RNS510 cost-justified?

[Ideo]

I shake my head at well to do drivers in their Mercs, BMTroubleUs etc who, after having spent a tidy sum on the purchase of the car...only to have a $100 TomTom or Garmin stuck to the windscreen.

Why? I'd prefer to spend that money on performance and handling mods rather than for something I use infrequently.

[starionx]

I shake my head at well to do drivers in their Mercs, BMTroubleUs etc who, after having spent a tidy sum on the purchase of the car...only to have a $100 TomTom or Garmin stuck to the windscreen.

Maybe because the little portable gps is miles ahead in function than almost all inbuilt units. My 370Z had a pretty decent satnav unit, except it couldn't tell you how fast you were going. Considering that the speedometer was out by a whopping 9%, that was one thing the unit sorely needed. A $150 Garmin unit fixed that problem instantly (it has a screen with a large digital gps speedo). I never looked at the car's speedo ever again.

Why? I'd prefer to spend that money on performance and handling mods rather than for something I use infrequently.

Exactly. I'd be lucky to need a satnav once or twice a year.

[Andych]

Why? I'd prefer to spend that money on performance and handling mods rather than for something I use infrequently.

It is interesting reading on the differing views... here is the thing though... if the RNS510 was standard equipment and the RRP of the car was $2500 dearer would it have killed many sales?? Possibly on the lower priced vehicles but on the Premium / Performance cars... I doubt it.

You only need to look through treads on pricing to see how many people take quick delivery with more options and higher price than wait 6 or 9 months to save themselves a couple of grand...

[ziggyboy]

Personally, the price for an RNS-510 is simply unacceptable and I think the majority of the market agrees and have done the walking and talking by not ordering it.

Agreed.

I was not prepared to pay even aftermarket prices of $1.5k or thereabouts to get sat nav and a hard disk. Sat nav updates are more infrequent, and it does not come with traffic updates. I mostly do Sydney driving and having lived here for many years, do not really need navigation, however 75% of my Garmin use is for traffic updates. Only costs $350 RRP (though got one for $150 from a Boxing Day deal ).

Hard disk is pretty useless IMHO. I've got a USB MDI and plug in a 16GB USB disk for my music. Get yourself a 32GB USB disk for $50 and you get more space for a lot less. DVD video? Really? I don't even buy DVD's anymore!!!

Ok... $200 vs $1500? Wasn't a difficult decision for me, plus as I said, I get traffic updates. People aren't aware that Australian metro cities have got traffic updates available. My GPS suggests alternate routes if it detects traffic. Getting an RNS510 is a step back for sure.

[FJ Steve]

Why? At the end of the day, people don't become wealthy by wasting money.

And with that logic....why wouldn't we all be driving around in Hyundai's and Geely's/Cherry etc?

[Ideo]

And with that logic....why wouldn't we all be driving around in Hyundai's and Geely's/Cherry etc?

Yeah, ok mate. Because a satnav affects the way a car drives so much.

Not sure if trolling or just stupid...

[Syd118TSI]

Yeah, ok mate. Because a satnav affects the way a car drives so much.

Not sure if trolling or just stupid...

Was a legitimate point. Why care about the drive but not the comfort and features within?

[FJ Steve]

Yeah, ok mate. Because a satnav affects the way a car drives so much.

Not sure if trolling or just stupid...

oh please Ideo. Your comment is bordering on stupid. I'm not gifted enough to troll like other people have done so here.

My quoted post referred to people not becoming wealthy if they wasted money. I simply tried to hi-light the fact that for everyday transportation requirements, a sub $15k vehicle could/(probably) would do the same as a +$85k luxury car. In simple terms, I was trying to make an example of how some people could be perceived as wasting money, as per the comment from "Finance-Analyst", and therefore (shock horror) not able to become wealthy.

[Transporter]

I don't know if it's worth it or not, but I think that who can afford it and also doesn't like the things hanging of the windscreen, then he/she will order the car with the RNS510, reversing camera and the lot. I like my Garmin Nuvi50, but I also like the RNS510, and if I had more money I would've always ordered the cars with it.

[Finance_Analyst]

And with that logic....why wouldn't we all be driving around in Hyundai's and Geely's/Cherry etc?

I am looking at the 'opportunity cost' argument here. With the cash saved, you can reinvest into appreciating assets so that later on you can afford something flash without financing the crap out of it.

I waited a long while before I bought a decent car as I bought into property and shares first instead of blowing my first pay cheque on a car - unlike a lot of kids. Now, while I can't exactly afford a Ferrari or Porsche new, I can enjoy my GTI without the worries of debt and that it is a depreciating asset. In the future, if I continue to be smart and invest, then I may be able to afford a Porsche and not worry about the economy going bad. Simple economics really.