Is Navigation system worth it

You will find a wide variety of opinions on this.

The camps are generally divided into those who think they can do an after-market cheaper, and those who like an integrated system. I'm with the integrated solution camp. The cost of the NAV system is high, but beware of those who say it is several thousand dollars, because they are low-balling everything else you get with any given package.

Whichever way you go, a NAV system lets you always know how to get there and all about your surroundings after you get there. Someone calls me on my cell and wants to meet me somewhere, and I'm there by the most fuel-efficient route, not just the roads I'm familiar with. They don't have to give me directions. Go to a strange city, and I can find the closest ATM or other point of interest just by speaking a command. On a highway trip I can look at the next city on the map, touch a hotel icon, touch the 'info' button for that hotel, and then press the call button to make reservations. Want to find your way back? No sweat, just 'mark' your location. In a strange city and want to eat Italian? Just tell the computer, it'll point the way.

I agree, as with all options, you have to decide for yourself. If you have an active life, a NAV system is pretty darn cool...

 

Rocky,
At this point in the development of GPS systems with moving maps, I wouldn't think of ordering a car without GPS. They are extremely helpful in getting you to unfamiliar destinations, whether this is five miles from your home, or 500 miles.
My experience is with the Hertz NeverLost system, which lets you type in your destination address, calculates a route, advises you with voice notices of every upcoming turn, and gets you back on a route to your destination when you make a wrong turn.
Even around your home town, this is very helpful especially after dark, when it is very difficult to read street signs. When out of your home town, you can forget about needing paper maps. The system will get you to any street address, or will help you find destinations such as hotels by name.

 

We have an after market GPS in our Nissan, and when I picked up my Prius last week, I made sure to get it with the package 6 (GPS +). Although the voice activation of the GPS is not what I would consider strong (I wish you could train the thing) the GPS itself is a good one and we have been very satisfied with it. If you haven't had a GPS in your car before, once you have it you will want it always.

We drove from Texas to Las Vegas without any problems and it is great to quickly find that address you are looking for. To never have to open a map or stop for directions... boy, this is a great age we live in.

I would highly recommend the integrated GPS.

 

The nav system is the one gee whiz cool option I could, in hindsight, very well do without. It is not intuitive to use, but more importantly, I do not need it in my driving, which is 98% commuting.

My advice: save your money.

 

If you never leave home don't, but if you leave home do not leave home with out it! It is invaluable. There were a few treads about Katrina and Rita and the people with the Nav made good use of the system. When I am out of areal I use it to get me around. It may not get you the best route based on local knowledge but it will get you there!

 

I'm glad I have it. I bought it because it is bundled with Bluetooth and I believe it to be a matter of time until handhelds are illegal in most areas. Now that I have Nav and have used it to find addresses in strange areas, once at night, I love it too.

 

Rocky, I'm not a current Prius owner, so I've never used the Prius NAV, but I do own a portable GPS and am on the list for delivery of an '06 Prius in January. I've asked myself the same question, do I want the NAV option, and the answer is No.

90% I know where I'm going and have no need for one. When I could benefit from a GPS, I use my $350 Garmin Quest, and love it. The Quest sits on the dash in a bean bag mount and gives very clear audible and visual instructions -- just like a dedicated system that I'm familiar with in a Lexus. The screen is smaller, and it doesn't accept voice instructions, but that's the main difference, and for me is not an issue. My Quest is just as accurate as a dedicated system, and actually has a couple of advantages over the one you would get in a Prius. I can take it in the house and sit at my desk and program a complicated route without having to sit in the car while I do it. I can loan it to the wife, and I can use it in a second car, boat, or motorcycle. I can even take it hiking, and if I go on a trip, take it with me and use it in a rental. It will even go to Europe -- although the European maps are a bit pricey. (-8

The Prius has a dash that's ideal for my mount, a good power source, and I've checked the windshield in an '05, and it doesn't block signals -- which can be a problem in a small percentage of cars. So, why spend the exra money?

BTW -- I'm not trying to do a sales job for the Garmin Quest. There are many good systems -- a lot of them better than mine, and almost all under $1,000.

Jeff

 

Hi Rocky. There was a similar thread a few weeks ago if you want even more opinion.

I got the nav as part of the BC #6 package on my '05 Silver Cloud. I was part of the package I wanted, I thought it would be cool, but I didn't think I'd use it much since I've lived in this area for 20 years and know the way to most places I go.

I was wrong. I love it! Once, in downtown Portland, it even found a freeway on-ramp I didn't know about, getting me out of town faster. And for places you don't know, like the next town or city nearby, it's great to know exactly where you are going.

The trouble, as I see it, with portable systems like Jeff's, is that they aren't always there and integrated. The wife borrowed it or you left it on the boat...

And the integration between Points Of Interest (stupid name) with the map and Bluetooth can't be beat! Say, "Italian" and the Italian restaurants show on the screen. Touch an icon on the screen and you can be guided right to it, or press the Info button to find the address and phone number. Press the phone icon to call and see if you need reservations.

