Well, search seems to be broken so I'll have to ask

other than putting in the LCD screens where the radio should go...what GPS systems have you guys (if anyone) installed in your car?

My friend a nice Garmin setup in his S2000 but it looks a but bulky hanging from his sun visor

I don't know much about this stuff...I've heard Garmin is a good brand

thx

 

k, well I figured out how to get search working but it didn't turn up much

 

talk to psoper here on the boards
he can help you out

 

hmmm, I thought I already responded to this one (?)

But yeah, Garmin makes good stuff, so does Magellen

To get one with maps and stuff is more expensive, but a lot easier than my rig, which involves a handheld Garmin hooked up to a laptop computer.

Shop around a bit and see what features are offered and think about what you want to do with it.

GPS technology is developing a lot faster than I can keep up with, so what I knew a couple years ago probably isn't even relevant anymore......

 

I use a garmin GPS V unit in my car, mounted to the dashboard, just in front of the clock. It's rather nice, and I have maps in it that have really saved my butt on occasion (quick, where's the closest gas station???).

 

do you have any pics of your setup platypus?

thx

 

That was true before selective availability was disabled- but it hasn't been the case since May of 2000.

And even before then, the error was like .003-.007 degrees, there are only 360 degrees around the earth, so one degree is like 80 miles at the equater.

Since then, even the cheaper handhelds are generally good to within about 3-5M I typically see an EPE (estimated position error)of about 14 feet, provided i have a decent view of at least 5 satellites.

 

hee hee... i have an old school garmin 12xl that sits in the cup holder...

cant make it permanent... it shares duties with my truck...

FWIW, my best ever EPE was like 8-9 feet. i average low teens, when i use the external antenna.

 

i had a buddy who installed a Garmin Street Pilot on his motorcycle, and it worked really well. the unit had one of the biggest color screens available, and even in the small cockpit of the bike it wasn't overly large. if you were to mount a similar size GPS unit to any part of the dash, i think it'd work fine. i wouldn't mount anything to the visor or rearview mirror, but in the center of the dash i.e. in front of the clock would be pretty good. i've been thinking about installing one in my WRX, but haven't plunked down the cash yet.

i think that most companies make mounts where it'd be easy to switch the unit in and out, either for security reasons, or for use in another vehicle. i'll see if i can dig up some of the old links i've got to places that make the mounts...

 

sorry, i don't have a photo of the gps unit in place right now. I can take a shot if it ever quits raining. :-(

 

Street Pilot III (3) all the way. The current kit is the Street Pilot III Deluxe Kit, which includes the entire USA street level maps on CD (with unlock code), larger memory card (which can store all of CA and NV) and the beany bag dash mount. This will allow you to fit the GPS right where the clock is at on our WRXs. This also gives you the flexibility of using it in any other car (including rentals, etc), without it being permanently mounted.

You can see how it looks like here: www.garmin.com

This GPS is probably getting a little old now (there's a new one with a touch screen out too), so the computer is probably slower to react than I'd like, but it does work. I can type in an address and it will tell me when to turn and even if I make the wrong turn, it will recalculate my route and still get me there. When I'm not going anywhere in general, it will display your position on an active map and even displays on the top of the screen the next street name that is coming up.

Works great on those navigational rallies. If you are still interested in a picture, let me know and I could find some time tomorrow to take one and post it?

tk

 

TK...ya if yuo could get pics of what it looks like, that'd be great

does it sit in front of your clock...as in block yuo view of it?

I like looking at my clock

 

I'll fire up the digicam tonight, but it does sit right where the cubby hole for your clock is at, but with the GPS on, it displays the map, the direction you are going (N, NE, E, etc), and the time (not when taking you somewhere though... when it is routing, it tells you the estimated time left until the next direction) on the screen. The bean bag mount seems like it had the WRX in mind because it fits right in there and even the most spirited of driving won't make it fly off your dashboard (essentially a bean bag with rubber feet sitting in that clock cubby hole). It's not supposed to be a permanent setup though (as someone who walks by your parked car can take it... since it's just a window away). But I had one in my last car (IS300) that I made permanent. I lost $$ on it when I traded it in because removing it would mean leaving holes in the dash and they wouldn't take the IS with holes in the dash.

I'll post some pics up tonight.

tk

 

so...do you have to remove your clock or alter the interior to set this up at all?