Audiophiles do not listen to music in cars nor do they use speakers in their house. Audiophiles only listen to music with professional headphones. Anyone who listens to music in any other way is not an Audiophile.
Re: my 2 cents worth I think Toyota is getting kickbacks (I'm not using that term lightly) for every Nav system they sell.
Not to derail the topic any further, but some audiophiles I've met DO have very high quality speakers in acoustically treated rooms when headphones just aren't appropriate. Headphones aren't only impractical while driving, they're illegal in many jurisdictions for the driver to wear them. I'd imply more along the lines that the profit margin on the system is pretty high. Same goes for NAV DVD updates (which have a pretty high dealer margin built-in as well).
Re: my 2 cents worth I would suggest that you NEVER use a Garmin system that isn't built into a car then because you will not want to go back. As for bluetooth, we (at least I) VERY much want the fully functional bluetooth but have zero interest in built in Nav systems. Have you EVER needed to change the route you were going to take because you get a (hands free) call? Have you ever had a passenger in your car that is fully capable of change said route but nobody is able to because you are in a moving vehicle and the built in Nav system won't let you? Apparently not. Count your extremely lucky. By the way. There are many features on non built in GPS systems that built in ones do not have.
I love my built in nav, I don't use it much but when I do it gets me there in one piece... I do wish you could customize the prius, I do not like leather and I wish I could get a car with every option including the sunroof except leather
Re: my 2 cents worth I could not agree more. I travel a lot for work and always bring my Garmin with me. I compare it to factory Nav systems all the time. The Garmin unit takes the correct routes, most of the factory units take to all over the place. My Garmin gets traffic feeds and other information from it’s built in FM receiver. While I am driving traffic warning pop up telling me there is a slow down ahead or traffic is at a complete stop ahead and I make the decision to re route or not. Another great feature is gas prices. It shows all the gas pricing around my current location. You can manually enter a gas station name and it will show all BP’s for example. I always enter Sam’s club because they have the lowest gas price and base who I pick the price Sam’s Club is offering. One last feature I use a lot of Microsoft Maps AKA LiVe, AKA Bing maps. I can find my destination using my laptop or desktop then send it to my GPS over the air. When I get in the car I just select what I sent the GPS. All these great features come in a Garmin unit I paid $250 for. Why would anyone pay $1800 for a factory Nav system? Outside of being forced to buy one to get a solar sunroof.
I figured that if they can over exaggerate then I could too. I agree with you. Over pricing things is the same as getting a kickback when you force people to buy something they have absolutely no interest in. By forcing I mean, in order to buy what you want, you have to pay $1800 or more for something you don't.
Re: my 2 cents worth I have as much use for Microsoft as I do built in Nav systems. But I agree with everything else.
That's exactly why I have made my last Toyota/Lexus purchase. I would have spent a lot more on this one as well if they didn't try so hard to upsell me things I didn't want.
I would like a IV with JBL-stereo and back-up camera. I'm sure Toyota won't do that since it would require the big screen as does the NAV. Of course, I'm still waiting on the IV with NAV, so I guess it is academic. Rich N.