Premium for sat nav disappearing?

[deutscher]

I've been looking for 2002ish 5 Series Touring and initially was keen to get sat nav. Dealers typically want a premium of £1000+, which is a hell of a lot in this price range (about £15k). I've now decided I'll buy a Tom Tom for £200.

Surely I can't be alone in this - is the premium for sat nav going to largely disappear?

[dazren]

When I bought my E39 I saved money by getting one without satnav. It was a no brainer as my portable garmin unit is superior for my needs (plotting eurohoon trips).

I didn't order satnav on my porsche as I needed the empty DIN slots (that would be lost with factory satnav) in the the dash board for one or two specialist pieces garage door opening equipment! In years to come when these expensive factory satnav systems go wrong, people will be wishing they could just slot in a replacement DIN slot CD radio........ Or indeed buy a replacment becker CD/MP3/radio for less than £300 that also facilitates bluetooth telephone in the car......

[POORCARDEALER]

Much easier to sell with Nav, however a £200 portable system does the job just as well.if its not important to you get a newer car for the money and a Nav/Tom Tom

[jamoor]

BMW 530D 3.0 SPORT, 5 Doors, Estate, Diesel, Automatic, Registered 02-07-2003
To be auctioned at Measham on 07-11-2006

Registration FC03MHV
Registered 02-07-2003
Colour SILVER
Mileage 76,751
Equipment Automatic Air Conditionin - Climate Electric Seats With Memor - ,Sport Alloys M Multi Function Steering - Cruise Roof Rack - Rails Satellite Navigation Syst
Location Measham

BCA measham, potentially a good deal.

[AARONM3]

If anything I have personally found the TomTom superior to most inbuilt units, specifically in speed over CD based systems and general ease of use- the Volvo/Aston Martin one being one that I particuarly didn't get on with although those fitted in the Bentley Continental GT and Porsche were pretty good.

Just IMHO though I guess it depends what you get used to but I would think that with the march of technology you're better off spending a couple of hundred quid on something ultimately disposable rather than £2k on something integral to the vehicle.

Imagine how cack an inbuilt system is going to look in 10 years time (or even less) compared to the latest portable units...

[DanH]

AARONM3 said:

If anything I have personally found the TomTom superior to most inbuilt units, specifically in speed over CD based systems and general ease of use- the Volvo/Aston Martin one being one that I particuarly didn't get on with although those fitted in the Bentley Continental GT and Porsche were pretty good.

Just IMHO though I guess it depends what you get used to but I would think that with the march of technology you're better off spending a couple of hundred quid on something ultimately disposable rather than £2k on something integral to the vehicle.

Imagine how cack an inbuilt system is going to look in 10 years time (or even less) compared to the latest portable units...

If its that cack, buy a portable in 10 years. I can't stress how much I hate removing my tomtoms mounts, cleaning the screen and lugging the tomtom around every time I park up.

[AARONM3]

A fair suggestion- in fact, I guess period sat-nav may be a sought after extra in the retro-cars of the future in a similar fashion to original 8-track or radio is desirable in a classic car today.

Edited by AARONM3 on Friday 3rd November 23:03