Pioneer AVIC

[rabbitoh]

Some photos and words on the AVIC. I have never had a SatNav before, but this unit does everything I want/need. Great looking maps, detailed with even dirt lanes out the back of Richmond correctly named. Multiple routes offered, and apparently it will 'learn' your favorite routes to take. I love the ability to find local info such as cafes, parking, servos etc. I assume this what over SatNavs offers as well, but for me it is a novelty and re enforces what a good purchase this is.

Bluetooh is great, took about 20 seconds to setup with my phone. Gracenotes has been a little iffy so far - picked Orbital but not Daftpunk. Still, rips CDs as soon as they are inserted and the sound is fantastic - much better than with the standard head unit. You can listen to music and get directions. FM reception is great, cannot seem to get AM for some reason. Looking into that. All and all, highly recommended if you want music without CDs/iPod and bluetooh integration, along with quality maps. Thumbs up

Menu:



Current location, with Parking, cafe/restaurants highighted:

Will update with one that doesn't show where I live LOL

Vicinity search:



2D/3D map:

As above

HD music:



Vehicle dynamics hehe:



Installed:

[acdcfan]

it looks very nice......
What is the cost for total unit?

[rabbitoh]

it looks very nice......
What is the cost for total unit?

Including the can-bus or whatever it is called for the wheel controls, installed $4200. Unit was $3200 and could have got installed for $3500 if I didn't want steering wheel controls.

[jb747]

Would you mind giving us some more shots of the centre console and the install.

I've been hanging off for the RNS510, but we don't seem to be getting any closer to it being available, and I'm not sure that that Eclipse AVN6000s that I've used in the past will actually look all that good in the VW dash.

[jaydude02]

i have the avic aswell im my navara and i cannot say enough great things about it.

what other nav system works in tunnels?

i also have the rear camera attached to it and it comes into play by itself as soon as you select reverse. you can also have the camera permanently on so half you screen is navigation and the other half is the camera (great for keeping an eye on the trailer etc)

[rabbitoh]

Hey JB - here are the photos I can find of the console with Nav - my Flickr account is maxed for the month.

You will see a mark on the right side of the surround - this will be replaced next week.

[tinto]

I thought I was the only person who listened to Orbital anymore
Looks good.
What is the software base for the satnav? (eg tomtom / route66) or is it custom Pioneer?

[rabbitoh]

I thought I was the only person who listened to Orbital anymore
Looks good.
What is the software base for the satnav? (eg tomtom / route66) or is it custom Pioneer?

Got a Orbital 'live at Glastonbury' that's going on next

Related to 'whereis' I believe. Will have a look and let you know

Edit: Just checked, it is Whereis

[GTI_future]

nice unit, does the bluetooth work well? like any echo from other end hearing?

[rabbitoh]

nice unit, does the bluetooth work well? like any echo from other end hearing?

It seems to have echoed once or twice for the first second or two for the person on the other end and has then fixed itself. Super clear for me from the get go. Way better than any hands free setup I have heard. Very impressive.

[anarchycamp]

That thing looks awesome!!! Great Review!

Would love something like that!!! But $4,200 buys me an ABF motor and a set of BBS RS rims for the MkII... Priority's!!!!

[LiFers]

Just checked, it is Whereis

All AU mapping data seems to be Whereis (Sensis/Telstra). Looks like Ausways (street-directory.com.au) doesn't get any of the action, which is a shame as their Web based and Book based mapping products are far suprieror to Sensis'.

The actual engine that does the mapping / routing and navigation will be one of the established brands, ie TomTom, Garmin, Magellen, Navman, Route 66....

Some of their software, support, updates are terrible. The market seems to have standardised on TomTom has one of the best packages, and after having used half a dozen different brands, I would agree.

I'd love to get in car navigation, but other than it being a total rip off when priced through the dealer (you can get a brilliant TomTom for $350), the mapping looks absolutely sh-t compared to the TomTom and the OEM functionality is so limited.

TomTom's are PDAs running Windows Mobile or Windows CE. You can get almost any application you want onto it and do just about anything, ie play any format of digital music with any software (ie support for Gain, MP3, AAC, OGG, WM, etc), stick things like solitaire or poker on it (tired of waiting in the carpark for someone?)... The possibilities are endless.

Instead Pioneer comes out with an incredible overpriced device, when all they needed to do was stick an amplifer to the audio out of a Windows Mobile PDA, and make all their ancillaries USB.

Not saying the AVIC isn't a great device, but I can buy a $599 PDA that can better everything the AVIC can do, only it doesn't have an integrated Amplifier. </rant>

[Thomas]

Hi Rabittoh,
the device looks awesome. Now I am tempted to swap my unit out for a new one - but do I need it (I can hear the accountants voice in the back of my head)?

Thanks for posting the pics and the review -great stuff.

Tom

[rabbitoh]

That thing looks awesome!!! Great Review!

Would love something like that!!! But $4,200 buys me an ABF motor and a set of BBS RS rims for the MkII... Priority's!!!!

Yeah, very pricey. Only purchased as I could make it part of my finance.

In saying that, couldn't live without it now

[rabbitoh]

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