Should I buy with or w/o Nav

[skipdup]

I know Nav has been discussed to death... I've been reading for hours. But, I haven't really found a good answer and I'm short on time.

I almost bought an '07 4Runner Limited V8 4X4, JBL Synthesis, side air bags, option package B, etc. today, but decided to sleep on it.

I really want(ed) factory navigation/BT/camera, but none of the V8 Limiteds in the area (San Antonio, TX) have it. I'm told 6 - 8 weeks to get one.

Dealer is offering $500 over invoice and very attractive lease rate (I hate "buying") for the one on the lot.

I'm trying to decide whether to take what's available and either add the oemvalue.com or an aftermarket system -- or, wait for a v8 Limited with Nav to arrive at the dealer, pay more than $500 (unknown how much more) and possibly higher lease money factor/interest rate.

On a side note, I'm kind of ticked the gulf states won't bring Limiteds with XREAS and load leveling. I was told 6 - 8 MONTHS to get one from Japan.

Any advice, opinions and/or counsel appreciated.

Thanks!!
Skip

 

[Pirate VI]

I would buy it without nav and install it yourself. It is a really easy install, and if you get the JBL then you will be all set from the start just plug and play nav. If you add it yourself it could cost you as little as $1200 or maybe less. Thats what it cost me from eBay and I also have the back up camera. (I have a 2004 unit with green buttons though). But a new OEMVALUE unit is still cheaper than if it came with the truck, and occasionally you see a new unit on eBay that does have the orange buttons that will be cheaper than OEMVALUE either. (orange buttons were not too big of a deal for me but when I bought mine I could have spent 300 more and got a 2006 unit with orange buttons and backup camera for 1500). You just gotta be patient and find the deals on eBay.

If its the color and other options you like, and a good price I would take it, and save money with the nav through the internet.

 

[alaskaman]

Funny you should mention it. I have my self set on a 07 Sport 4WD with Nav for all the reasons you mentioned. The nav unit which comes from the factory is a one disk cd for the entire USA. The back up camera if you add it to a nav after market will cost you more than 2K. The integration into the drivers wheel is especially nice with the factory nav. The bluetooth integration at your fingertips on the wheel is seemless. so for my money I am waiting to see if Japan wants to build it for me. Should know in about a week or two.

 

[Pirate VI]

Funny you should mention it. I have my self set on a 07 Sport 4WD with Nav for all the reasons you mentioned. The nav unit which comes from the factory is a one disk cd for the entire USA. The back up camera if you add it to a nav after market will cost you more than 2K. The integration into the drivers wheel is especially nice with the factory nav. The bluetooth integration at your fingertips on the wheel is seemless. so for my money I am waiting to see if Japan wants to build it for me. Should know in about a week or two.

You can add all that by yourself much cheaper and without all the waiting.
The backup camera is simply an Eclipse Bec106 that is under $150 from eBay. The right side steering wheel controls can be ordered from the dealer for pretty cheap as well.

 

[HiVel-JR]

If I had nav, I probably would have crashed my 4runner by now. To me it is a distraction. I would be playing with the nav screen all the time instead of driving.

I was going to buy a limited with all of the bells and whistles, but decided against it. One was the price for all of that stuff was outrageous and second was the nav stuff gets old and obsolete very quickly in this day and age of computers. Yeah it is great for road trips but if you drive your 4runner to known destinations every day and every weekend you should already know all the short cuts and roads in between. There are not many places I go that I do not know how to get there. Call me old fashioned but I just use maps. I have several in my driver side door pocket.

But on the other hand you will never be truly happy if you buy something you do not want.

I am sure none of this helps you....


cheers

 

[toto]

I think you'll have to answer that question based on how much you travel.

The factory nav is a really nice system, and the backup camera is a really great feature as well.

Pluses for the factory nav:
- Big screen
- "Dead reckoning", which uses wheel sensors to keep moving you on the right course if it loses the satellite signals
- It's always on, as opposed to small on-dash unit that you need to set up each time to use it
- The big screen doubles as a bigger display for other things like audio controls
- The camera

Minuses for the factory nav:
- Cost (for what it does, it's pretty pricey compared to aftermarket units, either in-dash or on-dash)
- You can never upgrade the software on it without changing the hardware, too. You can update the map data, but that's it. New features require new equipment.
- Map updates are expensive (around $200) compared to Garmin/Magellan ($75-$100)
- It can never leave the car, so you can't use a PC to program information in it, or use it in a second car

My previous 2 cars had factory nav. It's nice, but I drove about 27K miles a year and that made it very convenient. My biggest use for it was re-routing around congestion or accidents. ("Hmm... I wonder where that street goes.") Now that I drive less than 10K miles a year, I found that a Garmin StreetPilot 2720 does the job very well for the few times I actually want to have navigation handy for a longer drive.

As a side note, it looks like Toyota is separating the backup camera from the nav in the future, as the 2008 Highlander will have the backup camera whether or not you have nav.

 

[alaskaman]

I considered both and liked the integration . When you say you can order the steering wheel right sided controls when you add a aftermarket nav could you provide more details as I am not sure Toyota is going to accept my build request. thanks.

 

[Kmvreter]

Had to make the same choice when shopping recently for a car.
Decided to skip the nav because we can get a portable unit to use in multiple vehicles. I would still get a portable unit even with one vehicle because it costs less and you can take it with you after the lease (update maps are also cheaper over time.)

