Ok I'm torn between the Avic-z2 and the Avic-d3.

I love the z2's HDD and the ability to rip music to the drive as well as not having to worry about cds to navigate. But the d3 just looks so much better to me. The only thing stopping me from being totally in love with the d3 is that you can't change routes or anything unless you have the damn DVD in and that it doesn't have the ability to store anything like the z3. I also like the external AUX in of the d3. I also hear that the d3's nav is better than the z2s.

Bottom line: Like the z2's HDD, don't like that it has had complaints about the nav. Like the looks and external aux in of the d3

What do you guys thing? Are there any units that combine these features?

Does anyone know what the Ipod interface looks like for the z2? Pictures?

D3

Why do you think the D3 is a better unit? If I could have a D3 with a HDD I think that would be perfect, able to rip music and not having to fool with DVDs for nav.

Get a D3 and a video ipod. No reason to take the take disk out

True, but I was thinking more along the lines of playing a DVD while on a road trip and needing to make a quick route change, that might be annoying or even require a stop if I'm by myself. Also if someone has a CD I might like to be able to rip a song or two off it and store it to listen to later instead of remembering the song and downloading it and putting it on the ipod.

Or what if I lose/break the nav dvd and I'm on the road? That would be inconvenient with the d3, but not a worry with the z2.

On the flip side, the z2's interface is uglier shit and I hear it has nav problems some times and it is more expensive.

Get a D3 and a video ipod. No reason to take the take disk out

and stop whining. Seems like you expect alot out of a D3 for a basement bargain MSRP of $999. Get the damn Z2 and enjoy your harddrive.

Haha! Maybe I should. I just wish the z2 GUI was not so f'ing ugly.

looks a bit nicer than my N3's GUI, if thats any consolation

It just seems to me that someone at Pioneer should've thought about this a little bit more...

When do you need all your nav capabilities? On a long trip to an unfamiliar area.

When do you want to pop in a DVD or new CD? On a long trip.

Do many people make long trips often? No, so any long trip is usually going to be slightly vague, so you need all your nav capabilities.

How do we fix this problem? SD card slot for map data, not a dvd.

It just seems to me that someone at Pioneer should've thought about this a little bit more...

 

When do you need all your nav capabilities? On a long trip to an unfamiliar area.

 

When do you want to pop in a DVD or new CD? On a long trip.

 

Do many people make long trips often? No, so any long trip is usually going to be slightly vague, so you need all your nav capabilities.

 

How do we fix this problem? SD card slot for map data, not a dvd.

Don't think it's available in US form, but in Europe I'd seriously think about the Clarion i.s.o. Pioneer

Clarion MAX973HD

.

Yeah that clarion unit is bad ass. Too bad it only does europe.

What other HDD nav units rip and store music?

Clarion does make a unit for the states and it is Bad Ass. It's the MAX675VDII. Best iPod control I've seen. Gorgeous UI. 30gig HD (Can't rip music yet) My buddy has one and I believe it puts my Z2 to shame. He just got the BT adapter for it too and it sounds perfect. Check it out. Cheaper than the Z2 also. He paid $1500 for the head-unit and the Nav.

Head Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67357.html

Nav Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67543.html

So it costs about the same as a Z2, doesn't store music and has less POI than a Z2, but puts it to shame? Im lost

Clarion does make a unit for the states and it is Bad Ass. It's the MAX675VDII. Best iPod control I've seen. Gorgeous UI. 30gig HD (Can't rip music yet) My buddy has one and I believe it puts my Z2 to shame. He just got the BT adapter for it too and it sounds perfect. Check it out. Cheaper than the Z2 also. He paid $1500 for the head-unit and the Nav.

 

Head Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67357.html

 

Nav Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67543.html

So it costs about the same as a Z2, doesn't store music and has less POI than a Z2, but puts it to shame? Im lost

 

 

Clarion does make a unit for the states and it is Bad Ass. It's the MAX675VDII. Best iPod control I've seen. Gorgeous UI. 30gig HD (Can't rip music yet) My buddy has one and I believe it puts my Z2 to shame. He just got the BT adapter for it too and it sounds perfect. Check it out. Cheaper than the Z2 also. He paid $1500 for the head-unit and the Nav.

 

Head Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67357.html

 

Nav Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67543.html

How do you figure it cost's the same? Crutchfield sells the Z2 for $2200 while they sell the Clarion for $899 head unit and $899 Nav. Do the math. If you are smart you buy it from a stereo shop and pay $1500 out the door for the Clarion Headunit, Nav, BT adapter, iPod cable and install. But hey, I'm sure that's what you paid for your Z2.

