Hi,
I just updated from a 2007 RTL to a 2014 RTL both have the 6cd audio system. However, the 2014 just broke (MECC MALFUNCTION) and I am considering upgrading to a NAVI system. Would someone share his/her thoughts on the matter?
Thanks in advance!
Javier
Hi Javier,
Welcome to the ROC.
I agree with dmessy on the GPS thing. And I like his avatar too. But that’s not important to the topic at hand. :act024:
Assuming you are going to replace the factory head unit with aftermarket, I offer the following thoughts for your consideration:
- The product category you are considering places you in the "high end", meaning navigation enabled devices are (usually) feature rich with hardware and software supporting all kinds of user options, which is cool for gadget nuts.
- Known name brands should be at the top of your list. The primary reason is: software controls and user interface design are where most development dollars are spent by well managed companies. It's hard to go wrong with brands such as Alpine, Pioneer & Kenwood, especially when looking at the upper end of those brands.
- A note about “name brands”: even very well-known brands can produce a clunker now and then. So the *crowd sourcing* (consumer written product reviews) provided by various on-line retailers are valuable for making an informed decision. In my experience, walking into a retail store and playing with a stereo can only take you so far when evaluating a product. Only through longer term use can one assess how well designed/user friendly a product is - and that’s where there is value in reading reviews written by regular people on sites like Amazon, Sonicelectronix and Crutchfield.
- MANY (if not ALL) manufacturers follow a tried and true method of product development: when they design something like an in-dash unit, component manufacturers of parts such as capacitive touch displays, CPU's, flash memory, disc drives, OP AMPs, Class D amplifier chips, transistors, ETC are limited.
- This means: other than cosmetics and software, most devices are remarkably similar in their parts and construction. It is entirely possible the owner of brand X dash unit has exactly the same display as the owner of brand Y. What we see on that display and how we move from one screen to the next is the real difference between them. SO, when making a buying decision, look beyond physical cosmetics. Look at screen navigation for common stuff like radio, disc, iPod and other controls. This is where the rubber meets the road – ease of use and intuitive navigation beats flashing segments, pretty icons and scrolling text every time.
- For me, I also consider how attractive a unit might be to bad guys. One of my vehicles was ravaged when a thief decided he needed what I had. He smashed a window, took a crow bar to a dash and ended up ripping a nice Recaro Ideal Seat C. Then, when he figured out there were amps in the trunk, pried the lid open causing severe body damage. All together it was several thousand $ in damage. That chit ain’t never happening again. Since then, I’ve taken a whole new approach to anti-theft deterrents.
The point of all this: at the hardware level, dash stereos within their various price categories aren’t all the different from one another. It’s similar with cell phones. A 4.7” display in a Motorola isn’t much different from the 4.7” display in a Samsung, but the way the user interfaces with that display is. So make sure to choose something that's functionally attractive to you.
To build a little more on dmessy’s comments: IMO: the biggest advantage of a standalone GPS device is portability. I use a large screen Magellan in two passenger vehicles and a motorhome. And I’ve taken it on trips for use in rental cars, which came in VERY handy last year when travelling through a rural area where network assistance for phone based maps was not available. On that trip alone, the Magellan paid for itself several times over. I too recommend assessing your need for a navigation solution. It just may turn out the $200 you save on a lower priced but equally high end in-dash stereo could be put towards a separate GPS device that solves other issues you may have.
Good luck!
