Troubling Nav discovery

I never understood locking out the nav controls. You can still change the radio station, change the tone controls, change the pages on the screen, watch the mpg read out. What difference is that from the telephone or nav? Honda lets you use the nav fully even while in motion why can't Toyota?

 

The OP's worries are mostly off base. Sure, any nav system can have some out of date data, but the Toyota system is no worse than most. The main issue with the Toyota map data is that updates are more expensive than with some of the third party systems.

Nav lockout when driving is annoying, but not a big issue. You can use voice commands for most everything. For me it's strictly a matter of principle. When I have a navigator in the passenger seat, it would be nice for them to push buttons. I understand Toyota's concern about lawsuits, but in my ideal world people would be responsible and we wouldn't have to worry about that sort of nonsense.

As for Bluetooth, I can't imagine where the OP is getting his information. The Bluetooth phone system works great. Some buttons are locked out when moving, but the system is still fully functional. That said, we all should know better than to use a cell phone while driving. All of the studies have shown that hands-free is as dangerous as fumbling with your phone. The distraction comes from talking on the phone, hands-free or not.

In summary, the nav and Bluetooth systems work very well in the current Prius. They are even better in the 2010.

Tom

 

For 1/10 the cost of the Toyota Nav system you can get a great Garmin GPS that you can use in any vehicle, can use while out sightseeing/walking, riding a bike, etc. You can use the thing whilst driving. Map updates are less too--I actually update my maps every 2 years since they are pretty accurate.

The GPS unit I have (Garmin 660) has bluetooth, plays MP3s and Audible books, says the name of the streets, allows custom POIs (points of interest), has traffic integration...it does everything I could possibly want. Thus I will never purchase an integrated NAV system and certainly not at 10x the cost!

 

The two advantages to the Toyota system are that it's integrated into the car and has a big screen. These are non-neglibible benefits (i.e. always having the navigation available and having a "clean" look), but it wasn't worth the cost for us. Aside from the two benefits mentioned, the Toyota Nav is inferior to even the cheap Garmin/TomTom/whatever navigation units. We have a Garmin 770 that we bought mostly to drive around Ireland last summer, but now use it pretty regularly back in the US (our Prius doesn't have Nav). I've only briefly played around with the Toyota navigation system, but in my experience, the Garmin maps are more up-to-date than the Toyota maps and the user interface is way better.

 

+1

Aside from the 'integrated in the front dash' aspect, I don't really see any other advantage. There are Garmin wide screen units that have wonderful graphics. The UI is one of the best, almost no learning curve, and the maps are accurate, I've found. AND at 1/10 the price of the Toyota system...other than being forced to take the Nav just to get the solar panel (which should tell you just how much PROFIT Toyota makes on that since they are forcing that option to get the other option), at that price/functionality/limitations, I would never consider Toyota's built-in Nav.

 

I have no complaints about the data in the areas I drive around in (mostly SF Bay Area) on my 06. I don't know what site you're looking at but if it's a crappy site like consumeraffairs.com, I wouldn't be surprised.

However, it is possible that some of the above people live in areas w/poor map data. Toyota/Lexus nav systems IIRC get their data from Navteq (as do Garmin and Magellan, for instance) which many/most critics will say has better and more up to date US data than Teleatlas (the other major mapping data provider).

Instead of repeating earlier info, I'll say that HTMLSpinnr's and qbee42's comments are on the mark.

If you're curious, I wroteup a brief comparison of my Nuvi 350 vs. the nav system in my 06 Prius at http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-m...dvd-nav-vs-other-nav-system-2.html#post675023. Personally, now w/the low price of PNDs, if I were in the market for a new car, I most likely wouldn't pay the huge price premium for factory installed nav systems. I'd buy a PND instead. The high price of the nav system on the Prius isn't specific to the car or Toyota.

 

As for maps, I just got the 8.1 version for my Generation 3 nav in my 2002 Prius, and while the improvements are dramatic for Canada, its still no where near as good as my Chrysler Navigation unit. Plus Chryslers update disc costs $238 while the Toyota one cost me $489!!! Chrysler Navigation units are hundreds of miles better (no pun intended!) and the Toyota system is the only nav I know that suggests making a U-Turn, then drive for about 50 feet then make another U-Turn then continue on the same road!!! Toyota may make the best hybrids, but when the Chrysler Caravan ER-EV comes out this fall, I will sell my Prius (and my Neon!!), as that van will make the 2010 or any Prius for that matter mince meat! Plus I will have a superior nav too! HAHAHA!!!

 

I've used my iPhone to navigate, it uses google maps which are pretty current and has a handy satellite view option. And its "free" with my phone. That's another option. The screen is small but its crisp and clear.

 

Although the ability to enter addresses as destinations is locked out while the vehicle is in motion, you can specify any of the 6 destinations you previously stored in the quick-access buttons at the bottom of the screen while moving. Also, my understanding is that the system in the 2010 Prius will allow you to select any of your previously entered destinations from a history list while driving, too. And, supposedly, the voice recognition will work better than in earlier Toyota/Lexus navigation systems, so you can (if it actually works as advertised) verbally input a destination by address.

I agree the Toyota/Lexus systems are poor compared to the after-market ones, although the new hard-disk based ones in the Lexus lineup look promising.

 

And what if you "forget" to put the Garmin in the car- you have the already built in NAV, which has saved my bacon many times. I do not like having other devices sitting around- cell phone, Ipod, and Garmin??? It is so much nicer to be built in. Also if you have the NAV you will eventually get the USB connection (see separate topic).

 

I have a GARMIN even though my 2004 has the built in NAV. The built in NAV is nice because of the tight integration. I also like the fact that is has dead reckoning when I'm driving in tunnels or lower levels of bridges (NYC area). What really scares me is the fact that my little GARMIN can be dangerous in the event of an accident and it can injure someone sitting in the car. Can someone tell me why the built in NAVI units are still so damn expensive????

 

Convenience carries a higher premium.. oh, and plenty of people are willing to pay top dollar for that integrated, big screen, always-there feature.

 

A German institute has simulated a crash from behind at 18mph. The strapped DVD players onto the seat back was unstrapped and flew toward the 2nd row passenger (rear crash). That is with velcro straps. Do you think your portable NAVI setups will be more secured than vecro straps in the event of crash. 18mph is very low speed crash. Think 35mph (how Fed and IIHS test crash vehicles). Objects carry 4X engery at that 2X speed.

Why OE NAVI?
- "secure" integration (looks better also)
- more theft-proof (compared to theft-inviting)
- fast startup time. Any portable units take time to start up. Mine navigon takes about 1 minute
- deduced(dead)-reckoning. Useful when you are in maintain forest area when visible sat. drop below 4. Your portable will go all over the map.

The OE ones are expensive because of supply and demand.
All the posts seem to be one-sided supporting portable units. I have one also.
I just thought that I should provide arguments from the other side.

Personally, aside from the poor cost function settings, I had not many complaints on the Toyota NAVI systems, though I like the Honda/Acura ones better by a large margain. For one, they don't lock users out above 5mph. I don't see Honda/Acura get sued either. Maybe the lower sales recently will make Toyota think twice about the little pet peeves.