Navigation Aggravation

GreenP · 05-05-2006, 06:22 PM

I love my new Prius, but the navigation system has many areas that are poor. I have a portable Magellan Roadmate that is superior to the Prius Nav for data accuracy and algorithms for routing.

A few weeks ago I needed to go to Sherwood, OR. I had an address on NW Main Street. My Prius would not except the address effectively saying that there was no such street in Sherwood. Luckily, I also had printed directions and so I was able to get there. Once there I looked at the map and it said that I was on Railroad Street or Ave. Although at one time that street may have been called that, I have talked to residents who say for at least the last 20 years it has been main st. The Roadmate has it listed as NW Main Street.

When I go home, none of the three routes give the quickest way home. By comparision my Roadmate has 4 trip options and two of them are the quickest way home. When I am within three miles of home, all of the Prius' routes take me to a main road that adds about 2 miles to the route. When I don't follow the Prius' route, the recalculations for a mile or more would have me turn around so that I could go to the main road. I can get within two miles of my home and all routes do not take me directly there but want me to back track and go 5 miles. When I add the main road as a place to avoid in the system, the system avoids my input and still wants me to go out of the way to the main road. All of the roads that I take, are labeled on the map and so I am left to conclude that the algorithms are flawed for the Prius.

clifford · 05-05-2006, 10:15 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenP @ May 5 2006, 05:22 PM) [snapback]250495[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I love my new Prius, but the navigation system has many areas that are poor. I have a portable Magellan Roadmate that is superior to the Prius Nav for data accuracy and algorithms for routing.

A few weeks ago I needed to go to Sherwood, OR. I had an address on NW Main Street. My Prius would not except the address effectively saying that there was no such street in Sherwood. Luckily, I also had printed directions and so I was able to get there. Once there I looked at the map and it said that I was on Railroad Street or Ave. Although at one time that street may have been called that, I have talked to residents who say for at least the last 20 years it has been main st. The Roadmate has it listed as NW Main Street.

When I go home, none of the three routes give the quickest way home. By comparision my Roadmate has 4 trip options and two of them are the quickest way home. When I am within three miles of home, all of the Prius' routes take me to a main road that adds about 2 miles to the route. When I don't follow the Prius' route, the recalculations for a mile or more would have me turn around so that I could go to the main road. I can get within two miles of my home and all routes do not take me directly there but want me to back track and go 5 miles. When I add the main road as a place to avoid in the system, the system avoids my input and still wants me to go out of the way to the main road. All of the roads that I take, are labeled on the map and so I am left to conclude that the algorithms are flawed for the Prius.
[/b]

You are certainly correct. I have a thread devoted to this same subject.
Many people will tell you to please make sure all of your setting are correct. Certainly you need to do this and also read all of the threads on Nav.
I have had my car for approximately 1000 miles and Nav is my only disappointment. I probably would not have noticed it so much if I had not experienced Garmin!
The Prius Nav does not know how to guide me within 20 miles of my house and I live in an area of 40,000! But it tells me when I have arrived. It also shows me where I am accurately on the map. It just can not guide. Considering the price of this Nav I have to complain to Toyota.
Please if you find out something that makes it work good for then let me know.

aaf709 · 05-05-2006, 10:30 PM

It depends on where you live, I suppose. Mind you, my last NAV system consisted of a 2002 Thomas Guide of San Diego, plus Mapquest, so any GPS system is an improvement. I didn't want to get one built-in in the beginning, but it was easier to get a Prius that had one. When I first had the Prius I asked it to route a trip home from work. I expected the usual route I was taking, but it showed me a shorter route that I didn't know about (and I had lived in the area for almost 50 years). And it did plan a trip to Anaheim better than Mapquest (which had put the destination almost a mile away). It also has asked me to make a legal u-turn on the only road going to a destination and then told me to make a turn onto a road that you'd have to be a burro to use.

That being said, I was looking at a tech magazine that scored the Civic Hybrid over the Prius mainly due to the fact that the NAV system is better in the Civic.

My next car will have a GPS nav system. Whether it's built-in or not is still up in the air. If someone asked me if they should get a Prius with navigation (vs w/o), I'd probably answer "only if you want a built-in." It's nice to have (and I use it a lot), but it ain't the only fish in the sea.

hdrygas · 05-06-2006, 12:00 AM

I have liked my Nav system and except for the voice control it has done its job. I have a Garmin iQue and have had them on side by side and they are similar but not the same. Both have good points and bad. Having a Nav system is great in a strange city. My Nav does not take me the way I would go in my own city but it can get me there. I expect it does the same thing in cities I don't know, gets you there but maybe not the best route if you have local knowledge, but you get there. I would no longer have a car with out one.

