Navigation decision

I like my NAV a lot. It has it's drawbacks, as many people have noted in other threads; but the integration is nice and the built-in backup camera is very cool. You can save some money by using your TomTom and adding an aftermarket camera (if you want one), but for me at least, the tidiness of having them properly built in is a better use of the money than tint and paint. As always, personal decision and YMMV.

 

I agree that, for me, having everything all integrated is just nicer. The one drawback to the navigation that Toyota does is that you can't do certain things while the car is moving.

In our Honda, they don't care as much about safety (ha) and your passenger can do anything they want with the Navigation

 

I like it built in. I've used portables to some extent, but I like the built-in properties. I'll enjoy finding the hack for my passenger to update items on the go. I get tired of cords and things lying around.

but, if you have the Tom-tom, and are budget minded to drop the $300 tint (which you can find a local shop to do for much less) adn the paint option,then the addition of Nav shouldn't be considered either.

I just like it. but, if you don't get it now, you'll have plenty of options to add built-in later with the aftermarket head units available when you have greater discretionary cash.

 

And, correct me if I'm wrong, the hack to do this on the 3rd Gens has not yet been discovered, right?

 

I love the built in NAV. Sure it isn't as good as our Garmin, but it does the job and it is always there when we need it. Since the Garmin was portable, it was usually at home somewhere since I did not leaving it in the car. I think it make the car look better too.

 

Correct. For now at least, if you want to input while moving, you have to either use the voice commands or use a different NAV unit. The hack will happen eventually (there are some hardware solutions that work now, but are not plug-n-play yet), but there is no easy software hack like there was before that has yet been discovered.

 

I love the built in NAV. Sure as many state there are some drawback but for the most part the system is very usable and user friendly. If you need to access something while driving there is a range of voice commands that work quite well. One thing I love about it, is compared to my Honda, I don't have to hit the "Talk" button for each command it does that for you. I think the integration with other features it offers is nice as well.

I also hate the WIRES look, and connecting after market devices and the cords running around here and there. Not to mention that when you have the portables, it's best to remove anytime your parked or stopped as they are a "enticement" for someone else to steal. That's a big plus for me, having better piece of mind and less in and out of a portable unit.

That's my opinion...but I would Opt for it if you like the clean look.

Best of luck in your decision.

 

I'm a big fan of integrated navigation, but if you are on a budget, the OEM Nav system is overpriced. If you need to save money, stick with the portable system.

Tom

 

I would re-think the tint. Tint doesn't cost $300. You're overpaying $100-$150.

 

If you're on a budget to the point where you're rethinking the tint and color upgrade then there's no way I'd spend $1,800 on the nav system (more like $2,040 now, actually, since the iPod/USB kit is no longer optional). Use your TomTom for now and install an integrated third-party system down the road when you can afford it. I have the nav system and if I could go back and do it again I would go the third-party route.

 

It is nice being integrated but the Nav system is so limited, I am not sure I would go with it again. The voice system is cool at first, but also quite limited and slow, way too many commands to accomplish anything. I should be able to push a button and either say "call home" or "go home". Instead you have to go through a series of questions and answers, to accomplish these simple tasks. The disabled features while driving is also a major draw back. My passenger should be able to do everything!

I also find that while controling it through voice commands, I use more cognitave energy than just pushing buttons (ie less focus on the road).

 

I am beginning to wonder about how good (or bad) the Prius NAV system is. For example, yesterday I was about 5 miles from home, and just for the heck of it I issued the "Go Home" command for my pre-installed home address. When it said I had arrived at my destination, I was on the wrong street and about 10 blocks away. During previous "Go Home" commands, the Prius NAV took me right to my front door. It should work correctly, not occasionally, but EVERY time.

What if I had been using the Prius NAV system to get to someplace I had never visited before? I can imagine being miles off target, and stopping to ask someone for directions, or to buy a roadmap. The above occurrence really makes me wonder if I can rely on it. My Garmin portable GPS was ALWAYS dependable. I never experienced a failure like the one made by the Prius NAV system.

The Prius NAV system just does not cut it. Maybe in a year or two Toyota will go to a company that can produce a reliable mapping system.

Anyway, since I already have that big built-in Prius screen, I am looking for a way to use it as the display for my Garmin.

 

I think you can hit the "Talk" button a second time not to get the repeat prompts as well, which may make it a little easier to use. You should try this feature as well. You don't have to listen through the whole list and I think there is a preference level to not prompt as much you can modify. I just have not done the last item with mine but do use the other option quite frequently to make calls and not listen to the whole menu and lists....

 

You mentioned an "integrated third-party" system, which is an interesting idea. Do you know of such a system that would be able to take advantage of the large Prius screen? Since I already have the lousy Prius NAV system, it would be great if I could at least take advantage of that screen and use it as the display unit for, say, my portable Garmin unit.

 

I think you may have not done something properly to get you reached your destination message. Because I had that happen to me as well. It was something I did incorrect. And to further exemplify that statement, if your home address is something that is not on a map (an example) you can input the location directly when in your driveway or at it, and there could be no variance that I could see reasonable being 5 miles away.....

It does not sound like something was done correctly or in the proper sequence. I live in a rural area that my address and street are not even on the map and not any of the maps from Tom Tom to Garmin and the like. Setting it from the driveway works every time.

Try setting it again, something sounds like it's not set correct.....

 

I originally set it in my driveway (on a city street that has existed for over 40 years and with a full address including house number and Zip code), and it worked just fine - for a while. Then the event I described in my previous post occurred. Something similar has NEVER occurred with my Garmin.

What does this tell me?

Either the Prius NAV system is unreliable, or it is way too easy to inadvertently set the home location to something different. I certainly did not type in a new address.

In either case, the Prius NAV system is overpriced and flawed.

What we need to do is find a way to continue using the display as a backup camera, as well as create software to allow the Prius display to be accessible by Garmin or other GOOD GPS systems.

 

It's not just the Prius integrated NAV, I haven't found anybody's nav to be better than the cheap portable Garmin

 

To be honest, most of the OEM nav units are downright horrible. My mother had one in her recent Mercedes that was just garbage. When I lived in Brooklyn some girl I knew had a new car and neither of us could figure out how to do the navigation (that says a lot for how poorly the navigation user interface was programmed), etc. It blows my mind you can spend $100 for a portable unit and it beats the heck out of a $1800 factory nav.

 

I definitely agree with you. Mercedes (the ones from a few years ago) are notoriously horrible. It was only recently that they switched to DVD! Imagine driving and having to change CDs!!!!! Wasn't too long ago that they had that system in their cars. There are some fine aftermarket units that can be nicely installed for that factory look. They are a bit pricey though. I still have not found a portable NAV that can keep up with rapid turns as quickly as my 2004 Prius unit. If you have to make a complicated set of turns I find the portable devices take some time to catch up whereas in my Prius the movement is directly in sync with the car's movement. You also have the advantage of dead reckoning with the Prius. If you lose the signal on the portables even for 20 seconds during a critical point in navigation you're screwed. However, 98% of the time, these portable units are fantastic for the money. I actually downloaded the Tom Tom APP for my iPhone and it works great!!!