I read the sound system has a hard drive to download MP3s

[ozboy]

Is this true?
If so, I think its a great feature as it eliminates the need for CDs & you could store heaps of music

[TheHorsts]

Nope. Not true.

[hmalo]

In the european Prius, the navigation system is HDD based. This HDD has 10 Gb for music storage, but you can't copy mp3 files that you already have. The system can rip an audio cd to store it in the disk.

[Tamyu]

The OEM HDD navigation systems available for the Japanese Prius offers 11GB of storage. I believe that it also allows you to copy your own MP3s from a CD or SD card (not from an iPod or other mp3 player though.)

[sleeka]

Originally Posted by ozboy

Is this true?
If so, I think its a great feature as it eliminates the need for CDs & you could store heaps of music

Specifications are different in different markets throughout the world.

The Australian cars definetly have the DVD-based navigation and CD sound system...whereas the UK, European and Japanese markets get the HDD-based system.
There are also many other specification differences in equipment and trim levels chosen by the Toyota distributors in each region/country.

[rayhertford]

Originally Posted by ozboy

Is this true?
If so, I think its a great feature as it eliminates the need for CDs & you could store heaps of music

It's kinda true. In the UK you get a single CD drive and a 10GB Hard Disk BUT you can't copy mp3 files to it. You have to RIP CD Audio discs from the head end to the internal drive. No SD or USB connection.

Completely pants and useless. I phoned up Toyota and complained, as the concept is absolute rubbish!!!

[Jason_Chinn]

Originally Posted by rayhertford

It's kinda true. In the UK you get a single CD drive and a 10GB Hard Disk BUT you can't copy mp3 files to it. You have to RIP CD Audio discs from the head end to the internal drive. No SD or USB connection.

Completely pants and useless. I phoned up Toyota and complained, as the concept is absolute rubbish!!!

It's true, I've got one in my new Prius - it arrived yesterday and I've done 250 miles so far (at 51 mpg).
The music system is a bit of a mystery - it rips CDs no problem and the CD and track database seems OK too but how on earth do you get MP3s into it?? Do I really have to burn CDs just to get the MP3s in? I wonder if it will read a CR-RW?? Or is there a way to use Bluetooth from a PC?

[vahrn]

It just rips CDs but doesn't copy track names. Pretty pointless. They could have saved money on a useless feature and spent them on a proper iPod integration or navigation software. The same applies to IPA. Pretty pointless. I can park in half the time it takes me to tell the software where I want to park.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by vahrn

It just rips CDs but doesn't copy track names. Pretty pointless. They could have saved money on a useless feature and spent them on a proper iPod integration or navigation software. The same applies to IPA. Pretty pointless. I can park in half the time it takes me to tell the software where I want to park.

Generally CDs do not contain track names. The track names are added by the ripping software, but as the Prius is not connected to the Internet, this option is not possible.

Tom

[Jason_Chinn]

Well I'm not THAT bothered by the lack of track names but it is a real wasted feature. At least CDRW work so I can shuffle some music off my PC into the Prius. I am very disappointed that the HD in the Prius isn't capable of taking an MP3 input - all it needs is a USB cable input so you can pour in your MP3s.