was trying to decide what options I wanted I excluded the nav. Then at the end of the decision process I decided I was getting such a great car I might as well try it. Now I would never want a C6 without the factory nav. The manual is the only thing that is bad about the unit and this causes many people to think it doesn't work. For example it seems to be a universal myth here that the voice activation doesn't work yet mine works 95% of the time including in very noisy conditions. The difference is I read the instructions and memorized the voice commands rather than just talk to it like it was a person and expect it to understand. Yes, many of the voice commands are strange. For example it is "POI OFF" not "TURN OFF THE D@&% ICONS!!!". Use the right words and speak clearly and it works every time.

A lot of people think the maps aren't any good but you just have to have the right area selected and for me the maps are good 99.999% of the time. In 14K miles of driving I have found 1 (count them ONE) road that is mis-located by up to 200 hundred feet over a 15 mile stretch. And people say the roads aren't there when they try to set a destination but it is just the way they are entering them. You enter the city first and it makes it MUCH easier to eliminate 22nd St when the nav has it as 22 nd St. Yes, it's picky but it guides you into the only possible matches so after you entered 22 the n is grayed out while the space is available. But if you didn't enter a city first and there is another town 300 miles away with a 22n Av. then it lets you enter 22n and then won't let you press d and you get frustrated and insist it doesn't recognize a street that's been there for 50 years.

People also complain you can't enter destinations while cruising down the highway. How about having over 100 destinations available for selecting while cruising at 70 on the Interstate? All you have to do is enter possible destinations befor you start. You can select from those while moving. Just makes sense to me to do detailed program selection when you aren't busy driving.

The hard keys are:
Bottom line: Learn to use it and the nav is a GREAT feature on the C6 that you won't want to live without. The integration with the HUD for directions makes the HUD do what a HUD should do.

 

I agree that the integration with the HUD makes it worth a lot more than any portable or aftermarket. I have been using charplotters and Garmins in my cars for many years. The Corvette system is not as intuitive as Garmin but I wouldn't give up the HUD integration for another system.

 

I was on the fence over both HUD and NAV, to get them I had to go to the 3LT (I knew I would get at least the 2LT) and between that and the NAV it was $4000 extra at cost and that was too much so I ordered just the 2 LT and a $130 Garmin from Wally world.

Will I have buyers remorse over not getting it? Nah probably not.

 

One thing I will say, not trying to be negotive Nancy and all but if you like XM then you have to know that the receiver in the factory NAV is very weak and the song quality is not all that great, its okay sounds like listening to a song in mono, however if you use XM for talk like comedy and such no big deal. Now I have a 2005 Vert and that is the ONLY thing that I don't like about the factory NAV, all the rest is awesome touch screen is great and NAV system is great. You should ask and try the XM in a 2008 to see if the music comes through as clear and powerful as plain FM or CD that is the true test. Now they may have fixed it since 2005 however I heard they didn't do anything to the NAV systems from 2005 - 2007, not sure about 2008. My bet is that they didn't change that XM reciever at all but you can be the judge. Let us know if you cannot tell the difference (meaning they fixed it).

Other than that you'll love the factory NAV.

 

IMHO; Stay away from the EXPENSIVE, WORTHLESS NAV.

The C6 Nav is JUNK, it's about as user friendly as a hand grenade with the pin pulled. Designed by electronic feature geeks for electronic feature geeks. Outdated contradictory maps, one of a kind icons, very steep learning curve and a worthless operators manual.

 

The factory NAV is cool for a while, but the cool factor wears off rather quickly when you realize you can't enter info while driving, you can't play DVDs, the mapping software leaves much to be desired, the quality of sound could be better, etc. I understand about you not wanting to take the car apart to install another head unit, but IMHO, a better NAV with iPod integration, HD radio, DVD playback, and better sound is worth taking the dash apart. If I didn't have the factory NAV, I would have already ponied up the dough.

 

Cool it is, that's why I bought it. Ease of use as compared to $200 Garmin Nuvi: I would give it a grade of "D."

But, after dreaming of getting a Vette for 45 years I wanted the "cool factor" more than saving $1,000+.

 

Thanks for all of the replies. You guys are making it a difficult decision. Quality of the radio and XM signal are important to me so that is something to consider.

I will look over the link to the user manual and do a bit more research on how good the aftermarket units are especially if they will make a difference in how the audio quality is. I will end up using the radio all of the time but the NAV portion infrequently.