Prius II vs Prius III options ?

Yes it has a CD player. You can't add any packages like nav if you buy a II.

 

I'm super happy with my II. The II has a CD/MP3 Player and AUX jack in the center console. It does not have the JBL amp and speakers, or 6 disk CD player or Blue-tooth controls on the steering wheel. It is not a great system but has sufficed nicely for the time being.
I always figured if I wanted to upgrade the stereo I would do it myself.

 

I, myself, debated between II and III and ended up getting the III.

As already pointed out, II comes with an upgared stereo (JBL with a 6 CD changer), integrated bluetooth, plus satelitte radio ready with 3-months free. To get the II sat ready, you will need to have the dealer to install a hardware, which cost I don't remember, or buy something after-market...

Also, the Toyota original Nav package can only be installed in the III or above if you ever want to do that later on, which I will never ever do, but Toyota does have option sales during the summer every once in a while for as much as half price I heard.

 

The III with nav also comes with a USB port which comes in handy in my case. Just put talk radio or music on a flash memory stick from your computer and plug it into the prius and your good to go. No IPod or wasting cd-r's to listen.

 

But I think only with you have the NAV package though, right? Because, mine (no NAV) does not have the USB...

 

Yeah, you need the nav. Also need it to have the backup camera.

 

i went with the II because the III's were more rare and much more expensive than i thought they ought to be considering what more you'd get. Im waiting for the proper 2 din surround to come out for the 2010, and going with an aftermarket HU and eventually backup camera. Likely better than the toyota nav, and likely better (or at least as good as) the jbl. The only reason the cost for a III makes sense is if it's worth the cost of your future time and future efforts to get the car the way you want it. I like tinkering, so it doesn't bother me at all.

 

I'm so hoping Toyota will offer fog light installs for it's dealers to be able to put on II - IV's soon. I don't care much at all for the grey covers and I don't want to chance some after market brand ( heard bad stories ).

 

www.toyota.com > Prius > features and specs

III gets ya JBL, CD changer, bluetooth for your phone and more.

II has a single CD player, no bluetooth and 6 speakers. I haven't heard the II sound system, but usually the base audio systems don't impress me.

As for adding a sound system myself or with some 3rd party shop, I gets the creeps about pulling door panels off and pulling carpet up on a new car. I'd rather have it built in from the factory. Old cars, I don't mind, new ones, I don't like to be messed with.

 

As others have already said, mainly the Prius III is about factory integration. For way less money you can get the better quality components for stereo quality, bluetooth and navigation but it will not have the nice factory look.

For example a $400 portable GPS will blow the doors off the Prius' built in $1800 unit BUT it will need to mounted to you dash or windshield or somewhere else. Likewise a $80 to $150 bluetooth unit will have more features and better sound quality than factory but won't have the nicely integrated steering wheel buttons.

So if your happy with the quality/features of OEM and you value the nice factory look the extra cash may be worth it for the III. If your looking more for higher quality components (Nav, BT and/or audio) you can save money by buying a II if your OK with it being upgraded and things not quite looking factory.

I love the integrated look but am also cheap so chose the II. I'm sure you'll love either as these are great cars!

Thanks,
Bill

 

Oh by the way, the CD player in the II reads MP3s & WMAs on CD. I am a bit of a gadget geek and have a nice smartphone that streams audio via BT and a decent MP3 player but have decided now that I'd rather burn 10 to 12 CDs worth of MP3s on a single CD and listen to them on the car stereo without messing with connecting player cables, keeping another device charged, etc.

I have about 8 CDs with MP3s in the Prius (about 90 audio CDs on 8 discs!). That means I have most of my music collection with me and don't need to flip CDs all that often to hear things.

The player doesn't support playlists (that I know about) but plays music within folders. I don't use playlists much I usually listen to whole albums at a time but I guess you could simulate playlists by just saving songs within folders named for different lists. You may have the same song recorded in multiple folders this way but I think it would still be manageable.

Thanks,
Bill

 

We were at a dealer over the weekend and I was showed a spec sheet for a II that was in transit. It had a separate line item for $299 blue tooth option. Is that going to be integrated like on a III?

Thanks,

 

Depends on what you mean by integrated. It does automatically mute and plays sound through the radio but the controls are not the steering wheel controls you've probably seen pics of but a button installed by your knee.

More details in this thread:

The link also talks about BT streaming of music with this unit that I guess the other integrated BT doesn't offer.

Bill

 

I got this option. It's not part of factory but added later. It's called bluetooth logic. It's suppose to actually work better than the one that comes factory with Package III and up.

 

I also have the II with the Bluetooth Logic. Happy with it. I have a I-Phone. I am able to listen my Iphone thru BT to the head unit.