Who makes the best Navigation System?

Who cares? I'll never waste my money on a NAV system. If a NAV system is packaged with other stuff that I want, it will be a deal-breaker for me.

how about for the Portable GPS systems?

Go with a Garmin 200 or 700 series for portable navigation.

Thanks.

i always liked the honda systems...i guess its because i've been using one for about 5 yrs now.

my GS300's nav is pretty good too...

The Command II on the S-Class is one of the best and also the Lexus Navigation system which is sumply phenomenal.

But the standard Mercedes system (C, E, CLS, CLK, SLK, SL, ML, GL, G) sucks.

It sure does. It will be upgraded very soon

BTW you mentioned the C Class. That one uses the new interface

Yea the Command II is amazing. Heres a good in-depth review if anyone is interested. http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2007/10/mercedesbenz_2007_sclass_gps_c.php

I will have the new system in my CL.. it's simply the best I have ever used. The ones from Lexus are also very good but the interface is ugly to look at and I never liked touchscreens.

I think Lexus. But when we drove the X5, it had a very impressive system with a bird's-eye view and voice recognition. January can't come soon enough.

haha is that when the lease runs out on the S4 or something else?

No... I own the S4. We ordered an X5 4.8i for the wife, and it's coming in January.

Infinti is very good. My friend has it in his G35x. HDD based navigation systems are where its at, DVD is just way too slow. I have DVD-Based in my CTS, not a bad system but not a great one either. As far as the German cars, I have never accounted anything mindblowing. Though the system in the Range Rover is very impressive.

I think Lexus' and MB's (S-class only) nav systems are the best. Gotta love that Lexus touchscreen, and MB's Command II system is excellent too. I haven't owned an Infiniti before, but is it inconvenient that there are so buttons right next to the monitor? Would they be bothersome to punch?

There is no need to touch them, EVERYTHING is voice activated, I mean EVERYTHING. You can tell the damn car what temperature you want.

I have a G35 with navi and the navigation system is SUPURB! I am a realtor® so I use it ALL the time and it hasnt failed me yet!

As far as the reason German navi's are ranked low: Upon speaking with the sales manager at either BMW or Porsche (cant remember which) they stated navi's in earlier model German vehicles were not that great compared to japanese vehicles and it is better to go with the portable brand they sell out of the Mini store as opposed to getting one in the vehicle. He also did mention they have improved tremendously over the years

that's funny...the BMW dealer where I live told me pretty much the same exact thing; he told me it won't compare to what the japanese cars offer. He mentioned buying a Garmin would be more advantageous than getting the bimmer nav.

The navigation in my Toyota is perfect. It only takes about 2 minutes to do a quick route setup from your position, and maybe a minute or so to display the restaurants and gas stations in the area.....not quite accurate on the location of the stores in the area, but it does the trick well enough.

Yes, my BMW salesperson told me he wouldn't but the nav system either. From his standpoint, I think it was primarily how, on the 3-series (as with all BMW's w/Nav i-drive) you have to get that unsightly monitor in the top middle of the dash.

His complaints were mostly about how BMW aesthetically handled installing the monitor screen in the car. THough for 99% of the drivers, most don't really need it and it will be obsolete in 4 yrs anyway.

I have a Nav in my '07 Lexus IS; it's pretty good but when I was in Radio Shack last week the salesman gave me a demo on the MIO model..damned impressive. Had a lot more neat features than the one in my Lexus.

I personally don't want a portable system. Its something I would end up leaving on my dash and having my windows busted. But I rather like the system in the new Honda Accord and the never lost system that I get when I rent cars at Hertz. My Benz has one and its pretty good after you learn to work it. I HATE the iDrive system though.
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I like the navi in my 6er, it's not the best but it does have that 3D birds eye view as well as the conventional view.

I never used the Infiniti's but it sure looks good. I'm very happy with my Audi A8 MMI system, it's simply brilliant.

with I got the Nav in my car but they didnt have any on the lot with it, and I couldnt wait!

I remember when the 2002 Q45 debuted with the bird's eye nav, voice activation and rear camera (I know the rear camera was an industry first, not sure about the other two) This is what it really had going for it: technology. My friend at work has i-drive and swears its not that hard to use...when I was in his car the last time I laughed at him while he struggled with it.

Our 99 7 series has voice activation - not too brilliant, but you can say things like "petrol stations at current location: or restaurants/parking/bmw service/hotels/airports etc and it finds them. bit outdated though...

Michelin; www.viamichelin.com