Is it worth it to wait until the fall to buy?

1. The 2010 Prius is a mid-year release.

2. Nothing new is anticipated to be released in the fall (except for the Model 1 version - low end, with few options).

3. Prices probably will not be any lower than they are now (unless gas prices go nuts again like last year).

4. The built-in Toyota Nav is ok, but rather expensive. If you are looking to save money, get a Garmin Nuvi - you get a lot more for your money.

Good Luck,

Keith

 

Just remember, the backup camera should be used in addition to turning your head around and directly looking at what is behind you.

I agree that things are kind-of crazy with prices of 2009 Prius being the same or higher than the 2010 Prius. This syndrome will pass within the next month or so as fewer 2009s are around and the number of 2010's increase. Given the option between the 2009 and 2010, I'd go with the 2010 model without hesitation. The 2004-2009 model is nearing its production life cycle end, while the 2010 is at the beginning of its' production life cycle.

 

I am currently installing an aftermarket backup camera system in my V - which has no Nav. My choice. As you, I have a perfectly good GPS, but want/need the backup function.

I installed this same backup camera system (Roadmaster VR3) in my Lexus RX. It had a 2.5" monitor - the new one I bought for the Prius is 3.5". Also, I'm installing it with a switch to manually turn on, and not solely depend on switching by the backup lights. It's a wireless system, but my experience is that interference is common, so I bought the optional cable to connect camera<>monitor. Cam/Mon system was $90, cable $25. Better than $1800.
I should be finished tomorrow and will post the install process and end result.

Tell your hubby that he'd better hope his check doesn't bounce....

 

Other than the iPod adaptor for the NAV units there shouldn't be any change. I'm still not sure I want to shell out $300 to $400 to hook my iPod (actually I have an iTouch) to the NAV. That's pretty expensive when I can simply burn the songs I like on a CD and play them. I'm not even sure why I will want XM now that I can buy the songs I like on iTunes for 99 cents. I only listen to one chanel and do like that it's available where ever I go, but still unless the adapter does more than just play the iTouch it seems awefully expensive.

 

Many people have reported that Toyota will include the ipod adapter and improved steering in the fall as an inline update. Can someone (maybe one of the dealers/sales people) confirm that this is true?

Gas seems to have peaked for the summer and is now heading back down. Prius demand seems to be very much tied to gas prices. I've already been offered $350 under MSRP from the dealer and have heard that some have gotten a Prius through Costco for $1000 under MSRP. If the economy and gas prices continue their current trends, demand for the Prius will be quite low by the end of the year and the prices should be lower.

I have to wait until December for my lease to end, but am seriously considering picking up a Prius before the economy recovers and gas shoots back up to $4, $5, $6 and beyond!

 

Personally, I like the aftermarket NAV better. Your passenger can program it while you drive, for example. The built-in is restricted for liability purposes. Since hearing above about the low cost for aftermarket backup camera, that about settles it for me. III without NAV.

 

There are definitely benefits to the built-in nav.
- Integration with voice control
- lowers the radio volume when a command is spoken
- no gps suction cupped to the windshield
- nobody is going to smash your window to steal a built in gps.

it comes down to individual decisions as to what is important to you.

 

Re: advantages to factory? I'm not so sure.

Oh yes, there are idiots who will break your window for your factory NAV! Specially here in So. Florida. That is actually a consideration I had in mind when I ordered my Prius. I use my cellphone's gps and I can always take it with me to another car or my bike as well as for theft prevention.

Integration with voice? Might just be another frustrating feature that *almost* works. Not willing to take the chance on it for the money.

GPS suction cup mounts do suck, pun intended, likewise the vent brackets - but they aren't the only options.

And I never have the radio so loud that I can't hear the directions if I'm using the NAV.

But hey, one man's treasure... if any of those features are important to you then they'd be benefits I guess.

 

Wish I had of waited til the Fall to make my Prius purchase; then I wouldn't have encountered the mattress box springs (no springs) Sunday on the 101 between Mesa and Scottsdale!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, if you follow Mythbusters they tested openning the car door underwater and as long as you can be patient and not panic while the car fills up with water and equalizes inside and outside pressure, you can open the door and get out. Just hold your breath for a few seconds and make sure you go into the lake/river or other body of water upright! If you roll over and end up on your roof it may pin the doors! Or it may break the glass for you, don't try it though .

