Hello everyone, This is my first post, and I hope anyone can help. I just bought a 2010 Prius that doesn't have a navigation unit. I would like to add a navigation unit and would like to know your opinion on the best place I can go? I found this on Ebay: Would it be a wise decision to buy a navigation unit on Ebay? Please let me know what all of you think, or if you have any other recommendations for me. Thanks everyone! Jes
dog... There's a thread in the "Audio and electronics" section where a member installed a unit similar to the one you're looking to install.. Is This Cheap JBL Navigation Unit For Real? | PriusChat
To be honest, portable nav is so much easier. Picking up a $100 Garmin would be my choice. I have nav in mine and it's terrible. Without a bypass it's damn near useless. I tend to stick with Google Maps on my phone.
That's been a long debate with my wife and I, if Google maps and/or the navigation unit would be wise. I've been a big fan of Google maps for years. However, I would enjoy a nav/dvd/cd unit just to make the Prius a little more updated. Thank you for your consideration.
FWIW- many here that do have the Toyota NAV (including myself) don't use it, we prefer portable devices like the Garmin, Tom Tom, etc... GPS units that can get 4x yearly map updates and realtime traffic conditions. I can't imagine the Chinese head units on ebay being top shelf either and with no ability to update the maps will be obsolete inside one years time.
I would just get the Garmin or use your Phone. I recently bought a navi unit from an ebay seller - the home screen looked the exact same although I can't confirm if that's the exact unit, but it's likely the same software. -The install was easy and the unit looked good -Fitment was a little off (didn't align with the dash) but it wasn't nearly bad enough to care about -The radio sound worked better with my speakers, and the iPod compatibility was really nice. Could play DVDs and the navi was pretty good. Why I returned it: -the screen washed out VERY VERY easily. the slightest amount of sun would make the screen unreadable, and if you had sunglasses on then forget about it. (probably the main reason I returned the unit) -the clock kept resetting itself at random times -using your finger to scroll (when selecting options) was nearly impossible -the whole unit froze on my once. it said the device had run out of memory and could not initiate all the programs i was trying to run (radio with navi) -there were a couple other small things but I can't remember at this time...
It depends on how bad you want a factory fit GPS unit in your Prius. I can only tell you what works for me. We have 3 rigs where we at times use GPS navigation, none are equipped with factory installed NAV. A 2010 Prius 2, a 2011 Ford F150 and a 2000 Dodge Dakota. We bought a mid range Garmin nav unit from Walmart for $150. Moving it from rig to rig is as simple as applying the nav unit suction cup to the windshield base and plug the power plug into a lighter socket. It works well with visual and audio directions to guide the driver,. You only have to remember the operating procedure for one brand GPS nav unit. Every few months I take the Garmin nav unit into my house and plug it's usb cord into my PC for the free software and map updates. This works for us. We happy
Thank you for your advice. Again, I'm new to most here but excited to start on modifying certain things on my Prius. Big help!
I'm seeing a pattern with many of the users on here at the navigation advice! haha. Thanks alot for your advice
There are so many advising against the Nav so I feel the need to give you some pro Nav advice if that is what you want to do. I really like my built-in Nav unit with the GPS, SAT radio, CD player, AM, FM and Aux USB. The GPS is not nearly as friendly as Garmin but it works just fine. The many different audio sources is nice to choose from. The built-in convenience is especially nice. No devices to hide, no external cables, etc. So good luck on your decision.
Thank you for your thoughts. Really, I just wanted to update the Prius since it didn't have any navigation unit or anything to make it look more updated....I may still go with a nav unit, but maybe not the one from ebay : /
I updated my Base II model with a Kenwood eXcelon HU using Garmin Nav. It is not as cheap as the ebay item you looked at, but has worked without flaw and has free updates. My link is for the total install which was extensive, but the HU can be installed alone. Good luck what ever you do. frodoz Stereo Upgrade | PriusChat
