It seems to me that the GPS that will be offered on the 2002 could be installed the same way. Granted, at a very high price, but compared to breaking a 3 year lease in the 1st year, probably very cheap. (I know, because I am going through that now with my 99 Suburban) I would think the wiring, and maybe the ECU is in place for the GPS, all that is needed is the storage module for the maps, etc and the GPS antenna. Does anyone have any information on why this wouldn't work?

I spoke with Toyota (the higher ups), and was told that the wiring harness for the GPS (NAV) system is NOT in place in the 2001 Prius and the option will NOT be available. Same for the cruise control. <br>My plan; get the 2001 due in 3-4 weeks, Get first on the list for the 2002 with GPS, Cruise, 6-CD changer, new color etc., and when the 2002 arrives, I should be able to unload the 2001 for very little loss of investment (assuming the wait period is still 3-4 months.)

This is exactly my plan. I paid cash for my car since most of the money came from an inherited car I sold. I plan to keep it in tip-top shape (meaning my wife won't be driving it) and sell it and get the 2002 model if it has those options (GPS & cruise) available for my final car. I felt I needed to purchase this car now because I had a strong urge to support the hybrid car movement. <br><br>We hybrid buyers believe it or not should really be proud of ourselves. We are trendsetters and since these cars are not being heavily advertised we are there ambassadors. Heck, we may need to ask for some of our money back for the free advertising.

&gt; Does anyone have any information on why this <br>&gt; wouldn't work?<br>No reason it "won't" work - <br>BUT<br>The GPS antenna is UNDER the center of the dash - just in "front" (behind, car front to back wise) of the high-center display. Getting there is a 4 to 6 HOUR issue unless there is a "secret" way other than disassembling the ENTIRE dashboard.<br>At $65 per hour (or whatever shop time is these days) that's a LOT on top of the cost of the GPS (price unknown for sure) and the possible additional cost for the DVD database.<br>If you decide to have the OEM GPS added in, please keep the group updated as to the $$ and the hassle.<br><br>Thanks!<br>Bill Powell

&gt; I spoke with Toyota (the higher ups), and was<br>&gt; told that the wiring harness for the GPS (NAV) <br>&gt; system is NOT in place in the 2001 Prius and <br>&gt; the option will NOT be available.<br>&gt; Same for the cruise control. <br>Gee... That's funny. There is a LEAST one, HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL cruise add-on that was completely plug and play: ALL the wires were present.<br><br>So much for the higher-ups knowng diddley-squat! <br>Bill Powell

I recently acquired the shop manuals and a very interesting book titles Prius New Car Features May, 2000. It definitely shows the GPS system as a part of the integrated system on the Prius. The ECU is under the passenger's seat with a DVD which contains the information for the map. The antenna is located either in or on the dash just to the left of the "Meter" (the speedometer) display. There is also an extensive list of screens and procedures for its use. It also has a speaker attached which provides voice queues for the driver. The speaker is in the left door. All cables appear to be in place (I looked) except for the connection to the Navigation ECU, the antenna, and the speaker cable from the connector in the door. There is even a maintenance procedure for fault diagnosis in one of the shop manuals. I think it is real and plan to order one from my dealer. He was not sure of the exact price but told me it would be about $2500.<br><br>I am also an software/electronics engineer and have the electrical schematics. It appears that the actual interface to the Multi-information Display is not too much different from that on a personal computer. The timings look very much like the timings for a standard video display, indicating things like appropriately interfaced VCRs or laptops could use the Navigation port as a display. I will be investigating more and will keep the group informed.

&gt; rpcroston said:<br>&lt;snip&gt;<br>&gt; (book) shows the GPS system<br>Yep - sure does.. Good luck! Please take pictures!<br><br>&lt;snip&gt;<br>&gt; antenna is located either in or on the dash<br>Under - dash and steering column removal are necessary according to the repair manual.<br><br>&lt;snip&gt;<br>&gt; cables appear to be in place (I looked) except <br>&gt; for the connection to the Navigation ECU, the <br>&gt; antenna, and the speaker cable from the <br>&gt; connector in the door<br>I think that those needed cables are all that there are for the Nav. Need to remove passenger seat and carprting to run the cables.<br>Um... Did you look under the passenger seat? There were NO "spare" cables laying about under the two seats I checked.<br><br>Last wet blanket: The nav database is on DVD and, since there appears to be no "regionalization" as in the Rockwell unit, the entire North America map, intersection and facilities database needs to be on ONE DVD! There is easily several orders of MORE data in teh nav system than in whatever CD based map programs I have seen to-date.<br>AFAIK - there isn't a single-disc, North America nav, intersection and facility data DVD available for the Toyota system, although I'm sure someone is working on it.<br><br>Finally - Yes - there are RGB, Sync (640x480 VGA? std) terminals on the multi display for TV, parking camera and Nav - but only available in Japan. If anyone has success with the RGB input, please let me know. I'm slowly working on a "Bambi early warning system" (I.R. sensitive, cooled CCD camera).<br>Bill Powell

Hmmm, the Toyota GPS sounds amazingly like the Honda Navigation system that's in my 2000 Odyssey. I haven't double checked but it seems that the touch screen in the Prius is identical to the one in the Odyssey (except the location of the function keys). The DVD based navigation ECU sits under the front passenger seat of the Odyssey suggesting a similar form factor. The Honda touch screen is multipurpose and controls the air conditioning as well as the Nav unit. Since it is not uncommon for Japanese manufacturers to "outsource" this type of equipment (the Honda System is customized Alpine NVE-N851A system from what I can tell), they could well be compatible. If they are, it is possible that it would be cheaper to install the Honda Nav ECU. Honda's a factory option at $2000 vs the $2500 Priusman has bandied about (amazing since the Honda option includes the expensive ($600+) touch screen which is already standard in the Prius). Another option is Alpine's retail DVD PowerNav system (<a href=http://www.alpine1.com/html/nve_n851a.html target=new>http://www.alpine1.com/html/nve_n851a.html</a>) which lists at $2000 without a display. Given the right information, a knowlegable tech could probably integrate it with the existing hardware in the Prius. I wouldn't be too surprised if the data connection for the Toyota system is compatible with the Alpine Ai-Net Feature of the N851A.<br> <br>WaltR

Cool! I want to know.