Navigation System recommendations

I am interested in replacing the radio with a nav/audio system in my 2003 C2 Cab. What is the best unit to buy? I plan on having the sterio shop do the install.

Kenwood....in my opinion they have the best combo of features, technology, best Nav and best sounding head units.....

How does it fit in the available space and does it look like it "belongs?"? I guess the A/C controls move to the botton position leaving the big rectangle for the unit.

Here is a pic of mine.....

Looks great. Where did the antenna installation go?

under the alarm led housing on the dash....

Thanks Newport.

No prob...I have the DDX7015 which has been replaced by the 7019 or the DNX 7100 which is the exact same except it has the built in Nav, while the 6019, 7019 and 8019 need the optional Nav module...it is the same Nav so shop and see which way will be cheaper the all in one, or the head unit+Nav module.

Here is a Kenwood 6019 installed in my 2001. It has the best navigation interface of any unit I have owned so far. The sound is also very good.

I have the motorized Excelon by kenwood, also has a 7 inch touch screen. I went with motorized because I still use the cup holders from time to time...

I just got a 7019 put in my C2....am really liking it so far. The Navigation is powered by Garmin and seems to be an excellent system. It is also nice as it is an "all in one box" type of system.

My installer recommended the Pioneer Z1. Said he did lots of installs with this unit. Can set up IPOD or MP3, blue tooth and satellite radio. I know it is costly. NE1 using the Pioneer? Mike

Pioneer Z1 was replaced by the Z2 a few months ago. Yes, it is expensive. Best unit on the market by far. I have it installed in the Lambo. The Nav is hard-drive based which is way faster than any cd or dvd unit out there, it can play dvd movies, has bluetooth connection, a back up camera, Ipod, XM, or Sirius, plus you can download your own cd into the hard drive. Voice command is great too, you can use it for phone functions, or for navigation functions. Just say "Go home" to activate navigation towards your house, or "POI gas station" to find nearest gas station etc... Oh, and it also has a built in G-meter, so you can measure acceleration and deceleration Gs as well as Lateral Gs. It is the same size as the units pictured above. Here is a forum dedicated to Pioneed Nav products The Pioneer Avic Z2 is simply the best nav sustem out there at the moment. Not affiliated with Pioneer, Just a satisfied customer.

Thanks, I'm going with the Z2. The install will be done this thursday. I'll post pictures by the weekend. I am told I will need a new amp and that the sound from my stock bose speakers will be just great. We'll see about that one. I appreciate everyones input. Mike

Check my pics, toward the bottom. Pioneer Avid-D3

All Kenwood units are Flash Ram based...Faster than Hard drives....and updates are done via internet....They also have high speed iPod interfaces, which are the BEST interface, its like the iPod is built into the head unit...Also has bluetooth, DVD, sat radio etc....Pioneer is nice, Kenwood is just nicer, also sounds better....Its also got a nicer, more intuitive NAV system...

Newport, That is great looking. I am totally helpless on an installation like this. What would an installation like this run. Also, Is that a holder for a garage door opener on the right under steering?

Thats a VERY old pic, its for the manuals I think in a 99-01 car....but I put my opener there until I did the garage door hack with the Targa Roof switch for both my front gate and garage. I did my own install, so no clue what it would cost. I also installed all my speakers (focal separates front and rear), footwell sub and Audison LRX 6.9 amp, including Sirius, iPod integration, and the Nav....its a very modern car...lol....

Does anyone sell the mounting kit for these large navigation units? Google's failed me on this one. Mine currently has the standard stereo + cup holders.

You will need the new amp but you will likely need a new sub as well. After I did my installation of the Z2, I went to a local shop to have them hook up the amp and set it for me. The dude explained that the sub was too low of ohm and that it would have to be replaced. I figured that it would be based on many threads that I have read with people like me keeping the stock speakers. The dude also explained that the stock speakers will be great and no need to replace unless I wanted to do competitions.

Thanks Rcronin. I just spoke to my installer and he said that the amp he is using has a seperate channel for each class of speaker, so the exsisting sub will be fine. Can you post a picture?

I have (and am very pleased with!) the new Panasonic "Strada" unit. The main difference I could tell with the Strada vs. all the others was a really, really fast iPod interface...as good as using the iPod itself, in fact....that was the selling point for me. -- LP 2002 C4S Coupe

Most all have those now, I think Kenwoods is rated the fastest....Alpine was the first to market with it....I think Pioneer is the only one NOT to have it. In fact the Kenwood will even play the Video from a video iPod on the head unit screen, not just the audio....I think its the only one out there that does that.

newport996, does the Kenwood require you to change the amp in a 2002 C4S or can I just install the nav unit without changing anything else? thanks... josh

What head unit is in it now? Is your car using the MOST bus? If so then with ANY aftermarket head unit you need an amp as well, although the Kenwood head unit can drive your speakers....as with any high power aftermarket head unit.

I have an 02 C4s with the bose system. No MOST on my car, so no need to change amps. You can just plug the head unit in, the bose amp accepts low level inputs (i.e. speaker level, not RCAs).

you should be ok.....I would double check the bose taking speaker level inputs, but if so you are good to go....

what's a good NAV system that isn't $3K? I only drive the car on the weekends and I'm planning on adding a 2nd Pcar to the garage. So I'd like one that can be used in both cars if thats possible. I got seriously lost last Friday.... One of those days where a 45 minute drive turned into nearly 2.5 hours. I have a decent map program on my Blackberry but I couldn't get darn signal.

My wife gave me a TomTom 501 for Christmas. That thing is AWESOME. It is the best CHristmas present I have received in the past 10 years. You can swap it between cars in couple of minutes. I HIGHLY recommend the TomTom.

i see most are adding the double DIN aftermarket heard units...anyone have a single DIN Nav installation ?

what does DIN stand for?

DIN is the abbreviated name of the German Institute for Standardization (Deutsches Institut f�r Normung) and is used in the names of its standards.

Does anyone know what faceplates fit the dble din unts for the dash on a 996? I was going with the pioneer unit...Or are all of them made custom at the shops?

Bragging about your tom-tom?? I just hope you don't think it's a drum and �����