Yes, you are quite right in that the nav interface kit does indeed route sound through the right set of speakers. However, it sounds just fine to me and I don’t have any trouble whatsoever hearing it. In fact, it’s hard to even tell that the sound is only coming out of just the right channel.

If it concerns you too much, I’m more than sure that Mikey could wire it into the left channel for you. All you’d need to do is ask him.

It’s still easy to hear it with the audio across the car from you coming out of only one speaker?

I just got back from a cross USA and back trip and minor hick ups.. Typical in any GPS, but it worked. Wish it had a Macintosh hook up though.

Good pick though!

Yes, the radio plugs will daisy chain together just fine.

Nothing works with a Mac. That’s why I don’t/won’t own one. :-)

Seriously though, I don’t know if Garmin’s mapping software will work on a Mac. I have a funny feeling that it won’t though.

I understand you have to load it with state detail maps as you travel from state to state…

The U.S. version of the Quest only has 115 MB of available memory for map storage and so you will indeed have to load it with different map sets if you’re traveling cross country. It does have a base map though and so I generally only load in my destination point and other important stopping points along the way and that works just fine. It will use the base-map (which covers the entire U.S.) when not in the extended map coverage areas.

I find that the Quest works well for me even though it can only hold 115 MB of map data. I can load all of the So Cal City Select maps in and that’s where I spend 99% of my time. However, if you’re a big traveler, then you might be better off looking at one of Garmin’s other units such as the StreetPilot c330, StreetPilot 2620, etc. These units come with an internal hard drive that is pre-loaded with the maps for the entire U.S. and so you never have to load map data onto them (unless you’re upgrading your map version that is).

It’s nice living in a small town isn’t it. :-) I live in LA (which is HUGE) and so there’s no possible way I could learn every nook and cranny of it. Thus, a GPS really helps for those times when you have to go somewhere you aren’t familiar with.

I would get tired of the GPS systems I see that have to be on all the time to work other items in the car.

Maybe so, but the MINI’s GPS (i.e. the car that’s relevant here) doesn’t do this. It has a feature where you can turn it off if you don’t want to look at it any more.

When I travel ON A PLANE and rent a car, I don’t know my way around. I have all my contacts and routing in my GPS when I travel.

Yes, that’s a perfect argument for having a portable GPS unit (and the reason I have one as well). Although, a good argument for having an in-car unit is that most of them are equipped with “dead reckoning”. This allows the navigation system to still know where you are even when it looses signal (like in a big city with lots of tall buildings, etc.). None of the portable units would have that feature.

Also, one thing you need to note is that it’s illegal to use a GPS on most commercial airplanes within the U.S. I think. Last time I checked, the GPS wasn’t included in most airline’s “list of approved electronic devices”. Maybe this will change someday (and maybe it already has for some airlines), but I wouldn’t want to get caught using my GPS unit ON A PLANE when I’m not supposed to.

Calm down!

I am calm and I always have been. I’m sorry if you took it any other way.

Mikey’s nav interface doesn’t include an attachment for an external antenna as that’s not what it’s about/for. However, the Garmin Quest does indeed have an external antenna connection that you can use if required.

Personally, I’ve never had a single problem with the unit getting a satellite lock where I use it and so I’ve never had the need to explore using an external antenna any further.

BTW, Magellan make some really nice GPS units as well. If they have an external speaker or and external speaker jack, then they will work with the nav interface discussed here as well.

Since this kit plugs in using the exact same plug that the factory radio does, I wouldn’t see any reason why the ipod interface wouldn’t work (I know for sure that it will work with the AUX input). I’ve never seen one of the ipod interfaces so I can’t say for sure, but you can always write Mikey an e-mail and ask him directly.

I have to totally disagree with you on this one I’m afraid. I’ve also had a Garmin SPIII and the external speaker in it was just as bad as the one in the Quest. Also, Mikey’s nav interface is 100% plug-n-play and so there’s no “tearing apart of the car” required. All you have to do is remove the radio in order to plug it in. How hard is that???

I also have a factory nav installed in my own MINI (i.e. one that’s “fixed in the car” as you put it) and it sounds totally awesome. The voice for the nav system comes right out of my MINI’s factory H/K radio. Thus, I don’t really understand why you say you would “NEVER buy one fixed in a car for that reason”??? Am I missing something here?

However, the GPS unit’s cradle is only held on by a suction cup and so you can move/place it anywhere you want though.

btw, very nice install!

You’d really have to compare them side-by-side and try to display maps of areas you’re interested in, to see if they’re accurate. Also, don’t expect good map coverage for rapidly growing areas; it takes quite a few years for new roads to make it into the mapping programs.