Nav update & override on 2004

I have used the search and looked at Coastal Tech's site. I haven't been able to find an answer.

I have a 2004 prius and it has the original nav disk in it. I haven't had to use the override yet but I don't want to give it up. I know if I put a newer disk in it that I will loose the override. I also know that some have had some success in making a hybrid disk.

My question is if I purchase a 9.1 nav disk is there a way to have some kind of override?

I don't want to make a hybrid disk and my understanding is that the Coastal Tech option won't work.

 

I understand that it should be simple to do although I have also read about people having problems getting the hybrid disks to work right.

I'm concerned about having a backup plan (if I choose to try to make a disk) just in case I mess something up and loose the override function.

I'd also prefer a mechanical solution that would be easy for my wife to use.

 

Another question.

If I buy the 9.1 (gen 4) disk and use my 4.2 disk (think that's the number) to make a hybrid disk (if it works) will I miss out on any improvements? I know that the maps and POI's are improved but are there also improvements to the rest of the nav system?

I'm thinking about getting the 9.1 and maybe trying the hybrid disk or the speed wire switch.

 

So it looks like I have to decide between these three choices:
1- Get update, keep override, but have less accuracy
2- Get update, loose override, but better accuracy (maybe put a switch in the speed wire)
3- Get another Garmin and store it in the "secret" box for use when the Prius nav isn't sufficient

I think I'd prefer the 2nd option but the 3rd option is probably the better one.

 

I just went out to my Prius and finally looked at the detailed areas that it covers and it's pathetic! I never realized that it was soooooo bad because my local area is covered pretty decent but most of the country isn't covered in detail.

I have version 4.2. Did the detailed areas increase dramatically since that version?

 

I select the region and each region has very spotty coverage except for the northeast. I'm near charlotte (just close enough to be in the detailed area) and put in an address in Anderson, SC and while it found the address it also stated that in some areas along the way there would not be turn by turn directions. Both addresses, mine and his, are within 5 miles or so of I-85.

On my 4.2 disk about the only area in the northern part of SC that shows detail is the greenville area, western NC is basically only the Charlotte area and GA isn't much more then the Atlanta area. When I look at the detail areas in the different regions they seem to only be around the the major metro areas.

My system shows blue areas where the detail is when you pull-up each region. Basically every region excluding the northeast is quite sparse.

So my question was, has this improved dramatically or is it still basically the same?

My wife and I prefer the nav system in the prius but if Toyota's coverage hasn't improved substantially since 4.2 then my money would be better spent buying a Garmin and stashing it in the "secret" drawer for when the Prius' nav system comes up short.

I've thought about maybe taking a ride over to the Toyota dealership to take a look at the latest nav system regional detail.

 

Hill,
I don't know if you are responding to me. In case you are, my 4.1 maps will show me where in each region there is detailed information available to give me turn by turn directions to an inputted address. It isn't very much of the US. I have the original disk that came with my Prius when it was new. My 2004 Prius was manufactured in Oct 2003. So it doesn't matter how much I zoom in if the information for turn by turn directions to an entered address isn't there then the system can't help me. I don't use the zoom. I let the software control the zooming.

I want to find out how much better the mapping info is now. I have a Garmin with 2009 maps on it that only has half my street on it. I recently bought a new Garmin with 2010 maps on it and it now shows my street correctly. My street has been here since 1998.

I would think that since Toyota and Garmin get their map info from the same company that it should be the same but from what I've read it isn't.