Starting to think about mod's

The NAV/BT wouldn't be cost-effective to install. Just get a third party system, like Tom Tom. Several have BT as part of the unit.

 

Replacing the stock system with the JBL system from other packages will not be easy/possible. The JBL system has a separate amplifier, which complicates things considerably. Don't even worry about NAV... the easiest way to get factory Nav is to trade your Prius for one that includes it. A few people have gone with an aftermarket headunit, mounted in the slot below the stock headunit. The non-jbl system should be fairly easy to add amps and speakers. There's no RCAs off the headunit, so you'll have to use the speaker lines.

 

Buy a portable GPS unit and mount it on your dashboard. I use my phone's built-in GPS, which is quicker and more reliable than the built in system. Somewhat less convenient, but oh well. The only feature that is nice on the Prius is when you are on the interstate and can see what interchanges are ahead, or just for entertainment value -- how stupid is it compared to my other system? Otherwise, why bother?

There are a number of good BlueTooth car kits that are add-on. Parrot has a range of options (including one with an LCD) that people seem to like. I do like the Prius' built-in BT. Oh, except I can't use the dialpad while driving (ordered my LockPick to correct). Oh, and the voice dial pretty much is crap. The on-screen quick-dial is adequate. But certainly not worth any major cash expenditure over buying a basic $100 BT car kit.

If you have a good BT phone, you might want to look at Parrot: Bluetooth Car Kits: Parrot 3400 LS-GPS Bluetooth Car Kit + GPS Antenna (US): Description -- combines BT car kit with GPS receiver for under $300. Nice!

The "high-end" audio system is hardly that. Thin sound, underpowered, no bass to speak of, etc., etc. Yank it out and put in a system from the audio shop.

All this being said, I love my Prius. I got package 6 because the dealer was "motivated" to sell a left-over 07. But I just don't think the package is worth the money, which is what I have generally observed with similar packages from other carmakers as well. Way too much money, way too little functionality.

 

I'm far from a genius on this topic but I'll give you my reflections on the JBL vs an upgraded base system. My wife's Prius has the JBL package (07 package 7-I think) and I personally like the sound when using the AUX jack. The bass is decent when using this. Some people on this forum have said that the JBL is actually worse than the base system. I would seriously disagree with this, which brings me to the second part of my reflection. My Prius is the base-base-base model 08. The base system is possibly the worst stock system I have heard in any car I've had in the last 10 years (in that time we've probably had 8 different cars-we have a little bit of a problem wanting a different car every year). I recently put in an 8" amplified 150 watt bazooka bass tube which I bought on ebay (used). I tapped into the rear speaker wires and immediately the system sounded a hundred times better. I then bought some Polk tweeters (not sure of the exact model number, but they were a little over $100). I never knew such a small purchase could make such a difference. In comparing the two sound systems now (my wife's vs my own), mine sounds soooooo much better. I wish I had a built in AUX input (the base 08's don't have those anymore), but I can put one in myself. I bought a TOM TOM too. So now my Prius has everything that my wife's top of the line Prius has (except leather), but we paid much less than if we would have bought the upgraded package, and my system sounds better. I can't imagine how much better it would be if I actually replaced the four door speaker. Forget the JBL, spend less money, get better sound, and upgrade it yourself.