Pioneer AVIC

[motk]

I've yet to see a factory sat-nav/AV unit that wasn't insanely, even grotesquely overpriced, even taking into account ruggedisation and including a healthy profit margin. I know what you mean about Whereis maps too - they look like absolute pox.

[jaydude02]

Understand what you are saying LiFers although I have to admit, as a former Unix admin, I hate most windows portable devices I have come across As you say, they are very versatile and you get them for a reasonable price.

At the end of the day, I wanted something that looked like it was almost OEM, was a decent amp, good screen size, good Sat Nav, had a HDD to rip music to and integrated bluetooth. I also wanted something very straight forward, that my technophobe girlfriend can use. Versatility like the above, usually adds complexity.

So, from my perspective, i am very happy, but would certainly not have minded it being a thousand bucks cheaper

well put .............its a 1 stop shop the avic i would of paid more to get mine i luv it ..........
wink wink nudge nudge you can get em on ebay for $2900 brand new with ipod adapter..
you wont find cheaper than that

[rabbitoh]

Yeah I know, saw that in my searches. I got it for $3200, which wasn't too bad. The additional $$ where the canbus and installation. The quoted $3500 installed without canbus (steering wheel controls). They were gonna do the ipod adapter for an extra $50 but couldn't find one.

Was the ipod adapter a worthwhile purchase?

[jb747]

Not quite the same I know, but I'm running the iPod interface on the two Eclipse AVN6000s that we own, and it is quite brilliant. I'd be surprised if the Pioneer isn't at least the equivalent.

[rabbitoh]

Not quite the same I know, but I'm running the iPod interface on the two Eclipse AVN6000s that we own, and it is quite brilliant. I'd be surprised if the Pioneer isn't at least the equivalent.

Damn, shame he didn't have one handy. $50 bucks would have been a bargain by the sounds of it.

How do you find the Eclipse?

[jb747]

How do you find the Eclipse?

Like it a lot (which is why we have two of them). But, it doesn't have a Bluetooth interface, and the lack of a hard drive means that I have to use an iPod, whereas the 510 or AVIC let me store all of my music on the drive and I just don't need the iPod.

I'm a bit reluctant to install either into the Golf though. Even though the 510 is more expensive, and has less features, it looks like it was meant to be in the dash, and I'm not too sure about the look of the others.

[rabbitoh]

Like it a lot (which is why we have two of them). But, it doesn't have a Bluetooth interface, and the lack of a hard drive means that I have to use an iPod, whereas the 510 or AVIC let me store all of my music on the drive and I just don't need the iPod.

I'm a bit reluctant to install either into the Golf though. Even though the 510 is more expensive, and has less features, it looks like it was meant to be in the dash, and I'm not too sure about the look of the others.

Yeah, the 510 was my first choice for the same reason but I just couldn't get anyone to commit to installing it.