Using a portable Garmin-type GPS in 2010 Prius?

I'd wait to see what Coastal Etech comes up with. Their lockpick accessories for previous Prius models not only allowed unlocking the navigation screen so inputs could be made while driving, but also allow audio/video output to your nav screen from multimedia devices such as iPods, Zunes, DVD players and one would assume, third party nav units.

 

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I own the Garmin 855 which looks like your photo. I plug it in under the front of center console and it works great. Haven't tried to swash the cord inside the console cover yet, but that worked fine with the 2006. I haven't decided if I want to place a permanent disc, for mounting, to the dash yet, but it would work real well just to the right of the dash display. I have the onboard GPS in my 2010 but in my area it works very poorly. I am going to hold out awhile to see if Toyota will be releasing an upgrade.

 

I was thinking of having the cord run from the power outlet under the center console then up to the wasted space in front of the steering wheel. You could go under the floormat if you wanted it to the left.

 

So take the $1600 you will save and buy the bean bag mount and store it in the center console when you are not using it.

 

The GPS unit needs a clear view of the sky in order to receive the signals from the satellites. The GPS signals easily pass through glass, but not through steel. That's why portable GPS units are usually mounted on the windshield. My guess is that if you put it in the center console, it would only work intermittently, whenever you got lucky enough so that at least three satellites would be at the proper angles for their signals to pass through the windshield or side windows to get to the GPS unit. Factory GPS units of course have an antenna on the roof of the car, so that the unit can be installed in the dashboard.

 

I've used my cellphone with GPS in a low position (in the cigarette holder or what ever it's called) and not had any problems with reception in the various cities I've traveled. It's hard to believe a dedicated device would be less sensitive.

 

Just wanted to update that this happened to my wife's car this weekend- Guess what they took?

The navigation DVD.

Cheaper to buy a Garmin than to replace the disc at the dealer.

 

I just picked up my 2010 (III, no nav). I have played a bit with where to put a Garmin.

1) Center of windshield below the mirror. Due to the slope of the windshield, the Garmin was too far away to operate (without stretching. Getting longer arms is out of the question )

2) Center of windshield between the mirror and the ceiling. Doesn't fit well and the suction cup won't stick to the brown stuff on the inside of the windshield. Can someone tell me what that stuff does?

3) On top of the dash to the right of the display. See #1 above. Too far away

4) Currently I have it mounted on the upper left corner of the windshield with the power cord running above the visor and down to the power adapator in the center console. Functional, but not easy to remove the unit and suction cup when parked.

Brian

 

Get one of Garmins "sandbag" mounts. Dont remember model but you can find them on the Garmin web page. They work great and you can set them anywhere on the dash. Also it makes it much easier to hide away when you park and dont want it seen. BTW some states dont allow stuff stuck to the winshield. I think mine cost $30 but it's been awhile.

 

Wow that's a great deal. Seems Costco people don't care for the unit but on Amazon.com and other places it gets very good reviews.
It sounds like the people buying these didn't buy the map upgrades. That's kind of a must with modern day GPS units.

 

Here it is at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B000LRMS66?tag=priuschatcom-20

 

California is one state that used to not allow sticking the GPS on the windshield. They altered the law to make it legal only if you mount it on either bottom corner of the windshield. It works well on the driver's side but why any driver would mount their GPS on the passenger side makes no sense to me. Regardless of the change, I still see people with their GPS mounted in the middle of the windshield. I guess it is not really enforced.

In any case, the bean bag is the way to go. I have an older mount that works just as well as the bean bag. As already mentioned, it's great because you can stow it away and no one will know the difference.

 

Hi! I just got my 2010 II Prius in Blizzard Pearl and love it! The Prius came with Bluetooth (Factory installed), so I need a pretty basic Garmin Nuvi model. Any suggestions? There are so many to choose from--I'd like to get one for under $200 and would truly appreciate feedback on which models have worked for you all!