Carpokes

WillyDaP wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:57 am Gotta go with Blue Highways --- the Garmin Catalyst is such a fantastic, easy to use , system and slapping on some more cameras make it spectacular imho!

Bill, he's referring to the Garmin Mini 2 standalone cameras, not the Catalyst. (ie: I don't think Mini 2's integrate directly into the Catalyst - the spec and compatibility page makes no mention of that feature if it exists. The Mini 2 device is different from the one that goes with the Catalyst.)

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/731428

2023 Targa 4S dealer installed Blackvue, front / rear camera DR900X-1CH Plus. Works fine vehicle in motion recording. If you want recording while vehicle is parked need to purchase WIFI plan for vehicle - otherwise no recording while parked. Also, the Blackvue app is not useful if no vehicle WIFI plan. Install was $2,400. Unless I'm incorrectly operating device would likely pass in future purchasing camera.

kjb176 wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:49 am 2023 Targa 4S dealer installed Blackvue, front / rear camera DR900X-1CH Plus. Works fine vehicle in motion recording. If you want recording while vehicle is parked need to purchase WIFI plan for vehicle - otherwise no recording while parked. Also, the Blackvue app is not useful if no vehicle WIFI plan. Install was $2,400. Unless I'm incorrectly operating device would likely pass in future purchasing camera.

I've gone the same route as your future conclusion in my decision to not install any cameras, at least not for the time being. Was all about it recently (considering Garmin Mini 2's which I like) in all the cars but then researched the limitations, considered the time involved, thought through the additional complexity of things, etc., and it all kind of soured me, at least for now. Too much work and fiddling around; too much constant monitoring and follow up for my tastes for that one bad moment that might occur. It seems like that's all we do already these days and I don't want more...

Multiply the above by the number of cars one has that would qualify for that level of protection and suddenly all that's being done is spending a lot of time trying to protect things that can only be protected so far. It can be almost endless.

I know cameras can be good, but for me at this point there would be just more stuff to buy/install/fiddle with/think about and that takes away the enjoyment of driving the car which is all I really want to do. Sometimes it's not clear (to me) where to draw the line. I have to rethink and regroup!

By the way, welcome to Carpokes!

I don’t have a dash cam in my Boxster, but for my daily I have a Viofo that is powered by an OBD cable that is tucked into the trim. I’ve used this setup in my last few cars without issue. Depending on the camera, you can probably be all in for under $300 (presuming a DIY install).