2012 EX-L DVD RES looking to add a Nav system

[Rezolution]

Due to the cost of the 2012 touring, my wife decided to go with the EX-L RES since she'll be using the DVD player for the kids 100% of the time. We expect to use a Nav system about 5 to 10 times per year, mostly when we go on short trips or vacations. Everything else will be local driving. My wife previously drove a 2007 Lincoln MKX. This car had a built in Nav system that would soft-mute the audio of whatever was playing and then proceed to announce the driving directions over the car's stereo system. She liked the way that worked and I'm trying to find her something very similar. As far as I can tell, it's nearly impossible to replace the components in the car to make it both RES-DVD AND Navigation. So I'm basically looking for some suggestions as follows:

1. Can anyone recommend an aftermarket Nav system that will integrate with the current factory setup? The only one I can find is called Mocar and it's some type of cheap Chinese knockoff GPS for $1200. What I would want would be an Alpine or something similar that would replace the factory unit but still maintain all of the car's features. Yes I know this is a pipe dream but it doesn't hurt to ask!

2. A hand held unit such as a garmin that is able to me mounted on the vents, dash, or cup holder that will announce it's navigation over the car via bluetooth capability. From what I understand, garmin only makes 5 models that support this A2DP technology where it will announce over the car stereo via bluetooth. All other garmins only support connecting to your phone via bluetooth or they will broadcast nav directions over the FM. If anyone has a 2012 Odyssey and would like to recommend a portable nav system, I'm all ears!

3. It's been suggested that the newer smart phones and tablets are much better GPS units than the actual units designed soley for GPS. If anyone would like to recommend a phone, tablet, laptop, etc that is a better option than a factory unit, a handheld gps, a dash replacement, etc... please recommend something to me!

[Rezolution]

Aren't there any 2011 or 2012 owners here that got the EX-L RES pack and use an aftermarket GPS in their car?

[dvpatel]

There are and most use the windshield mounted GPSes that can be had for as little as $100 or so. If you have a smart phone and a data plan to go with it, you can use a free navigation app called Waze. It is very cool and even alerts you of traffic and cops along the way. It gets its data from users like you and me.

[islandbeef]

I got a refurbished Garmin GPS with windshield suction arm & car power cord from Newegg.com for under $100. It's very easy to use with touchscreen and with a voice (male/female) direction assist feature.

Newegg.com - Refurbished: GARMIN nüvi 1370T 4.3" GPS Navigation

It got me home after getting lost in the SoCal desert area near Victorville.

Worth the investment.

[Rezolution]

We have a Samsung galaxy sII rocket, garmin nuvi 650, iPad, and we might be buying that new google nexus. What part of the drivers side windshield works best for you guys? I was thinking 10 o'clock might be the least distracting.

Ive always avoided the suction cup mounts as they inevitably fall.

[funkydrummer]

I can personally vouch for a smartphone being better than a dedicated GPS. I recently bought a Garmin 3790LMT, which is widely reviewed as the best GPS on the market...but my 2 yr. old Droid X is better in the following ways:

*Voice command/recognition is easily 100x better on the Droid. For some reason the Garmin almost always suggests some extrememly random command or point of interest that sounds nothing like what I've spoken.

*Alternate route selection. The Droid offers anywhere from 2-4 alternate routes that are easily accessed/selected, including the corresponding highlighted routes on the map to visualize the route before you select it.

*Accuaracy of voice turn-by-turn. The Droid again is far superior when it comes to giving clear audio guidance of upcoming turns.

The ONLY reason I would say the Garmin would be nice to have is so that you can still use your phone for calls while using the GPS unit, and not having to ear the voice guidance in your ear while your on a call. And, because Garmin has a cool adapter that uses bluetooth to display realtime vehicle diagositics and performance on the GPS display.

[teamTMS]

... Garmin has a cool adapter that uses bluetooth to display realtime vehicle diagositics and performance on the GPS display.

Can you provide more info on this Garmin add-on device?
Thanks.