Entune is terrible...what are the other options?

Entune system is terrible. I got suckered into spending extra money on a technology package.

I have been calling Toyota every single day on my boring drives (I drive a lot for work) and trying to get them to address my issues only to be told, that's how it is, that's how it's designed, it's not broken, we can't do anything.

The service department at the dealership basically acknowledged they know how bad it is and that there was nothing I can do about it.

The average driver doesn't really notice it because they don't use the system that much. I use it every day all day. You can't mute the GPS system while you are on a phone call (I take a lot of conference calls while I am driving). You can't just navigate to a city. It doesn't recognize half the addresses I put in. I can't push the pound key while in a conference call because it's disabled. The list goes on and on.

I've been looking around for other options. There is a head unit from Pioneer that will fit that will provide much better usage but then you can't access the car's setup feautres. beeps, light dimming times, door unlocking, etc etc with a new head unit along with all the engine diagnostic/information/gas mileage/usage/history/etc.

So I decided, I'm returning the car, after putting 3K miles on it in 4 weeks and have been assigned a case manager to start the "arbitration" process. I have yet to hear from that case manager.

Some people may laugh that I am returning an entire car based on the infotainment system, but my car is my office and I travel. A lot. So it's importing that I am not getting pissed off at my car for not being to do the simplest things that ruin my productivity.

If there are other ideas out there, I am all for it. I would like to keep the car, but I need a solution. A new compatible head unit without losing the features or a way to get Android Auto onto it or even retrofitting a tablet over it or something.

So far, I haven't found any real solutions, just a lot of talk and a lot of others very angry with the Entune system.

I have the 800 number on speed dial, option 1 then 3 for Entune so I call and complain several times a day while en-route and bored. Maybe if enough people called they would take note? I have yet to run into anyone that uses their system with any frequency that actually likes it.

I've been a long time stalker, had a 2007 prius with 250K miles before this and kind of wish I kept it at this point but I already sold it.

Hoping to keep the car...but...need to keep my sanity and productivity as well.

 

Yeah. The Toyota folks, when you call them, insist it is the latest and greatest techology and the best there is.

Then I say, oh really? "OK, tell me how to mute this GPS while I am on the phone with you" and they can't. They spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. I just laugh and say "I have a 3 hour drive, take your time" and they fumble. That's when I say "Don't you think that is a basic feature? Is it outlandish to not want my GPS talking over my conference calls while driving?"

Then I move on with something like "OK, tell me how to navigate to a city" they can't do that either. you have to know a specific address or location. I often travel to a city while others are figuring out a plan on where to meet in that city while I am on my 3 hour drive to get to that city. So I may need to just head to Chicago but you can't do that. You have to know WHERE in Chicago you are heading.

It's just...horrible and somehow they have their customer service thinking its one of the best. Even all the reviews online say it's terrible with the exception of PC Mag which is an obviously paid article (read the comments). Toyota is not listening to it's consumers.

I don't want to use a Garmin. I paid extra money for a technology package.

 

I use Google Maps now. Which is what I used in my old Prius, on my phone. I was trying to get away from using my phone, that was the purpose of my upgrading to the Technology Package, but I spent extra money for no reason as I'm back to using my phone now.

I'll turn the car and get one without the technology package unless they agree to refund the difference, which they haven't so far. So I'm returning it, now a used car which has lost a lot of its value and getting a cheaper version because Toyota is stubborn. I also shelled out extra money for the 8 year warranty extension, which I may not get on the next purchase either.

We'll see what the case manager has to offer.

 

Is there a way to access the car's settings without the head unit?

(I'm planning ahead for new car and putting in better infotainment system in)

I'm going to go with a Prius Two Eco like I had originally wanted but they conviced me to go with the Three with the Technology Package.

Prius 2 Econ gets better mileage plus has a little more cargo room. Being my office, every little bit counts. I didn't realize the cargo room would be LESS than my 2007 Prius in the Three.

On the note of taking it for a test drive. I did do that, for about 4 hours. But you don't REALLY get the feel for everything until you've been driving it around for work for a few days and they wouldn't let me test drive it more than 4 hours.

The car itself is fine. It's awesome. A few small quirks, but livable. But the Entune system just pisses me off constantly and makes for a bad work day and destroys my productivity. I'm not the type to waste my money. So if I pay for something and it doesn't do what I want/need it to do. I take it back. That simple. Why waste the money.

 

Well from what I understand, the capability for Android Auto or CarPlay or Waze. etc etc IS there because everything runs off Entune app on your smartphone, Toyota just chooses to keep them locked out. So with enough complaints, maybe they will bite the bullet and realize it's not worth causing customer frustrations to force people into their vision of a "good" navigation system. Easy fix IMO.

 

I've seen this complaint on a few of these threads. It seems people don't know about Toyota's "Try Before You Buy" program. I rented a 2017 Prius 2 Eco for about $40 per day before settling on the 4 Touring. The dealer didn't have a 4 Touring to Try Before You Buy (a Prius 3 was part of the program, but someone else beat me to it), but at least I was able to test some of the TSS-P features on the 2 Eco before buying my car.[/QUOTE]


Good to know! Is this true with all Toyota models?

 

Is there any other way to access the car settings other than through the head unit? Special brake/gas pump combos, key fob combos, etc etc? I would think there would be a secondary way to access the settings. I'm referring to things like how long the lights stay on after car is off, unlock all doors or just 1, beeping volume, etc etc.