If I'm looking at this correctly, it seems that navigation is only available for package 7's and above. Am I correct? Feature wise, I can live with a Package 3, but jumping up to a 7 adds quite a few thousand dollars. We're talking from $25k to $29k jump! However looking at the Civic Hybrid, I could get Navigation with for about $24k... of course I'll loose the backup camera and a few other cool features that's Prius exclusive, but MPG-wise they pretty much give the same average figures in daily driving conditions. Hmm. I hope I'm wrong in thinking there's no Package 3 or 4 w/NAV. <_<
Don't know about you but I'm 6' 3". I can't begin to fit in a Civic. Don't like the layout either. Just feels cramped, no headroom, etc. Go with the lower package Prius for the extra room and get the bigger tax credit. Then, buy an aftermarket NAV system. It's cheaper and probably better anyway. IMHO... The Toyota NAV isn't all that great 'cause the updates are mega $$$. Plus, you can't do any programing unless the car is at a standstill.
Well I think they should offer the Nav on a sub $26k car to complete with the '06 Civic in that regard. Perhaps they'll do this for the '07 year. In anycase, I'll continue my research. I probably can live without NAV... hmmm rear fold-down seats or NAV. I think I'll get more use out of the rear folding seats.
You may have just talked me out of the Toyota NAV.... how much are the updates? I thought once you get the NAV, it's pretty much free to use. Are you referring to the new DVD updates?
I would love NAV... but, it's $2500 from my package 5 to package 7... plus about 150 more for sales tax... that's a lot for a nav system that doesn't let you touch the screen while in motion. One day, most cars have NAV screens with up to the minute traffic flow, accident markers, mcDonalds, etc... I would have thought $400 for the nav would be plenty. they must need their R&D dollars back. The screen's already in the car, you just need the logic board, a small hard drive and 50 bucks for an antenna... I'd love to have it, but 2500 bucks gets me hid lights and nav. It'll come down, it's not run of the mill in most cars yet.
I'm sure there's got to be many more additions you're paying for to go from a Package 3 to a 7 besides just the NAV and HID lights.
Package #7 -- includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags [2], anti-theft system and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® [5] universal transceiver, Smart Key System, backup camera [3], Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) [4], High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps, JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations, auxiliary audio jack, MP3/WMA playback capability and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® [6] wireless technology, and voice-activated DVD navigation system [7] Package #3 -- includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags [2], AM/FM CD with six speakers, auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability, Smart Key System, and backup camera [3] There's quite a lot more "toys" you're getting with Package 7. I wouldn't say the entire $2500 is wasted... unless of course the other items are useless to you. I'm sure if I had those features, I'll make some use out of them, but I can live with out them. I'm in no rush to make a purchase. Hopefully I can wait a couple more years or so... but who knows.
I too was rather annoyed that I had to go w/all the extra stuff in package #7 to get a nav system. I've shied away w/aftermarket nav systems for my other car (and previous) car since to me it'd be a big target for theft (unlike ones that are factory installed and won't easily work on any other car). I've seen the Nuvi and was impressed by its small size. Only problem w/systems like that are you've got extra stuff to carry around and worry about charging. If you power it in your car, you got more wires to worry about. I'm already charging my iPod, using the aux in w/the iPod and powering a radar detector. Sometimes I charge a cell phone too. You also have to turn its volume up if you use your car stereo. And then you've got the conflicting goals of small size vs. screen size.
I'm with unruhly on this one. The GPS isn't that good. I have a PDA based system that has more features and better routing but a much smaller screen. Wildkow
