Double Din GPS...

[Nick Chapman]

Got a new truck and need GPS. Would rather have a double din unit vs a stand alone window mount GPS.

Probably not going to buy new(unless it's a smoking deal). I'm a cheap ass, and can't bring myself to spend that much money. So will be looking at used units. DVD based GPS is a huge plus, but not required. I have a Pioneer in the van, and it's a decent unit. Does everything that I need. Guess I'm not too picky ;)

Anything out that that I should look out for? Anything to absolutely stay away from? Just looking for advice from the pro's here ;)

Thanks,
Nick

[Nick Chapman]

No takes huh? Oh well, guess I'll go with the Pyle unit then :D

[momo stallion]

some one was selling a pioneer in the classifieds on here for 500 obo. it was an AVIC-D3 i believe.

you should be able to buy something like that on c-list or ebay for less that 500.

[DatDude]

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_17647_Combo-+Eclipse+AVN52D+-+AVN5510+%2B+BT-E500.html

[Nick Chapman]

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_17647_Combo-+Eclipse+AVN52D+-+AVN5510+%2B+BT-E500.html

Wow, thats a good price! Something like that, I would buy new.

Is this a good unit? There's a reason they knocked off $1050.00. Is it a crap unit or a good one?

Nick

[momo stallion]

the website sounded craptacular and shady but apparently its got excellent reviews.

eclipse used to be a great brand, they are still pretty good now. price is awesome on that unit.

[ceyko]

Can I ask why you want an in-dash GPS? From what I can tell from others I've seen they are inferior to say a Garmin 760/770/780 unit.

The advantages I can see...
Bigger Screen
Audio directly to the speakers via the head unit (Which, you end up turning off anyway.)

Disadvantages I noticed.
-Very large initial cost (as opposed to 250-400 for a good stand alone)
-Poor mapping compared to stand alone
-Difficult-impossible for simple system updates
-Costly map updates compared to stand alone
-Not at all portable, so locked to 1 vehicle/purpose
-Inferior routing

Also, you have to leave it in there - which is a large investment waiting to be ganked. Portable can be removed daily/easily and w/o any markings with the friction mount.

Just curious, as *I* don't see the in-dash types being anything worth what they cost for true GPS purposes. If you just want something that looks cool, that's something different. :)

[momo stallion]

Can I ask why you want an in-dash GPS? From what I can tell from others I've seen they are inferior to say a Garmin 760/770/780 unit.

The advantages I can see...
Bigger Screen
Audio directly to the speakers via the head unit (Which, you end up turning off anyway.)

Disadvantages I noticed.
-Very large initial cost (as opposed to 250-400 for a good stand alone)
-Poor mapping compared to stand alone
-Difficult-impossible for simple system updates
-Costly map updates compared to stand alone
-Not at all portable, so locked to 1 vehicle/purpose
-Inferior routing

Also, you have to leave it in there - which is a large investment waiting to be ganked. Portable can be removed daily/easily and w/o any markings with the friction mount.

Just curious, as *I* don't see the in-dash types being anything worth what they cost for true GPS purposes. If you just want something that looks cool, that's something different. :)

yup, the last reason... cool factor. i dont like stuff mounted in the car.

the only reason i would have for buying an in-dash unit as a media unit (cd/dvd player). the gps is a just a bonus.

[Nick Chapman]

Can I ask why you want an in-dash GPS? From what I can tell from others I've seen they are inferior to say a Garmin 760/770/780 unit.

The advantages I can see...
Bigger Screen
Audio directly to the speakers via the head unit (Which, you end up turning off anyway.)

Disadvantages I noticed.
-Very large initial cost (as opposed to 250-400 for a good stand alone)
-Poor mapping compared to stand alone
-Difficult-impossible for simple system updates
-Costly map updates compared to stand alone
-Not at all portable, so locked to 1 vehicle/purpose
-Inferior routing

Also, you have to leave it in there - which is a large investment waiting to be ganked. Portable can be removed daily/easily and w/o any markings with the friction mount.

Just curious, as *I* don't see the in-dash types being anything worth what they cost for true GPS purposes. If you just want something that looks cool, that's something different. :)


I had a external mounted unit(Alpine BlackBird), hated it. I also have a Pioneer double din in the van, and love it. I really don't care how it routes me to my destination, because I usually always know the area where I'm going, I just need help the last couple of miles getting into neighborhoods, and to the house.
$250-$400 is about all I'm going to pay for a double din unit(used or new). The one in the link above is an Eclipse unit for $500. Not a bad price if you ask me.
As for the costly map updates, thats why I prefer the DVD based unit. Ebayer's are burning the update disks and selling them for $20 ;) Illegal? Yes. But it is what it is :D

I could care less about the coolness factor. I just like having the GPS locked into my vehicle when I need it. With the Blackbird that I had, the girlfriend always ended up using it, then when I needed it to get to wherever I was going, I didn't have it. So having one locked to 1 vehicle would save me that hassle.
And not to mention the audio controls, higher end head unit, etc... Double din GPS unit is a huge advantage for me.

Nick

[EW]

Kenwood DNX5120 has a garmin nav built in.

[ceyko]

I had a external mounted unit(Alpine BlackBird), hated it. I also have a Pioneer double din in the van, and love it. I really don't care how it routes me to my destination, because I usually always know the area where I'm going, I just need help the last couple of miles getting into neighborhoods, and to the house.
$250-$400 is about all I'm going to pay for a double din unit(used or new). The one in the link above is an Eclipse unit for $500. Not a bad price if you ask me.
As for the costly map updates, thats why I prefer the DVD based unit. Ebayer's are burning the update disks and selling them for $20 ;) Illegal? Yes. But it is what it is :D

I could care less about the coolness factor. I just like having the GPS locked into my vehicle when I need it. With the Blackbird that I had, the girlfriend always ended up using it, then when I needed it to get to wherever I was going, I didn't have it. So having one locked to 1 vehicle would save me that hassle.
And not to mention the audio controls, higher end head unit, etc... Double din GPS unit is a huge advantage for me.

Nick

So it boils down to preference and pickiness on certain aspects that dictate those preferences. :D

That one in the link is the same/similar to one my good friend has and I hate the hell out of that thing - which is what drove me to the standard Garmin thing. :D