Was about to order the latest update to the NAV system and read all of the recent posts and am confused. I got my SC430 in April 01 and have the original 2000 V 1 DVD. The dealer claims that the latest upgrade not only contains new maps and POIs, but also contains new software. Recent posts suggest that the there isn't any new software. Also heard that another update is due at the end of the summer. Can someone please clarify before I buy.

Thanks,
Lenny

 

I have the same DVD as you -- mine was built in Oct 2001.
I'm about to take it in for its 15k checkup, so I thought I'd check out the latest DVD in any of the 2003s the dealer has on the lot. Maybe I'd see something worth having.

However, the last time I asked my service manager, he said that the latest DVD did have some new areas, but Dallas was not updated, so I didn't get it. There are still some areas where I'm floating over open land where I swear I'm on a road.

From what I've seen, the current DVD is 2002. Word is, from the many postings here, that there'll be a 2003 update around in late summer. I'll try to confirm that with my rep next week. If that's the case, I'd wait.
But go to your dealer & check it out.

 

my understanding is more Canadian areas were added.... but I didn't see anything about updating all location info... ie, stores, gas stations, etc.. which probably changed since 2001!!!

 

What about changes in the software?

 

I had the upgrade done specifically to get the new software features (like route preview). The upgrade DOES NOT upgrade the software and NO NEW FEATURES result.. Very disappointing.

I don't know if we can upgrade the "hardware" or if it would be cost-prohibitive but doing the software upgrade (to Ver 02.1) is essentially worthless from that point of view.

 

I didn't see any new major features either. However, I was impressed with the street level detail of the greater Toronto area. (However, I didn't observe how detailed the map was before v2.1 so don't know if this represents an improvement over v1). Also, a very small item. But there are now icons on the map that represent parks, golf courses, ... When scale < 1 mi (I think.) And my Nav system can find my house better now (my house on a road that was extended within the last 5 years.)

Just my 2 cents, but without the new software features (like route preview playback and auto nav volume adjust), it's not worth the price of an upgrade from v1 to v2.1.

Apologies if it has already been posted, but this is what is currently stated on http://www.lexus.com/contact.html

9. Can you supply the current mapping areas of the Lexus DVD Navigation System1?

Albuquerque, NM
Ann Arbor, MI
Aspen/Vail, CO
Atlanta, GA
Atlantic City, NJ
Austin, TX
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Charlotte, NC
Charlottesville, VA
Chicago, IL
Cleveland, OH
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbus, OH
Contra Costa County, CA
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Denver/Boulder, CO
Detroit, MI
Everett, WA
Fargo, ND
Flint, MI
Fredericksburg, VA
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Ft. Myers/Cape Coral, FL
Gary, IN
Gettysburg, PA
Grand Rapids, MI
Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC
Harper's Ferry, WV
Hartford/New Haven, CT
Houston, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, WY
Jacksonville, FL
Kansas City, KS/MO
Knoxville, TN
Kokomo, IN
Lansing, MI
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Memphis, TN
Miami, FL
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Monterey, CA
Myrtle Beach, SC
Napa Valley, CA
Nashua, NH
New Orleans, LA
New York/S. Connecticut
Newark, NJ
Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News, VA
Oakland, CA
Ocean City, MD
Olympia, WA
Orange County, CA
Orlando, FL
Padre Island, TX
Palm Springs, CA
Park City, UT
Philadelphia/Trenton, PA
Phoenix, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Providence, RI
Raleigh/Durham, NC
Reno/Lake Tahoe, CA
Richmond, VA
Riverside County, CA
Sacramento, CA
Salem, OR
San Antonio, TX
San Bernardino County, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
Sarasota, FL
Seattle/Tacoma, WA
Springfield, MA
St. Louis, MO
St. Petersburg, FL
Sun Valley, ID
Tampa, FL
Traverse City, MI
Ventura County, CA
Washington, DC
West Palm Beach, FL
Wilmington, DE

1The navigation system supplies partial or full mapping that is as complete as possible.

At this time, Lexus plans to continue to provide new database information updates twice a year (spring and fall). Please contact your local Lexus dealer for further details.

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what do you mean the update doesn't add new software? so updates only add new locations and streets, but the software remains the same? i don't understand. so you guys still have the same software functions as your first nav discs, but with updated streets and POI's?

 

Exactly the same as original - and quite different from newer models (2003 SC) which have many new features

 

I guess I was not the only one confused. All of this seems strange, the Lexus descriptions talks about a software upgrade yet no one sees any change.

 

1> The software is changed. Not that you can tell. In general terms don't think of it as going from windows 98 to windows XP. There were software changes that operate in background that affect guidance and routing programs.

2> The dealers will never know the total extent of map updates. They have a general city list as seen below. Just because the city you are interested in, is not on the list does not mean no work was done.
Thousands of road miles acros the country were either added, or corrected, and the entire POI database was updated.

As with any database, even if they say updated, it doesn't mean correct!