Do You Regret Not Taking a Higher Option Pack?

We got a base model, and are quite happy!
My cell phone is not a Bluetooth model, so that would be worthless to me.
I've never used Nav, so I don't miss it.
I won't have the chemically preserved skins of dead things on my seats, so cloth seats are fine.
I HATE being blinded by HID lights, so I won't inflict them on others.
I was taught how to back up using my mirrors correctly, and can parallel park just fine, so the backup camera was something that we thought would be too liable to become a liability.
Now, the Smart Key system... that is something that I wish the base model came with!
Oh well... can't have everything, because where would you put it?

 

Back in 2005 there weren't as many options (only 6 packages). I had planned to get one without NAV or Bluetooth (#5), but that wasn't offered in So Cal, nor was it available nearby. I could get a #1 (basic), #3 (middle) or #6 (NAV, Bluetooth and other extras). I decided to "bite the bullet" and got the #6. I've been happy with what I got.

 

We got package #2 on our 2007 model. It is all we need.

 

I have the base package, and no regrets yet. It still has all the options of every car I've ever owned, except my convertible (which had a convertible).

I have my own TomTom for the Navigation. I wouldn't mind having the MP3 jack (I use an FM Tranceiver) but it sure wouldn't have been worth the extra money to me. As for the backup camera, I don't feel the rear visibility is any worse than the Ford Focus wagon I had previously. That's something else I wouldn't -mind- having, but I don't feel worse off for not getting it.

No regrets.

 

We got a package 3 mainly for the bluetooth and 6 disc mp3 player. However, in hindsight, the bluetooth comes pre-packaged in alot of the portable GPS units (which would have been fine with me) and the stereo is nothing to write home about. It's ok, but i'm used to having aftermarket products.

I will say that the homelink mirror is nice and out of all the options, I think having a "info" button on the steering wheel controls has been the greatest benefit as I like to flip back and forth on the screens quite often. Not having to reach up and touch the MFD has been pretty nifty. I noticed my sisters PKG 2 didn't have that button on the wheel.

Overall we love all the cool technology in the car...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jul 12 2007, 06:38 PM) [snapback]477771[/snapback]</div>

I have the Canadian C package, which is as loaded as it gets... except we canucks can't get factory HID or leather. Although I wouldn't have minded the HID's, I don't care much for leather.

However, I agree with Pinto Girl's view entirely, especially the part regarding theft, as this is not something usually considered! I realize the aftermarket stuff is "better", but factory stuff is cleaner and never gets stolen, and does a generally good job (IMHO, YMMV). On the topic of theft, as the previous owner of an Acura Integra - like the #1 stolen car for the last 15 years, with 2 failed theft attempts against my own personal car - this is a huge relief for me! I can honestly say my $250 alarm truly did save that car, as I was within earshot to come and scare the thiefs away!

Anyway considering I lucked out on a demo car (almost washing out cost of the Nav+Camera package C) and that I also keep my cars for a long, the added cost up front is not a big deal for me. I'd rather enjoy the stuff than kick myself later for not taking it! I am a gadget geek, after all... B)

So bottom line... I don't regret not getting a higher package, because there was none!

 

I told the salesman that I was only interested in a package 5 or 6. He checked and found that he had only one car coming in the forseeable future and it was a 6. So I took it.

I have to say that some of my favorite things about the car are the extras.

I love the smart key system. The door unlocking as I reach for it is worth the price of admission.

I always hated the yellow look of regular lights. Glad to have these.

I like the backup camera. I like it even more since it prevented me from running over a kid. NOT my fault, she was crouching down..could not see her in the mirror.

I have not yet had much use for the NAV system, but it has a high "toy factor". I especially like the upcoming exits with icons for what you can find there. Also, the details of whatever business you are looking up gives the phone number which brings me to..

I really really like the bluetooth phone connection. My wife calls me on my long commute home and it just cuts out the music and rings. The sound quality on both ends is flawless. The connection is very quick. The range is a little too much. I was following my wife home in her car while she drove the Prius, and whenever I got within a half block or so, my phone would connect to the Prius. Before realizing this, I tried to call her and ended up setting off a echo reverb situation in the Prius.

