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Gen 2 navigation - cheapest way to update?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by ironandsteel, Jul 11, 2014.

  1. ironandsteel

    ironandsteel Junior Member

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    I've been searching and not found a good answer to this. My 2008 prius has 2008 maps apparently. What is "official" way to update, and what is the savvy hacker way?
     
  2. Scallywag

    Scallywag Member

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    Officially, you have to get a new maps DVD from Toyota. It's expensive, $200-300 I believe.
     
  3. FatMimi

    FatMimi New Member

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    Our local dealerships happen to be having upgrade navigation specials at $149 -$169. Northern calif. Check for specials thru toyota
     
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  4. Baldbubba

    Baldbubba Member

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    Buy yourself a voice recognition Garman and you will never look back believe me I love it! I hate the interface on my in car navigation it is terrible.
     
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  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Don't mean to sound smart nice person....

    But I also would just recommend getting a Garmin.

    I have a old, old Garmin and it's still better than Toyota's navigation offering.

    The new Garmins are even better.

    Lifetime maps, and updates come with most, or it can be purchased inexpensively.

    A 2008 built in Toyota Navigation system?
    I wouldn't even bother updating it.
     
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  6. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    That's very cheap indeed - and pretty much worth it too - especially if you don't want to stick standalone NAV Units to your windscreen with the accompanying trailing cable.

    Over the pond, I had to pay the equivalent of €170 to upgrade my GPS Navigation unit. It came with 4 DVDs covering the whole of Western Europe.

    Was it worth it? Yes. The maps are now VERY accurate indeed. I haven't discovered a place I couldn't find yet.
    Yes, TomTom and Garmin NAV units are easier to use, but I'm kinda enamoured by the quaint originality of the Prius NAV. It adds to the charm of my "Spaceship" :)
     
  7. ironandsteel

    ironandsteel Junior Member

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    I have 2 garmin units and I like them better- however, I like the ability to use voice to enter the address, and it is integrated into the car. The garmins that I use in the other cars are a royal pain in the a$$ because of the power cord, and falling off the dash, etc.
    For the most part, the 2008 maps are good enough but there are a few places I've seen where things have changed significantly.
     
  8. RootBreaker

    RootBreaker Member

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    I am new to the game so would like to give a quick observation...

    My 2014 prius navigation flat out sux... glad i didnt buy the car based on that...

    I would like to recommend a free alternative. If you have a iphone or android... Waze ...it is so nice... user based and has accidents..traffic...gas prices... and cop locations.... check it out. To me garmin is better but still a single use device... get most of your cell phone.... Google bought waze a year ago for 11b or so....

    Samsung Galaxy Note 3
     
  9. ironandsteel

    ironandsteel Junior Member

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    Several reasons I don't like to use my phone for navigation.
    1. I use the phone to listen to podcasts, and it is a hassle to flip between the apps while driving
    2. I don't have a good way to hold the phone
    3. I don't like wearing down the battery with the GPS on
    4. I've had Waze send me via some pretty screwed up routes compared with the garmin
    5. The social aspect is a great idea- but I find the rest of the app kinda hard to use, esp while driving. No smart address entry for one thing. Also, I can never figure out how to tell it to "go"- start navigating.

    If I can just manage to update the prius maps, I'll be fine with that. I use the garmin in our other cars- I like the fact that it is single use. Trying to navigate with a phone, while doing other things, is a nightmare.
     
  10. RootBreaker

    RootBreaker Member

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    ^^^ I agree with you on the holding phone part..
    this is my biggest pet peeve with the prius... my GMC Sierra I lay the phone on the dash up against the Speedo/Tach and all good. It is in front of me and no worries...
    Since my phone is plugged in the GPS doesnt wear down the battery

    my last phone Galaxy S2 I had a windshield mount that was powered and audio plug built in so could plug into my aux jack which was really nice.
     
