Navigation System

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Inches @ Jun 25 2007, 06:29 PM) [snapback]467849[/snapback]</div>

Toyota does not upgrade the DVD very often. If you live in a recent development you may not be on their DVD for years. I understand Alaska is missing as well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Inches @ Jun 25 2007, 03:29 PM) [snapback]467849[/snapback]</div>

Yes, the way they package their options is aggravating. Having an excellent Garmin nav system it is unlikely I would use the one in the Prius. But it appears I have to buy one to get the leather upholstery my wife wants .. so I may just go with #2 (HG); apparently #3 and #4 are not available here in California.

Bummer.

Phil

 

Another disappointing thing about the Prius NAV is that it won't tell you the upcoming cross streets, like most cheaper handheld gps units do.

 

I have a problem sometimes that if I start to enter by street number, street then city it will not take it. If I reverse the procedure and start with city, street then number it will take it. Figure that out.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Jun 26 2007, 02:28 AM) [snapback]468142[/snapback]</div>

:angry: On June 11th I started this thread, mainly complaining about the Toyota NAV and, as you call it, lack of identifying "cross-streets and side-streets":
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=34551&hl=NAV
(Read 'em all, but especially POST #19)

Most people answering my initial post either didn't understand my point or just made fun of me :angry: because THEY didn't think there was anything wrong with the Toyota NAV. I made the mistake of being "honest" and explaining that the '03 Acura MDX NAVI I had on the trade-in that I used for 4 years was far superior. Many replies were asking why I didn't post to an Acura forum and crap like that, so I just gave up bitchin' about the crappy DVD NAV PROGRAMMING in the "street intersection NAMES" with the '07 Toyota NAV.

I'm saving up my money to purchase a decent, reliable GPS/NAV like a Garmin 660, but they are so darn expen$ive right now and the screens are not as large as my tired old eyes can easily see without my reading glasses....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ Jun 26 2007, 08:39 AM) [snapback]468191[/snapback]</div>

I have both the Prius (Toyota GPS) and the Garmin Nuvi 660. I had the Nuvi before we purchased the Prius. The Nuvi is a great unit and I use it in my truck and motor home. The other feature is that you can carry it in your shirt pocket. The Nuvi has some features that I wish the Toyota unit had and the Toyota unit has some features that I wish the Nuvi had. Search the internet as the price of the Nuvi 660 has dropped quite a bit since I purchased mine.

Give the Toyota unit some time, you will get used to it. I never use the Nuvi in the Prius. It took some getting used to the differences in the units and I am very satisfied with the Toyota unit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom 6850 @ Jun 26 2007, 04:13 AM) [snapback]468170[/snapback]</div>

What works for me is to always enter the city first. The nav will then only accept inputs of street names it recognizes in that city. As you type in a street name the number of possible streets is displayed; when the number is down to 5 or 6 press list (rather than continuing to type-in long names) to select from the possibilities. Then enter the street #. Using this approach you can usually recognize and correct conflicts in your data and the nav system. e.g. should the street have a N,S,E or W; is the # in the accepted range, etc.

There is no question that the nav system could be improved, however, it does a great job for me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Jun 26 2007, 02:28 AM) [snapback]468142[/snapback]</div>

Although the OEM factory Toyota Prius NAV does a somewhat decent job of navigating from "point A-to-Point B" my Wife and I primarily like to use our Navigation system as a "moving MAP" as we are driving. The following, although NOT actual pictures of the Toyota NAV screeen, are very close to what we would actually see on the MFD at ANY zoom level for a "map" function when looking at the streets in our community here in Florida (which is well over 20 years old) with our Toyota Prius NAV:
[attachmentid=9246]
.... actually this picture above has many MORE street names then what we would actually "see" with the Toyota NAV.... the Toyota NAV has just blank lines at ANY zoom level !! (Unless you "touch" on the unknown street on the MFD)

Now below is what any decent NAV, whether an OEM in-dash like Acura, or a hand-held like Garmin, TomTom, etc. show at the same zoom levels as the Toyota NAV, as far as street names....
[attachmentid=9245]

 

I hate, hate, hate the NAV system, as I've posted many times in Priuschat. The most current version of how it sucketh is in my Epinions review.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Jul 10 2007, 03:41 PM) [snapback]476361[/snapback]</div>

It is a less than desiralble system when you compare it to other portable units. If a person has no experience with gps then I am sure it is GREAT but NOT GREAT if you have used others. It has worked ok.
It still stops knowing where I am even when I am in a population area of many thousands. It still can not direct me to my house.
It is a big display compared to portables. But unfortunately it is still frustrating to use unless you happen to be sitting still!

But it has directed me acurately in the middle of no where Ohio. Go figure!

This Nav which is 2006 has a long way to go but is ok unless you consider it cost $2000.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clifford @ Aug 17 2007, 11:17 PM) [snapback]498156[/snapback]</div>

I recently sent a long letter to Denso America (the Nav system's OEM), cc'd to Toyota. Seven pages with inline photos, comparing the Nav system to my (old) Garmin. It's a shame how short the Toyota's system falls in comparison.

 

I have Package 6 now for about a week, and I'm trying to get used to the navigation system... Some of the places are not accurate!!!

We tried to go to Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken place (used Points of Interest) at Knott's Berry Farm, and the address for the place is in Irvine, not in Buena Park!!!

How often is the nav system updated, if ever???





<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Aug 18 2007, 04:08 PM) [snapback]498424[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JunsGrayPria @ Aug 18 2007, 06:42 PM) [snapback]498453[/snapback]</div>

Yearly... approximately. I finagled the version 6.1 upgrade (I had 5.1 on my '06 Prius), and I haven't noticed any further accuracy. My biggest beef is simply how *bad* the implementation is, both in UI and features.

BTW, the update is ridiculously expensive: $ 270.00, I think (that might even be a discounted price). If you complain to Toyota customer service (not the dealer), they might forward your case on locally, and if you're lucky you might get the next update for free.