J.D.Vandemark
New member
I am thinking about buying a 2003 V8 LTD, unsure about the nav, system.
is the Nav. System worth it....
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Diablo3305
New member
depends.. I didn't get it, but if you travel alot and have need for directions often then maybe...i heard it calculates routes 6 times faster than other nav systems, so its pretty decent. Got good reviews if i remember, its just justifying the cost that is a problem....for 2 grand, and a new hassle for loading cd's, its not worth it to me....
peter78
Super Moderator
How does it work?
Does the system know where you are by using GPS and then tell you with a voice of where to turn? If so, is it a womens voice or a mans? Or am I way off and it works a totally different way? Also, how good does it work, I have heard the system in the Lexus RX300 is not very good. Forgive my stupid questions, but I grew up pre-VCR, pre-color TV and I even remember cooking popcorn on the stove instead of a microwave.
Does the system know where you are by using GPS and then tell you with a voice of where to turn? If so, is it a womens voice or a mans? Or am I way off and it works a totally different way? Also, how good does it work, I have heard the system in the Lexus RX300 is not very good. Forgive my stupid questions, but I grew up pre-VCR, pre-color TV and I even remember cooking popcorn on the stove instead of a microwave.
OK Peter
For the week I have been using the Nav, you enter your destination and it takes a second to route the directions telling you 3 ways you press enter and it tells you step by step how you go and if you miss your street or exit it reroutes the directions, it will just keep rerouting it, no possible way you could get lost.
The system is great you don't even need it to lead you the whole way if you know the way half way you can drive it then pull over cause you have to stop in order to use the Nav and then enter the address and the Nav will route you the rest of the way.
So now you are in some are and have no idea how to get home just hit the return home button and the Nav routes you a way home
The system has a womens voice, not that hard to use just need to read the manual.
The system uses the GPS to pin point where you are and when you enter the destination it marks it from where you are, anywhere.
The system does it in under seconds
For the week I have been using the Nav, you enter your destination and it takes a second to route the directions telling you 3 ways you press enter and it tells you step by step how you go and if you miss your street or exit it reroutes the directions, it will just keep rerouting it, no possible way you could get lost.
The system is great you don't even need it to lead you the whole way if you know the way half way you can drive it then pull over cause you have to stop in order to use the Nav and then enter the address and the Nav will route you the rest of the way.
So now you are in some are and have no idea how to get home just hit the return home button and the Nav routes you a way home
The system has a womens voice, not that hard to use just need to read the manual.
The system uses the GPS to pin point where you are and when you enter the destination it marks it from where you are, anywhere.
The system does it in under seconds
J.D.Vandemark
New member
Thanks EDGE for the reply...
i have put in an order for a Black/Taupe V8 LTD. with every option, so now i have to wait 6 to 8 weeks. This will be my third 4runner. I had an 89 V6 ,97 LTD. and i have also had 99 LX470.
i have put in an order for a Black/Taupe V8 LTD. with every option, so now i have to wait 6 to 8 weeks. This will be my third 4runner. I had an 89 V6 ,97 LTD. and i have also had 99 LX470.
peter78
Super Moderator
How does it work?
Edge, thanks for your reply. The system sounds really neat. I guess I will get a nav. system in my next car or SUV.
Everytime I enter a new State I stop at the Welcome Center and pick up a new map. I guess you don't need to that anymore, but you will miss the free Orange juice when you don't stop at the Florida Welcome Center.
Edge, thanks for your reply. The system sounds really neat. I guess I will get a nav. system in my next car or SUV.
Everytime I enter a new State I stop at the Welcome Center and pick up a new map. I guess you don't need to that anymore, but you will miss the free Orange juice when you don't stop at the Florida Welcome Center.
No problem you 2
J.D.Vandemark
you are one loyal Toyota customer, before this 4Runner I had 2 Pathfinders a 96SE and a 2000LE I still have, the quality is way better on the 4Runner than my Pathfinders just all the little things that add up even the matching spare
If your getting the beige interior I would get rubber mats cause the beige in my Pathfinder kills me, every little mark shows up.
I have the rubber mats with the gray in my 4runner.
Enjoy the truck when you get it.
peter78
you can still stop for the Orange Juice good to keep yourself hydrated
the system maps the whole US and Canada
Just to give you guys an idea my brother is going to the Arnold Classic in Ohio, he entered in the address and it gave directions right to, direct route.
Enjoy the ride man
The system is great no complicated just need to read a little and play with it
J.D.Vandemark
you are one loyal Toyota customer, before this 4Runner I had 2 Pathfinders a 96SE and a 2000LE I still have, the quality is way better on the 4Runner than my Pathfinders just all the little things that add up even the matching spare
If your getting the beige interior I would get rubber mats cause the beige in my Pathfinder kills me, every little mark shows up.
I have the rubber mats with the gray in my 4runner.
