First off, let me say that from what I've seen on this forum so far...it is awesome. Great job! I've been a life long Pioneer fan, and have recently started researching aftermarket in dash nav/dvd units. My wife and I just purchased a 2006 Toyota Sequoia Limited with all the bells and whistles...including the crappy Toyota OEM nav system that has zero functionality other than a nav unit. I'm really torn between two units at this point....the AVIC-Z2 (of course) and the new Kenwood DNX7100. I realize that the Pioneer has a ton more hard drive room, but there also seems to be a lot of reported problems with these units. Pretty scary considering their hefty price tag. I am going to list a few of the problems that I've noted below while reading internet reviews. Please respond and let me know if these issues have been addressed. Thanks!!!

1. Frequent freezing of the unit or hard drive failures

2. Frequent freezing of the unit on hot summer days (when the interior of the vehicle gets really hot)

3. Extremely slow boot up time when the vehicle is turned on and slow access in general

4. Erratic and/or errant navigation (ie...the system plots out a route that is much longer than it should be)

5. Most of the unit's functions are diabled while driving (similar to OEM nav units)

Please help me out guys. I've seen the Z2 in person and it is very impressive. I am yet to see the Kenwood unit in person...only hear say from a local dealer that can order it if I want it (and he wants a FORTUNE to install it and hack it for me).

My wife could care less, but if I'm going to drop over $2,000 on a nav unit, I want to be able to watch DVDs up front (mainly if I'm the passenger...I would never watch as the driver) and also I want the GPS hack so that I can change the destination or whatever while driving.

You guys are the experts and that's why I'm turning to you for your help. I really like the unit, but I don't want to make a $2,800 mistake (by the time I add satellite radio, backup camera, steering wheel controls, etc.) Please help me out by letting me know what has been done to address the items I listed above and if there's any "tell tales" (ie certain serial numbers) to avoid in order to keep from getting a defective unit. Thanks again and sorry for the long post.

Matt

1. Frequent freezing of the unit or hard drive failures? 2. Frequent freezing of the unit on hot summer days (when the interior of the vehicle gets really hot)

Answer for first two questions.

Pioneer has a fix for that it’s posted on the homepage of avic411. Download and update, this will fix the frequent freezing, I haven’t heard of any hard drives failing.

2. Extremely slow boot up time when the vehicle is turned on and slow access in general?

Takes about 30 to 45 seconds to boot, I don’t think that your in such a hurry to wait let’s say less then a minute.

3. Erratic and/or errant navigation (i.e...the system plots out a route that is much longer than it should be)?

Yes it does do it sometimes but you only notice when you know where you’re going.

4. Most of the unit's functions are disabled while driving (similar to OEM nav units)?

If you keep looking in this forum you will find how to bypass the Z2 so that all function is working while you drive.

Whoa $2,800....insane. I can sell you one for around $1,600 new in box, warrany, just as if you bought from best buy, circuit city, ect... Let me know I will make a ebay listing for you. I have high feedback, and paypal protected.

BTW the Z series are great units, the hacks are easy. I wouldnt pay more than 2-3 hundred for install. If you are in Maryland or close my shop will professionaly install for $175

The actual cost was a little over $3,000. This was not just for the head unit. This price included the AVIC-Z2, the backup camera, the XM NavTraffic Tuner, the BlueTooth adapter, DIN Kit, JBL interface harness, Steering wheel control interface, and the IPod cable. Also includes installation. Quite a hefty price tag...but a ton of features, if indeed the unit is as great as you guys make it out to be.

I'll be the first to tell you....I LOVE the 3D graphics. I think it's awesome, but is it worth the extra $800 or so and the strain that it puts on the unit (obviously why it is somewhat sluggish if just the nav occupies 20 GB of the 30 GB hard drive)? That I'm not sure about. Couple that with the fact that there have been issues with this unit and that's why I'm hesitant to buy it. That's a WHOLE lot of money.

BTW..the price quoted above did not include any of the hacks for the DVD playback or for the GPS system. The shop would not do it. Would it be best to have them install it and then me do the hacks myself? Just how easy are they and will they involve pulling the unit back out of the dash in order to do so? Thanks for the responses guys.

Matt

Still even with all your getting. Shop around first. By my calculations your still only up to 2,150 and then labor of unit and for the stuff your adding which is pretty simple. No more trhan 350-400 labor.

Would it be best to have them install it and then me do the hacks myself? Just how easy are the hacks (for DVD playback and GPS functionality) and will they involve pulling the unit back out of the dash in order to do so?

Matt

Yes it will involve pulling the deck back out after its installed. After that, it takes about two minutes, and whatever time it takes to put the deck back in. Check out the thread in the hacks/mods section