  11. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    The Toyota dvd price has become reasonable, 169$, but on it's best day the Toyota nav falls far short of a garmin nuvi, usually the toyota can find food and gas while traveling, but that's iffy also;)
     
  12. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    Yes, you're quite right under certain circumstances. The 2013 DVD maps I just purchased are already a year out of date. The problem with the G2 being that you can't do web based updates on the fly, like I can my iPhone 5 which has TomTom Western Europe (with all the bells and whistles) installed.
    Fortunately for me, I have my iPhone as backup - using both Google Maps and TomTom to navigate when I had the Prius 2008 maps - most of Milton Keynes was missing for example. Now it's all there with the latest maps, and I really haven't had the need to pull out the iPhone to navigate anywhere since I bought the 2013 DVD updates.

    Having said that, when heading for distant previously unvisited territory, I do go to great lengths to do my "intel" - out comes the iPad, Google Maps / Earth / Street Maps......
    I study the area (and destination) in great detail before embarking on my journey :)

    Still love the quaint Prius NAV though :D
     
  13. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    I got mine off of Ebay. I bought last years update and I think I paid $40 or so. Yeah, its a year old but, who cares.
     
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  14. Data Daedalus

    Data Daedalus Senior Member

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    Exactly! It more than fulfils the role I purchased it for, and it does work more than satisfactorily. Indeed, I find it rather quite precise when showing me where I need to go. Perhaps quaint isn't the right word. It's kinda "Geek" sophisticated enough, that your passengers will look at you in wonder as you punch in destinations, talk to it et al.

    It's not a pile of rubbish by any stretch of the imagination. It's simply as original as the navigation computers you might find on the flight deck of any twin turbofan airliner.
    And I like it for that very reason.

    Nothing beats those magic words "Suspend Guidance" when you want it to stop talking, and equally, "Resume Guidance" when you want it to start blabbing again.

    Lastly, last Thursday, I went out of town to Stansted Airport to pick up my daughter who'd just returned from a school trip to Slovenia. The return side of the M11 motorway was closed due to a terrible accident. I had no idea how to get back home! Having retrieved my daughter, I hastily peeked at Google Maps and spotted the A120 as a long way around diversion route home - but I needn't have worried!

    No sooner did I hit the home button on the Prius NAV, than it piped up with a message telling me there was severe congestion on the M11.....and it asked if I'd like an alternative route home.
    I punched in "Yes"......and the NAV guided me home via......the very same A120.
    That was good enough for me.

    I don't even miss the TomTom speed camera warning facility on my iPhone - since I bought the Prius, I've rigidly stuck to the speed limits and no longer feel the "need for speed"........and I always arrive much more relaxed. It also means I'm far more attentive while driving - and the cruise control always helps too :)
     
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  15. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    The beanbag mount for the GPS never slid around on the Gen2's dash. Before spending >$100 on a map DVD upgrade I'd buy an external unit. The receiver for the lifetime traffic is in the power cord so that will need to stay plugged in. It may not be elegant, but it is portable.
     
  16. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

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    I still like the Nav in my 2004 Prius for a few reasons. It picks up the sats very quickly and if you are in a congested city with high rise buildings you can rely on dead reckoning of the system to guide you. Granted it doesn't have traffic integration but I simply use google maps on my iphone to see where the problems are.
     
  17. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

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    Yes the Waze is useful and very update every minute. Yet due to this function, the CPU of my iPhone worked very hard and high heat was produced such that "high temperature" warning displayed and turn off.
    After that,I delete the Waze from my phone. Sorry to say.
     
  18. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    for those who like to use their phone for nav, get a "proclip". clips on above the vent. worked great in my base '04. I still use it in my '06 which has nav. a bit pricey but holds the phone in a near perfect location.
     
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  19. talonts

    talonts VFAQman

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    I'd love to buy a 12.1 DVD for $40, but the cheapest I have seen Gen5 that are verified to work with 06-09 Prius is $100.
     
  20. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Yeah, I have an 05 so, they are a bit cheaper.