so i'm still debating on whether to get a refurbished z1 from ebay for 1500 or wait for the z2, which the dealer told me would be here in april and pay 2000.

but i was also thinking about this. since i know there are a lot of techies/custom ppl that post here, i have a question for you. can you tell me how much you think it will cost and if it is possible? i know that this is a z1 site, but i hope you guys can be as unbiased as possible so i can get true input. fyi, i drive a 99 4dr explorer

i have been looking at the jvc unit the kd-nx5000. i know that this unit is small. only 3.5 inches, which is half of the z1/2. but the specs on this unit look pretty amazing. 13million poi. 40 gigs, 16 for maps, 24 for music (i'm huge on music) i don't use an ipod.

1st question: is 3.5 inches manageable? i mean of course a large screen is ideal for movies and navi, but if i went with 3.5, is it a pain? squint? how do you feel about a 3.5 screen?

2nd question: if the screen IS too small, do you think i could add another screen? i know it may seem stupid because i will have two screens playing..this is where the custom job ppl come in. what advice do you have for me? would a motorized flip up be a good solution or an indash? the only problem with that is that i would have an extra dvd slot (which would not be used) which then means that i just spent 600 bucks on just the screen. could i buy an indash screen? but i would think that the price for install would be much more expensive, and i wouldn't be able to get as big a screen as a flip up. the JVC is a full din, basically a single. so because i have ALMOST a double din, could i buy 2 single dins and combine them?

3rd question: the jvc unit is retail for 1000, but i have found some places for less than 700. that to me is a bargin. if i got another screen, and the job to put them in, COULD YOU GUYS GIVE ME A BALL PARK PRICE FOR HOW MUCH THE JOB WOULD COST? would it be cheaper to get the z1/2? i'm assuming that the z1 would be 1500 and update would cost me 250 so 1750. z2 will cost me 2000, the install will cost me another 200+. the jvc will cost me 700 plus another screen lets say 600 and then install is still less than the z2.

i have been comtemplating this idea for quite some time now, please help because you guys are the only ones that i see fit to answer my questions. i look forward to reading your ideas and opinions. thank you

only suggestion would be to do what you want the right way. If it sounds to you that you are trying to 'make' a z1/2 system then it certainly sounds that way to the reader. Dont try to make an avic, just get the avic

i wudn't say that im TRYING to make an avic, i would just like to see what you guys think as maybe an alternative? with the money that is going into it, is it possible to do it and will the outcome be good? i just wanted to see if it was possible and how much it could cost.

i have been debating the z1 for a while now, i just wanted to get some opinions

What I am saying, is, from the readers stand point it seems you are trying to 'get' the features that the z1/2 has, only because the z2 isnt out yet you are seemingly trying to go about it in a round about way. You ask questions that you kinda know the answers to, like the 3.5 inch screen, double din sized video, mounting kit, single din openings, and so on. I think you should go with your gut here and get what it is it seems you really want, the avic unit. Dont be cheap and try to do it the half ass way and buy two different units, and just live with the main unit being small. With all that you said, other then waiting for the new z2 to come out, I cant recall any downside to the avic unit, yet I can recall a few things you mentioned about jvc's and the added screen to make up your own mind for you.

Ask your girlfriend. Bigger is better.

So i guess my PMs didnt help much but if you are concerned over pricing, why not get a D3? I has Divx, bigger screen, can play mp3s on dvds (for you big music fan) and so forth. One of the biggest advantages is that the pioneer is able to display much more mapping data, as opposed to your JVC/Garmin so forth. The maps are pretty simple on the smaller units, so you probably wont have to look at them much because there is nothing to see!

The JVC does have some nice features like 1 million points more of POIs but it also includes more areas into the Unit. Pioneer has 12 mill (z2) for canada and american only. This has more because it includes mexico and virgin islands. If you do go this route, get an additional screen because my garmin was mounted in an easily readable place. Yours will be in the dash, a little hard to make out.

yea i considered the d3 as well, but i'm just in love with the hdd ability. never to have to bring cds anymore which is littered throughout my car. so i guess the hdd is the biggest thing.

question: can you fit two single dins instead of a double din? i was thinking about a jvc unit and another single din flip up. is that possible?

yes that is possible. Make sure you get a two-single din bezel to make it look nice. There will be about a .5 gap in between the drives so the divider in the two-single din bizel should have a plastic divider to cover the gap.

Something like this but specifically made for your car (this is for a 3000GT)

http://www.3sx.com/store/comersus_viewI ... duct=25036