In response to XX3 above, I have to agree, as I had a very funny (in retrospect!) thing happen to me back in 2001(?). I was visiting some family friends in Austin, TX on a business trip and they leant me their S430 for the day. Now, I had never driven anywhere in Austin before so after reaching my destination, I realized I had to rely on the satnav to get me home again. Being a very tech savvy then-21 year old, I found myself a little alarmed when I had to pull over to the side of the road just to figure the thing out; but I nearly PANICKED when i realiezd i simply COULDN'T FIGURE OUT how to use the damn thing ... at all!! If memory serves, I finally had to bust out the manual and only then, little by little, was I able to get the thing to help find my way home.

That said, I recently tested out a new E350 with navigation and that was, I'm pleased to report, really quite nice indeed. *STILL* however, I must say, the system in the previous-generation Acura 3.2 TL (lol!) is by far and away the best and EASIEST to use, especially thanks to its touch-screen interface.

And finally, it's not that my 2001 X5 nav system is BAD -- e.g., with the exception of a few silly mistakes she makes now and then like getting off and back onto the freeway for who knows what reason, or re-routing me round the entire country lol before realizing such a detour is unnecessary! -- it's just that it TOTALLY lacks any finesse whatsoever, either graphically, ergonomically, or otherwise.

Notwithstanding the silliness of my X, I would still only part with her for only a select few vehicles including obvioulsly a Cayenne Turbo, a CLS 55, or possibly a new M5 ... *IFF* its performance is sufficiently >> than the CLS 55 as a means of offsetting its terrible looks and annoying electronics.

Anyone seen Top Gear's review of the new M5? You must watch it, it's really quite funny ... but sad, too lol.