My GMC Envoy was broken into last friday and my wife's purse was stolen. They got $2 bucks and managed to pump $50 worth of gas on a credit card (they had our zip code from her license and pumps don't ask for your pin anymore) before we were able to cancel it. But it was a total hassle to cancel everything including closing our bank account and re-doing a lot of failed automated payments. Not to mention having to wait to get the window replaced until AFTER the holiday weekend! I had just gotten paid and had no place to deposit the check!

 

is everyone forgetting about safety connect? having a car call for help in a collision is an amazing feature for those who truly value safety. a buddy of mine veered off the road one night and into a ravine trapped until the following afternoon and was paralyzed. they said originally injury probably wouldn't have caused full paralysis, but after nearly 18 hours where no one could find him, the condition worsened beyond repair. by the way, any date yet on safety connect release?

 

Good, fast, cheap, ... as long as you are OK about "fast," you're on good ground. But if a really good opportunity shows up, carpe diem.

For $55, I bought a Griffin AutoPilot device that plugs into my iPod-Touch using a 12 VDC source and plugs into the AUX plug. It fully meets my requirements and sits in the arm-rest console.

I believe it requires a Bluetooth iPod but even though I'm running V3.0 in my iPod-Touch, our Prius III Bluetooth does not 'learn' the device. The Prius Bluetooth does recognize our Sony Ericsson but only as a phone, not an audio playback device. Regardless, the Griffin solved my problem.

I went with the Garmin nuvi bought from Costco and for about 30-45 days, it was a blast. I found new short-cuts that allow me to cut through neighborhoods at 25 mph instead of feeder streets at 35-40 mph. Then it got to be a bother since for my daily commuting and weekend trips, I don't really need the GPS maps to take familiar routes.

My thinking is look at the built-in GPS and convert the cost into a stack of dollar bills. Then think about having to haul one more device, a portable GPS, around. Personally, the portable GPS has these charcteristics:

• price - Garmin nuvi is less expensive
• portable - Garmin can be moved car-to-car
• during travel - Garmin 'destination' can change mid-trip
• track travel - Garmin records trips to be analyzed later for speed and destinations
• theft risk - Garmin nuvi is a 'snatch and grab'
• map update - Garmin has sent an OS update already and I can buy upgraded or expanded maps at any time, which are downloaded from their support web page (important to me!)
• bother to carry - Garmin nuvi is sitting by my Mac as I type
• upscale versions have voice - not a feature I've tested
• upscale versions have MP3 - not a feature I've tested
• choices - Garmin nuvi makes a mix of units and Costco has an excellent return policy and don't forget "Tom Tom" and Magellian. Toyota offers only one navigation configuration.

If travels often included finding optimum routes through strange areas, a built-in navigation unit would be the way to go. But the flexibility and easy maintenance of the Garmin was the deciding point versus the car manufacturer's dedicated GPS vendor. As others have pointed out, GPS is now reaching into cell phones too. So far, I'm changing cell phones faster than cars.

Being able to upgrade the GPS offers the ability to buy and use new features that may take a while to show up in a car manufacturer's unit ... especially if I'm not ready to sell the car.

Bob Wilson

 

Yes it worth waiting until the fall to purchase, here is why.

Come Sept Toyota will kick off Safety Connect, this is a system that is identical to GM's Onstar. If one has the nav pkg & your car is stolen the vehicle can be tracked via the built in GPS chip.

Toyota is tweaking the steering a bit to match the pkg V handling & turning radius.

And of course the IPod IPhone usb connection.

Also if you are good at bargining you might get the car at invoice, don't laugh.

WAIT, good things come to those who are patient.

Dang

 

Here's an opinion, take it for what it's worth. My personal policy is I never sell a car to someone I know. Too easy for hurt feelings. If you make them a good deal, then you always feel like you've done them a favor, awkward. If the party purchasing the vehicle buys it, then it unexpectedly has a mechanical problem or major breakdown, even if totally unexpected or unforeseeable, again can result in awkwardness. I much prefer the anonomous trade in, or the inpersonal sale to a total stranger with cash. Much would depend on how closely I had to work with this co-worker.

But that's just me.

 

I think the amount of theft of in-dash factory nav is far, far less than portable units. Portable units are a quick smash and grab and there is no security lockout on them to prevent their usage. A factory nav/stereo unit must be pried out of the dash (which takes time), and then the majority have security features which make them useless without a code. Also, a factory unit most likely can only be used in the same model and year of car, while a portable unit would be universal.