And as for putting it to shame. You will just have to see (or do a little research) the Clarions iPod interface. Best looking and as fast as the iPod itself.

Here. If you can watch this and say the Z2 is better than let's hear it. http://reviews.cnet.com/in-dash-car-ste ... oplay=true

The BT sounds perfect. I have the Z2 with BT and while it has many short comings I do really like it. But even I was amazed at the quality of the Clarions BT.

And I'm sorry, I have a Z2 and do think it's a great system, but after playing with the Clarion I wish I could swap them out. The UI on the Clarion is beautiful. VERY intuitive very crisp screens.

Also, I'm a bit jealous that the Clarion can do full screen 3D mode for nav. Most people might not car but I love it.

Oh, and with the Clarion you can back up all your extra POI's on to a USB flash drive. Plugs strait into the Nav. Z2, can't.

Anyway, Before you put me down on trying to help the guy find the best one out there, do some research.

Putting you down? Who sh*t in your cereal this morning? Your first post didn't offer hardly any information except your 'friend' said it was cheaper and you think it has a better ipod interface. I then clicked on both links and if you go by their prices, it is MORE expensive than a Z2 and over twice that of a D3. Do you now have some idea of why I didn't understand your worthless post? So go play on the clarion boards if you're gonna be a bitch

Putting you down? Who sh*t in your cereal this morning? Your first post didn't offer hardly any information except your 'friend' said it was cheaper and you think it has a better ipod interface. I then clicked on both links and if you go by their prices, it is MORE expensive than a Z2 and over twice that of a D3. Do you now have some idea of why I didn't understand your worthless post? So go play on the clarion boards if you're gonna be a bitch

First, grow up. there is no need to be calling anyone here a biich. You're the one that's to lazy to do some research before you throw in your fanboy bs. Learn to read before you make your next post. I didn't say my 'friend' said it was cheeper. 'I' said it was cheeper, and you can go on crutchfield or just about any other site and find that out for yourself. Next 'I' said that the BT sounds better on the Clarion. I have the Z2 and if you learn to read you can see I even said that I like it. And seeing as how I actually have it on the Z2 and have heard it on both I was letting everyone know that it sounds better on the Clarion. Do a search and see how many people think the Z2 BT sucks on this site. And no, I'm not one of them.

And now you say that the Clarion is more expensive. Where are you getting this info? Show me. I told you how much it is online and even how much my friend paid for it. I WAS THERE. If you think you can get the Z2 with the extras that he got (BT, iPod) and install for $1500 out the door than please post it some everyone can do it.

Point is, JWG posted the Clarion as an option and MDWICKS (the person who this is actually for) said it looked bad ass and sucks it's only in Europe. So I dropped in some links and let him know 'from experience' what I thought.

So sorry I tried to help someone out. I thought thats what this forum was for. I guess it's just for fanboys like you to throw in bs comments that help no one.

I really like the max675vdII, and from what I've seen it actually costs about the same as the z2, maybe a little more because of the separate nav unit. But the the only thing that makes me still like the z2 better is that it can rip music.

I love all the features of the z2, I just hate the GUI.

On a side note: You guys do realize that you're cussing each other out on the internet over your opinions on which nav unit I might like better, right? I appreciate all the help and advice, but no need to start a pissing contest.

Research??? I used your links champ. They say $1200 for the screen and the same for the nav. That seems MORE than a Z2 to me, so in your first post the statement that it is hands down better than a Z2 and cheaper didn't make any sense since it doesn't store music, has three million less POI and costs $200 more. That was my point before you took offense too it. Guess cheaper links would've been helpful if you really wanted people to research it

Head Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67357.html

Nav Unit

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2 ... 67543.html

You are unreal. I don't know how many time I have to say Crutchfeild before you check it. So here ya go. Do the math sport

Clarion Head unit then Nav 899 each

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-4nyAuZrxZh ... =020MAX675

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-4nyAuZrxZh ... =020NAX970

Now Z2

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-4nyAuZrxZh ... =130AVICZ2

So math wiz, which ones cheeper??? Now try Amazon and countless others and let's hear what you find.

We both know no one is gonna pay MSRP so why are you picking a fight using those numbers. Just drop it bro. I was just trying to point out that, yes, Clarion makes one for the U.S. and that I have seen it first had and as a Z2 user I liked the Clarion better. MY OPNION. Either offer up some info or advice for the guy or go bother someone else.