Very close to buying my first Prius

Like what?

 

Go ahead....I'm a seasoned Pri-ist...I have mine 1 month and 3 days!

 

What would you like to know?

 

I have the 4 with the Solar Package. The Navigation works without Entune. I know this because I did not download and install Entune for 2 weeks after I had the car and used the Navigation no problems. The Navigation without Entune you must enter the address into the touch screen. You need to know the address. Entune and navigation work together to bring additional enhancements to Navigation. The Entune navigation link is you can go to Bing the Microsoft search engine on the car’s Touch Screen and search Italian Restaurants for example and select one and have the address populated into your navigation and start your journey. Entune also integrates with your cell phone so you can call that place of business. Entune needs to be installed with a Smartphone IPhone or Android and you need to have a data plan. It is a nice service & Entune is free. Entune also has a movie ticket buying service, you can make reservations at eateries via open table, and it has Pandora Radio and Heart Internet radio. I don’t use all the services but the Bing is cool if you are in an unfamiliar city and need info at your fingertips.

 

also.


Just to clarify Entune is free but if you use it you may incur data charges on your cell phone plan. I hardly use it. On a driving trip it came in handy to locate a Starbucks and evoke the navigation. Also you can always shut the cell data off on your iphone and when you want turn it back on if you near the limit of your cell data plan or upgrade the data capacity.

I don’t use Pandora or Heart radio but people who do will incure large data plan fee’s I hear. I got the a la carte XM Radio 70 stations for $8 per month and they bill my American Express. I like the XM get great news in the morning and plenty of music for the evening. The cost is very low.

My daughter has Pandora on her smart phone and it integrates with her car and stereo at home and she loves it. She is in her early twenties. I guess you can customize the radio station based on artists you like.

 

Also

Bluetooth and Multimedia works without Entune. I was able to use Bluetooth to make and recieve phone calls through the car stereo and I was able to stream music from my iPhone to my car before I installed Entune.

The Prius with the upgraded solar roof gets you the upgraded stereo which I hear sounds much better. It also gets you the larger AV screen which is nice, you also get HUD heads up display which puts the speed limit and turn by turn NAV instructions on your windshield. The solar roof blows air in the car when the outside temp is above 70 degrees thus eliminating the greenhouse effect during the summer.

 

I have that package and love all the bells and whistles - great (in my book) surround-sound stereo, the HU display, the solar roof/fan (hot flash detector in my world)... never installed the Entune - I get my phone calls just fine. Have the Sirius XM but find myself just hooking my iPad into the port and running my music through the system.

Took a coworker and friend home yesterday and she was in amazement at the gadgets and what the car did. I haven't had this much fun driving - ever.