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New Prius Owner with GPS Issues

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by ncbeachbums52507, Mar 21, 2008.

  1. ncbeachbums52507

    ncbeachbums52507 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2008
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    Location:
    Hampstead, NC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Hi fellow Prius owners: I purchased a 2007 Prius touring package 6 with a GPS Nav system. As a Realtor this is an important tool for me and one of the main reasons I purchased this car. I live ten minutes from Wilmington, NC a town of 100,000 residents (I state this so viewers will not think I live in an unpopulated area). For some reason the communities where I live and work do not show up on the GPS map system. My neighborhood is four years old with paved roads and the entire neighborhood does not show up on the map. I am using the correct map search section US10. and I have the most updated dvd available (7.1). I have to say, I am totally disappointed with this gps system. :mad: If I had known this was an issue in advance I would have purchased a cheaper package and mounted a hand held unit on the dash. The dealership has no favorable answers except to say I can buy an update in October. If my neighborhood has not shown up for four years, why would it appear in the next update. Does anyone have any suggestions?:confused:
     
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
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    What suggestion could we possibly have? If the data isn't there, there isn't anything you can do about it, other than complain loudly to Toyota. It's not much, but you might be able to talk them into a free update when it comes out. It's worth doing if you can get them to agree, because the Toyota NAV updates are very expensive by industry standards.

    Tom
     
  3. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    If I am not mistaken, Toyota NAVI employs NAVTEQ's map.
    You can report problems with the NAVTEQ map here.
    NAVTEQ Map Reporterâ„¢

    Hopefully, you get to see Wilmington, NC show up in the map of next release.
     
  4. HardCase

    HardCase SilverPineMica, the green one

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    Location:
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    2008 Prius
    I note that you have only posted twice and are quite new to this forum. Did you do any lurking here and reading of the posts prior to your purchase? I had decided before doing so that I was not interested in the built-in nav system, not because of any shortcomings so much as because of what I considered to be the excessive cost of the higher option packages. However, I did then come on-board here and spent some time reading about this and that before I bought my Prius and noted some disgruntlement, along the lines you describe, with the Toyota nav system.

    Try what the others posters have suggested and good luck. And enjoy the vehicle, don't let this detract too much from the generally positive aspects of Prius ownership. :)
     
  5. rochesteruser

    rochesteruser Cruzin' in Rochester MN

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    Feb 16, 2008
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    Location:
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    2008 Prius
    You may need to update the NAV CD-ROM in the system. Also, newer areas often take several years to show up on the CD's. I have lived in a new neighborhood for over 10 years [2 different moves in 10 years] and Mapquest still doesn't show the streets I lived on in their DB. If it doesn't show up their, then its a good chance that the GPS CD won't have it either.
     
  6. ncbeachbums52507

    ncbeachbums52507 New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Thanks for the reply Hardcase, I had studied the Pruis for over a year. However, I did not know of this forum until yesterday and I find it to be very helpful. I did not study the GPS system in depth as I now know I should have. I will follow up on the suggestions I have received and yes, the other benefits of the Pruis far out weigh my disappointment with the GPS system. Have a great day and I look forward to being part of the Pruis community.:)
     
  7. ncbeachbums52507

    ncbeachbums52507 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2008
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    rochesteruser, I have the 7.1 Nav DVD and I understand that is the most up to date map with the Prius. Part of my frustration is that my neighborhood does show up on mapquest, yahoo, tom tom and every other map system that I have come across. That is one reason I did not anticipate a problem with tha mapping system of the Prius.
     
  8. ncbeachbums52507

    ncbeachbums52507 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2008
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    Location:
    Hampstead, NC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    ceric, Thanks for your suggestion. I did go to the website you suggested and was able to send them a description of my problem. They sent me a tracking number. I will keep the forum up to date on my progress. Meanwhile if anyone else has a suggestion please send it to me.
     
  9. longbow

    longbow Recovering SUV Owner

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2008
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    Location:
    Bayfield County, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Welcome to the overhyped world of GPS. I also rely on a GPS and I have not only the one in my '08 Package #6 Prius, I have a $3000 Alpine unit in another vehicle.

    The problem is everyone uses the same NavTeq data and they update large cities (Read that NY or LA much faster than other areas. I drive through Eau Claire Wisconsin regularly. US 53 has been updated and rerouted for 6 years going straight through a major city (around 65,000) Even te 2007 updates do not acknowledge a 6 year old update to an interstate. You will end up getting to know the area in more detail than you had originally intended. FWIW, this is a challenge with ANY GPS you would use. So keep buying each update and eventually they will find your changes.

    It is also possible this years Prius map update happened earlier than another model that does have the data. They all buy from the same source.