2009 Mazda 6: Donde Estoy?

Why does Mazda just use Ford's excellent navigation system?

This is ridiculous. All that time waiting for a repair to end up here. I vote for taking the car to a different dealer this time. Or get the regional service rep involved.

We were on a trip in Phoenix one time in my '03 Dodge Ram with the Mopar Nav. We plugged in a restaurant and it took us to the middle of a neighborhood and said, "you have arrived at your destination". After knocking on a few doors, we realized we were not at The Outback steakhouse.

Have you tried cleaning the dvd yet?
My dads 5 series had the same problem for more than a year. After many software updates were carried out to no avail someone suggested cleaning the disk as well as the lens itself with one of those lens cleaner disks. His nav has been working trouble free ever since.

...and technology fails again. I wonder what the ratio of frustration/reliable operation owners of nav systems have. As a driver that has never used one, I'm just curious.

Makes me wonder what the crush depth of a Mazda 6 would be?

this is exactly why I opted not to get the NAV system on our last two new car purchases (CX-9 and G35). Our old 2004 Toyota Highlander's Nav went out 3 months after warrenty expired. Not only did the nav not work, but I couldn't control the AC, Radio, etc. The cost to repair was over $3K (more than the option was when I bought it new). Long story short, I had to fight Toyota to replace it free of charge (which they did).

Avoid NAVs at all cost.

"I wonder what the ratio of frustration/reliable operation owners of nav systems have. As a driver that has never used one, I'm just curious."

I've had experience with several generations of BMW's nav systems, and the later ones work pretty well. The problem with any built in nav system-American, German, Japanese, Korean, etc.)is that a $300(or less) Garmin will perform just as well,and can easily be replaced when a more sophisticated version comes along. Also note that when an OEM nav system goes tango uniform it often takes other vehicle subsystems down with it.

Am I the only one who noticed Inside Line looks different today. When I logged on I sais "Donde esta "Latest News"? and then I saw it was under the 5 main articles in the little slide show. Then when I clicked on the LTRTB I said "Donde esta "'recent posts', 'vehicles' and 'past vehicles'" Imagine if I wanted to find these links after a blog with a lot of comments, a la "YWTC". Can you imagine how much scrolling?
Unless only my computer is messed up, please change it back.

Plus with the Garmins, you can easily move it from one car to another. A great benefit when you fly somewhere and rent a car.

@altimadude00: In 3 years of use the navigation in my TSX has failed once. I needed to have the control unit replaced because it couldn't read the disc. Other than that flawless.

It wasn't cheap, but I love gizmos and I thought the dash looked better with the navigation.

I also find a paper MAP is easily moved from car to car. :)

As much as my wife loves them, I would never get a manufacturer's built in nav system. First, it's too expensive. Second, it can't be moved from vehicle to vehicle. And third, I don't want to let the few lemon nav systems soil an otherwise good vehicle.

So yes, my Magellan sometimes forgets to mention an offramp because it believes I'm continuing on the same road. And yes, my Magellan sometimes loses signal (strangely, in Nashville of all places). But once it has signal it's never NOT been able to figure out where I am. For less than $200, I'd say that beats any manufacturer's system.

This post, and some of the comments, made me laugh out loud. This is the sort of thing that's hilarious when it happens to someone else.

It looks like it's not receiving a GPS signal, because the clock is blank.

Perhaps the dealer forgot to reconnect the GPS antennna while they were replacing the nav screen.

I've had nav on my last four vehicles (TSX, Civic Si, G37, and IS350) since 2004. Not one of them has ever failed so I'd say the convenience easily outweighs the frustration. Btw, I wouldn't buy a car without a dedicated oem nav system.....

Now we anxiously await cx7lover's defense of Mazda and another diatribe on how terrible all domestics are.

Why would I, Just like other manufs they don't make the Navi. Keep my name out of your comments.

Both our FX and G have Infiniti's newer hard drive based system, and (knock on wood) we have had 0 issues out of either vehicle. The rents had the older Ford DVD based system for 4 years on their Zephyr and had 0 problems with it.

I for one am not sold on portable navigation units, especially when manufacturers remove options/function when you don't opt for it. If price is a concern, that's what negotiations are for before you buy said vehicle.

@tinyelvis "Now we anxiously await cx7lover's defense of Mazda and another diatribe on how terrible all domestics are."

LOL! - Just what I was thinking. If this were a domestic - or a Honda for that matter - you can bet your last dollar cx7lover wouldn't be excusing this repeated incompetence by saying 'well, they don't make the Nav unit'. Please. He'd be coming off the top rope.

The check was written to Mazda. It's their job to make sure the components work, and if they don't, to fix or replace them promptly. They did neither in this case. How many shop trips is it now (and counting) just to get a working Nav?

Shame on Mazda.

Jaeger

Well, that settles it! No Mazda GPS. Garmin nuvi 765T works just fine!

Maybe you guys took this car and went for some cheap booze down to Tijuana, and the car still has some alcohol fumes clouding it's judgement :)

Or maybe part of your GPS was stolen by the Michael Phelps of illegal aliens.

I had never had in dash nav until i bought my Jaguar XJR, and now that i have it, i will never go back to potable units. Because it is part of the car, it pauses your music when it gives you directions and even shows directions on the screen inside the speedo, in adition to the main screen. It re-routes instantly and works all the time. No waiting for a signal or losing reception in a tunnel.

Odd that it would still know you're roughly in SoCal, but with an accuracy of +/- 150 miles. Seems like it's getting _some_ signal, but very weak. I second whoever suggested the antenna's not hooked up, as the unit would probably still pick something up from inside the dash.

Also: never ever going to get OEM nav. Total lack of upgradability or repairability is a non-starter.

"The check was written to Mazda. It's their job to make sure the components work, and if they don't, to fix or replace them promptly. They did neither in this case. How many shop trips is it now (and counting) just to get a working Nav?

Shame on Mazda."

Jaeger - I totally agree. I still own my 2003 Mazda6 and while it's a nice car that is reliable (built by Ford mind you) the new Mazda's are doing nothing for me. I was invited to evaluate the new versions a couple of years ago here at Mazda USA headquarters in Irvine, CA, and I was very disappointed with the new 6 and most of the other models. CX7 posted that my own problems with my Mazda6 were due to driver error (warped rotors, etc.). I'm glad he likes his CX7, but when a TSB addresses things like the rotors, I don't see how it's driver error or why Mazda can't either built it right the first time or fix a recall or TSB issue the first time.