old iPhone for music and nav?

So, I use a flip phone and don't want a smart phone in my pocket all the time.

My 2024 doesn't have nav (which I know kind of sucks anyway).

I listen to my own music on a USB stick, but it is sub-optimal (won't play albums in order unless I insert track numbers in the song titles, and that messes up the voice activation, etc.).

So, what I am thinking of doing is getting an iPhone off eBay (I have never owned an iPhone), a few generations old for maybe $250. Then, I load my mp3s into iTunes/Apple Music, however that would work (I think it's possible) and use the nice CarPlay interface for music. Then, I get a data only cell plan for about $12/month solely for the purpose of using Apple Maps through CarPlay. I leave the phone in the car all the time, always plugged in, and don't even know/care what the number is.

Are there any problems with this plan? Anything that won't work?

For you iPhone users, any thoughts on which model I should get? It will need CarPlay of course and Maps and I know they changed the iTunes/Music apps a while back too, not sure about that.

Thanks!

 

Me personally prefer an android device. With a micro SD had you can have crazy disk space. You can just dump your music in to sub folders and audio players can play folder by folder. No need to waste time organizing with iTunes.

Needless to say Google maps are far better than Apple maps.

USB Audio Pro is my preferred app to play music.

For phone selection I prefer Samsung phones over Pixels. Much easy to use hot keys at the bottom.
(Thanks to my work so get to play with different devices.)

As for phone plan I use dirt cheap phone plan and purchased a wifi plan for the 4runner. If I'm not mistaken it was $200/year.

 

I'm old school too and get bored with time consuming technology. If you want to listen to good music opt for Sirius. If you lean on them you can get it for less than $10 a month.

I have not idea what the "wifi plan" option for the 4Runner. I have an older iPhone which I use
Google Maps for directions.

 

I used to group songs in folders on USB stick in my old 4Runner. That way it plays all songs in a folder like an album and you can choose what folder to play. If I wanted a phone I would get an Android one, I think it's easier to mess with epsecially if it's old.

 

Built in Wifi Hotspot. Very useful for kids if they are bored with movies stored in the android tablet. Can watch YouTube or something.

 

For $250 you’re looking at probably an iPhone 12 at the newest. I had this thought as well so I wouldn’t have to take my phone out of my pocket or use one of those unknown android boxes. Tried using my old iPhone X and it was struggling to load CarPlay which is weird because I don’t remember it having issues when it was my daily.

 

Your plan will work.

iTunes (Windows) or Music (Mac) will do for your MP3’s but you might find it less convenient than just tossing those MP3’s on an SD card and loading it into an Android phone. (which can be done with any computer, like if you use Linux)

You don’t necessarily need data too, Apple Maps, Google Maps, HERE maybe others all offer offline map functionality but you’ll likely need to get the phone connected to Wi-Fi every couple weeks for map updates. (for Apple Maps, I don’t remember what software version they added the feature, so make sure what iPhone you get is compatible.)

I like to use Apple Maps to spite Google but I don’t want it to be your only option so keep Google Maps around and updated too in-case.

I think the current or last gen iPhone SE (if storage is enough) will fit the bill, my concern is it being a theft magnet if visible but if it’s wired out of sight, that’s an option.

Also temperatures, below freezing and in triple digit temperatures the phone may be inoperable until temps enter its operating range.

I’ve had headphones stored in my center console refuse to work for minutes at my destination until they cooled down. Battery probably didn’t like that treatment too much either. I also had an old iPhone 6s with a worn-out battery that liked to reboot in cold temps but it wasn’t plugged in then. You’d want to keep the phone indoors in winter.

But that’ll be for pretty much any gadget you can buy.

My wildcard idea is a dedicated Garmin GPS and an MP3 player hooked into AUX - maybe there’s one that’ll work without a battery in it? But I’m not sure if that’ll fit your use case any better.

 

For stored music i use an 2nd gen 80g ipod. For internet radio/pod casts and google maps i use a oneplus 10 pro. The sound quality using the ipod and after replacing non jbl OE tweeters is great and the 10 pro has really good connectivity.

YMMV

 

Personally I’d skip the old phone and data plan, and get a stand alone gps and mp3 player. It’s more money up front for two devices perhaps, but no monthly fee. Over time it will be less expensive.

 

^This! Get a cheap Garmin with lifetime maps so you can update them as updates come available. If you do a lot of off-highway exploring make sure the unit has a micro-SD slot. That way you can load topo maps which provide MUCH more information than Google Maps or Garmin's City Navigator. When you are in the back country it is nice to have your GPS unit name all the surrounding features so you know exactly where you are!


And I never would have known there was a "Boobs" Canyon to explore if it hadn't come up on the Garmin:

 

well, I mean that alone seems like it would have been worth the upfront investment. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime.

 

Find an iPod on eBay or elsewhere. I've had one forever, dedicated to my cars. When I got my 4R early last year, I just moved it in, plugged it into the USB input, and have >5,000 songs on it, all visible by artist, albums, etc. on the screen (I believe it works the same as an iPhone would).

 

Can you connect your 4Runner to an older iPod via CarPlay? Or some other way?

 

My recommendation is to look for IPhone SE Gen2. Regardless of what you do - stay away from old Android phones. Most of them are unsupported with security patches.

Also, for GPS - I use Garmin. Unlike a smartphone, most models only show map to you, without spying on you.

