Every now and again, the denizens of the Acurazine TL board argue over whether or not the optional navigation system is worth the $2,000 Honda charges for it. Recurring Propeller Skies readers can probably guess my whip has no rip-off navigation system.

Tom Tom recently released Navigator 6, so I picked up Navigator 5 on sale. I already had a Palm Tungsten T5, so I saved 190,000 pennies and got a better system than Honda provides.

the test

Over the last eight months, I have dragged Navigator 5 all over metro Atlanta (including OTP) and to the Southern Tier. I have used it in the car and on foot.

initial impressions

Overall, I really like the system, as it is easy to use and the maps are generally very up to date. Using the GPS, I have discovered several ninja routes for avoiding traffic. However, user discretion is advised, because the software does not know the location of economically challenged areas. On foot, the GPS leaves something to be desired - it often loses track of the direction of travel and is confused when sidewalks are located more than 10 feet from the curb. However, Navigator 5 is especially useful when wandering around shooting flicks - I never have any trouble getting back to my car or figuring out where I am in unfamiliar territory.

the good

• Wicked fast at recalculating routes - handy when the doughnut eating fools have closed roads for no apparent reason*;
• Portable; and
• The three dimensional map display and voice directions are supremely easy to follow.

the bad

• Does not understand more than one occupant needs to be in the car to use high occupancy vehicle exits;
• Takes for fucking ever to warm up and obtain a GPS signal; and
• Often won’t find addresses that clearly exist and have existed for some time.

why buy?

• Very easy to use
• Powerful - features include multiple stops on an itenerary, traffic, and a huge points of interest database; and
• Interfaces extremely well with Palm products.

notes:

* Every time a major event occurs at the Georgia Dome or World Congress Center, the fucktard pigs close a bunch of streets in downtown and Ghettoberry Hood so the tourists can enjoy sitting in legendary Atlanta traffic. Cocksuckers.