PKG5 owners is NAV worth 800 bucks??

The new ATT and Verizon Blackberry's have a great navigation system built into them for ten dollars a month and update annually free of charge. Because of this discovery, I elected to go to a Package 2 and just use the Blackberry. It fits great in the console when you flip the drink holder thingys out. There is a small gap that is a perfect place to use as a stand for it. Just make sure your drinks are in closed bottles to avoid spillage on your phone in case of an unplanned and fast stop.

 

I have the Nav in my 08 and have used it to go to Myrtle beach and just got back from Nighra Falls on the Canada side both times leaving from Maryland. The thing I like is it doesn't insist you make a "U" turn when you don't follow its direction like the Garmin does it just picks a different route to the same destination. Sgt Tip

 

Navigation systems are very tough to discuss. You'll find just as many people that love the integrated system as those that hate it. I've been using mobile navigation systems for the last 7 years, beginning with a compact flash gps receiver that plugged into my Compaq Ipaq PDA running CoPilot or Tom Tom software. I eventually moved up to a $300 Navigon 7100 unit and was quite happy to have the option of an integrated system in the Prius. Is the Prii Nav system worth $800, no. Is any Nav system worth $800? Probably not. Can a $100 nav unit do things the integrated system cannot? Yes. All that aside I am very happy I have the integrated system. I like the voice controls. That's something my Navigon didn't do. The Navigon had bluetooth, but it wasn't as useful as the system in the Prius. I also don't have that same heart sinking feeling when I approach my car and see that the suction cup has let go and that $300 nav unit is on the floor of the car... just wondering if the screen shattered on the gear shift on its way down... No more cigarette lighter adapter wires all over the place either. Now the Navigon is in the wifes car

If you can afford it, get it. If you don't mind a less integrated setup, that option is most likely cheaper.

My $0.02 (by the way, how many of you remember when the 'cents' symbol was on a keyboard?)

Weirdo

 

What he said!

 

I think its worth it. Is it perfect? No. But it's nicely integrated, don't have to charge it or have someone try and break in because they see suction cup marks on your windshield. A boom box would probably sound better than the built in stereo but who wants to ride around with a boombox? Same thing.

 

I have three cars with Nav's A 07 Lincoln Navigator, a 06 Toyota Avalon and my 07 Prius Pkg 6. And we sold a 06 CLK350 with Nav last spring. The Prius Nav is by far the most accurate. I also have an older protable Nav unit but still like the Prius Nav better, even though you can't use some features while driving. The larger screen is the best feature. But remember, you got more that just the Nav with that package, You also have the back up camera, bluetooth voice actavation, etc. Well worth it.

 

I have a 2009 Package #5 (i.e. with nav, and goodies, etc.).

I don't like the nav system. It's only marginally better than my BMW X5 nav system.

I tought I would like the touch screen interface of the Prius Nav (before this I thought Japanese carmakers would have the best electronics, vs. the German BMW where you use a rotary knob to enter addresses).

I think the US lawyers destroyed the Nav, it displays the warning screen (thankfully it goes away without any human action), but it deactivates parts of the system (and not just the Nav system) while in motion.

Do they think that the Prius is intended for 1 person only??? The passenger should be allowed to become the navigator and enter addresses, browse for POI, and make changes while the car is in motion.

I'd call the $800.- Nav option stupid (and yes, I am stupid for buying it).

All you need is a Garmin Nuvi with Bluetooth, and you're all set. You can also take it with you use a different car, go on a business trip (save the GPS rental).

And why won't car makers just license Garmin??? They've got the best interface.:rockon:

 

The original question is a moot point now!

I go with the both good and bad arguments. When I got my car, only 2 packages had VSC (my minimum requirement) and the one with Nav came up first. Figured I wouldn't use it that much, but I was wrong. And it was $THOUSANDS more, not $800. I think for that money I got NAV and the security package I don't need compared to the features in the next level down.

Good:
- I use it all the time, even around town. I like having the 7" touch screen. It is very versatile. I can't imagine messing with the ones that use a joystick control (you know, low end makers like Porsche). The wife's is nicer, she has the higher res screen. That is what I get for being the early adopter in the family. No reverse camera either. It would be nice if it read out the street names like some portables, but the portables really NEED to do that because the screen is too small to read while you drive.
- Mine is a 2004 so I have the magic speed sensor override trick available. They REALLY should allow a person sitting in the passenger seat to have full control of the NAV when the car is moving. You can't even select POIs other than the few pre-sets or destinations other than the 6 'quick selects' in the 2006.

Bad:
- Doesn't have a way to store routes other than the one you are setting up 'now'. Just because I have been somewhere before doesn't mean I won't appreciate a 'heads up, your turn is approaching' notification on subsequent trips.
- Gives priority to the somewhat 'close' biggest road even if you will go out of your way. If I go to the rink, it wants to send me over to the US Route that is paralleled by a 'city street' that is close to my house. That one is more direct, has fewer stops and is shorter. So, a little local knowledge goes a long way. Still, if you don't know the area, it will get you where you are going, even when you hit an unexpected detour. Been saved by that a few times.
I came home from Lake Placid last year, figured it would just reverse the outbound path (on which it even chose the shortcut through Elizabethtown that I take). But NO, I was chatting and didn't notice it ran me 13 miles south on Rt 9 to I-87 just to run me 13 miles back north and dump me off on the road that I WOULD have taken that crosses under 87. 2 LONG legs of a triangle instead of the 1 short leg I took on the way to LP. I know you can tell it not to use the Freeway, but if the direct route crosses the Freeway at a 90 degree angle, who would think about telling it "No Freeways"?
- I wish Toyota was smart enough to put out Nav disc updates for a reasonable price (like $50) WITH a list of areas that have been updated so you can see if YOU will get any value. I'm not paying $200+ for a disc I don't even know will have updates in my driving areas. At least with the portables, you can download updates whenever you want for a much more reasonable price. How often will I need updates for 90% of the states? In 4 years, my car has never been outside New England, other than Northeastern New York and to Montreal. Let me pay for what I will USE!

 

Actually, it stores the last hundred+ destinations you have entered unless you intentionally delete them. After the limit is reached the oldest is dropped and the new one is added.