Thanks for the breakdowns, Pravus and Ray. They're big helps. I'm enough of a tech geek and a numbers guy that it sounds like I'd want all the extra doo-dads in the Nav system to see what's going on with my car. At the same rate, I'm on the edge of what I can afford at this point -- yes, even after considering the gas savings, tax adjustment, etc. That $2000 might be the deal breaker. A large part of this depends on what I can get on my trade-in. But, at the very base level, it sounds like the dashboard will tell me enough of what I NEED to know to get by. On the other hand, my Jeep has gotten me used to having a compass and a temp reading and a clock and all the rest at my fingertips. UGH

But if it's between no car and Nav Center-less car, then it sounds like I'll make it without the Nav center.

I also don't need a sun/moon roof. I'm fairly tall (6'4") but I've only ever had to use it for head room once, in a VW Jetta. ;-)

I visited a dealership tonight just to look at the car on the lot. Looks like I'd have no problem fitting into it.

As for the iPod -- I'll just use my FM transmitter thing. That plugs into the power plug/"cigarette lighter" and I can tune into it on an FM station. Since there's only one of those power plugs, I'll have to ditch the radar detector, but I barely use it anyway. (They make splitters, though, don't they?)

-Augie