Oxo · 05-11-2006, 02:38 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenP @ May 5 2006, 05:22 PM) [snapback]250495[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I love my new Prius, but the navigation system has many areas that are poor. e directly there but want me to back track and go 5 miles. [/b]

I agree. I have the European DVD and although the guidance in the UK is adequate, the interface for entering destination, etc is often terrible. It seems that I get to a screen and enter required information, then nothing happens and I cannot see any option but to hit "back" - then I have to start again.

I haven't yet been to Spain or Ireland with it but as far as I can see these countries have only very small areas mapped. The UK is well-covered, and so is Germany, but most European countries have large areas where there is no detail on the DVD.

The instruction manual is one of the worst I have seen and should be completely rewritten. Presumably there'll be a 2007 DVD one day but I suppose we'll have to pay for it.

GreenP · 05-25-2006, 06:11 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oxo @ May 11 2006, 10:38 AM) [snapback]253615[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Presumably there'll be a 2007 DVD one day but I suppose we'll have to pay for it.

[/b]

I am sure there will be a 2007 DVD, but I am afraid that the nav part of it will not be any better. From looking on the forums, there doesn't seem to be any improvement to the underlying algorithms since the nav was first an option. Denso doesn't do nav like Garmin, Magellan, or Tom-Tom does. Somehow we need to get Toyota to insist that Denso make some major improvements to their product.

clifford · 05-25-2006, 10:58 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenP @ May 25 2006, 05:11 PM) [snapback]261068[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I am sure there will be a 2007 DVD, but I am afraid that the nav part of it will not be any better. From looking on the forums, there doesn't seem to be any improvement to the underlying algorithms since the nav was first an option. Denso doesn't do nav like Garmin, Magellan, or Tom-Tom does. Somehow we need to get Toyota to insist that Denso make some major improvements to their product.
[/b]

I absolutely agree. Toyota needs to do much better. A NAV system is pretty much worthless if it is not going to recognize all areas of the country. I don't mean some swamp land or desert location. I mean cities and towns that are 30,000 or more. It is so disgusting to have the NAV say that it can not guide you now. Not to mention the fact that it keeps giving you U turns instead of recalculating the route. I just don't understand how such a high quality auto maker can install such a low quality NAV product and not correct it.

Proteus · 05-25-2006, 11:28 PM

It anybody figures out who to complain to, I'd be happy to join in. I've already complained to the customer support line. I was hoping to get to an area sales manager, but have had no luck (I'm in the southeast).

Like most of you, I have another GPS (Garmin 2610) and know what these units should be. Denso's unit falls far short on software. The underlying hardware looks good. With some time spent on improving the code, this could be a good unit.

gk

kimgh · 05-26-2006, 12:26 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Proteus @ May 25 2006, 08:28 PM) [snapback]261174[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

It anybody figures out who to complain to, I'd be happy to join in. I've already complained to the customer support line. I was hoping to get to an area sales manager, but have had no luck (I'm in the southeast).

Like most of you, I have another GPS (Garmin 2610) and know what these units should be. Denso's unit falls far short on software. The underlying hardware looks good. With some time spent on improving the code, this could be a good unit.

gk
[/b]

I have to say that the nav unit isn't as bad as I was led to believe from reading this and other threads before I got my Prius. I even have figured out how to use the voice commands to enter an address for a destination.

That said, I agree that it leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you are spoiled by the Garmin line of GPSr's (which I am).

One thing I particularly miss (and like about my Garmin 2620 StreetPilot) is the display of the cross streets of upcoming intersections. That is a most useful feature, and it's amazing it's lacking in the Denso nav. The saving grace is that the map is large enough to display street names legibly so you can have some idea of what's coming up.

daniel · 05-26-2006, 09:29 AM

I really like my Garmin StreetPilot 2720. I didn't get NAV in the car because where I lived it was not necessary. I got the Garmin when I came to Spokane. I find all the on-screen street names perfectly legible. And aside from a very few minor quirks, it operates flawlessly. I especially like having it right in my line of sight. I would not like to have to look over at the MFD when approaching a complicated intersection in traffic.