 

[alaskaman]

yes I see the pros and cons. As I roll solo these days I did not have that consideration. Also and what made it final for me that a factory nav is covered by insurance and a add on is not....either way the technology has pros and cons....yet something goes wrong it is covered by warranty via Toyota. I should know in a couple weeks if the boys and girls in Japan want to build it into a Sport Edition. Hope so......thanks for the input.

 

[blindside]

having a nav is pretty cool to have, but for me i say get it even without it and see how it goes for you, if you really feel the need for it you can always grab one whether you like OEM or a portable one doesn't matter really, just your own preference.. my wife has a nav on her FX and we rarely use it, i guess i'm a bit of an old school i love driving and finding my way the hard way

 

[skipdup]

I really appreciate all the responses!

Just to update... I found the same (color, LTD, 4WD, V8, etc) truck, but with NAV, sunroof, park pilot and option package C (vs. B) in Austin. I've contacted them and they say they will match the $500 over invoice with the low (.0004) lease factor. Hopefully they play no games with the numbers - I have ZERO tolerance for that.

It looks like I'll have a real option here and actually be able to decide strictly based on whether I want to spend the money for Nav or just go without - vs. availability and uncertainty with the "deal".

Thanks again for all the advice. I'm getting pretty excited.

- Skip

 

[Kmvreter]

Thanks again for all the advice. I'm getting pretty excited.

- Skip

Decisions, decisions.
Oh, the joys of spending money on a T4R!
Good luck with what you decide, it'll be great.

 

[Pirate VI]

I considered both and liked the integration . When you say you can order the steering wheel right sided controls when you add a aftermarket nav could you provide more details as I am not sure Toyota is going to accept my build request. thanks.

I am saying that you add them to a factory nav. I am also suggesting that you add a factory nav, but add it yourself, don't order it with the car. You will save a lot of money. I have the TOYOTA factory nav wit backup camera in my SR5. I added it myself for $1200, much less than Toyota charges for it when you buy it already in the car. I am not saying to go after market (I don't like after market stuff). I am just saying you have the option of ordering a TOYOTA factory nav on the internet and installing it yourself, with all the bells and whistles for less than half the price. Obviously if you found another truck with the nav, and it is better for you to have it built into the payments then go that way.

 

[Pirate VI]

also aftermarket nav, or Toyota nav that you install after you buy the car can be covered by insurance. You just need to call them and let them know that you have it. You will probably need to bring the car to Tire Kingdom or somewhere like it and have them do another inspection (which is free).

however it would not be covered by the warrantee.

 

[alaskaman]

understood. I guess if it comes to that did you say EBay has the fac nav? and I guess Toyota can put it in...Im a doctor not a professional electrician

 

[Pirate VI]

eBay and oemvalue.com have it. if you have jbl already then it is just plug and play, if not it will probably have instructions and the wiring to just make it plug and play. (I dont have jbl, but the guy i bought from on ebay set up all the wiring with labels and everything, it was all straight forward and plug and play except I did need to tap into the reverse wire for the back up camera, and the speed wire for the "dead reckoning". There are writeups on here telling where those wires are. The hardest thing (which i did not find to hard) was wiring the backup camera to the back door, and installing it with the aim correct. (this you may want an installer to do).

 

[ProMed]

I have the oem factory nav/bluetooth/backup camera in my 06 4runner and really do enjoy it a lot. If you do a lot of driving such as myself it is great, and I will never have another car without it.

 

[skipdup]

Another update...

I had the deal worked out with the rep in Austin - I had basically already agreed to the terms. I was on the phone trying to figure out when my wife would be available to run me up there to pick it up. Rep calls back and says he didn't know about tax credits - and then he lowed my payment by $72/month.

Quite frankly, I'm in shock.

Picking it up this afternoon/evening.

Seriously, I'm in shock.

Thanks again for all the help!

Did I mention I'm seriously shocked?

- Skip

 

[kiphartzell]

In my opinion, buy the T4R with the NAVIGATION. You will like it! The OEM 5th Gen nav system (E7008) are really nice and this would be covered with OEM warranty for 3 years. If you are willing to spend $699 to get JBL, then spend the $2450 to get the Nav. Which is really only $1750 more since you are saving the $699 option fee. OEMVALUE sells the E7009 for $1700 and you'll have a lot more time and $$ in collecting all the pieces to make it fully functionally like a factory installed NAV. Besides HU, you will need steering controls, mic kit, camera and a new recessed bezel and a/c control panel. Just not worth it, if you can get it from the get go. Also the OEMVALUE - E7009 will have different backlight color on the push buttons.

 

[Pirate VI]

In my opinion, buy the T4R with the NAVIGATION. You will like it! The OEM 5th Gen nav system (E7008) are really nice and this would be covered with OEM warranty for 3 years. If you are willing to spend $699 to get JBL, then spend the $2450 to get the Nav. Which is really only $1750 more since you are saving the $699 option fee. OEMVALUE sells the E7009 for $1700 and you'll have a lot more time and $$ in collecting all the pieces to make it fully functionally like a factory installed NAV. Besides HU, you will need steering controls, mic kit, camera and a new recessed bezel and a/c control panel. Just not worth it, if you can get it from the get go. Also the OEMVALUE - E7009 will have different backlight color on the push buttons.

Well with that logic I agree that is best, I was never trying to talk anyone out of buying with the car just trying to show that there are other options, sometimes cheaper ones. In my case it was alot cheaper. I got the JBL, Nav, and backup all under $1200, but then again I already have the correct trim piece.

Good luck buying the car, I am sure you will love it.