Navigation System

[MSMcCarthy1]

I purchased my 2008 Highlander Sport 4WD Edition with the Leather Seat package but without a navigation system. Does anyone know the make/model of the navigation system that Toyota has factory installed????

[PLamarine]

Originally Posted by MSMcCarthy1

I purchased my 2008 Highlander Sport 4WD Edition with the Leather Seat package but without a navigation system. Does anyone know the make/model of the navigation system that Toyota has factory installed????

Get a Garmin C340 instead...$230 and you can take it on vacation, put in another car....Take the extra $1500 + and go on vacation!

[DenverBrian]

While this website doesn't seem to have the '08 Highlander nav available yet, they probably will soon if anyone will:

http://www.oemvalue.com/toyota2.htm

[PIONEERSUBY]

oem value only gets navigation systems from toyota vehicles assembled in usa. mainly camry and solara. so i dont think they will be getting any highlander navs which are assembled in japan. i think oem value gets new toyota nav units that are tested and dont pass quality inspections. hence he sells without warranty. that is only my opinion after observing his sales techniques the last 4 years. he never says where he gets his navs from . he also answers no emails. and his phone number connot be found on any of the internet search sites. so if you have a problem with hyour nav sale from oem value he will be hard to track down.



as far as buying a 230.00 portable nav unit that is like not ordering a factory sound system and just glueing a boombox to the daSH. if you wanted a 230.00 nav unit stuck to top of dash then you would have bought a stripped down carolla where such an accesories glued to the dash would be appropriate.

[THL]

I just got a Nuvi 260, it has text to speech capability, I will use a universal cupholder mount for it, my ipod or cell phone, I agree it looks terrible on the dash or window but in a neat mount out of sight...not so bad. The savings over the factory Nav is very substantial for a feature you will use once in awhile
12.99 at amazon---Bracketron Dock-iT Universal Cup Holder Mount



Grip-it adjustable arms
Transfer to multiple vehicles
Quick lock and release
Installs easily into vehicle cup holder and is compatible with most standard size cup holder openings.
Works with Satellite radios, iPods & PDA, GPS Navigation, mobile phones and Blackberry.

[ishan01]

Originally Posted by DenverBrian

While this website doesn't seem to have the '08 Highlander nav available yet, they probably will soon if anyone will:

http://www.oemvalue.com/toyota2.htm

Never go to the www.OEMvalue.com, You will cry after dealing with them.

[ishan01]

Originally Posted by PIONEERSUBY

oem value only gets navigation systems from toyota vehicles assembled in usa. mainly camry and solara. so i dont think they will be getting any highlander navs which are assembled in japan. i think oem value gets new toyota nav units that are tested and dont pass quality inspections. hence he sells without warranty. that is only my opinion after observing his sales techniques the last 4 years. he never says where he gets his navs from . he also answers no emails. and his phone number connot be found on any of the internet search sites. so if you have a problem with hyour nav sale from oem value he will be hard to track down.



as far as buying a 230.00 portable nav unit that is like not ordering a factory sound system and just glueing a boombox to the daSH. if you wanted a 230.00 nav unit stuck to top of dash then you would have bought a stripped down carolla where such an accesories glued to the dash would be appropriate.

I COMPLETELY AGREE HERE. THE NAVIGATIONS UNITS FROM OEM VALUE ARE FAULTY ONE AND I HAVE PERSONALLY SUFFRERED. HE WILL TALK TO YOU BEFORE SELLING AND ONCE THE UNIT IS SOLD TO YOU, YOU ARE AT YOUR OWN.

[ishan01]

Originally Posted by MSMcCarthy1

I purchased my 2008 Highlander Sport 4WD Edition with the Leather Seat package but without a navigation system. Does anyone know the make/model of the navigation system that Toyota has factory installed????

OEM VALUE GUYS WILL TRY TO PRAISE THEIR NAIGATION UNITS BY CHANGING THEIR IDENTITY IN SUCH FORUMS AND TRY TO BUILD THE TRUST FOR OEM VALUE. SO BEWARE !!!!

[lucky777]

Don't forget that most of the time for every day driving NAV unit is not used. It is nice to have one handy in a car but it is useless for daily commuting when route is very well known. Once novelty of GPS toy wore out I found myself using it 1-2 times a month the most. Is it worth $3K? Any after market unit will do just well and much better. It doesn't need to be on the way when not in use.

