Thank you for the comprehensive answer. This is super helpful.

To pab12's question, will a '24 navigation system quit entirely?

 

Several things in the 2023 and later XXXX MULTIMEDIA OWNER'S MANUALs and Lexus support articles indicate - no active subscription; no navigation function.

In addition to what I've previously quoted from the 2024 MULTIMEDIA OWNER'S MANUAL (the 2024 version is pretty much a duplicate of the 2023 version so manual quotes are applicable to both 2023 and 2024 ESs), in the "Registering a driver for the first time" on page 39 there's this regarding subscriptions and the navigation function:

and on page 108, without a subscription it looks like you'll continually get a subscription nag screen every time you turn a 2023 or later ES on:
The Lexus support DRIVE CONNECT TRIAL OFFERING (PPO) FAQs article sheds some additional light on Drive Connect's trial subscription operation. From question 8:
and from question 10:
and from the Lexus support article LEXUS INTERFACE DRIVE CONNECT CLOUD NAVIGATION (scroll down toward the bottom of the web page):
Lastly, I don't know the mechanics of setting up the (paid or trial) Lexus Connect related services in the Lexus app. If there's any questions about that hopefully someone with a 2023 or 2024 ES who has gone through that process will provide answers to any questions in that area.

 

>no active subscription; no navigation function.

Somehow, I'm not surprised
Everything requires a subscription now ... :-(
=================================
My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '15 Jaguar XF

 

ive got to imagine navigation still works without subscription, just not the ‘cloud navigation’ features which I imagine are things like real time traffic and rerouting

 

Does it even matter with Carplay or Android Auto?

 

not for me, but maybe for someone else. Do you know the answer?

 

Sounds like you are on a budget that doesn’t stretch to 7th gen. Not point of getting a car with such high mileage and wear. Plus it will be hard to sell, no one really wants a luxury car with high miles unusual for its age.

 

I don't but I guess I will find out. We just placed a deposit on a 24 RX350H Take delivery in a month or so.

 

According to the 2023 and 2024 XXXX Multimedia Owner's Manuals and Lexus support articles you need a subscription service contract to use the navigation function - no contract (paid or trial); no navigation function. See my posts #13 and #17 above for cites and quotes of official Lexus documentation on this.

Also with the "new" Drive Connect navigation system there is no longer an on-board permanently stored map database like there is/was with the previous navigation systems. All the map data is now just a temporary copy of just the data necessary for displaying local vicinity moving maps and route routing guidance. The temporary mapping data is downloaded from the cloud and continually updated from the cloud, so no cloud; no mapping data for navigation services functioning.

 

If there is no stored map data and if you don't have a cellular signal then there would be no navigation and you would have a big blank screen is that correct? The temporary map data may not cover what you want unless it puts a large area in the data. It's all about money. At least google will let you download offline maps for use with no signal. It makes sense now that when you get into a new car that the nav has to be activated so the subscription starts. Thanks for opening our eyes to this.

 

Once the navigation function is started with an active Drive Connect subscription, I don't know if you can get to a no stored map data condition. That would depend upon how persistent the temporary map datastore is across events like power cycles. I would assume (but don't really know) the temporary map datastore would be persistent as long as there's an active subscription for reasons such as minimizing navigation function startup time and minimizing cellular network data traffic.

That said, I don't think you'd get a blank screen in any case. If the case may be that the Drive Connect subscription status isn't persistently stored in the vehicle's system, you'd get a Drive Connect subscription sign up nag screen. Also, the Lexus Connected Technology Support article CLOUD NAVIGATION - OFFLINE NETWORK CONNECTION states:
According to the above support article, if the system knows an area of limited connectivity is coming up "an expanded download of map & POI detail" will be accomplished and route navigation will still be available. Your guess is as good as mine as to how expansive of an area the expanded download will be.

Starting with IOS 17, Apple Maps also allows you to download maps for using them offline.

 

Bad thing is that the subscription price will change with time and with a 12.3 inch screen on ES and 14 on RX without split screen for that screen to look good without adding or connecting to additional hardware you are almost forced to subscribe to make the car look good. My wife will never use android auto. I actually use the carlinkit TBox Plus on my ES for me with split screen and when I test drove the RX I hooked it up to make sure it would work and 1 to 3 screens were available.

 

Is there anyway to connect an iPhone such that the phone's Waze can be displayed on the car's dash screen?
===================================
Angle parked in a parallel universe

 

Yes, it has CarPlay built in.

 

I do it daily. Works like a charm.