 

you mean on the forerunner head unit screen? I think that’s what happens to my USB but it’s pretty constrained for example you’re very limited in what you can do while you’re driving, it won’t let you search for artist or anything. and it just shows up as a USB device right? Also, just curious, but when I ask her to play an album, it plays the songs in alphabetical order unless I put the track number in front of every song title through an external program. Same with yours? For me that’s a kind of annoying problem that would be solved with an iPhone and CarPlay

 

yes that Garmin idea is probably a good one. Since I have my music on a USB drive loaded in there anyway, would there be any difference with an MP3 player there? Like for example, the thing I find most annoying is that Toyota severely limits how you can interface with your playlist and song list and albums and artist while you are driving. Same with an MP3 player or not?

so if I got a Garmin, I guess I would want to have voice recognition and lifetime maps, and a microSD, anything else? Any particular models you all use?

 

If you are using USB you can you voice commands to play a particular song or search by album, etc...
https://youtu.be/niiriN3s7Ec?feature=shared

If you using phone mounted on a-pillar you can easily use the phone


Just for fun I checked which phone I used to take the pic. Looks like pic taken by iPhone. LoL.

 

You should go REALLY old school, like me. Use a Mapsco!

 

Only the more recent iPod touches that support it, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it being used.

The typical iPod, you likely have the choice of USB/iPod interfacing and aux input.

The reason I’d think an MP3 player could be a plus is that they would likely have better music selection and playlist handling rather than going through the headunit. But you’d be messing with there device while driving unless hooked up via iPod/USB mode. (but not sure if we have that feature)

I’d look at the outgoing Garmin 52 or the new 53 and see if those entry level models fit the bill. You’ll need a computer to run the Garmin Express program to update the maps on these but you can also load your own like OpenStreetMap data.

 

I'm not worthy!

Really though, well done. I have been using my Atlas for a while (since I bought a 4R w/o Nav) and it's usually fine, occasionally super annoying. There was a reason my dad spent so much of my youth asking gas station attendants how to get back on the freeway....

 

cool, thanks!

 

Thanks everyone else who replied.

 

OK, just an update and a bit more information in case anyone wanders upon this thread at some point. So, I went with an iPhone 12 mini, $238 in "very good" (actually, I'd call it "good") condition from eBay. It works for everything I hoped for. I did not get a SIM card or Toyota Connect WiFi or anything (so, no monthly charges). The only internet it accesses is when it is when the 4R is in my driveway. The podcasts update automatically and download. I downloaded a dozen of my Audible books. The Apple Maps works great! I downloaded the entire western half of Montana (the only place I ever go) and it was only 2.3 GB, so I have offline maps at will.

Now, without internet Siri won't work, which means I can't say "Siri, get me directions to Conrad, Montana" for example. BUT, I have a workaround for that. Assuming that I generally know where I am going to be going, I can prepare at home on my iPad (or MacBook) by adding various locations as Favorites! These automatically (and instantly, when the 4R is in my driveway) update to the iPhone. Now, I can select a favorite in Apple Maps in the 4R and have Apple Maps get me directions and guide me there (with audio guidance too). I added about 15 favorites, will add more, and anytime I am going out of town I'll add some more (e.g., planning a trip to Freezout Lake in a few days, I'll add that and some small towns nearby as Favorites, so I can always get there from anywhere.

Anyway I think it is everything I needed, seems better than the Infotainment system from the 4R (especially without Nav); even better than my Taco Infotainment system that had Nav (for $1900). Everything is integrated, everything automatically updates, and it turns on instantly whenever I start the 4R (as soon as that warning about driving carefully is gone, CarPlay is on). Apple Music with all my burned CDs stored on the iPhone is way better than navigating through the 4R system off a USB stick.

The iPhone 12 mini also fits very nicely in that little cubby right next to the USB port while connected (I was surprised by this); so, the phone is tucked away and I will never see or notice it.

Thanks again everyone for the advice!

p.s. oh, forgot one thing: when the phone is connected with CarPlay, bluetooth for my actual phone (flip phone) doesn't work. So, calls and texts come to the phone, not through the system. For that, all I have to do is unplug the USB from the 4R and the bluetooth (instantly?) connects, so I can use the 4R system to make calls, etc. But, when someone calls I basically have to call them back rather than take their call immediately if I want to use the car microphone and speakers. Small price to pay, and I don't talk or text much anyway.

 

If anyone find a solution for this let me know also. I wish I can do the same. My primary phone connect via bluetooth for calls and text and another device connect via cable for other things.

Reason - My primary phone has a basic data plan. So I don't want it to use data accidentally. I can use my work phone / tabs 100% use in vehicle wifi and not worry about loosing data cap for the month.

Warning - No matter what, I would never keep the device in the car. Battery swelling is serious and real and effected to all devices. Androids with plastic housing its visible. iPhones and other devices with metal cases its not visible as the metal keep them inside. This happens even the devices kept in the device cabinet in office with controlled temperature. I/(We) dispose them safely.

 

Get a FLIP smartphone then. Now you will have the best of all worlds and on Android and have unlimited possibilities.

 

It’s not the form factor, it’s the zombification.

 

Totally appreciate that. But somehow i think you have the constitution to keep the zombification at bay. Would make what your trying to do much easier and far more flexible.

Otherwise the iPod idea works, i did the same thing back in the day before smartphones. But no data, and unlikely you can add mobile hotspot to a flip phone anyway.

 

Just a thought: I bought a Sirius XM Starmate 5 with a LIFETIME subscription on Ebay for $180 and it has worked flawlessly for 18 months. Updates regularly. Tons of music, sports, and talk radio including Coast to Coast AM and Howard Stern. Amazing.

 

Somewhere around 15-20 years ago I got a lifetime subscription to Sirius and have just transferred it from vehicle to vehicle when I get a new one. Hopefully the owner of the subscription on that Starmate doesn't remember it's out there and decide to transfer it.

 

2024s killed the nav?