We install the Delphi NAV300 portable GPS system in our '67 Mustang. If you’ve been visiting FM for a while you know that one of our underlying themes is technologizing older Ford muscle cars. Be it converting to EFI, or using a wide-band air-fuel meter, adding modern amenities to a car with classic appearance is a cool thing to do.
The upgrades don’t always have to come in the form of engine enhancements. Modifications which bring new advancements to any of the cars older systems are just as worthwhile. One recent trend in the automotive world has been GPS navigation.
Just about all new cars are being offered with this great technology. If you’ve been out of the loop, GPS (global positioning system) uses satellite technology to locate your position on the planet. Once your coordinates are known, mapping software in the device can direct you to a destination. However, you don’t need to purchase a new high-end car to get this technology. A number of companies have developed portable units that can work in any vehicle. We recently got our hands on the latest unit from Delphi, the NAV300, and used it in our 1967 Mustang to make the point that even a classic ‘60s muscle car can utilize modern technology. The unit costs about $395.
The thing about portable GPS units is that they are designed to be used not only in the car, but also walking, biking, hiking, etc. This is accomplished with a rechargeable long-lasting lithium ion battery. However, it stands to reason that in this day and age of hand-held gadgetry, the idea of carrying yet another thing in your pockets is unappealing. Being able to consolidate a music player, for it makes sense that the more appealing units will have features and utility besides just navigation. The Delphi NAV 300 is fully portable, and comes with a built in MP3 and video player, picture browser, and the usual games and calculator functions. The unit runs on Windows CE 5.0, so chances are there are more utilities out there you can load on to it.
The Delphi unit has a flip-up GPS antenna. An 1GB SD card (included) stores the maps. You'll need to upgrade to a larger card if you want to store media files. There is a volume dial, 12V power port on the right side. The "TMC" port is for an optional real-time traffic monitor. On the left side is a port for an external mic (included) and 3.5mm headphone jack.
In vehicle, the unit simply installs to the windsheild using a high-suction articulating mount. A 12V cigarette lighter adapter can be used to charge the lithium-ion battery.
The 320x240 LCD touchscreen makes operating the unit a breeze. Built in 'popular destinations' makes it very convenient to locate common places, such as gas stations, in the vicinity.
The map display can be set for 2D (shown) or 3D views. We found the movement of the map with our real driving position to be instantaneous. At freeway speeds the map showed upcoming exits before we actually reached them. Many GPS units have a delay which can be annoying.
A very valuable feature is the handsfree BlueTooth phone integration. Once configured, the unit will detect the presence of your BlueTooth cell phone and allow you to place and take calls from the GPS unit. A wired mic is included which can be placed on the sun-visor or other location near your face for good sound pickup. Considering many states are making it illegal to talk on a cell-phone without a hands-free device, this is very useful.
The unit features voice direction, which is sufficiently loud - we easily heard the direction commands over Project '67s thundering exhaust. Watch the video below for a demo. The unit also has speech recognition, allowing you to preset a destination, such as "Home" and then use your voice to activate the directions.
All in all, we think the Delphi NAV300 is an excellent device for the price. The features are plentiful, and the GPS functions are robust and accurate. Our only complaint is the inability to play media and use the GPS function at the same time. In any case, the NAV300 is a very simple technology add-on to cars pre-dating GPS technology.
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