Leather seats are a must on any car for me. I am all for PETA and whatnot, but if I have to club the cow myself to get leather seats, I will.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jeffgb @ Jul 18 2007, 02:20 PM) [snapback]481213[/snapback]</div>

LOL. :lol:

I was close to buying a base model car, but my GF told me that I should get leather seats because she didn't think the cloth ones would stand up to our two dogs. I was considering cloth seats and seat covers, but didn't think that was a great idea with the side air bags.

So I bought the Package 6 (leather, nav, etc.)

So far, my favorite feature is the SKS, I have to think about using the key with the other vehicles.

I like the backup camera, especially when parallel parking or backing into a space which I do at work.

I think the JBL system sounds ok, about the same as the system in my GF's 2001 Avalon.

I like the HID headlights, but I'm not sure I will like the bulb replacement cost when that comes along. The HID headlights are self adjusting, BTW, so I don't think they are as likely to blind others as the goofballs who add the aftermarket blue lights to their 82 Honda Civic.

Don't use the Bluetooth, Homelink.

Sometimes use the Nav, but I think the Nav lady is passive-aggressive and I hate having to push the button on the "I agree" screen.

The only thing my car doesn't have that I would want is height adjustable seats. They offer it in Europe and Australia, but not in North America.

 

It like a lot of things, if you never had some of the options in package 6, you won't miss them or think you would not like them. However once you have them you find out how really handy they are. I miss some of the options that our Avalon had which you can't get on the Prius, auto door locks, auto headlights to name a couple. We have package 6 and like all the extras. Because of our dog Willie we perfered package 5, no leather, but the deal was too good to pass up so we installed exactseatcovers to protect the leather.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ Jul 12 2007, 05:11 PM) [snapback]477720[/snapback]</div>

The '07 Prius factory NAV is a piece of JUNK !! :angry:

We purchased an '07 Touring with PACKAGE 5 (gray cloth) and regret buying the crappy Toyota NAV. Unfortunately we didn't "play around" with the Toyota NAV in the Prius we test drove and expected an '07 NAV in a brand new "state-of-the-art" technology Prius to be even "better" than the 2003 Acura NAVI we had for the past four years and have gotten used to, only to find out the many, many shortcommings of the Toyota NAV when used in MAP display mode. It really sucks, and I bet the majority of people reading this that have had a much better OEM NAVI will totally agree as well as readers that own a Garmin or Megellan unit. Without a doubt we made a big mistake NOT buying Package 4 and getting an "add-on" GPS as so many other smart buyers did !! :angry:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tenor1 @ Jul 18 2007, 06:53 PM) [snapback]481267[/snapback]</div>

That sure was a trustworthy car - I racked up 301K KM (~188K miles) in less than 10 years and she was still running strong, but almost stranded me once at the end with a strange electrical issue, so with my long commute I decided it was time to let her go and finally get my Prius, before she does leave me stranded somewhere (for the first time).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ Jul 19 2007, 07:45 AM) [snapback]481491[/snapback]</div>

Care to actually substantiate your claims of "junk" or "many shortcommings" (sic) with any actual details?

Hopefully I'm not opening a pandora's box here...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Jul 19 2007, 11:48 AM) [snapback]481594[/snapback]</div>

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=34551&hl=NAV
Read ALL posts here, especially #17 !!

The Toyota NAV does NOT, repeat does NOT show a great percentage of "side street names" no matter what level of zoom, and most of the time if it does, it is NOT at the INTERSECTION of the street you are currently on. As a moving map the Toyota NAV is totally useless except for MAJOR roads and highways. The name of the side streets it does show are intermittant and most of the time off the MFD screen, to the right or left. I live in a 20+ year old, established Community in Plant City called Walden Lake. You can see every street and even dead end small roads in this community on MapQuest, Google Maps and EVERY street on Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 when using the SiRF III GPS device and our notebook (laptop) computer in my lap while being the passenger in our Prius.... when you look at the exact same streets (at the same time we are staring at our mobile computer and seeing all the street names) then you look on the Toyota NAV, no matter what zoom level, it shows nothing but blank (no name) lines :angry: !!

As close as I can re-create what I mean, the Toyota NAV screen displays a picture much like this at any zoom level:
[attachmentid=9930]

.... while any other decent NAVI, either OEM (like Honda/Acura) or a portable like a Garmin or Magellan would display something such as this:
[attachmentid=9932]

 

We elected for Package 4 on our 2007. It had everything except Leather and the NAV.