Enjoy the truck when you get it.
peter78
you can still stop for the Orange Juice good to keep yourself hydrated
the system maps the whole US and Canada Just to give you guys an idea my brother is going to the Arnold Classic in Ohio, he entered in the address and it gave directions right to, direct route.
Enjoy the ride man
The system is great no complicated just need to read a little and play with it
J.D.Vandemark
New member
EDGE i am semi loyal....
after the LX470 i had, I switched to Mercedes SLK230 and then to my current car 2001 Mercedes CLK55 AMG. In hindsight i should have kept the LX470. The Navigation System that Mercedes uses is not very good. The system is still CD Rom base so you have 10 or so CD's to cover the US.
after the LX470 i had, I switched to Mercedes SLK230 and then to my current car 2001 Mercedes CLK55 AMG. In hindsight i should have kept the LX470. The Navigation System that Mercedes uses is not very good. The system is still CD Rom base so you have 10 or so CD's to cover the US.
Diablo3305
New member
EDGE said:
really? i might be going there actually....not sure yet...gotta see what I have going on with school and if I can get the money
Nav Systems
I got my first in-dash Nav system when I bought a 2001 Acura 3.2 CL Type S in May'00. I've used it to travel up and down the East Coast from NH to GA. When I went shopping for an SUV to replace my sporty coupe, I began with the requirement that it come equipped with a Nav system.
Having used the Acura ('00 vintage) system for years and the Toyota ('03 vintage) for three weeks, there are some obvious differences.
The Toyota system is lightning fast compared to the old Acura. While noticeable when establishing a route, it really shines when recalculating on the fly. The Acura would often need so much time to figure out a new route, you would be past the desired "next turn" before it told you to turn ... so it would have to recalculate all over again. And again. Etc. The Toyota '03 recalculates the route in about a second.
The Acura system worked all the time. The Toyota system cuts out most functions when the vehicle is in motion. While obviously an attempt to prevent drivers from playing around with the dashboard while driving 80mph on the highway or slaloming through a school zone, it is incredibly annoying. If you want to do anything useful, you literally need to pull over to the side of the road to get directions. The Acura would let you risk life and limb as if you were an adult capable of making your own decisions in life. The lack of "on the move" programming in the Toyota is all the more frustrating when there is a passenger in the car and that person is also estopped from using the Nav system while the vehicle is moving. If there is an option panel somewhere which shuts this "feature" off I haven't found it.
In the Acura, the Nav system doubled as the HVAC control; in the Toyota, it doubles as the stereo. The Acura system was better because you had full stereo control on the dash at all times, while you would leave temperature control to the automatic climate control system. The Toyota method makes dealing with stereo functions rather kludgy feeling ... and it requires you to diddle with the buttons on the touch screen. Why it is safe to diddle with the buttons to change radio stations while driving 80mph is beyond me, but you can do that even though you can't use the navigation functions.
The Acura system let you search for addresses by city and state; the Toyota system uses "regions" which are made up of half a dozen or so states each. This can be confusing if you want to find "400 Broadway" because there are a whole lot of Broadways in a given region.
The Toyota system has great on-screen features; there are many configurable map views providing different means of showing you where you are, where you're going, and how to get there. You can even do a split screen to look at two places (or two magnification levels) simultaneously.
The on-screen ergonomics of the Toyota system are better than the '00 Acura, but the overall ergonomics are not as good. The on-screen "soft" buttons are located a fraction of an inch from various off-screen "hard" buttons on the dashboard. It is very common to hit a "hard" button when you meant to hit the touchscreen. I've sent the screen into Open mode, changed stereo settings, etc. when simply trying to adjust the scale of the map with a soft button.
The Toyota system has a built-in maintenance calendar (you tell it when you need oil, filters, brakes, shocks, etc. serviced and it reminds you on-screen to get it done). I was very surprised that my dealer didn't set it up for my first scheduled service automatically.
The Toyota system also has a "memo" calendar if you want to use your $40k+ car as a PDA.
Overall, the Toyota '03 system is far superior to the Acura '00 system, although there are features of the Acura system that I miss. And in fairness, the '03 Acura system (as tested on an MDX we considered buying) has new features of its own, including a "bread crumb" map (when you are offroad, it generates a track of your travel so you can find your way back to the main road); voice control (so you can operate the system while driving without taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel); and a rear-view camera system (when the vehicle is in Reverse, the Nav screen is replaced with an image from a digital lens mounted to the rear of the vehicle).
Hope this helps. Stay safe ...
I got my first in-dash Nav system when I bought a 2001 Acura 3.2 CL Type S in May'00. I've used it to travel up and down the East Coast from NH to GA. When I went shopping for an SUV to replace my sporty coupe, I began with the requirement that it come equipped with a Nav system.