This dash pad is really good for after market units

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000U5TUWE/

As far as PIONEERSUBY's comparison after market GPS to a boombox... I tend to disagree. HL is not a Rolls Royce and not even a Lexus. Many budget minded people buy one, since 2 WD Base model can be had under $25K. Frankly factory NAV system is really loosing to after market in it's main function - navigation. Are you ready to shell out $300 every year for map update DVD or would rather stick with outdated maps in your good looking OEM Nav? I've seen a comment saying that one can update maps every 2 years (still $300 out of the pocket every 2 years...) WRONG! You always need to have latest maps on your unit because you'll use not on the well known route but in unfamiliar surroundings and need to make sure that maps are up to date! Does it have TTS (Text to Speech with street name pronunciation)? Can it receive traffic updates and automatically re-route because of traffic jam ahead (TMS)? Many after market $300 units do that, why OEM unit costing 10 times that doesn't? After market units getting cheaper and add new functionality by the day. Why do you want to invest $3K in technology that so obviously overpriced, already outdated, and not upgradeable?

Garmin Nuvi 660 with Bluetooth, TMS, TTS, fresh maps, and best routing software is only $330 at Amazon today, try to beat that!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H49LXQ/


Built-in navigation systems increase the depreciation of a car or truck, a startling fact that has some car companies rethinking their approach to the $2,000 factory-installed systems.
"Navigation could be like cellphones built into cars in the '70s and '80s; those big, blocky phones that nobody has now. Everybody has a small, personal cellphone," says John Krafcik, vice president for product development at Hyundai Motor America.

Toyota plans to announce later this year that it will offer lower-price, "entry-level navigation on some models," says Paul Williamsen, product education specialist who oversees training of dealership employees and recently was named manager of what Toyota calls Lexus College.

Honda's own lender, American Honda Finance, shows navigation-equipped models are worth 1 percentage point less as used cars than non-navigation models, Watts says, though "five years ago, they were at the ALG level of 2 or 3 points difference."



http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...ale-usat_N.htm

[mark069]

If you live in or near a large urban center, you will regularly use your GPS unit. Having one built in to the dash makes theft less appealing and more difficult. Also, I looked into aftermarket units with a comparable screen size to the toyota in dash unit and the cost starts to become comparable. Your paying for the large touch screen which I think is much better than a small button controlled hand held......

[wwing49]

Although I have GPS, I debate whether or not it is worth it. On one hand it is nice to always have it in the car, ready to go. If you are going to go on an unexpected errand it's wonderful. It's also nice not having cords everywhere if you're a neat freak like me. It's also really nice to have the features that aren't really advertised; the maintenance menu is great and bluetooth dialing with speed dial is great to have as well.

On the other hand, having an external is nice because of the traffic updates. One problem is that some GPS units will charge for the map updates and in all honesty, the portable GPS companies all buy their map data from someone else (TeleNAV etc.). Map data isn't always up to date on the portables and you have to make the conscience effort to bring the GPS into your house (risk forgetting to bring it back to the car) connecting to your computer and dealing with frustrating, underdeveloped software.

Just sayin'.

I do think that the Dash GPS unit that just came out would be sweet but I'm fully satisfied with having the built in. Clean lines and no clutter is well worth the everyday satisfaction.

[Barklessdog]

Originally Posted by ishan01

OEM VALUE GUYS WILL TRY TO PRAISE THEIR NAVIGATION UNITS BY CHANGING THEIR IDENTITY IN SUCH FORUMS AND TRY TO BUILD THE TRUST FOR OEM VALUE. SO BEWARE !!!!

They should be banned and their posts deleted then.

[gsman73]

I was I the aftermarket electronics industry for years and to this day I still belive that there are pros and cons to both units, on one hand in my opinion i fell the stock nav looks great compaired to an aftermarket one especially if your changing the radio I fell the metra kit looks really bad. The factory nav has great features for one the big screen built in bluetooth 4 disc changer In dash and a few others but I don't like the black out of features while driving and yes I know that can be bypassed but its a new car and I don't want to rip it apart yet and also the sound quality of aftermarket equipment is to me better aswell. I still after saying all that fell that my factory nav was still the best way to go, I also has rear seat DVD that I love to watch up front for now only when im parked but that will change soon.