Navigation Upgrade....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cairo94507 @ Jul 31 2006, 06:01 PM) [snapback]295427[/snapback]</div>

There is at least one newer version, 5.1. You must be careful, though. There are two versions of 5.1, one for the old MFD (04 and 05 model years) and one for the new higher resolution MFD which comes with the 06 model. These two 5.1 versions are not compatible with each other.

 

Hi there. I'm getting a prius and can't decide between a #5 and #7 (#6 is not available in Chicago). Is the DVD NAV worth it? I've never had navigation in any car I've owned, so I'm not in the habit of using it. Is it worth while?

Cheers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Silverlode @ Aug 7 2006, 09:48 AM) [snapback]299000[/snapback]</div>

Haven't received delivery of my Prius yet but I opted for a package without NAV. I already have a TomTom unit which works quite well & is easy to use.

Check out this thread for pros & cons of the which type of unit people like (aftermarket or built-in) & the differences between them:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=19588&hl=Tom+tom

 

As the owner of a #5 and a #7 (both purchased near Chicago) I'll take a shot at the #5 vs. #7 question.

We have two Prii and one carseat for our 1-year-old. The carseat is in the #7 because it has the navigation system in it. When we go on family trips we take the one with the navigation system. Back when we were in the market for just one Prius, we had decided on the #5 because we decided at the time we didn't need the navigation system, based largely off our experience with the parents' Honda Odyssey nav. Now that we have the car with the nav system, we're happy we have it, and it's the one that goes on the family trips.

One benefit not to overlook is the HID headlights. There is a visible and notable difference between them. Buying the #7 is overkill for the headlights alone, of course.

Current mileages are 3,200 on the #7 and 1,100 on the #5.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Silverlode @ Aug 7 2006, 07:48 AM) [snapback]299000[/snapback]</div>

I have the DVD NAV and this is the first car I've had with any sort of navigation system (other than old maps). My original plan was to get a third-party system and not have a built-in, but that fell through. Now that I've owned one, my next car will have a nav system, whether it's built-in or not is still up in the air.

The package I got in 2005 added other items to make having the built-in worthwhile. Since 2006 has different option packages you have more of a choice.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Aug 14 2006, 05:34 PM) [snapback]303227[/snapback]</div>

I had a similar thought and decided to bite the bullet <the expense> and get the Navigation system and am glad I did. I got my Prius less than 2 weeks ago and like it very much.

I had 1,000 miles on it the first 10 days as I commute ~90 miles each day and have some weekend outings as well. Let's see, at that rate I'll be putting 36K miles on a year, but I'm at 51 MPG vs the 16-17 MPG I had with my Astro van. This would be more...

My suggestion is to get the Navigation system if you can afford it and are wanting it.

 

<_< While the NAV system in our Prius has its peculiarities, I'm happy we have it. It does take awhile to master its use but I find it accurate in use to about 50'. I have it set to "correct" itself when I choose to deviate from its programmed route - usually will correct to my chosen route within about a city block.

The verbal commands are rather strange in many ways. The "NAV LADY's" weird responses were my inspiration for naming our Prius "Ernestine" after Lili Tomlin's telephone operator character from Laugh In years ago. I might say "Go Home" and she would respond something like "Showing Barber Shop Icons" or some other innane response - or, if she was feeling cooperative "Setting Home as Destination." Once you learn how to speak to the NAV LADY, such errors are minimized. The radio is muted when you press the steering wheel button to give a verbal request, but excessive road noise and conversation by your passengers can confuse the verbal system.

Here's a link to the Lexus NAV system online DVD - same system as the Prius. The only difference is the positioning of the dash buttons. This works best if you have high-speed online access.

http://www.lexus.com/models/es/interior.html#dvd

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Silverlode @ Aug 7 2006, 10:48 AM) [snapback]299000[/snapback]</div>

I have it with my '06 and have had navigation systems in my last 4 cars. I would NEVER drive a car without one. I also find that the '06 Prius version is excellent but you have so many features that studying the manual is a must.

 

When I bought my 04 I wanted the keyless entry option and the only way to get it was to get the Nav option. I have no idea if it is still that way or not but for me it was well worth it. I think the keyless option is one of the most time and hassle saving options ever thought up! And while I wasn't that excited about getting the Nav system, now that I have it I wouldn't want to be without it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Silverlode @ Aug 7 2006, 10:48 AM) [snapback]299000[/snapback]</div>

I don't have NAV, either built in or as an add-on. I don't often drive someplace 'new', and just use Mapquest maps for that. For example, the last time I got driving directions from Mapquest was in early June.

The only time I ever used a navigation system was in a Hertz rental car 5 or 6 years ago, and it got me lost in the middle of downtown Baltimore. It didn't give me sufficient warning for turns on the city streets, and on the highway it would tell me to turn left or turn right when there was just a gentle curve in the road and no option to actually do anything but follow the road. I understand that nav systems are much improved now, though.

A lot of people have jobs that require they drive a lot, and I could see where a nav system would come in handy. It just isn't necessary for my lifestyle. So figure out whether you'd actually have a need for it on a more-than-occasional basis, and then figure out whether to go for the built-in one or a portable one (which is cheaper and can be used in other cars).

 

I love the "Nav" when I am "out of area". I have a iQue that I use when I am traveling. I got it before my Prius Nav. Having the Nav Computer when I am away from home is great. It is not the best, local information, but it gets me there and that is all I want!

 

I have a 2005 Prius Package 6 (navigation). Does anyone know if you can upgrade with maps for Hawaii? The new 2010 Prius navigation package has Hawaii in its system.

 

I asked my dealer today about an upgrade for my NAV and he know nothing about it. he said that he will have to get back to me, but not today.

I had an '06, and it still showed the rotary at Cape Cod, but since the removal of the rotary ended in '06 I figured it was okay. Now I have an '09, and it still shows the rotary! I had the Prius in for regular service today, and asked about the NAV system. I told him that I expect a free update since an '09 should not show something that has not existed for 3 years. As I said at the beginning of my post, he knew nothing about updating NAV systems. Hmmmm.

Joyce

 

What is the newest update I can put in my 2005 prius? I live in L.A. and the navigation system is out of date.

 

You need a Gen 4 v9.1 (Sept 2009) or the latest v10.x (Sept 2010) if you can find it. Google "Craigslist, Toyota Nav disk" or "Craigslist, Lexus Nav disk" and you'll probably find something you can order by mail.