Having used the Acura ('00 vintage) system for years and the Toyota ('03 vintage) for three weeks, there are some obvious differences.
The Toyota system is lightning fast compared to the old Acura. While noticeable when establishing a route, it really shines when recalculating on the fly. The Acura would often need so much time to figure out a new route, you would be past the desired "next turn" before it told you to turn ... so it would have to recalculate all over again. And again. Etc. The Toyota '03 recalculates the route in about a second.
The Acura system worked all the time. The Toyota system cuts out most functions when the vehicle is in motion. While obviously an attempt to prevent drivers from playing around with the dashboard while driving 80mph on the highway or slaloming through a school zone, it is incredibly annoying. If you want to do anything useful, you literally need to pull over to the side of the road to get directions. The Acura would let you risk life and limb as if you were an adult capable of making your own decisions in life. The lack of "on the move" programming in the Toyota is all the more frustrating when there is a passenger in the car and that person is also estopped from using the Nav system while the vehicle is moving. If there is an option panel somewhere which shuts this "feature" off I haven't found it.
In the Acura, the Nav system doubled as the HVAC control; in the Toyota, it doubles as the stereo. The Acura system was better because you had full stereo control on the dash at all times, while you would leave temperature control to the automatic climate control system. The Toyota method makes dealing with stereo functions rather kludgy feeling ... and it requires you to diddle with the buttons on the touch screen. Why it is safe to diddle with the buttons to change radio stations while driving 80mph is beyond me, but you can do that even though you can't use the navigation functions.
The Acura system let you search for addresses by city and state; the Toyota system uses "regions" which are made up of half a dozen or so states each. This can be confusing if you want to find "400 Broadway" because there are a whole lot of Broadways in a given region.
The Toyota system has great on-screen features; there are many configurable map views providing different means of showing you where you are, where you're going, and how to get there. You can even do a split screen to look at two places (or two magnification levels) simultaneously.
The on-screen ergonomics of the Toyota system are better than the '00 Acura, but the overall ergonomics are not as good. The on-screen "soft" buttons are located a fraction of an inch from various off-screen "hard" buttons on the dashboard. It is very common to hit a "hard" button when you meant to hit the touchscreen. I've sent the screen into Open mode, changed stereo settings, etc. when simply trying to adjust the scale of the map with a soft button.
The Toyota system has a built-in maintenance calendar (you tell it when you need oil, filters, brakes, shocks, etc. serviced and it reminds you on-screen to get it done). I was very surprised that my dealer didn't set it up for my first scheduled service automatically.
The Toyota system also has a "memo" calendar if you want to use your $40k+ car as a PDA.
Overall, the Toyota '03 system is far superior to the Acura '00 system, although there are features of the Acura system that I miss. And in fairness, the '03 Acura system (as tested on an MDX we considered buying) has new features of its own, including a "bread crumb" map (when you are offroad, it generates a track of your travel so you can find your way back to the main road); voice control (so you can operate the system while driving without taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel); and a rear-view camera system (when the vehicle is in Reverse, the Nav screen is replaced with an image from a digital lens mounted to the rear of the vehicle).
Hope this helps. Stay safe ...
Nav = No CD Changer
You should be aware that if you get the Nav system in the '03 4Runner, you lose the in-dash CD changer, as there isn't room for both in the space available. Apparently some salespeople don't realize this, creating some disappointed customers when it's discovered.
You should be aware that if you get the Nav system in the '03 4Runner, you lose the in-dash CD changer, as there isn't room for both in the space available. Apparently some salespeople don't realize this, creating some disappointed customers when it's discovered.
J.D.Vandemark
Wow man nice cars, the LX470 was what I most likely would have got if the 4runner did not go through such a change As for your SLK230 that is a nice car but Im not crazy about those small cars but the CLK55 AMG is on my list of cars to own
My sister is going to get a C230 Kompressor and she wants Nav, I just hope it is not the CD based version.
Since you had an LX why not get a GX.
Diablo3305
So are you into bodybuilding cause my brother has tickets to meet Arnold, he wants to be Mr. Olympia I just want to be huge and have a lot of money Anyway so far he is spending about over a grand to go their
ToddG
Impressive comparison, now since you had 2 cars with Nav would you ever get a car without it, the only thing I wish the 4Runner had was the back up camera.
khaug
Several salesamn told me that the Nav came with 6 disc but when I was home and reading the manual I realized it did not but I have no problem, I never intended to get Nav they just happen to have the only truck with Nav so I took it, never liked the idea of putting so many CD in the unit, read to many times of people systems getting jamed
Wow man nice cars, the LX470 was what I most likely would have got if the 4runner did not go through such a change
As for your SLK230 that is a nice car but Im not crazy about those small cars but the CLK55 AMG is on my list of cars to own My sister is going to get a C230 Kompressor and she wants Nav, I just hope it is not the CD based version.
