VMS GPS for 150 GXL.

[Craigo72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Craigo72]

I know it's probably been posted a thousand times before, but I'm stuffed if I can get a search to work and give me any results. I'm looking to fit a GPS to my 150 GXL and had kind of narrowed it down to a couple. I was thinking about a Polaris unit but after reading some forums about them (not on PP) they were pretty harsh on them saying they were really dodgy. My other thoughts were to go for a VMS. Has anyone fitted the VMS unit and are they worth the money or am I better off getting a cheapo off ebay for half the price?. I would like to get something that looks original and not like an aftermarket fit. Any input would be great. Cheers.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I've been looking at VMS again since the the price has dropped.

Biggest issue with all the stereos seems to be cost and quality of the replacement fascia. Can't believe stinger charge $900.

[Craigo72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Craigo72]

I found that out today. Very expensive... Going to look at an Eclipse as well at Opposite Lock.

I don't want something that looks like it has been modified to fit. So that normally costs $$$$$.

[gympiebrowns Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gympiebrowns]

gday Craig, there are a few of us that have this unit installed it can run any street mapping software as well as topo/off road maps, i have found the unit great, you can pay anywhee from 500 upto 2500 for this unit just depends on what you want to do, drop me a line if you want more info/pictures

[matiasmb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close matiasmb]

Hi! I´m new in this forum, writing from Argentina.
My father just bought a Prado 150, year 2012, and he is looking for a GPS that looks OEM.
I have found some Chinese version like you mentioned, but my doubt is regarding the MFD. The Prado has a 4" screen LCD, where you can see the trip computer, and the 3 cameras (front, rear, side). But, if you installed this unit, will you lose that functionalities?
Thanks!

Matias

gday Craig, there are a few of us that have this unit installed it can run any street mapping software as well as topo/off road maps, i have found the unit great, you can pay anywhee from 500 upto 2500 for this unit just depends on what you want to do, drop me a line if you want more info/pictures

[D4Dazz Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dazz]

Thinking of adding on of these if I go for the GX....

http://www.clarion.com/au/en/product...617713258.html

Looks like a good bite of kit, and has Hema maps loaded.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Looks like a good bite of kit, and has Hema maps loaded.

Just make sure they are full topographic maps. I got the "4WD tracks" maps for my Navman and they are just lines on a map, no topo data at all.

[Craigo72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Craigo72]

Ended up getting the VMS, friends and family all chipped in and got me one for my, um, er 40th birthday. Pretty happy with the operation of it. The facia is a slightly lighter colour than standard but you don't really notice it and like most other units the hazard light switch has to swap sides and doesn't fit brilliantly. Might have to try and get a LHD switch maybe.

The one thing that has been a huge annoyance for me is the radio reception. Mine has a dual diversity antenna which has a standard size connection and a smaller size blue one that has nowhere to plug into. I lose reception not far out of the city and have ordinary reception at best in the city. They've told me they never had this issue before and that they have never seen the extra plug before. Surely I'm not the only person to have a dual diversity antenna, Toyota have used them for years on other models.

My thought is that they haven't powered up the antenna amplifier, I've asked them to supply a wiring diagram so I can check.

Anyone else who is reading this that has fitted another unit to there car please let me know if you have had the same issues.

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

Thanks for the info Craigo72, I think you have confirmed my suspicions that VMS are using the same yum-cha knock-off hardware as the Chinese GPS's, just with different software, a premium charged on top and the same inherent faults (poorly matched colour, LHD hazard switch and dodgy radio reception). For the premium they charge, I was hoping they actually developed and built their own hardware.

That picture at the top of their web page for the FA082 must have involved a bit of creative photoshopping as it shows the GXL dash layout with the switch on the right hand side, which was the one reason I was considering the purchase of their hardware.

Any chance you can post a picture of the install?

[Craigo72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Craigo72]

I've had some info sent through from them today re the antenna amp wiring, I'll try and get onto that this week and see if it wired as it should be. They are working worth me and are trying to get to the bottom of the issue so fingers crossed they'll sort it soon.

The pics on the website were the reason why I went for the VMS. Un fortunately hazard switch wrong like the rest of them.

I'll post some photos for you RWO when I can get some in the light of day.

Unfortunately I think the days of locally developed and built products are long gone.