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Prius Deal Breaker

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Rest, Jun 23, 2009.

  1. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    I can see the difference, but its hardly dramatic and it doesn't effect the usability or visibility of the screen. It just doesn't strike me as something 99% of buyers are going to care about. Its a nav screen.

    True they increased the resolution of the screen in '06, but they did indeed raise the price of the vehicle in '06...and model for model the '10 is cheaper overall...
     
  2. NoMoShocks

    NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer

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    Have those unhappy with the Nav Resolution tried the different Contrast and Brightness settings? I ask because I have not noted any difference between old and new Nav resolutions.
     
  3. web1b

    web1b Active Member

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    The cost argument is really silly or they wouldn't offer the AT package because of the cost. What's also silly is that the resolution actually got worse than the previous model.
    Improving the resolution so it isn't so grainy and jagged would only affect the price of the cars that have nav and they would add that little bit of cost to the selling price so it wouldn't cost Toyota anything even if they sold 1 million of them and the MSRP of cars without nav would stay the same (unlike changing the carpet which would be covered over by floor mats on almost every car).
    You don't need to buy a $80K car to get a higher resolution nav. Did the Generation II cost $80K?
     
  4. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Both 2006+ Gen II and Gen II appear 1280x720P screens, the difference is the 2010 is using larger text w/ aliasing (grey pixels to smooth lines) which may make things appear "fuzzier". Gen III is also 1" bigger.

    Compared to the 2004 720x480 Wide-NTSC screen, this is far better.

    That being said, I did overhear someone @ Toyota stating that they too didn't like the screen and it was on their "list" of things to improve mid cycle. However, I wouldn't hold anyone to that as it was simply overhead and hearsay.

    As for DVD vs HDD - why the heck not make it SD or SDHC? Present Class 6 cards are quite fast. Much agreed that DVD is antiquated, however slightly easier to implement copy protection.

    Garmin has been using SD in their multi-thousands of dollars flight decks (i.e. G1000) for map and terrain updates.

    Why not allow us to subscribe and download updates regularly (with a unique device ID for piracy), or allow dealer to sell pre-loaded update cards for those who so choose? And as an added bonus, if we use larger cards, we could even load music, etc. on the balance of the capacity!
     
  5. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    The 2010 screen doesn't just "appear fuzzier", it actually does have less resolution then the previous model's screen. No amount of contrast or brightness setting will improve it.

    I accept the fact that not everyone cares about this issue. But for me it is a big deal and something I can't ignore. Believe me, when Toyota fixes this then I will be trading in my 2007 for one. Until then I can wait it out.

    Although it is a shame that it is now harder to do your own oil changes on the Prius. I can change my own oil in only 10 minutes on my 2007 Prius and it's not a messy process. This is because everything is easy to get to and the oil filter is vertical on the engine.
     
  6. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    Whatever floats your boat man...
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Since the first person who asked the dealer how much it costs to replace one out of warranty.

    haha ok.

    Yes but without the LEDs, foglights and 17" alloys. It's called the Technology Package in Canada. This is the slight difference between the top Canadian model and the top U.S. model. You trade the power moonroof with solar panels for the LED headlights, foglights and 17" alloys

    Are you sure? I asked DaveinOlyWa to measure it and he measured 7" (rounded)
     
  8. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Stealership prices for parts are inflated.
     
  9. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    REST - yep. i agree and i see your point.

    I want to ask you all a question about the GEN II navi's...........

    #1) CAN YOU, OR CAN YOU NOT incorporate a REAL TIME NAVI into the current system?

    #2) CAN i get my silly navi to NOT lead me to a busy 4 lane intersection from a small side street WITHOUT a signal light and make a left turn??

    AFTER sitting in my friends car with REAL TIME NAVI, our navi's are almost useless. Harsh, yes, but it's relatively true in the "real" world.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ok smartie pants. Can you get me the wholesale price please? I'm sure you'll benefit a LOT of people (i.e. everyone) here as you would've found a source and price for brand new MFDs (not refurbished ones cause those are $400).
     
  11. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Genoz World, So where do you get a real time navigation system for a vehicle?

    Tideland Prius, Off hand I don't know where to get a wholesale price for the MFD. But since Toyota doesn't make this item I am sure we could get it directly from the manufacture for less than Toyota wants.
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Would you like to ask Prius Team? That'll be nice. We've had MFDs failed in the past (not very often mind you) so if PC has a source, that'll be great.
     
  13. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    REST - best buys. model # 765 - i forgot the brand, but was window shopping.

    so what about it people? do you know the answers?
     
  14. 2010_Prius_Owner

    2010_Prius_Owner New Member

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    Well, if you don't like the new Prius screen res, maybe you'll like the Honda Insight analog needle. Can't get much crisper than a real physical needle. Personally, I'll be keeping my 2010 Prius. I like my screens, but I've been driving since the 70's and these are the best screens I've ever owned in car. :) Complain to Toyota and maybe the 2011 will have a nicer screen.
     
  15. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    I have looked into the Insight but decided against it when I saw the mileage numbers. They really took a step backwards with that aspect of the car.

    I used to own a 2001 CVT insight before I got my 2007 Prius. I really miss the instrument cluster in it but the U.S. model didn't have the Navigation option. I liked the idea of having more room with the Prius.

    If a vehicle I like takes a step backwards in technology with any part of its systems, then I usually am not interested and will pass. Just as I have with the new Prius.
     
  16. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    at $19 per mug, u damn right they are thieves!!
     
  17. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    Champion ToyotaWorld, 07 Prius:

    MSRP: $6,741.13
    Discount price: $5,123.26

    Note that this is the same actual MFD unit whether or not you have NAV, in the US (all models got the same unit). My car, bottom grade 2008 UK model, has the lower-resolution screen.

    04 Prius:

    MSRP: $4,708.09
    Discount price: $3,578.15

    Bear in mind that the unit isn't just the screen, it's the complete interface to all the other components. Still, the pricing suggests that the high-res screen costs about $1,500 more than the low-res one.

    If the stated 1280x720 resolution on a 7" panel is correct, I make that about 210dpi. Regular PC monitors are 96dpi. Laptop panels are commonly 120 or 144dpi. VGA handheld devices (phones) can be 192dpi. Often the cost of the screen is simply related to how many panels at that size and resolution are being produced. 1280x720 at 7" is not a common size at all. Ironically Tesla may end up paying less for their 17" 'glass cockpit' display in the Model S, because it's a common computer monitor size!
     
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It is a common size for most in-vehicle screens though (Toyota has moved to 8" for the Land Cruiser V8/LX570). Despite that, they're still expensive.
     
  19. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    This thread sure has gone on and on. Feel the Passion!
     
  20. azgringo

    azgringo New Member

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    New Gen III Prius owner. Have had mine for about a month or so. After reading the posts about the hybrid display side not being as crisp as the speedometer cluster. I checked mine today, then again tonight (to see if day/night made a difference.) On mine, both sides are equally crisp and clear. No difference at all between the two.