Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Hi all,
Questions for anyone who has one of these Pioneer AVIC Nav/headunit installed in the SVX? Where did you install the GPS antenna? The iPod cable?
Nice price on Amazon ~$350.00 Good support on internet, some hacks available.

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

I just installed the P4000 DVD unit about a month ago and am loving it. I know I promised a writeup, but I've been moving and can't find the battery charger for my camera.:o Anyhow, the unit I have doesn't have GPS (I kinda enjoy getting lost) but I did install the iPod and USB cables into my glovebox, and also have the Bluetooth CD-BTB200 unit tucked into the passenger side kick panel (in front of door) along with the crossover for the pass speakers. There's a lot of room to be had there. I take it you've found AVIC411.com? The forums have a lot of fools in there, but there's some good info hidden in the rough. Good luck, and don't forget the SVX Forward Wiring Harness from David Carter (SVXDC):D

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

I love my AVIC. I installed the GPS and XM antennas in the cowl area under the wipers. They work great there and are very inconspicuous.

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

I just recently installed my avic f700bt and love it. Ran my navigation antenna underneath the carpet, into the trunk, then out so it sits a few inches to the right of the wiper blade mount on the rear glass. The usb/ipod cable is just routed into the glove box.
$350 is the cheapest I've seen yet. I paid $400 for mine about 1 month ago and a week later saw it at Best Buy for over $800. I would've rather got the 900 but for the price the 700 was just too good to pass on.

avic411 is a great site for info and hacks.

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

i love the factory radio, with upgraded speakers. I have gone the aftermarket route and have learned that Alpine/Sony/Kenwood etc, last about 3 years and something fails. Factory units last much longer.

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Avic D3
i have the gps on the cowl and the ipod in the glove box

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Sony=junk, Alpine is decent stuff and Kenwood puts nice features in their HUs and amps but are still junk. I still have a JVC HU that I have had since I bought with my 2nd ever paycheck over 7 years ago. It has been in 6 different cars and will go into my Svx as soon as I have money for new front speakers. It also has played cd's perfectly fine (no skipping) when going airborne in said vehicles... If I really had the money, I would get an older Eclipse "dead head" with built in GPS as those still are some of the best SQ HUs even compared to todays $1000+ HUs.

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Perhaps, but 18 years is a long time. Before I removed my factory stereo it no longer played CDs for more than 5 sec before stopping, and the backlight was also dead. I looked for a DoubleDIN unit that controlled an iPod, and had Bluetooth. With those choices checked, I had a choice between the ugly GM looking headunits with giant knobs and such, or a touchscreen with DVD. That choice was easy. The AVIC was one of few that didn't have a fold down screen (not good with our dash) and at that point I had it narrowed down. I'd had my Infinity speakers hooked up for about 6 months, and had never really heard them sing until I upgraded my amp to the AVIC.

Very happy about the final outcome. I wouldn't go back to stock for anything.:D

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Thanks for the input!
More questions: Where did you run the antenna wire for the rear deck mount?Since the trunk lid is of fiberglass, could the the GPS antenna be mounted into the lid?
Is the HD module worth it ($50.00) Could the iPod cable be run into the console easily? Is the FM tuner more sensitive than the OEM Panasonic?

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Not having GPS, I'll leave the first questions for someone better equipped. As for the second two: The iPod cable into the glovebox was the easiest part of the install. All that cable has to go somewhere anyways seeing as it's pretty tight behind the HU. The FM tuner seems equal to stock at least, however don't forget that the stock had 2 antenna inputs, and you'll need to choose the one for the mast antenna (rather than the rear defrost) and run an extender from it's connector to the HU. The stock antenna connects way down about half way to the gas pedal, and the AVIC only has a couple inches of cable coming out of it. Reception is clear, and I live in a canyon, plus it has multiple settings for "local" stations whose towers are close by thus tuning the sensitivity of your antenna. Once you get it all set up, it's a great addition to a great car.

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

I love my AVIC-D2. I currently use XM Satellite Radio w/ NavTraffic (GPS traffic diverter service from XM)

It installs well, I think I modified my radio cage for a better mounting point, and I ditched the hide-away door portion as well. I also have a Sony Playstation 2 unit hooked to it as well. Pretty slick. I did an interior swap/rejuvination at the same time, so I had the car skeleton exposed to run the cable to the rear window and out the moulding. It sits near dead center (along with the XM radio antenna) right next to the top of the rear glass.

I couldn't be happier, I wish I had've gotten one sooner.

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Lookin' good. That's a huge knob, but I bet you hear that all the time.:p

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Ahh, I should post my Subaru custom-made background I did in Photoshop....

Re: Pioneer AVIC reviews?
 

Looks great! Makes me want one for my car...