I am looking into some indash nav but want some opinions from yall whio have used them. Some of the models im looking into are the Eclipse AVN7000, AVN6610, Pioneer Z2, Alpine Nav or factory nav but i have the basic audio because i planned on upgrading it.

Ive messed around with the Z2 some in stores but they ushually dont have audio hooked to it and i have seen the 7000 as well but i think id really like a non flip out screen. I havent heard much about the alpine stuff though and the situation is the same with the 6610 since its new. I have always been happy with my non video alpine head units though so i have confidence in their product.

Factory nav would probably look the cleanest but i would sacrafice some features id like and maybe some audio quality.

The 7000 has a pretty customisable audio setup, you can use the two cameras on it and it has hard drive nav so it should be faster.

The 6610 has a little less to offer in customising the audio but i dont know that i would really need those features, it will let me use the two cameras, but its disc nav so it may be a little slower. Ive also read in specs that you cant search catagories of POI entries in nav. Is that true for those of you who have it and can you add or search a different way so this is a non issue?

Im really looking for good navigation ( i hear the Z2 is lacking there), good audio, bluetooth, some camera and other video source plugins for expandability.

If any of you have any pictures finished or in progress of an install id like to see what the look like. Feel free to contribute any good or bad you have noticed with the units as well.

Thanks,

Major

we put a Z2 in a customers car not too long ago (since they just hit shelves) he had a new F-350 and he loved it. It works awesome..it really is one of the best double din nav systems out there.

Its very easy to use, fast processing, HD is an awesome feature, screen is clear, its a large-ish screen, and it has a ton of features, you can do anything from bluetooth, backup cams, satellite radio, ipods..Anything you want really..

Eclipse is definitely where i would go if you are looking for something with a better sound quality.

Their nav is also great. I would def get one of the HDD series as fumbling with a NAV disc is a nussaince from what i hear.

i have the avn7000. purchased it and had it installed at a local circuit city a little over a year ago. I absolutely love it. I had to figure out a work around for the ipod controller. The avn7000 doesnt have full ipod controls so I had to make playlists for all of the new albums I add to my ipod in order to select them through the avn7000.

mounting wise, I have no idea what kit was used but the unit is mounted flush with the dash. no protrusions with the screen open or closed.

my only complaint with this unit is that it doesnt have full ipod controls and I am hoping against all hope that eclipse will have a firmware update for the unit or the ipod controller.

here are some pics

I put one of these in Saturday (the 7000), and my only major complain was that it has a lot of wires out of the back and I was putting it into a 3 series BMW (they barely have enough room for the factory deck to fit).

Other than it not being very "installer" friendly, I found some of the other features to be pretty cool. I didn't really know how to use it because its only the 2nd or 3rd eclipse i've ever put in, but its nav map is very appealing, isn't flashy and is on the money.

I would suggest looking at doing Kenwood nav tho... Garmin does their nav so you know it is incredible.

I like the [Eclipse] 7000 but I still can't figure out why they didn't make a 2 DIN version???????

Isn't that the AVN 5495?

The AVN5495 has a few differences and i think other than it being dvd based the AVN6610 is the next comparable unit in their lineup.

Eclipse 7000 to 5495 comparison

I wish the 7000 was in a 2 din unit as well that would simplify my decision.

trickynick: Thanks for the pictures of you install. Looks good

Thanks for the replies so far,

Major

For some reason, only the 7000 has the "ultima engine" which means it has sharper text and graphics... The difference was really noticeable to me in the store between the 7000 and the 6600 as far as resolution.

No problem. Since having mine I have named her Sally. The voice of the woman sounds like a Sally to me. Navigation wise this thing is a blast. I try to stump it by purposefully making a wrong turn and no joke here but a full second or so later the route is recalculated!!! If you were in San Antonio, I would let you drive it to test it out...

I had the parking brake cable grounded so that I can watch dvds uhhh i mean my passengers can watch dvds and playback on the 7 inch screen is nice even at night when the screen dims as the headlights are turned on.

I really have nothing bad to say about the avn7000. I even like the fact that its single din... i now have a place to keep my wallet when im in the 4R

I like the 6610 because you get the best preamps with the eclipse, it is a dual dvd drive which allows you to watch movies and listen to cds while using the nav, and it has one of the best ipod interfaces.

I've got the 6610 installed with the backup camera and ipod controller and it is awesome. I switched it out from an eclipse 5500 that I wasn't as impressed with but it was still a good deck. If pics are wanted I'd be glad to post them up.

Please do post some pics I would like to see this unit.:awais:

Can you post picture of the gps antenna? I just order this unit. ;p

just noticed this post. I will get some pics tomorrow and post them up.

do you also have a diagram on how to ground it to the parking brake? i need to know the wire color. thanks.