I recommend getting the integrated nav unless it will break the bank.

 

The above posters mentioned some good features, like the Bluetooth connectivity and the voice commands. I haven't used these features... yet. I need a new phone, which is on my Christmas list. And I haven't had (made?) the time to explore the voice features for everything non-nav.

I can give you this bit of advice. If the above features don't sell you on the nav option, then you need to know whether the mapping software is accurate for your area. In my area it is not. I've compared it with MapQuest, Delorme Street Atlas (computer program), and at least three different store-bought paper maps. They are all out-dated for this part of 'Bama, which means whoever is supposed to update this stuff in whatever national database exists just isn't doing their job.

If you're in a large metro area, you're probably good to go. If you're not sure about its accuracies, then spend a few bucks on paper maps and see how many roads are wrong. Chances are the nav software is the same.

 

Most people going for a navigation system (in any car), will order one the next time they buy a a new car too.

And remember - Navi will most likely give you a better resale value down the road too, as more and more people are looking to get this technology.

Go Fo It!

 

Hi Rocky - like you I do not have the nav system on my list. My name is on the waiting list for a '06 with package 5; but I cannot afford to go over my budget and I believe any of the higher level packages would do that.

The question I'm not hearing in this topic discussion is what if you need a car without the nav system? Did others resort to buying a car with the system just to get a Prius in their lifetime?

 

I really wanted the NAV because I drive to many new areas all the time and am perpetually lost. Unfortunately, the first Prius software was sorely lacking, but the current is better. It still does not have whole sections of areas I travel (central Florida). Last week a whole neighborhood with major roads that have been there for 20 years was unavailable.

However, because we travel by plane and rent cars for business, we have always liked NAVs in rental cars. We finally bought a reasonable Garmin and have used it extensively this summer, even in rural areas. It is much more intuitive and easier to use than the Prius NAV, is portable, has a cute pad that keeps it on the dash, and is programmable during driving by the passenger. You will find it most annoying when you need to say--get off a highway because of a delay to get to the airport--and find yourself locked out of the Prius because you are driving when a passenger could do the work.

If I had to do it again, I'd save a few thousand and get a really nice portable Nav that you can use in other cars as well and take with you if you ever sell.

 

On these kinds of things, I ask myself "How often will I actually "NEED" this?"

I have a cell phone and maps in the car and I usually print out directions when travelling to unfamiliar destinations.

The number of times I actually even need to call my destination because I missed a turn or something is very small and I've rarely failed to get where I'm going.

So, for me, the analysis indicates that it would only be "needed" in very rare circumstances.
That would bring the per "needed" use of the device into the hundreds of dollars each episode.
Not cost effective for me.

It is a hella kewl feature but I'd have to consider it an expensive luxury.

 

NAV is tremendously useful. I have it my 02 Prius (now for sale in the private sale forum) and will get it in the 06 Prius I now have on order. I know, it may seem like a waste when you first consider it. But NAV -- despite a few mapping errors in the edition I have -- has been a great aid to driving. It's worth spending the time to learn the system well. I don't think you will regret the purchase and, of course, it enhances the resale value of the car.

When I bought my 02 (in April of 02), only about of 20% of Prii were shipped with NAV. Today. I believe that figures is about 80%. So that the obvious reason why it's harder to find the car without it.

Bob - Los Angeles

 

I ordered our '06 Prius with the nav system. I've got the equivalent of the "neverlost system" in our other car. For me it's awesome as I'm the kind of guy that can't find his way out of a paper bag.

 

I was going to buy a 01 when the "Maybe" options on the 02 came out.. I waited.. I wanted that NAV.. Well when the 04 option to buy on the internet again was sent to me from toyota, I jumped. Yea, had to have NAV too... but, was that 04 version bad (for me in the areas I drive). They went back to NAVaTech (or what ever is is called today) and it is much better

I also like the maint reminders that comes along with the NAV software.. the hands free Bluetooth for the phone is also a big plus...

Well if so many prius have nav now is the price a kings ramson? I would like to see what that 5.1 would do in my 04... how much improved it is over my 4.x I got for free.

Later and a happy t-day for all

 

My original plan was to get a #5 package and get an after-market NAV system. When that fell through I ended up with a #6. I'm happy with it, and have made good use of it. I'm embarrased to say that although I've lived in San Diego all my life, the NAV system found a shorter way home from my commute.

The decision is up to you, for the max geek factor it's worth it. Plus it's integrated with the system, which is nice. If money is a factor then you'd save money without it and getting an after-market. As for resell value, I can't help you as I generally drive a car into the ground.

 

I personally would never buy a car without this feature. I have a portable one for when I travel. It's nice, but not as nice as when it is integrated. Integration allows for dead reckoning which is nice when you're driving amongst tall buildings or on the lower level of a bridge (even tunnels). I use it every day because sometimes I try to avoid traffic. DO NOT AVOID this option. This is the type of car that when people buy them used, they expect to find all the goodies.