In Dash Nav System

[tsir112]

any recommendations on replacing the stock in dash navigation system? websites, brands, ratings?

[tsir112]

sorry, i should have been more specific. i have a 2006 cts, and id like to replace the stock nav system.

[thebigjimsho]

I have an Eclipse AVN6610 in my Town Car. It's a fixed double din with a fold down screen for discs. Prices are going down and features are going up. My 6610 controls a rear view camera, Sirius tuner w/ Nav Traffic, HD radio, iPod, has a DVD player and can also control a TV tuner and is dual zone so you can have a DVD playing on screens in back while listening to the radio up front. It also has auxiliary inputs.

Now, if you're looking to make a clean, custom install...

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...-new-pics.html

[tsir112]

has anyone used anything other than the factory system, without losing their DIC?

[Coma]

A bunch of people are just check out the CTS forum and SEARCH.

[CadillacSTS2003]

ok i used to sell them heres my input
im a HUGE fan of the Pioneer systems the D3 was awesome, all inclusive unit bluetooth dvd etc etc however it was phased out for the new Avic-700bt and Avic-90bt
70 plays cds only
90 plays dvds
both have the maps loaded on flash memory so no need for a dual drive to listen to a music cd while navigating, however the F series is seriously the biggest pos ever made
it lags beyond belief
its buggy as hell
and all around a rushed crappy product.
then theres kenwood, a pretty decent bang for buck unit and that pared with the fact that it utilizes garmin for navigation it is a pretty powerful lil machine.
alpine, theyve always been behind in the nav field imho, while they make a great unit, nothing really stands out about them.
and of course eclipse also comes to mind, you get alot for your money and can get a decent nav unit fairly cheap.

let me know if theres anymore i can answer

[concorso]

Originally Posted by CadillacSTS2003

...

You couldn't have posted this 3 weeks ago? Jeez, the nerve!

Ok, so for Christmas I bought my father a full sound system for his toy...2 pairs of Infiniti components, 2 JL amps, a perfect 10 sub, and you guessed it, a Avic F700BT...

Is it really that bad of a product? Can you be more specific about the lag problems and the glitches? If it just operates a bit slower then the rest, I think my father will be happy. He's not into tech at all, so all this units needs to do is play music cds, look clean and black, be touch screen, and be fairly accurate with navigating. Will it still be a poor system for someone who just uses the basic functions and doesn't need the most advanced smoothest operating unit?

[CadillacSTS2003]

wow im sorry
ive been busy in Chicago
if you go to avic411.com (the pretty much authority on the pioneer avic systems)
as well as search pioneer youll see
because it relies on all internal memory to run its nav and other systems it takes about as long as a laptop running vista to full load up upon start up to even work the system
i know theyve released a 2.0 system firmware upgrade and they state it fixes all the problems but it doesnt, it helps the hugely buggy ipod/bluetooth voice command, as well as some in system glitches but it still does not rectify the long load times...

imho if an itouch which is smaller and uses a much simpler hd can load in under 20 seconds why cant this thing...
not to mention it cannot play dvds...

just some food for thought, sorry for the hugely late reply
im actually buying a dbl din for my 1998 Z/28 and even I am researching alot because i want something new and i love pioneer (i have an Avic-N1 for my 97 ETC) but the F series is just falling way short of its predecessor the D series...(F=Failure)
I'll likely be buying a refurbished D3 of crutchfield...

I mean he could love it, but if hes used something like a Garmin and expects the same quick loads, best return it.
Most places you can open and try a product before returning it, the huge issue youll run into is the bia it is to disassemble your stock CTS radio to keep the DIC and install the double din, just to rip it all out if you dont like it...

[ndmath02]

As far as personal experience, I haven't had anything in my Caddy yet, but in my prior car I went through two pioneer systems before giving up on their quality. The first one took a cd in and never gave it back and was actually stolen out of my car like that which was somewhat gratifying knowing the bast@$ds got it like that. Insurance replaced it with a different model which came out of the box making a hideous noise; I sent it back. I know they are supposed to be nice and good quality, but I'll never buy one again. I paid $1200 for the first one in 05 and it did way less than cheap $400 ones do today so prices have dropped while options have gone up.

[CadillacSTS2003]

what pioneer navs did you run?
ive never had any issues with my N1 and its 5 years old i think

[concorso]

Haha, Im just givin' you a hard time about the reply time...no worries!


The system isnt going in a CTS actually...its going in his 57 impala

Ill have to talk it over with him, as I know hes used to Garmin stand alone nav's.
That fact it doesn't play DVD's wont bother him, but a load time as slow as Vista might bother him alot.

Ill have to do some reasearch like you said. In the meantime, are most of the douible din NAV units touch screen now? And are most black and clean looking when theyre off? Both of these are things he wants.

Thanks for the help!

[CadillacSTS2003]

imho
Kenwood DDX5120 i think is the model
lemme check that tho

[CadillacSTS2003]

damn i was close going from memory
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entert...gation/DNX5120
and it uses Garmin nav ie its basically what hes used to with a DVD player (even if he wont use it to play videos you can fit alot of music on a dvd) as well as having a larger screen size then the pioneer

again he can try the pioneer and love it, just stating my experience and a quick review on crutchfield shows alot of the same unhappy customers...

[concorso]

Youve pointed me in a good direction, thanks for the help!

[thebigjimsho]

I just about crapped my pants when I saw the Eclipse AVN6620, which is the successor to my 6610, on sale in Crutchfield for $799 with a free bluetooth adapter...

Looks like my current setup will go with my Town Car when I sell it...