Making Hard Choices and Living by Them (Upgrading JBL to a NAV Unit - Yes or No?)

I bought a three and have the same thoughts over the past few weeks. I would love to have the handy gps with other stuff in the radio, but I keep telling myself:

- my current stand alone Moto gps is paid for
- it's not something I could tinker with, add voices, use elsewhere
- need to pull apart dash some more
- gps is arguably not as good as stand alones
- updates are expensive
- sun glare
- 899 ish would buy new smart phone, a couple years of service, and gps apps with pictures, 3d, and other neato stuff
- I rarely use a gps anyway, more of a cool toy like the radar detector

But admittedly it still would be nice.

 

I'm going to vote no.......if the GPS is what your looking for...just by a portable GPS unit. I have the same Prius that you have......other then the weak FM sound that it puts out.....I normally listen to SAT radio..so the weak FM is not a issue for me. If you upgrade.....it would only make it more profitable for someone to steal.....I can't imagine anyone stealing my JBL system....I would probably have to pay someone to steal it.

 

All HUs that I know of (including Toyota's) that support SAT - use an external 'box'. Most I've seen can be easily placed behind the HU (there's room in there).

If you already have the JBL, Sat, BT, and are happy with the sound - you may think about just swapping the HU for a Toyota NAV.

There are many now in wrecking yards, and sometimes EBay - you could probably get one for far less than $1K (which is what you'd likely pay for one of the name brands - or even Chinese stuff like Rosen)...

 

+1...I use a TomTom that I keep in the center console. I don't use it that often, but appreciate having it when I need it. I hear a lot of folks say that JBL FM reception is lousy, but I don't that problem with mine, and I live in a remove area where the closest large city is 75 miles away. I don't listen to Sat Radio too much either and will not renew my subscription. Sometimes I enjoy a quiet drive. Keep the upgrade money and put it in the bank for a rainy day.

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

I have a package IV Prius with the base JBL stereo and I am also thinking about the same upgrade. I would like the have the NAV unit integrated but the issue I have with the base JBL unit is the minimal amount of space available for text on the display and also the display is very difficult to read with sunglasses on.

I had XM radio in a 2009 malibu that I previusly owned that was much nicer. But I must add it was probably the only thing that was better in the Malibu.

 

I just added the Rosen system to my Prius III, I used the JBL audio adapter, it was a pretty simple install, took longer to run the GPS cable than actual unit install.

phone-related issues vs the stock JBL unit:
1. The steering wheel controls for handsfree are useless now, they dont do anything.
2. There is no voice recognition for bluetooth phone operations.
3. There is no capability for saving and using instant dial numbers to radio buttons.
4. There is no phonebook, have to dial numbers each time or look them up in call log view.

 

Ditto everything you said there!

 

Spend the money getting your seats reupholstered with leather. I'd stick with the outboard GPS, for these reasons:
1) You're happy with what you have. If you add a new combo gps/radio/Bluetooth/etc, something will inevitably not meet your expectations.
2) Theft. That big giant screen is a glass-breaker magnet. A thief can spot an add-in radio a mile away. As long as you keep your gps stashed when you're parked, you'll be safer.