Carin 522

Price Paid:  $1100.00 from Mediamarkt

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Philips Carin

Summary:
I'm the owner of a carin navigation computer. After 2.5 years of (minimal) use this device broke down. Laser damage and a broken connection with the antenna. Total repair cost 510 euro. Apparently the laser overheated - the helpdesk explained this was because of the 'extreme' circumstances in the car (heat/cold, shaking). Strange because I though the carin navigation unit was produced for use in cars. The helpdesk was not able to provide me with any solitions/suggestions. I will look for a new navigation system from another brand because 510 Euro repair kost for a 1000 euro device is too much imo.

Strengths:
Navigation itself worked good.

Weaknesses:
connector with antenna breaks quickly Laser can overheat

Price Paid:  $1000.00

Summary:
I would still recommend this unit to others. As long as I have an address or intersection, it works great. Also, it does have an extensive number of restaurants in the system already. So, the Points of Interest search feature is great.

Strengths:
I really like the screen quality. The remote is also very useful. I love the split screen display. It displays a map and turn by turn guidance at the same time.

Weaknesses:
The system is very slow. Also, I hate the fact that this system will not allow me to look up businesses by name or phone number. This look up feature is standard on the Alpine.

Similar Products Used:
Alpine Navigation.. The Alpine system in my other car is much better. It is faster and it allows me to search for commercial entities by phone number. I travel by car constantly and many times I do not know exactly where my destination is located. Using a business name or number is much better than having to call ahead for an address.

Price Paid:  $1800.00

Summary:
For around $1800US this is THE system of choice. Excellent graphics, great detail, and a choice of 19 different voices! (9 languages). BMW, Land Rover and other fine automakers choose Carin/VDO for a reason... this is the best system on the market.

Strengths:
I actually own the VDO DAYTON MS5000. It is the same as the Carin522. Philips sold the CaRiN GPS division to VDO recently. I am pretty sure they are the exact same systems, however few minor features may have been added in the new VDO one.

- Beautiful screen 5.8" 16:9 Aspect ratio! (The Japanese screen is the best in the biz!). The 16:9 is perfect for playing dvd movies!!

- Great map level detail, adequately speedy in calculating routes (took me a mere 20seconds to calculate a route from Vancouver,BC to Miami, Florida!). Also, dual lane highways, one way routes etc are all accurately displayed on the pictogram mode. The split screen is excellent.

- The screen updates fairly frequently... I have tested it extensively and have found it to be a reliable guide... directions are given well in advance

-Map data is excellent! I am not sure why the other reviewer had a problem finding Wendy's... I was able to find not only the closes Wendy's, but also the closest McDonalds, A&W, AND Burger kings! (in addition to other restaurants). The map database is almost an entire yellow pages!

-Switching between map modes is quite speedy, about a second or so.

-Ease of installation! This package comes with sockets and plugs pre-attached. All one has to do is run the wire along the car and plug in the two sockets (one to the computer, and the other to the screen). Much more convienient than the Alpine version.

-Vdo will release an adapter for the Carin522/VDO5000 unit soon that will enable you to use the "TV/VIDEO IN" option from the main screen. This plug will connect both the nav computer, and the screen, and will allow the connection of a NTSC input!

Weaknesses:
-They could improve their customer service hotline... You usually have to leave a message and let them get back to you. However they call back promptly. All my (and my installers) questions were answered promptly and very accurately (the first time!).

Similar Products Used:
E46 328Ci BMW GPS (basically the Carin522 model)
Alpine DVD Nav. (I love the fact that it has only a single DVD... but it offers no real speed advantage. Destination input ease is terrible, color schemes are not at all eye pleasing. Screen quality and size is not as good as the VDO (you have to view the screen straight ahead inorder for it to be clear... from angles, there it becomes dull. The nav computer is also larger than the VDO, making the placement of the computer on your dash DIN slot impossible, map comprehensiveness is also not as much as the Navtech CD's that the Carin/VDO system uses. However, the telephone number address search feature was impressive.)

Summary:
Good unit. Think you can pick one up at SoundHabit.com for about 1200.00 (no I’m not a sales person) the maps are 175.00 for the first one the 100.00 for the rest. If you are looking for a good nav system that is inexpensive this is it!

Strengths:
Well, the screen was bright. The map data is great. You can navigate from NJ to CA. on major roads.

Weaknesses:
This thing is slow. If you are on a long trip and miss a turn, it will take a long time to recalculate the route. The POI are not bad but you can't put in a place like Wendy’s and it find the closest one. The screen moves only if you change direction or the car indicator is at the top of the screen.

Similar Products Used:
I had and Autopc and a Avstar. this one is better than both of them, but still want to try the Alpine.

Year / Model Reviewed:
 January 2000

Summary:
Expensive product but a must if your on the road a lot. I have recomended it to my colleages.

Strengths:
Saves so much time planning routes. Great at reducing stress in a strange area that you dont know where you are going. Love it!!

Weaknesses:
Slow to recalculate in city areas and you can miss the turn befor it tells you where to go. Pictograms sometimes miss the detail required to navigate without taking the wrong turn. Can be slow switching between map & Pictogram modes.