Factory Navigation
 

I’m looking into ordering a 370z soon, but need advice on the factory Navigation. Ideally, I would like to get it as it really makes the interior stand out and blends well into the overall design, but my concern is the durability of the unit and the high cost of repair/replacement should anything go wrong. I’m planning on keeping the car for a long time, so I would hate to have to deal with this problem down the line, especially considering that the Navigation is a hard drive based system with a limited lifetime and that the warranty period is only 36 months. At least with an aftermarket unit, if a problem ever occurs, I can just swap it out relatively easy and at a reasonable cost. However, the car does looks great with the factory navigation, but is it worth the risk later on considering the high repair cost and the possibility of finding parts 8-10yrs from now?

Any advice is appreciated.

Get an extended warranty?

automotive suppliers are usually required to keep service parts available for ~10yrs after production of the car ends. that means, if the current Z ends next year and using the same nav parts as your 2014, you should have service parts available until around 2025.

Thanks for the suggestions and parts availability information. If I go with the Nav system, it makes sense to purchase the protection plan which seems to cost @ $1500 compared to $5000+ for the Nav replacement. The only drawback is that the Nav option now increases the cost of the vehicle by $3500 (Nav + protection plan), which is pretty significant and that can be used for other upgrades>>clear bra, exhaust, intake, cat backs.

Then don't get the nav, or get a used Z? Everything's a trade-off.

Yes, this is what I'm leaning to>>no factory NAV. Will have to settle for a less clean interior look, but at least I will have $ for other mods that will more directly impact the performance. As you said, life is a compromise.

Well, you're not exactly comparing apples to apples. Ten years is a long time. The NAV may never fail. If you set aside the $1500 you would have spent on the NAV in an appropriate investment over the next decade, it would most likely equal or surpass the $5000 and you would only have to use it if the NAV failed.

In my opinion I wouldn't give nissan 3 cents for the factory nav, there are so many aftermarket units that are much better in features as well as navigation itself is better than factory. Make sure to read the stick What to know about bose before making your choices.

yah, but the stock nav does make the interior look nicer...and that's wat the op's after.

he doesnt want to get stuck with a nice looking interior and broken nav :ugh: understandable.

if one's looking for just hardcore features, then i too think there are other options, but then, not everyone needs the latest 3D graphics and lane info, etc. etc.

Exactly. The factory NAV is integrated better into the car than an aftermarket system can ever be. You just have to take the Bose with it, dammit.

There are many ways around the whole Bose thing......But the OP expressed concerns about Nav only, not audio, so apparently the bose is not an issue for him.

Thank you to all for your comments>>they express both points of view. As I'm not an audiophile, I think that the BOSE audio would be fine sound-wise; I have a 300ZX TT with the BOSE system and works well enough for my needs. However, as I plan to keep my car for a very long time, and considering that the factory Nav will most likely be outdated in a few years + the risk of expensive repairs, I believe that it's best to keep my options open and just install an aftermarket Nav system. This way, I can have the flexibility of choosing the latest technology at a reasonable cost, which would not be the case with the factory Nav.

No doubt, the factory Navigation is the best option to enhance the 370z's interior design, but from a financial and tech point of view, I believe that the aftermarket Nav is the way to go if one plans to keep the car for a long time. :driving:

Just do yourself a BIG favor and at least go listen to the 370z system. I have read countless threads on here saying that their other vehicles bose system is way better than the 370z's. Just to confirm that it will be ok with you. Good luck :tiphat: