Aftermarket versus Factory Nav, Uconnect, PAC aux in, PAC line out

[minirx7]

Lets get some discussion here. At first i bought my car with Navi thinking it was worth it, now I truely regret it. I wanted to add my stereo thats sitting in my house (amps, subs, components, etc), but i am tired of waiting for the interface for the line out. I also want Nav2go, and i really really want UCONNECT. But i just did some quick calculating and here is what i come up with.

Factory Navi and adding what i want:
Nav2go $450
Uconnect parts/harness $400ish
Audiocontrol LC8 $200
PAC aux in $100

Total: $1150

Going aftermarket:
Pioneer AVIC-Z1 DVD $1700ish
Bluetooth adapter $150ish

Total $1850

Difference in price? $700

Advantages:
Pioneer has way better navigation and voice regonition, 30gig harddrive, 7" screen. Comes with a built in DVD player as well. Way more robust. No need to reach over to the mirror to get Uconnect to work.

Disadvantages:
Lose EVIC, Lose steering wheel controls, potential codes stored for missing radio link.

Any thoughts? I am trying to figure out the best way. The alternative is to just go with an incar PC setup which will cost way less.

[linuxkidd]

Lose steering wheel controls

Check out: SWI-CAN and SWI-PS

SWI-CAN isn't out just yet, but it won't be long I would imagine.. I'll ask my insider and see what he says..

Also, I agree... the Pioneer is a WAY better solution. I'm getting ready to order the same setup for my Wife's SRT8 charger.. Going all out... Z1, ND-BT1, iPod interface, XM w/ NavTraffic, and putting in a backup cam.

Yes, it will set some codes.. but just 'Lost communication with ...' stuff... Any tech worth his salt will easilty dismiss those DTC's as irrelevant when troubleshooting your vehicle.

LK

[Todd RT]

You gonna consider the new DC Navigation system in 07 as an option? Or not waiting that long?

[linuxkidd]

Ya know, I had thought about waiting for that unit... It looks really good.. But, the thing will probably cost $2k by itself... And probably doesn't include the uConnect module, and definitely not the mirror.

For less than $2k ( about $1970 or so ) I can get the entire Pioneer system I describe above. And it's a much more flexible system.

LK

[minirx7]

Ya know, I had thought about waiting for that unit... It looks really good.. But, the thing will probably cost $2k by itself... And probably doesn't include the uConnect module, and definitely not the mirror.

For less than $2k ( about $1970 or so ) I can get the entire Pioneer system I describe above. And it's a much more flexible system.

LK

Hey linuxkidd,

Have you considered in-car computer? I had the parts ready to go for my maxima, but i stopped since i crashed the car.

I am pursuing this venue too as you can basically do a lot more than the Z1 for way less the price.

And if we can figure out a link to the CANBUS, an in car computer would be very useful to interact with the car computer.

[linuxkidd]

I have indeed looked into this... Extensively.. I've got a whole list of parts and such that I've researched, and intend to buy / build at some point. But, for the wife's car... She's a puter junkie like me, but doesn't tend to like freezes, and reboots.. So, since it's going in her car, I'll stick w/ aftermarket stuff...

Now, when I get my Jeep SRT8... That's a different story...

LK

[minirx7]

Funny thing is, I already have an SWI-X so all i need is the SWI-CAN

Check out: SWI-CAN and SWI-PS

SWI-CAN isn't out just yet, but it won't be long I would imagine.. I'll ask my insider and see what he says..

Also, I agree... the Pioneer is a WAY better solution. I'm getting ready to order the same setup for my Wife's SRT8 charger.. Going all out... Z1, ND-BT1, iPod interface, XM w/ NavTraffic, and putting in a backup cam.

Yes, it will set some codes.. but just 'Lost communication with ...' stuff... Any tech worth his salt will easilty dismiss those DTC's as irrelevant when troubleshooting your vehicle.

LK

[Electrofied]

Why would you loose the Evic? I have an after market Alpine deck in my Mag and the EVIC works fine. All I lost was the ability to control my music from the steering wheel, all other buttons function as they should.

I only get to codes thrown with the aftermarket deck, loss of communication with the amplifier, and loss of communication with the deck.

E

[linuxkidd]

ya, you'd loose the ability to see currently playing station data, call / phone data, and next turn info (from nav)... No big loss in my book.

LK

[minirx7]

ya, you'd loose the ability to see currently playing station data, call / phone data, and next turn info (from nav)... No big loss in my book.

LK

This is true, no big deal.. as the bright screen is usually the best place to look.

I guess I need to figure out whether its better to go OEM or aftermarket.

I have to keep in mind that my car is a lease (and i dont intend on keeping it longer than the lease term).

I used to have a 7" screen in my 2k3 maxima, but i found that i stopped using it for 5 months out of boredom LOL... So maybe i dont need Nav2go?

The biggest thing is bluetooth and a line out (ie LC8)... God so many options.