Does Car Navigation System Get Feature Updates? Why No Rest Stops?

I have finally mastered the GPS navigation on my Tacoma 2017 TRD etc....

I'm driving across country and am kinda surprised that rest stops are not in the list of POI's (points of interest). I truck camp, and it would be really useful to have that.

Do they ever feature update the GPS system to add stuff?

If a better system that maybe has pinch to zoom etc. comes along, can I upgrade my whole system?

Just curious..... JF

 

Your gps actually works????

 

I believe the nav does have updates but you have pay the dealership to do it

 

It’s a Micro SD card

 

You are better of running gaia gps, or maps.me and use that, or just google map, and add in waypoints.. google maps does do offline maps if your worried about data usage, or connectivity..

 

On the 18's you have to get the update from the dealer via a new sim card. I would gues it's the same for the 17's, but not sure. There's another thread about this and on that one they said the new card runs around $135.

 

Taco-Coma Compared to smartphone or marine GPS, the Tacoma GPS is certainly not ideal. The voice thing is a total disaster although I have learned to say the right things to it, I avoid the voice unlike on the smartphone where I can get very specific in my requests and get very specific directions. However, I am driving across the country at the moment and am doing all kinds of intricate small roads etc. The key for me was to learn how to set directions not by "here to there" but by using the MAP to zoom into specific points and "add to route". I have also learned how to insert points along the way, and put them in the right order and delete them from the route, which is crucial. But no its no overly user friendly for sure.

So even thought the system overall sucks, its actually working out very nicely in the end. As a truck camper, I can't overemphasize enough how important it would be to have those rest areas show up on demand, so I will check the updates, and see if they have added that crucial missing feature.

 

When I use my nav I get that type of information along the way including hotels, gas stations, etc. It took a couple of times to get used to how it works, but I'm used to it now. I like it because I don't have to disconnect my phone from the Bluetooth like I do when I use Google maps. For some reason when I use Google maps you can't hear the turn by turn directions if the Bluetooth is connected. Not sure if anyone else has this issue too.

 

Don't have time to dig through the manual, but I thought it was a SD chip that is updated/replaced. SIM is what you have in your cellphone.

 

My bad, it is an SD card and not SIM

 

Don't feel bad …. most folks probably thought the same as you. The SIM in your cellphone is a Subscriber Identity Module. The SD card/chip is just another memory device invented by SANDISK.

I'm trying to get in touch with the dealership on how (and how much $) to update this thing. Anyone out there gone through this? And do you have to go through the dealership?

 

I love my truck but the infotainment system on the Taco really sucks hard. It is something from 1999 not 2019. Is Toyota too cheap to put in Andriod/Apple CarPlay?

 

I wish it had apple carplay!

 

I think they only update the maps on the chip every couple of years. There is a way to determine what version map you have to see if you're current. I hate that to stay current on the clunky GPS, you will have to pay a fee. I put a Garmin Drivesmart with lifetime updates in my old G2 taco and got spoiled. I will still use it for trips instead of the Toyota thing. I still want to figure out how to use the Toyota one though. I'm an old dog. New tricks are not as easy to learn.