05-05-2006, 10:30 PM	#3
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,831 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It depends on where you live, I suppose. Mind you, my last NAV system consisted of a 2002 Thomas Guide of San Diego, plus Mapquest, so any GPS system is an improvement. I didn't want to get one built-in in the beginning, but it was easier to get a Prius that had one. When I first had the Prius I asked it to route a trip home from work. I expected the usual route I was taking, but it showed me a shorter route that I didn't know about (and I had lived in the area for almost 50 years). And it did plan a trip to Anaheim better than Mapquest (which had put the destination almost a mile away). It also has asked me to make a legal u-turn on the only road going to a destination and then told me to make a turn onto a road that you'd have to be a burro to use. That being said, I was looking at a tech magazine that scored the Civic Hybrid over the Prius mainly due to the fact that the NAV system is better in the Civic. My next car will have a GPS nav system. Whether it's built-in or not is still up in the air. If someone asked me if they should get a Prius with navigation (vs w/o), I'd probably answer "only if you want a built-in." It's nice to have (and I use it a lot), but it ain't the only fish in the sea. __________________ "Blue Belle" Seaside Pearl Purchased April 16, 2005 MODS: Wheelskin Steering Wheel Cover, GT Seat Covers, DashTopper Dash Cover, MFD Sun Hood, Pioneer AirWare XM radio, DICE Silverline iPod Integration, BT Override, Goodyear ComforTreds, Coastal Tech's Auto-Lock kit, NAV Enhancement kit & EV mod

05-06-2006, 12:00 AM	#4
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have liked my Nav system and except for the voice control it has done its job. I have a Garmin iQue and have had them on side by side and they are similar but not the same. Both have good points and bad. Having a Nav system is great in a strange city. My Nav does not take me the way I would go in my own city but it can get me there. I expect it does the same thing in cities I don't know, gets you there but maybe not the best route if you have local knowledge, but you get there. I would no longer have a car with out one. __________________ Belle, a Millennium Silver '04 BC #9 "Becoming one with my Prius, ICE on ICE off" Belle has been passed on to my daughter. I have a new silver Prius 08. No name yet we have just met but not been introduced.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Toyota Navigation or after market navigation?	Kimlai	Prius Technical Discussion	37	01-04-2008 11:22 PM
Navigation	YorkieSue	Audio and Electronics	48	09-22-2006 06:05 PM
Navigation Data for factory Navigation System?	pgorbas	Prius Main Forum	3	01-29-2006 09:17 PM
Navigation	DocToss	Prius Main Forum	4	12-12-2005 11:50 AM
Navigation DVD Rom	frbill	Private Sales	0	06-07-2005 08:25 PM

05-05-2006, 06:22 PM	#1
GreenP Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I love my new Prius, but the navigation system has many areas that are poor. I have a portable Magellan Roadmate that is superior to the Prius Nav for data accuracy and algorithms for routing. A few weeks ago I needed to go to Sherwood, OR. I had an address on NW Main Street. My Prius would not except the address effectively saying that there was no such street in Sherwood. Luckily, I also had printed directions and so I was able to get there. Once there I looked at the map and it said that I was on Railroad Street or Ave. Although at one time that street may have been called that, I have talked to residents who say for at least the last 20 years it has been main st. The Roadmate has it listed as NW Main Street. When I go home, none of the three routes give the quickest way home. By comparision my Roadmate has 4 trip options and two of them are the quickest way home. When I am within three miles of home, all of the Prius' routes take me to a main road that adds about 2 miles to the route. When I don't follow the Prius' route, the recalculations for a mile or more would have me turn around so that I could go to the main road. I can get within two miles of my home and all routes do not take me directly there but want me to back track and go 5 miles. When I add the main road as a place to avoid in the system, the system avoids my input and still wants me to go out of the way to the main road. All of the roads that I take, are labeled on the map and so I am left to conclude that the algorithms are flawed for the Prius.

05-25-2006, 11:28 PM	#8
Proteus Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 10 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It anybody figures out who to complain to, I'd be happy to join in. I've already complained to the customer support line. I was hoping to get to an area sales manager, but have had no luck (I'm in the southeast). Like most of you, I have another GPS (Garmin 2610) and know what these units should be. Denso's unit falls far short on software. The underlying hardware looks good. With some time spent on improving the code, this could be a good unit. gk

05-26-2006, 09:29 AM	#10
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 8,600 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I really like my Garmin StreetPilot 2720. I didn't get NAV in the car because where I lived it was not necessary. I got the Garmin when I came to Spokane. I find all the on-screen street names perfectly legible. And aside from a very few minor quirks, it operates flawlessly. I especially like having it right in my line of sight. I would not like to have to look over at the MFD when approaching a complicated intersection in traffic.