Net4n6 said:
4runnerlady,
Congrats on your new 4Runner. How do you like the new stereo w/ TomTom nav. I am thinking about replace it with my stock. I want Nav on mine but don't like the suction cup option.
In general I like the TomTom system. I've used GPS in the backcountry for hiking and skiing for many years (currently using an Etrex Vista, I think). However, I've never had a car-based Nav system before. I like the driver's view of the road on the Tom Tom. Since I've only been driving around home and work thus far, I haven't really tested the route finding yet. I take a lot of non-obvious shortcuts. It was nice to be able to take the unit inside the house, hook it up to my computer, download and install the latest update to the system. This was free. I think you have to pay for new maps and points of interest (at least at some incremental point) but when you purchase them, they are available for immediate upload to your unit.
There are two issues that remain unsolved. First, my Sirius radio bands are labelled XM rather than Sirius. They are definitely Sirius since I activated by calling the Sirius number and the ID for the unit is labelled as a Sirius ID on the screen. The second issue is that I cannot get my iPhone (or iPod) to play through the radio other than using my old FM transmitter.
The manual mentions an optional iPod cable but Toyota does not have this listed and the tech support at Eclipse won't tell me if the same cable works for the Toyota version as for the after market version. They told me I have to work with the dealer. The AUX port in the console also does not appear to work with the TomTom unit. I am working with the dealer to try to figure this out since mine is the first unit they've seen. Ah the perks of being an early adapter. Presumably if you buy the aftermarket Eclipse unit you can actually get tech support from them.
It's great having a touch screen to operate the radio and nav; and it's very visible from the driver's seat (very bright). But then having an iPhone, I am very partial to touch screens. The sound is better than my 2003 Tacoma but that wouldn't take much since I had a very base level 4 year old Sirius after market radio with the original base level speaker system. Sirius in particular sounds very good on the TomTom unit.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, pairing my phone with the Bluetooth system was very easy. And my address book was copied over during the pairing process. I don't like to drive and talk on the phone, however. So I probably won't be using the Bluetooth system very often. Still it's handy to have when you need it. I can touch the screen to make a call or answer a call but I haven't found a way yet to make a call by speaking to the TomTom. But then the iPhone itself doesn't support that directly.