Since you had an LX why not get a GX.
Diablo3305
So are you into bodybuilding cause my brother has tickets to meet Arnold, he wants to be Mr. Olympia
I just want to be huge and have a lot of money Anyway so far he is spending about over a grand to go their ToddG
Impressive comparison, now since you had 2 cars with Nav would you ever get a car without it, the only thing I wish the 4Runner had was the back up camera.
khaug
Several salesamn told me that the Nav came with 6 disc but when I was home and reading the manual I realized it did not but I have no problem, I never intended to get Nav they just happen to have the only truck with Nav so I took it, never liked the idea of putting so many CD in the unit, read to many times of people systems getting jamed
Diablo3305
New member
EDGE said:
Diablo3305
So are you into bodybuilding cause my brother has tickets to meet Arnold, he wants to be Mr. Olympia
wow...im into bodybuilding, but not enough to spend a grand..i might just go to the expo if i go.
J.D.Vandemark
New member
hey EDGE,
i wanted to get away from the Luxury cars. 40k is enough to put in to a vehicle. it has taken me serval years to come to realize they're not worth it. having to worry about where to park, when to drive in certain weather. i will definetly miss the power of CLK55, but it was bound to get me into trouble one of these days.
i wanted to get away from the Luxury cars. 40k is enough to put in to a vehicle. it has taken me serval years to come to realize they're not worth it. having to worry about where to park, when to drive in certain weather. i will definetly miss the power of CLK55, but it was bound to get me into trouble one of these days.
4Runner2003
New member
Hey Khaug
I just want to make sure I really understood what you said about the CD Changer. I ordered my 2003 4Runner LTD 4WD w/ NAV and 2 sales people at Toyota stated there was a CD Changer with the NAV system. I asked them to make sure there was a changer with the NAV system. Even another sales guy stated that the NAV system is really not 2k but $1500 because you get a CD changer with it.
And does anyone know why Toyota isn't producing Black 4Runner LTD's. I could get any other color with the options I wanted, but not in Black. So I had to special order it and wait 8 - 12 weeks. But it is worth the wait
I just want to make sure I really understood what you said about the CD Changer. I ordered my 2003 4Runner LTD 4WD w/ NAV and 2 sales people at Toyota stated there was a CD Changer with the NAV system. I asked them to make sure there was a changer with the NAV system. Even another sales guy stated that the NAV system is really not 2k but $1500 because you get a CD changer with it.
And does anyone know why Toyota isn't producing Black 4Runner LTD's. I could get any other color with the options I wanted, but not in Black. So I had to special order it and wait 8 - 12 weeks. But it is worth the wait
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4Runner2003 said:Hey Khaug
I just want to make sure I really understood what you said about the CD Changer. I ordered my 2003 4Runner LTD 4WD w/ NAV and 2 sales people at Toyota stated there was a CD Changer with the NAV system. I asked them to make sure there was a changer with the NAV system. Even another sales guy stated that the NAV system is really not 2k but $1500 because you get a CD changer with it.
And does anyone know why Toyota isn't producing Black 4Runner LTD's. I could get any other color with the options I wanted, but not in Black. So I had to special order it and wait 8 - 12 weeks. But it is worth the wait
As far as I know, there is NO CD changer that comes w/ the NAV. The only thing you can get the the NAV is a single CD & tape deck as standard.
And for the Black LTD 4Runners, I saw one with NAV (but was one of the salesmans). No clue if he special ordered it though. At least you've seen the 4Runners with NAV. I haven't seen any at all, except for that one.
4Runner2003
New member
Thanks TLuuV ....I think LOL
So the 10 speaker system is not included as well. I think I am gonna have a little chat with my sales guy tomorrow. I wish I joined this group last month before I ordered it.
Well, I guess I'll have to some how put in my Alpine system that is in my 98 4Runner.....and if that is the case, I'll get to keep the XM Radio (satelite) which really is awesome that Toyota isn't offering yet.
So the 10 speaker system is not included as well. I think I am gonna have a little chat with my sales guy tomorrow. I wish I joined this group last month before I ordered it.
Well, I guess I'll have to some how put in my Alpine system that is in my 98 4Runner.....and if that is the case, I'll get to keep the XM Radio (satelite) which really is awesome that Toyota isn't offering yet.
No problem 4Runner2003.
Check out the thread that Thai provided
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3
It has all the information that you'd need when it comes to information about the 4Runner. Especially the pdf. I certainly helped me out. When I approached the dealer, I was telling him everything about the truck. And I mean EVERYTHING. He was soon telling me that I should work there. haha
Check out the thread that Thai provided
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3
It has all the information that you'd need when it comes to information about the 4Runner. Especially the pdf. I certainly helped me out. When I approached the dealer, I was telling him everything about the truck. And I mean EVERYTHING. He was soon telling me that I should work there. haha
