Garmin Catalyst, Driving Performance Optimizer with Real-time Coaching and Immediate Track Session Analysis, for Motorsports and High Performance Driving (010-02345-00) , Black , 6.95 inch

I've been doing track days and racing and have realized just how useful data acquisition is for improving your driving (very, it's very useful). If you don't have a DA system, get one. ANY system is better than none, trust me here.As an AIM SOLO user, this is -very- different. The underlying data stored is pretty much the same and while the Garmin Catalyst interface does allow you to quickly get to it, once you start playing around and digging deeper you realize that there's quite a bit of information in this tool.I find that between sessions, the Garmin is wonderful. It's easy to setup and intuitive to use. Finding opportunities between sessions is simple and allows you to make effective use of your track time. You can find 3 "opportunities" and get a good idea of what to do in order to improve. Since the Garmin is using your own variance in the laps, it's never telling you to do something that you are incapable of doing. In addition, as it keeps logging more information and you improve, it will keep picking your best performance from that segment and identify that as the best approach. This is something you would manually do with an AIM Solo but comparing video or downloading the trace, here that analysis is done for you and you're simply presented with the best line / approach.Does this replace all other DA systems? No, it does not. In fact, I actually still run my AIM SOLO in conjunction. I find that the AIM SOLO LED green / red display is much easier to grasp without thinking while actually driving. In theory the Garmin display also uses a predictive lap timer and give your the same green / red information with a time delta, but WHILE you're actually driving... it's just not as easy to grasp. With the AIM SOLO, more green LEDs are better, that's all you have to know. If you took a different line through a corner and got a green LED for your troubles, great... do more of that. With the Garmin, if it's green you don't get MORE green, you would have to see if the number went up or down.In addition, I wish the Garmin was more flexible with camera placement. Right now the camera is on the windshield. Good for identifying the line but not necessarily for seeing what YOU as the driver were doing, where you were looking, etc. etc. In between sessions I find the Garmin system phenomenal for identifying the biggest opportunities (you can chase time in every corner but some corners will net aa bigger return on investment than others, with the Garmin it does the analysis for you). At the end of the day, I still use the AIM SOLO combined with video from BEHIND the seat to show me not just the line, but also the AIM SOLO (with the LEDs) and what the driver is doing (I shifted later / earlier, I actually started turning later / earlier). Then come up with an overall plan for the entire lap based on identifying the best segments and car position (and orientation).Is this worth the money? Yeah, it really is.If you have an AIM SOLO should you still get this? I'm not returning mine, I plan on continuing to use both.If you don't have a Data Acquisition system would you buy this one first? If you're not a data person and have no other DA system, then yeah this is probably a great first data system (and works well as an ONLY data system).

I've used the Catalyst for about 5 sessions now and it's taken me that long to get really comfortable with it. I've graduated from Harry's and different combinations of cameras, that sometimes would or wouldn't all work together, and sometimes they even synched. It certainly was a lot to worry about even when it did behave.The Catalyst, like most Garmin products I use, works without much fuss and does the job nicely. The camera captures great video and the unit has plenty of mounting and power flexibility. While I would like the addition of OBD2 parameters for the improved "hero" videos, the existing functionality is perfectly good for the core function of driver coaching.I love wearing my Bluetooth ear buds to get real-time coaching feedback, as well as lap by lap times. In regular driving the screen just displays elapsed lap time as well as a red or green Delta times. I'm not looking at it, anyway.The audio coaching focuses on positive re-enforcement with hints on apex, braking and such with a "good job" when something goes well. I would recommend adding a negative reinforcement feature. All true learning involves pain so "that sucked" would be perfectly appropriate and welcome, as well as "what were you thinking" and "Duh!".The post-session analysis in areas to improve is where this shines. It took me a while to come to grips with the idea that LONGER braking may be better, or that an apex I hadn't considered faster was better, but by doing some experimenting with lines and then following the advice of the Catalyst my lap times have consistently improved.Video review and download is simple and quick, battery life seems good. The size is right. I'm looking-forward to continued firmware updates with more features!

Cons: in a cloudy day, it sometimes doesn't lock on satellites for timing, so blah whatever...Pros: Coaching is awesome with Audio Ques.Really great stand alone system and you can just take it a learn immediately.Easy setup and easy to upload video footage.Wish: it has CAN extension or OBD extension to get more telemetry in there...I was debating with this over a AIM SOLO DL or something, but I am a visual learner so its a must have.

This product is very helpful to improve driving skills and works really good. One good advise is ask to a better driver to track some laps, then you got a better reference on how to improve. If you only rely on your data it will take more time.

The garmin catalyst does exactly what it says. It provides real-time recommendations on track to improve times. I just had it in my car for a track day this weekend and it worked flawlessly and found immediate opportunities to reduce lap times. Very easy to set up and use. It has nearly every track on the planet pre-programmed, which made it very easy. Simply turn on at the track and being to drive.Recommendations began after 2-3 laps to allow the system to calibrate to my driving style. At the end of each session, it provided extensive info on my best opportunities to continue to reduce times, including line, braking points, and where to carry speed. The info is all presented in easy to decipher graphics and videos. It also records video of each session to review later. This is a game changer for those looking to make fast gains. Highly recommended.

Pretty easy to use and works as deseigned. I have a few complaints thought:1. No ODB2 integraition. Why not!??? The Garmin website says it is not needed which is false.2 No access to the FIT files for deeper analysis (especially due to #1).3. They need to standardize the connections. It has mini-usb, micro-usb, and comes with a usb-c cable. Why all over the place?For the price, these items should be addressed. Maybe #1 and #2 can be addressed with a software update?