National - Navigation & Executive Aisle

I'm not a big National renter so excuse the ignorance....

Do all cars in the executive aisle have navigation?? If not, what happens if you rent a car with navigation, do you need to look at each car to make sure it has it before choosing the car?

I'm not a big National renter so excuse the ignorance....

Do all cars in the executive aisle have navigation?? If not, what happens if you rent a car with navigation, do you need to look at each car to make sure it has it before choosing the car?

I've never seen any car on the Aisle (including ES) that had navigation by default. The booth person doing checkout will often ask if you want navigation. I always assumed it was via a standalone Garmin type unit.

Would be interested to hear from others whether there are certain models that the check out person can activate, or some other configuration.

The only navigation-equipped car that I've ever landed off the ES aisle was the Ford Edge (had them 2 or 3 times). And in those, the navi was inactive (required a card or subscription or something). I travel with my own GPS so it wasn't a big deal to me.

I just try to find the cars with touchscreens, as most of the times they have Navi. Out of my 8 rentals this year, I think, 6 cars had GPS (Explorer x2, Durango, Lacrosse x2 and 300. All the cars were ES cars.

The only navigation-equipped car that I've ever landed off the ES aisle was the Ford Edge (had them 2 or 3 times). And in those, the navi was inactive (required a card or subscription or something). I travel with my own GPS so it wasn't a big deal to me.

I wonder if you could buy a navigation activation SD-card off ebay and plug it in to get working Nav?

Of all my rentals, I've only had one navigation equipped car (BMW 328i), and it wasn't activated.

I've had Lacrosses with the excellent H/K audio/nav system. I've also had a 328i with active navigation.

Not trying to "beat" National for free navigation (I know shocking for Flyertalkers)...just trying to figure out how I'm supposed to get it

Look for GM car with low miles and Onstar to use their navigation system?

Look for GM car with low miles and Onstar to use their navigation system?

+1! I love the turn by turn directions and any Malibu or Impala will have it.

+1! I love the turn by turn directions and any Malibu or Impala will have it.

Ford Sync sans Nav offers turn by turn directions too IIRC.

Ford Sync sans Nav offers turn by turn directions too IIRC.

The Lincoln MKX I had two weeks ago seemed to have this (with a really annoying interface). I connected it to my crummy phone and iPad via Bluetooth and MiFi via WiFi (duh). I tried to access the directions, but could not get it to work.

I thought it was using my MiFi when I pulled up the Sync services screen (telling me to login), but then I saw that it had used my phone to make a short call :confused:. It wanted me to create an account, at which point I gave up on navigation/directions. I guess the first person to activate the service would be the only one able to use it.

Disclosure 46 on Lincoln's SYNC page:
SYNC Destinations is available to owners of SYNC-equipped vehicles who have registered an active SYNC Services account at SYNC OWNER (syncmyride.com/support)

Disclosure 129 on Ford's SYNC page:
SYNC Services is complimentary for three years on most 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles. After three years, subscription fees will apply. On the 2012 Edge, 2012 Explorer and all 2013 vehicles built with SYNC with MyFord, SYNC Services will require a subscription fee at the onset of service.

+1! I love the turn by turn directions and any Malibu or Impala will have it.


The Malibu LTZ I rented from National last weekend had On-Star on the mirror but was expired, the car had a decent amount of miles on it (~9750) but wasn't that old.

Not trying to "beat" National for free navigation (I know shocking for Flyertalkers)...just trying to figure out how I'm supposed to get it
I've never done it but I'm pretty sure that they give you a portable unit and dash/window mount. I think they have them at the exit booth if you've rented from the EA/ES aisle otherwise they'd give it to you at the counter.

I have rented the GPS unit several times. It's a basic Garmin unit. You pick it up at the gate when you exit. (You can add it there too if you forgot or decided to play "roulette" and lost)

I think in the past three or four years as Executive Elite I have had one or two cars with activated GPS so don't count on it.

I generally just travel with my own Garmin. I know how to use it, it's programmed in advance..... much easier IMHO.

I've been using the free Waze app (available for Android, Blackberry, and iOS), and not only does it give better active navigation than I've found in my own BMW (minus the HUD integration), but in cities with active Waze communities, you'll be alerted to speed traps, accidents, cars on the side of the road, etc.

I can also figure that I've saved hundreds of dollars on fees for the GPS in that time, not to mention speeding and red light tickets. :D

I've had Lacrosses with the excellent H/K audio/nav system. I've also had a 328i with active navigation.

I had a Lacross as well with awesome built in Navi. I usually am in search of cars that have Sirus.