I am planning on ordering/purchasing a new F-150 pretty soon. My question is whether or not I should order it with the factory navigation system, just the SONY upgraded system, or just order it with the plain stereo and upgrade it at the local audio shop.

The worst part about the new F-150 is the dash requires a whole new piece to change out the stereo. I would like to see what some other people have done that went the last route, just upgrading the stereo to something like in dash nav kenwood or similar. Seems I could get the stereo, speakers, and maybe even a camera for the same price as all of the upgrades to get to that point.

For those with the nav or SONY system, how do you like it? I have the audiophile system in my '05 and it does pretty good for factory.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

I would say go with the factory navigation - I'm sure you can achieve just as tight integration with aftermarket equipment but it'll probably be a pain and cost you just as much as the factory option.

 

I have it and really like it. I will buy it again in the next one in 2012

 

I went with aftermarket. I do hear the factory is good as well.

 

I have the factory Nav and upgraded sound system. Surprisingly, it is very good. I'm impressed with the Sony sound system and it all is integrated very well with the SYNC system. I will buy it again.

 

Def. get the nav. I didn't do it and I have had my truck for a few months now wishing I had it. Plus it's a pain to put an aftermarket one in there if you have sync and woodgrain dash.

 

They have an adapter for Sync. The woodgrain dash would be a pain.
My headunit does what Sync does so I don't miss it.

 

get it no doubt

its way more than nav...

live weather and traffic, sports scores, movies
control the HVAC right on the screen
use it to dial phone calls right on the screen

i have never thought twice about getting it

 

I have the Kenwood DDX 7040 or such. I bought the SYNC adapter but that pretty much just lets the voice come through, I don't think the health check or any other features work through the new head unit. I have not used SYNC since I installed the new head unit. The SONY speakers do sound nice. I didn't want to lose the space for the sub though.

 

I like the factory Nav on my 09 FX4. The only issue I have is the maps are approx. 2 years out of date Navteq says there is an update and the dealers have it. I've called a couple of dealers and they didn't have it. If the Sync Nav can't find an address then I use the Garmin software that is in my Blackberry Bold.

 

Boataddict, nice set up. What in dash nav set up is that?

 

i have the factory nav and it is nice, i'm looking into the nav "lock pick" because it opens a number of things the factory nav doesn't allow you to do...not sure but i think the weather, sports scores, gas prices are only available if you have the extended Sirius plan working with it. i don't know because i still have the free Sirius still in effect on my truck....regardless i don't really use those features, don't think its really necessary to access those things while i'm in the truck, cause i access all that crap when i'm at home anyway...very happy with the nav as a whole though!

 

I ended up ordering it with the Nav. I couldn't stand all the buttons on the dash and liked the look of the screen in the dash. Now, I am trying to figure out if I want to upgrade the speakers/sub when it comes in. I think I am fixing to have to spend some money elsewhere though, so it may have to wait.

wisconsin, I am liking your choice in grille! Looks good!

 

thanks man, i saw another truck today on this forum with the harley grille and i think they look almost identical, the deciding factor was $190 vs. $600 for the harley....the guy that had the harley had the surround ptm and i'm going to do that i think considering all the money i saved buying the xlt chrome edition grille...

 

Yeah, I saw the grille you are talking about. It looked fantastic, but like you said... just a lot of money for a grille.

I'm not sure I love the Lariat grille, but I will probably live with it for a while.