Didn't want the leather, but I was on the fence with the NAV. We have a TomTom and a Garmin GPS, and I really couldn't see spending the additional $$$ for the package 5. A co-worker had the NAV, and I wasn't really impressed with the resolution of it. I was expecting a stronger resolution for the money, but it looked like it was something from the old school in "VGA" graphics. Perhaps it's because I'm used to the smaller screens of the TomTom and Garmin, but I don't miss the Toyota NAV.

I was hoping for more from the JBL system (Stronger bass response) but it's not bad. I am still getting used to the self adjusting mirror, but I feel that it waits too long to kick in when the sun first starts to go down and I get bright lights behind me.

We had the dealer add the xm module, but I have to admit, where they placed the antenna (on the right side of the dash by the windshield) it drops out alot more than in any of the cars that I have placed them in.

Overall, I like the Prius, and hope to have many more years of troublefree driving with it.

Deliman31

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deliman31 @ Jul 19 2007, 05:14 PM) [snapback]481823[/snapback]</div>

If my Wife and I had it all to do over again, we would have bought an '07 (still Touring) Prius with a PACKAGE 4 (instead of Package 5) and then purchase a Garmin nuvi 660 or the "monster 7 inch screen" Garmin 7500.
Lesson learned the very hard way.... ALL NAV's are not equal !! A 2003 Acura/Honda NAVI runs circles around the crap '07 Toyota DVD based NAV.
I wonder if for 2008, Toyota Prius will have the Hard Drive NAV as many current Toyota's now have ??

(or at very least a driver's seat height adjustment??)

 

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tenor1 @ Jul 18 2007, 05:53 PM) [snapback]481267[/snapback]</div>

My 2006 Prius was replacing trusty 1992 Corolla. It had around 450,000 miles with original engine / trans. and still run well when we sold it for $500 last year.

I got the option that had everything. It was kind of pricy and I still have not utilized all of the features. In particular, NAV was difficult to use. Dealer had to replace the driver side leather. It was damaged due to normal usage. Fog lights look good (from outside) but does not do anything.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ Jul 19 2007, 12:41 PM) [snapback]481631[/snapback]</div>

Ahhh... I figured there was a story behind that comment. I see that thread happened around mid-June, and I was... shall we say... occupied with other non-Prius things in my life at that time (see my sig).

Not that I want to revive that topic or further hijack this thread, but my opinion regarding the quality of Toyota NAV is that it is good, though it does have it's shortcomings, as does anything. FloridaWen's opinion about not showing all the side streets is a valid one and I agree that perhaps there should be a "high detail" option to show all streetnames, though I suspect this was not offered to preserve the uncluttered look to the map.

As was pointed out in the other thread, if you need to know the name of a street, just pressing on it will tell you the name. Also, if you are in an unfamiliar area, simply set the destination and 'Jill' will warn you when your turn is approaching. If you know the area as well as you do and you are looking for a specific street (i.e. aside from the one that she is navigating you toward), then do you really need the Nav to show you the street names...? Is this really that common of an inconvenience?

My point is that I don't personally see this shortcoming to be a major one, though everyone is entitled to their opinion...

PS - I scored a genuine 6.1 Gen 5 update DVD off eBay last night for $100. Sweet! B)

 

We purchased a package #3. Haven't regretted it. Sure it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but we've learned to flip the rear view mirror to night position (by hand), manually adjusted seats aren't killing us and the cloth seats of the 06 model are quiet comfortable. The things we really like are the back up camera, the smart key and MP3/single disk/Audio Acc.plug stereo system. Standard wheels and tires are fine with us and be think our Prius gives a lot of bang for the buck in the package #3. We didn't consider getting a base model.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nda3rdCar @ Jul 21 2007, 08:18 AM) [snapback]482762[/snapback]</div>

I think i got package 3 since mine had back up camera and non nav/ good speakers (even tho i think the base speakers sound fine--not great--fine) The cloth seats are comfortable, but i have a question for the higher modeled people, Is the headrest actually moderately soft on your models? Because the one in pkge 3 feels like cardboard.

AND WHO REALLY WANTS LEATHER!?!?!?!? DISGUSTING!! EW!